Sights of the San Francisco area

Last Friday I traveled to San Francisco for the first time. So much to do in so little time. I arrived at the San Jose airport about 11:30pm and met Jason and Ava as I came out of the terminal. Saturday morning Jason and I jumped on some bicycles and caught a few glimpses of the city. We saw the trolley cars turn around and met Cory and Ava at Blue Bottle Café. I had a sip of the coffee, but I’m not much of a coffee drinker so I can’t tell you if there was anything special about it. I saw some things during the alleycat but not much since we were riding through significant traffic. Sunday I got to see a lot along the bay as we rode to Palo Alto to watch the Prologue of the Tour of California. A beautiful town from what I saw. We caught the train back to San Francisco, a little easier than riding. Monday I really took in some good views of the city. We borrowed a tandem, so while Jason steered I took the time to look around. We headed across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito to view the start of stage 1 of the Tour. Sausalito is also a beautiful town. On our ride back towards San Francisco we rode up the headlands and stopped at two vantage points that were former military batteries. Both provided great views of San Francisco, the bay area, Alcatraz, and the Pacific. We continued back down the coastal hills, across the Golden Gate Bridge, back into San Francisco, and headed towards the beach and the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately I had a flight to catch that night, so I didn’t get to spend more time taking in the city. Next time I’ll plan to spend more time there. The pictures I took are within this gallery.

(The photos are also in the slide show on the right)

I left my heart in San Francisco

Alleycat races were born in Toronto in 1989 and quickly spread through the bike messenger culture during the 1990’s. The informal races generally involve a list of several checkpoints throughout an urban area and a designated finish. The form of these checkpoints can vary from race to race. Sometimes each checkpoint is directly pointed out, other times they are listed as a set of hints, and other times checkpoints aren’t revealed until a previous checkpoint is reached. Usually the checkpoints are listed on a manifest which is handed out 5 to 30 minutes prior to the race start. Someone working the check point will sign off or stamp the manifest to prove the checkpoint was reached. Sometimes there is more required at each checkpoint, such as writing down the words carved in a phone booth, or drinking an entire beer in order to get the manifest signed. The first rider to reach the finish after successfully visiting all check points and completing all tasks wins the race. Recall, they are informal races, streets remain open to all normal traffic, so riders must factor in the urban congestion.

Saturday, I took part in my first alleycat [as a rider], in San Francisco. It was the ‘I left my heart in San Francisco’ Alleycat. I was joining Jason and Ava in the pursuit of victory, or at least a good time chaotically riding around the city. I’m pretty sure that I traveled through about half the city, but I really have no idea as I spent my time trying to stay hot on their tails and keeping my wits about me to stay away from car doors and moving vehicles. A majority of checkpoints had a heart or Valentine’s theme; go to the heart in Union Square (pictured), get a souvenir penny from a machine with I left my heart in San Francisco imprinted on it, read a poetic quote, etcetera. Quite enjoyable, especially since I was in shorts and a t-shirt by race end and looking at a bright blue sky.

Motivator

It's been nearly three weeks since I was last on a bike for any kind of ride. I've been trying to be on a break so I don't mentally burn out too early in the season after this last season lasted so long. However, I find it quite difficult since I only find myself thinking about the events I plan on competing in and how I'd like to improve. Physically I think it's been a good break, I've been getting some swimming in and generally just keeping busy with other things.

I jumped on the trainer though tonight, and my lungs felt like I'd smoked a pack of cigarettes or something. It was as if there was no volume to them, at least not what they seemed to have the last time I rode. It served as a warm up for what I plan to be my early season training kick start. I'll be in San Francisco for an extended weekend getting around by bicycle, so I'm sure there will be plenty to write about upon returning.

Year in Review: 'Cross off 2007

… and ring in 2008.

So here it is, a month and a half into 2008 and I’m finally finishing my cycling year in review. After a stellar performance at the 24 hours of Great Glen, I felt as if the final big weight was lifted off my shoulders. There were no particular events to stay trained for and after this culminating event of the summer I was feeling a little burned out. For the next 3 weeks I didn’t achieve more than 40 miles per week. I certainly lost some fitness, but in reality, I couldn’t stay at the level I was at for any longer, I needed to come down sometime.

There were still a few Root 66 races left and I was in the points lead for my consistent attendance and good finishes. I traveled back to Mt. Snow in September to put in a mentally redeeming ride on what was essentially the same course and the national championship course. I handily won the race in a field of 4, dropping nearly 30 minutes off my time from July. The series finally was at Winding Trails in Farmington where I put in a strong ride despite a somewhat noticeable lack of fitness. I time trialed the last lap when some people at the start/finish told me I was about 2 minutes down and I almost caught 2^nd in the last 200 yards except I missed the opportunity for a surprise jump on him when the noise of another cyclist approaching caught his attention. I took 3^rd and the series championship.

This led into cyclocross season. October 13 &14 marked my season opener as Taylor and I traveled to Gloucester, Massachusetts. Baptism by fire, with fields 100+ deep each day, and starting near the rear I learned a lot about ‘cross. Starts are very important, sand pits and other technical sections are my strengths, long straights and sections of power are my weaknesses. I tried to adjust accordingly on Sunday’s race, with a slight change in results. I also witnessed an extremely dramatic race as Tim Johnson rolled tire early in the Saturday Elite men’s race, only to fight his way back to a top ten finish. I became hooked on ‘cross after that weekend.

The following weekend was another double header with one heck of a race at Mansfield Hollow and exciting one at Southington. I was forced off my bike 7 times per lap at Mansfield and at Southington I was following Taylor in the last lap when he slid out in a hair pin bend. He fought back valiantly, but couldn’t quite make up the time lost.

At Dayville, we encountered a race in the rain. Initially I had a front row starting spot, but then the line was move up about 10 yards and some guy cut from the outside to in front of me on the inside. So I was forced to contend with him in front of me, then I got dirt in my eyes and couldn’t see very well for about 200 yards, totally throwing my start. I made up some time through some single track sections, but as I started the 2^nd lap in time trail catch mode, I made some stupid mistakes, like turning far too early for a turn and wrapping myself up in the tape.

Cheshire was also a great course for a mountain biker. I found this to be one of the most exhausting races with a lengthy run up that pushed me into the red zone further and further each lap. Easthampton, Mass. was a bitter cold race, I couldn’t feel my feet by the end, but I surged during the last lap to regain 3 or 4 positions by the finish.

The year ended with a cold, wet, some what icy, and snow dusted course at Warwick, RI. After getting caught up at the back of the pack during the start I made a strong effort during the first lap and a half to make up a lot of ground but faded towards the end of the race. It was a satisfying finish to the season, sort of. Natz Schamtz at Dayville, became a go, but after a snow storm dumped 10 inches on the course the race was postponed to early January, 2008. This became the season closer, and a fun one at that. Lee jumped on my hard tail to try out this ‘cross thing, Chris came along for the fun and support, and Taylor and I were looking to have some fun in the snow covered course. A 3^rd place finish was fitting for a long but fantastic season.