SF Randonneurs Fall Populaire Report/Photos
217 views
Skip to first unread message
Cyclofiend Jim
Sep 15, 2013, 4:38:34 PM9/15/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Capped off a fine birthday week by joining about a 100 new and old randonneurs on the 2013 SF Randonneurs Fall Populaire. Starting in San Fransisco's Crissy Field, we headed north over the Golden Gate Bridge, hopped over a hill or two and looped out around China Camp Village before heading westward (back into a mild headwind and increasing fog) to the most distant control at Nicasio. Then headed back through the San Geronimo Valley to Fairfax and the obscure but direct route back to San Francisco. Course was about 70 miles, punctuated by appropriate stops for controls and caloric intake.
Had spent a too-long chunk of Friday running down some technical anomalies on the Quickbeam. The chain was too worn to trust for the course and after removing it, I realized what a thought was a bent guard ring proved to be a more ingrained issue. I'm still not completely sure of the cause, but the whole arm/spider has a bit of a wobble to it. The working theory had been a bent BB spindle, found that the same arm wiggled no matter which bicycle it was mounted on (had stripped off the cranks from the waiting-for-Brooks-to-finally-call-me-back-so-I-can-deal-with-the-broken-rails Hilsen, assuming I'd be swapping the BB over). Cursed and pondered and decided to clean up the Hilsen and swap over the saddle from the QB. And the Hilsen ended up in a nicely stripped down mode - with the recently cleaned and rewaxed Baggins Banana Bag attached, it would hold my ritual two-tubes-two-patch-kits offering for any brevet ride, as well as appropriate gear for a mild, mid-September ride. So, all that remained was getting up, getting the dogs walked and fed, and hightailing it into the city for the ride.
Which pretty much is where I started - sipping strong coffee from a thermos cup as riders gathered in the fog on the generally unpopulated East Beach at Crissy Field. I'd arrived past some significant parking infrastructure - mobile gates and grates and cones and hi-viz folks with flags and flashlights. No, the Populaire does not typically generate that much traffic, but they've been racing these sail-driven projectiles within yards of the shore over the past couple weeks, and in another few hours, parking would become absolutely nonexistent.
Signed in and got my card. Realized I had absoutely nothing to write with - DOH! - so I would be relying on the kindness of others to supply a pen at the Nicasio Info Control. After returning the coffee rental, I saw that a larger pack had amassed, and RBA (Regional Brevet Administrator) Rob Hawks welcomed the new riders (about half the group) and led us in our pledge "not to do anything stupid" before sending us out on the course. Just about that time, I darned near stepped on ride buddy JimG (yojimg.net) and we greeted one another warmly. He was anticpating the inaugural ride on his Box Dog Bikes Pelican.
Of course, we immediately got separated as everyone picked up their bikes and wove their way to the road. I had decided to under-do things for the first bits, as I wasn't sure how I'd feel. For some reason, the switch from fixed-gear (the Quickbeam) to a many-geared-coastable setup can mean a very clunky first ride, as I overdo it in the big gears and feel a loss of momentum when climbing. And I also realized it was probably my longest ride of the year so far. At least I'd managed a couple of 50+ rides on the QB, even though some of the steeper climbs were prone to cussing and stopping.
Rolled up to the bridge with a variety of SF Jerseyed folks and well-appointed rigs. Counted at least 3 or 4 Hilsens without even looking for them. Coughed and woke up and worked my way over the span and down into Sausalito with a minimum of extra effort. Seemed to just make every yellow light on Bridgeway, which put me alone along the Mill Valley Bike Path to the base of the first hill. But as the light turned green JimG and a gang of folks joined me. The Camino Alto hill kind of worked out the kinks, and I found some comfort climbing seated, which is not generally an option afforded by riding fixed. Then buzzed down the descent while thanking the density of my bones. Caught up to the JimG group and promptly lost them on the climb to San Rafael, but by then I was feeling pretty good on the bike, almost like someone had flipped a switch. As we headed around China Camp to the first control, I managed to tack onto a triplet-led (y'know, like a tandem but built for three) train and boogied along happily. Fell back in with JimG and we found a mutually compatible pace, so we rolled to the first control, had RBA Rob sign/timestamp our cards and headed onward.
As we pressed slightly uphill and upwind in Lucas Valley, JimG admitted he hadn't eaten anything for a while (turned out to be dinner or breakfast, so... yeah.) We deli-stopped and stretched out, chatted with a rider (whose name I forgot) on a custom ~75 cm frame and watched a few pods of riders work their way up the valley. The chairs were in the warm sun, blocked from the cool wind by the building, and it was tempting just to enjoy the warm offerings of the morning. But, we figured the miles wouldn't ride themselves, and remounted after a 15 minute break for food and drink.
Climbed to Big Rock Ridge and collected a couple of other riders, then spread out once again on the long steady down valley run to Nicasio. At the store, the randonneurs had arrived, ordering sandwiches, buying drinks and seeking the answer to the Information Control question. Yes. I did have to borrow a pen.
Since the weather was still overcast and windily cool, we set off again. JimG still seemed at a bit of caloric deficit but we plugged along, picking up a few riders and benefitting from the energy as our group swelled and other riders joined us from behind. The climb out of Nicasio to the San Geronimo valley spread us out again, but we swelled back up to 8-10 riders as we enjoyed the now-tailwind towards the White's Hill descent to Fairfax.
The sun greeted us in town, and JimG and I peeled off to honor the siren song of Java Hut. Strong coffee and gooey pastries awaited. But, even better, they had broadened their offerings of late to include breakfast burritos. Mmmmmm. Potato, egg, black beans for me and the simple cheese/egg muffin for JimG. Such caloric density perked him up (as did the iced coffee) and we hummed our way back to the start. Got to help with a small roadside repair (rattling fender) for another SFR member. Met a few new randonneurs on the final miles to the last climb up from Sausalito and then went by everyone in the world who seemed to have shoehorned themselves to a vantage point to watch the sailboat race. Dodging a few errant pedestrians and the expected rental bike erraticness, we dropped to the final control, were greeted with cheers and had always-smiling Carlos D. log in our return and verify our cards.
Done, we found plates of food and fine camaraderie! And I was happy to feel much better than I thought I would.
My photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclofiend/sets/72157635540840952/
More photos (including a couple group members!) courtesy of Deb Ford - http://goo.gl/H8UBBL
Rough Route Map - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1798411
- Jim / cyclofiend.com
Had spent a too-long chunk of Friday running down some technical anomalies on the Quickbeam. The chain was too worn to trust for the course and after removing it, I realized what a thought was a bent guard ring proved to be a more ingrained issue. I'm still not completely sure of the cause, but the whole arm/spider has a bit of a wobble to it. The working theory had been a bent BB spindle, found that the same arm wiggled no matter which bicycle it was mounted on (had stripped off the cranks from the waiting-for-Brooks-to-finally-call-me-back-so-I-can-deal-with-the-broken-rails Hilsen, assuming I'd be swapping the BB over). Cursed and pondered and decided to clean up the Hilsen and swap over the saddle from the QB. And the Hilsen ended up in a nicely stripped down mode - with the recently cleaned and rewaxed Baggins Banana Bag attached, it would hold my ritual two-tubes-two-patch-kits offering for any brevet ride, as well as appropriate gear for a mild, mid-September ride. So, all that remained was getting up, getting the dogs walked and fed, and hightailing it into the city for the ride.
Which pretty much is where I started - sipping strong coffee from a thermos cup as riders gathered in the fog on the generally unpopulated East Beach at Crissy Field. I'd arrived past some significant parking infrastructure - mobile gates and grates and cones and hi-viz folks with flags and flashlights. No, the Populaire does not typically generate that much traffic, but they've been racing these sail-driven projectiles within yards of the shore over the past couple weeks, and in another few hours, parking would become absolutely nonexistent.
Signed in and got my card. Realized I had absoutely nothing to write with - DOH! - so I would be relying on the kindness of others to supply a pen at the Nicasio Info Control. After returning the coffee rental, I saw that a larger pack had amassed, and RBA (Regional Brevet Administrator) Rob Hawks welcomed the new riders (about half the group) and led us in our pledge "not to do anything stupid" before sending us out on the course. Just about that time, I darned near stepped on ride buddy JimG (yojimg.net) and we greeted one another warmly. He was anticpating the inaugural ride on his Box Dog Bikes Pelican.
Of course, we immediately got separated as everyone picked up their bikes and wove their way to the road. I had decided to under-do things for the first bits, as I wasn't sure how I'd feel. For some reason, the switch from fixed-gear (the Quickbeam) to a many-geared-coastable setup can mean a very clunky first ride, as I overdo it in the big gears and feel a loss of momentum when climbing. And I also realized it was probably my longest ride of the year so far. At least I'd managed a couple of 50+ rides on the QB, even though some of the steeper climbs were prone to cussing and stopping.
Rolled up to the bridge with a variety of SF Jerseyed folks and well-appointed rigs. Counted at least 3 or 4 Hilsens without even looking for them. Coughed and woke up and worked my way over the span and down into Sausalito with a minimum of extra effort. Seemed to just make every yellow light on Bridgeway, which put me alone along the Mill Valley Bike Path to the base of the first hill. But as the light turned green JimG and a gang of folks joined me. The Camino Alto hill kind of worked out the kinks, and I found some comfort climbing seated, which is not generally an option afforded by riding fixed. Then buzzed down the descent while thanking the density of my bones. Caught up to the JimG group and promptly lost them on the climb to San Rafael, but by then I was feeling pretty good on the bike, almost like someone had flipped a switch. As we headed around China Camp to the first control, I managed to tack onto a triplet-led (y'know, like a tandem but built for three) train and boogied along happily. Fell back in with JimG and we found a mutually compatible pace, so we rolled to the first control, had RBA Rob sign/timestamp our cards and headed onward.
As we pressed slightly uphill and upwind in Lucas Valley, JimG admitted he hadn't eaten anything for a while (turned out to be dinner or breakfast, so... yeah.) We deli-stopped and stretched out, chatted with a rider (whose name I forgot) on a custom ~75 cm frame and watched a few pods of riders work their way up the valley. The chairs were in the warm sun, blocked from the cool wind by the building, and it was tempting just to enjoy the warm offerings of the morning. But, we figured the miles wouldn't ride themselves, and remounted after a 15 minute break for food and drink.
Climbed to Big Rock Ridge and collected a couple of other riders, then spread out once again on the long steady down valley run to Nicasio. At the store, the randonneurs had arrived, ordering sandwiches, buying drinks and seeking the answer to the Information Control question. Yes. I did have to borrow a pen.
Since the weather was still overcast and windily cool, we set off again. JimG still seemed at a bit of caloric deficit but we plugged along, picking up a few riders and benefitting from the energy as our group swelled and other riders joined us from behind. The climb out of Nicasio to the San Geronimo valley spread us out again, but we swelled back up to 8-10 riders as we enjoyed the now-tailwind towards the White's Hill descent to Fairfax.
The sun greeted us in town, and JimG and I peeled off to honor the siren song of Java Hut. Strong coffee and gooey pastries awaited. But, even better, they had broadened their offerings of late to include breakfast burritos. Mmmmmm. Potato, egg, black beans for me and the simple cheese/egg muffin for JimG. Such caloric density perked him up (as did the iced coffee) and we hummed our way back to the start. Got to help with a small roadside repair (rattling fender) for another SFR member. Met a few new randonneurs on the final miles to the last climb up from Sausalito and then went by everyone in the world who seemed to have shoehorned themselves to a vantage point to watch the sailboat race. Dodging a few errant pedestrians and the expected rental bike erraticness, we dropped to the final control, were greeted with cheers and had always-smiling Carlos D. log in our return and verify our cards.
Done, we found plates of food and fine camaraderie! And I was happy to feel much better than I thought I would.
My photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclofiend/sets/72157635540840952/
More photos (including a couple group members!) courtesy of Deb Ford - http://goo.gl/H8UBBL
Rough Route Map - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1798411
- Jim / cyclofiend.com
cyclotourist
Sep 15, 2013, 5:30:20 PM9/15/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
And another grand day out! That SFR club really has their act
together, looks like another great event!
> http://goo.gl/H8UBBL <http://goo.gl/H8UBBL>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
>
--
Cheers,
David
"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal
together, looks like another great event!
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
>
--
Cheers,
David
"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal
hsmitham
Sep 15, 2013, 9:46:20 PM9/15/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Mr. Cyclofiend,
Well done ride report! Just the breakfast burrito makes me wish I was on that ride...and yes the SFR does seem to have it together.
~Hugh
Manuel Acosta
Sep 15, 2013, 9:58:12 PM9/15/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Classy. Totally sorry that I missed out on this ride.
Looks like a grand old time!
I'm hoping, if the riding does well, to make it for the Marin Mountains 200k.
Toshi Takeuchi
Sep 15, 2013, 11:08:11 PM9/15/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Pretty much the only riding I've done since June is commuting to work
on my AHH a few times a week. However, it's not bad exercise
considering I get a solid hour of cycling with plenty of sweating
(luckily I have a shower at work). The Populaire was a perfect ride
for my friend and I to just enjoy the day and not have to worry about
time or being too tired.
I saw at least 3 other AHH. They were all built up differently. One
was a go light machine with a Mark's wrap in the back. Another had a
rando bag on Mark's rack on front. Mine had a front and rear rack with
a saddlebag and a rando bag up front. I could definitely have
lightened up for the ride, but this bike has been my best friend as of
late as is, so I had fun riding it that way.
Here's a picture of me (on the left) and my buddy courtesy of Deb Ford:
http://rx-bike-qd.smugmug.com/gallery/31881402_mHm24j/2766329843_ZF3nGf6#!i=2766384577&k=TFNtH7Z
It was a super fun ride and for a $5 entry fee, somehow SFR manages to
have such a fun picnic at the end with beers, snacks and a meal (and
fine company)!
Toshi
on my AHH a few times a week. However, it's not bad exercise
considering I get a solid hour of cycling with plenty of sweating
(luckily I have a shower at work). The Populaire was a perfect ride
for my friend and I to just enjoy the day and not have to worry about
time or being too tired.
I saw at least 3 other AHH. They were all built up differently. One
was a go light machine with a Mark's wrap in the back. Another had a
rando bag on Mark's rack on front. Mine had a front and rear rack with
a saddlebag and a rando bag up front. I could definitely have
lightened up for the ride, but this bike has been my best friend as of
late as is, so I had fun riding it that way.
Here's a picture of me (on the left) and my buddy courtesy of Deb Ford:
http://rx-bike-qd.smugmug.com/gallery/31881402_mHm24j/2766329843_ZF3nGf6#!i=2766384577&k=TFNtH7Z
It was a super fun ride and for a $5 entry fee, somehow SFR manages to
have such a fun picnic at the end with beers, snacks and a meal (and
fine company)!
Toshi
Mike
Sep 16, 2013, 10:52:24 AM9/16/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Hey Jim, what a great ride. Glad you were able to get out and do it. That sure is a huge turnout, getting up there towards a SIR level of participation. I don't think we've ever had an event here in OR with a 100 riders.
As usual, pictures of my old stomping grounds make me homesick.
Belated happy birthday!
--mike
Cyclofiend Jim
Sep 16, 2013, 11:49:37 AM9/16/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Just got the email report from RBA Rob Hawks, who confirmed 95 started and ~50% (by show of hands estimate) were new to brevets. Along the route, there were at least four riders who got the "elevator pitch" for brevets from me - only because they had asked and said how much they wanted to try it.
I think the photos which may really make you homesick are probably going to come from the Marin Mountains 200K - http://ridebike.org/sfr/adventure/marin-mountains-200/ - which I believe Manny will be riding. (Unfortunately, I think I lack the miles and know I'm committed elsewhere this weekend).
Thanks for the birthday wishes!
- Jim / cyclofiend.com
I think the photos which may really make you homesick are probably going to come from the Marin Mountains 200K - http://ridebike.org/sfr/adventure/marin-mountains-200/ - which I believe Manny will be riding. (Unfortunately, I think I lack the miles and know I'm committed elsewhere this weekend).
Thanks for the birthday wishes!
- Jim / cyclofiend.com
William
Sep 16, 2013, 12:42:42 PM9/16/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
I was there, and it was a lovely day. It was my longest ride in quite a while, but I was determined to do it because I have a two-day, 130 mile adventure this Thursday/Friday. I saw Toshi at the finish, and spotted several Rivendells. A number of Hilsens, including a super tall orange 2TT one. On the return through Marin I was passed by a group of touring guys led by an Atlantis with 'stache bars. I was on my Black Mountain Road bike, which did great.
Salmoning through the America's Cup crowds was quite a chore, but fortunately I wasn't in that much of a hurry. Great day out.
Hugh Smitham
Sep 16, 2013, 12:56:48 PM9/16/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Hey Jim,
Forgot to wish you Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday great way to celebrate another year with a ride.
~Hugh
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/gfctN9e5EII/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
Andy Smitty Schmidt
Sep 16, 2013, 1:02:16 PM9/16/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Looks like a great ride. No Rando events for me this year, although I'm thinking I'll do the Verboort Populaire in Nov.
--Smitty
Michael Hechmer
Sep 16, 2013, 4:44:52 PM9/16/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
I don't usually read ride reports anymore and approaching 69 am not at all motivated to go past 3 hours, and I don't live in the Bay area (but visit once or twice a year) but i did read this report; and enjoyed the pictures too. No doubt a great day. Happy Birthday.
BTW, I'll be spending my birthday, 10/15, stuffed into an airplane bound to Oakland. I'm hoping to bring my Trek 620, which is being retrofitted with S&S & 650b. Two weeks in CA. Would be happy to hook up with Rivinistas for a relaxed fun ride.
Michael
Deacon Patrick
Sep 16, 2013, 5:38:59 PM9/16/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
What a fantastic birthday ride! Happy birthday.
With abandon,
Patrick
Cyclofiend Jim
Sep 17, 2013, 11:23:42 AM9/17/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Y'know, I THOUGHT after the fact that might have been your bike -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclofiend/9761623313/
sorry we didn't meet up in person - I did cross paths with the tall 2TT Hilsen, as well. I thought I remembered him being on-list, but couldn't come up with the photo of him and his new bike.
- Jim
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclofiend/9761623313/
sorry we didn't meet up in person - I did cross paths with the tall 2TT Hilsen, as well. I thought I remembered him being on-list, but couldn't come up with the photo of him and his new bike.
- Jim
William
Sep 17, 2013, 12:24:20 PM9/17/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Captured! Indeed that is mine. I think it is an existence proof that some black componentry can still look good on a bike.
William
Sep 17, 2013, 12:28:42 PM9/17/13
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Also, in your photostream that's me crouched down in Buster Posey pose during Rob's pre-ride message. When he calls people to pull in front and center, I always pull in, FRONT AND CENTER
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages