A couple of good rides

Well, I finally got out on a couple of bike rides.  It has been a long time, much to my dismay.  I got a new Cannondale cross frame, which I built up with Campy Record stuff off of one of my old road bikes.  It is a gorgeous bike that is a pleasure to ride.  I haven't had a chance to weigh it yet, but I am sure that I dropped at least a couple of pounds from my old C-dale cross bike.

Anyway, on Monday, A1, Jimmy Neutron, and Bill came out for a wet, wet ride.  We had decided that we were going rain or shine, and I think that all of us were hoping for rain, and we got it.  We took off to do my favorite loop through Occidental and Willow Creek State Park.  It has been a while since I had been out with Bill on our single bikes.  It brought back plenty of memories as every time we regrouped, he would give a little "Wahoo!"  By the time we got to Duncan Road, Bill had worn all the way through his brake pads, so he had metal on metal when he braked.  It was a horrible sound, and I don't think it slowed him down too much.  We had called Claire before Duncan, and she drove the Hub Bus out and met us for Mexican food at La Tapitia in Guerneville.  We were plenty wet and cold at that point, but still in great spirits.

Yesterday, Claire and I loaded up the Ibis tandem and drove out to Duncans Mills for a ride up Willow Creek road from Hwy. 1.  It was not raining.  We had attempted the same ride last week, but had been turned around by the lightning and pouring rain.  Actually the pouring rain hadn't bothered us, but the lightning out on Hwy. 116 was a little frightening.  On the way up Willow Creek Road yesterday, I was trying my best to dodge puddles to keep our feet as dry as possible.  At one point we came around a corner, and encountered a little flooding.  We had to ride about 200 yards through water that was about 2 feet deep.  It was pretty funny.  I couldn't see the road, but I could see the road markers on the side, so we just stayed in the middle.  At one point we hit some cattle grates, which took us both a little by surprise.  I wish we had had the camera.  It was entertaining to look down at the front wheel and not be able to see the hub.  We hit a couple of other patches just like that before we finally made it to the climb.  Our feet were not dry anymore.  We had thought about heading through Willow Creek State Park, but decided instead to drop down into Occidental and then ride down Bohemian Hwy. back out to our car.

On Saturday I will be doing the first Grasshopper race with A1, Jimmy Neutron, and hopefully Eric the Fireman and Bill.  I am hoping for rain.