56+ before 55!

[Drew Saunders]

For the past few years, I've tried to ride my age or more on or about my birthday (this Sunday, the 17th, a.k.a. "World Emoji Day!"). Although not as impressive as crossing the country, it was still a good ride today.

In 2017, instead of riding 50+ miles for my 50th birthday, I spent my birthday in the hospital due to a bad reaction to Xeloda, my first chemotherapy drug. Oh, did I mention that in April of 2017 I found out that I had adenocarcinoma of the descending colon? I had the colectomy at the end of May, and started chemo at the end of June (and re-started it at the end of July with a different drug). That'll put a damper in your riding plans any day! 

I was able to do a 53 mile ride before turning 51 in 2018, and a 55 mile ride before turning 52 in 2019. I found my fitness dropping unexpectedly in 2020, but eventually figured out that it was due to working from home and no longer walking or biking to work (which is only 2 miles each way, but it adds up). I added a neighborhood walk to my morning routine and improved my fitness, but wasn't able to get in a 53+ mile ride for 2020. Then, in November 2020 (Friday the 13th, of course) I found out that my cancer had returned in a single tumor in my liver. That (along with 1/4 of my liver) was removed at the end of December.

2021 was the year of regrowing my liver, so no long ride that July! I still got in some medium rides, but didn't make 54KM, much less 54 miles for any of them.

I set out this morning to do a variation on the same 53 and 55 mile ride I had done in 2018 and 2019, just with a little more at each end. For the locals, this is Cañada road to the end, then meander through Woodside, Portola Valley and Los Altos Hills, then Foothill Expressway/Steven's Canyon Road and turn around at the Lakeshore Picnic Area then home. It totaled 56.62 miles! Eventually, I'll have to switch to kilometers.

"Pics or it didn't happen":

The turnaround at Cañada Road and Hwy 92 (uppermost part of Lower Crystal Springs reservoir)

The famous Pulgas Water Temple from the fence (it looks better up close)

The Woodside Store, a fine place to stop for a snack and refill the bottles. The glowing blue stuff is Gatorade. That's a very early (Duluth patch) "banana bag" in the back and a "candy bar bag" in the front.

Last snack stop at Lakeshore Picnic Area selfie. Yes, Oscar is a Retrogrouch! His trash can is STEEL, not plastic!

Drew

[Valerie Yates]

Beautiful! Bike, route, shirt, and determination are all fabulous. Thanks for sharing your story. I admire your determination. Hope this is the year of fun rides and no hospitals. 

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

A beautiful, red Rivendell. My FAVORITE. Thank you for sharing your story; this nurse feels for you and admires your resolve. What is the story on this bike? How old is it? It’s a custom, so there are certainly interesting details about it that I’d be interested in knowing, if you’d care to share them.

Leah

[Joel S]

Keep pushing.  I have a few years on you, 2 back surgeries, a replaced knee.  I had to take 10 years off after my second back surgery then covid came and I started riding again.  Of course I sold my custom, my AR and 1 of my Bleriot by then.  I had 2 years of riding and had a mishap this year and have been off the bike for 2 months, my other knee, so rest and ice.  My mileage and speed have decreased but as I am approaching 71 I will be just fine with my 12-17 mile rides when I get back on the bike.  

Sorry you’ve had to go through your medical issues, never easy.  Ride every day you can and take comfort as you roll down the road. A truly beautiful bike, I hope you enjoy it for many more years.  

[Drew Saunders]

Thanks everyone!

Leah: here’s my ancient web page on my 1996/2000 Rivendell: https://web.stanford.edu/~dru/myriv.html

I really need to update that with new photos and a parts list.

Joel: I hope that I don’t have to retire my Riv for many years, but some day it may have to become a wall decoration, presuming that my wife would allow it!

Drew

[Drew Saunders]

For more pics of the Red Riv, here are all of my Flickr photos with the tag "Rivendell" (I confirmed these are all public and don't require an account to view): https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=26797636%40N05&sort=date-taken-desc&text=rivendell&view_all=1

The jersey is from Pearl Izumi, from maybe 2008-2010? They had just stopped making Sesame Street jerseys, so some were available for cheap from the PI factory outlet, and I got one of the last in Medium. I also have matching socks, and Cookie Monster socks too!

Drew

[Ryan]

Your custom is a beauty! Nice classic parts...especially the older Ritchey Logic crankset

[Ray Varella]

That’s a really beautiful area Drew. 

I was down that way for work on Thursday and pulled over near Crystal Springs to take a call. 

While I was sitting there I watched a Bald Eagle come up from the reservoir with a freshly caught fish. 

He/she circled for several loops gaining altitude and then headed north. 

I don’t know if there is a nesting pair there but this bird had full adult plumage. 

Keep your eye out for any sightings, they are such majestic creatures. 

Lots of nice shots in your album, thank you for sharing and wishing you good health. 

A little tip for the others, you can usually avoid the crowds at Alice’s Restaurant by taking a seat over near the group W bench. 

Yes, there really is a group W bench there. 

Ray

[amill...@gmail.com]

Awesome story, Drew. As someone who lost his father to cancer, my hat goes off to your determination, strength and resiliency. 

Best,

Aaron in El Paso 

p.a. Nice Riv!

On Jul 15, 2022, at 19:41, Drew Saunders <drew.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

For the past few years, I've tried to ride my age or more on or about my birthday (this Sunday, the 17th, a.k.a. "World Emoji Day!"). Although not as impressive as crossing the country, it was still a good ride today.

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[Patrick Moore]

Drew: I'm glad things turned out well and congrats on your ride!

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[RichS]

Hello Drew,

Thank you for telling your story. It's inspiring to read about your positive attitude and resolve in overcoming your medical issues. Best wishes for good health and many years of good rides on your beautiful red Rivendell.

Something else in your post jumped out at me and that is the locale for your rides is the same area where Jobst Brandt and his pals regularly rode. Really nice that you have access to those routes. I just read Ray Hosler's book "Once Upon a Ride", an account of the "Jobst rides" rides from 1980 - 2007. It's a fun read with lots of photographs and names you'll recognize (Tom Ritchey and Peter Johnson are two). Hosler still lives in the Bay area and continues to ride those roads. Check out his blog at rayhosler.wordpress.com

Stay well and keep the wheels turning!

Best,

Rich in ATL

On Friday, July 15, 2022 at 9:41:05 PM UTC-4 Drew Saunders wrote:

[Drew Saunders]

Ray: I’m jealous, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bald eagle!

Ryan: Sadly, the left Ritchey Logic crank snapped in 2012

Aaron: I’m sorry to hear about your father. Cancer is a real Oedipus! (Think Samuel L Jackson’s favorite word…)

Rich: I saw Jobst around Palo Alto from time to time, it’s hard not to notice a 6’7” guy on a bright yellow bike,  but never met him. I was once passed by Tom Ritchey while biking home. He’s fast!

Thanks again to everyone who replied! Maybe I’ll bike to the coast and back (about 57 miles and very hilly) next year!

Drew

[Chris Balaschak]

Great ride report.

Can I ask - where did you find those water bottles?

On Friday, July 15, 2022 at 9:41:05 PM UTC-4 Drew Saunders wrote:

[Drew Saunders]

Those bottles came from Rivendell many (10? More?) years ago. 

Drew

On Jul 29, 2022, at 6:27 AM, Chris Balaschak <cbala...@gmail.com> wrote:



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