Great read... thanks, Anne. Maybe a little red Foy will materialize at some
point. Gotta keep trying!
On Sunday, June 23, 2013 2:20:09 PM UTC-4, Anne Paulson wrote:
>
> Last week I was on the (very fine) Sierra to the Sea ride put on by
> Almaden Cycle Touring Club. It was tons of fun. Rivendell was
> represented by me, and also JimD. The first night, I hopefully
> snuggled my British racing green Roadeo next to JimD's orange custom,
> hoping that in the morning I'd see a little red Betty Foy, but alas, I
> was disappointed. That was pretty much the only disappointment of the
> entire trip, though. The food was super and plentiful, and somehow
> ACTC managed to route us across the entire state of California on
> fabulous roads.
>
> Some of those roads were rough: Dogtown Road in the Sierra foothills,
> some Delta roads and the fabulous Coleman Valley Road in Sonoma County
> spring to mind. My Roadeo with Rolly Polys purred like a kitten. The
> Jack Browns might have even been a better choice.
>
> Overheard:
>
> Rider #1: My neck gets so sore sometimes when I'm riding, I have to
> look down for a while instead of looking ahead.
>
> Rider #2: Me too, even though I know it's not that safe.
>
> Me: Have you tried raising your handlebars?
>
> Rider #1: ?? You mean tilting them?
>
> Me: No, just moving them up higher.
>
> Rider #1: (puzzled) I don't think you can do that on my bike.
>
> Jim Warren showed up to say hello and ask about the ride, on his Hunqa
> with the Big Bens. The two riders with me were obviously appalled at
> the the idea that someone might try the ride with Big Bens. ("But
> they're so heavy!") In fact, Big Bens would be great.
>
> In addition to the idea that bikes need to be shod with 23 mm or 25 mm
> tires, a number of the Sierra to the Sea riders apparently subscribed
> to the common belief that extra clothing, food and equipment weigh
> less if you carry them in a backpack or in jammed pockets, than if you
> carry them on the bike. Saddlebags and front bags were not much in
> evidence.
>
> One day we rode from Calistoga to the Russian River. The optional
> route included Sweetwater Springs, one of those roads that is terrific
> in almost every possible way: deserted, with oak grasslands, then a
> secluded little valley, then a (steep) climb up through redwoods. The
> regular route was not too shabby either, but I chose the Sweetwater
> option. On the way up I passed a couple of other riders walking. I
> understand the appeal of compact doubles if compact doubles give you
> low enough gears. And for a lot of people (who are stronger than me or
> lighter than me or both) compact doubles do work. But riders who are
> walking the steep hills, or riding up them with some knee-destroying
> cadence in the 30s or 40s, need lower gears. It's sad to hear, "The
> guy in the bike shop told me..." when the guy in the bike shop
> obviously told the rider the wrong thing.
>
> I highly recommend Sierra to the Sea. Try it for yourself next year and
> see!
>
>
> --
> -- Anne Paulson
>
> My hovercraft is full of eels
>
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