One is on Saturday; the other on Sunday. One is road riding; the other mountain biking. They deserve two separate reports, but I don’t feel like writing. Here is a quick run down.<\/p>\n
Saturday:Low Key Hill Climbs, W. Apline We barely got up early enough to make the Low Key Hill Climbs<\/a> event although today’s ride was right in our neighborhood. Between a large turnout (near 100 people) and many even later arrivals, we managed to get in. Mass start at the very bottom of W. Alpine (i.e. the intersection with Pescadero Road). It started on a long stretch of flat ground. I did not understand why the whole peloton was passing me by even though I thought I was pedaling hard until Erik explained to me after the ride the benefits of drafting. I should have remembered, but I was too busy praying nobody clip me and staying out of everyone’s way. When the climb started, I started passing people, which, as usual, brought me some joy, except when I passed Erik. He is usually faster than me, so when I passed him and he did not respond, I knew something was not right. When we rode out the house, he complained that his bike had been screwed up. We sent our bikes in for a tune up two weeks ago and did not touch them until this morning. My bike had a coil of cables dangling off of rear derailleur, which I zip-tied to my seat tube. His bike was ghost-shifting and rubbing. We should have tested the bikes after we got them back, but we didn’t. Still, bike trouble alone would not have explained it. He did not know what it was either (see his own account<\/a>). When I topped out, I thought I must have placed in the middle of the pack among women considering how many people passed me in the beginning and how few women I remember passing on the climb. So, it was a surprise when I found out that I placed the third out nineteen. I was quite happy about that outcome. I just hope that Erik finds his usual self back next time.<\/p>\n Sunday: Henry Coe Derek had planned on an epic ride with us at Henry Coe. Erik and I got two Ibis Mojo demo bikes from Passion Trail Bikes in Belmont. Coincidentally, when we were waiting for Derek to show up, two other riders rolled up and they both had their own Ibis Mojo’s. When Derek arrived, he was a little discouraged to see four Ibis Mojo’s, one XTR S-Works, and one Ellsworth. In his own words, he felt like the red headed step child because he had the cheapest bike in the parking lot. The rest, I think Erik summed it up well in his report<\/a>. I was disappointed that I only got 12 miles on the Ibis Mojo at Coe, but Erik was very happy to BS (for three hours) with his buddy Derek and the Coe regulars we met in the parking lot before and after the ride. As long as you are happy, honey.<\/p>\n
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