Weekend Ride: 7/26 - Don't Want to Miss a Thing...

Another weekend, another early Saturday morning gathering at O'Neill's!  This week's ride had it all - mystery riders, deadly snakes, 8 riders but 7 bikes, and heat (my god, the heat!).  The ride was a flat 65 mile ride up to the Jemez Dam (route here) through some beautiful scenery heading north through the valley and then south through a set from Breaking Bad before cruising through Corrales on the way back home.

There were 5 riders leaving Nob Hill - Evil Gary, John, Greg, Captain Awesome, and Captain Snookums - heading out to pick up more riders along the way.  An hour of riding took us to the meetup point where we joined up with Eric and Laura, riding a spiffy orange tandem and wearing matching 2013 Top Fundraiser jerseys!  While they are certainly fast riding their own bikes, like Voltron, with their powers combined they were fearsomely fast on the flats, screaming north at a pace of ~21 mph.

A gorgeous ride!

We split into two groups  (well, two riders took pity on me who missed joining the speed train lead by Laura & Eric) on the cruise into Bernallio.  After a quick regroup and refresh, we snaked our way through the city past the casino and on the uphill portion of the ride to the top of the dam.  Some excitement on the way up as Andrew and I saw a relatively large rattlesnake on the side of the road. Welcome to the wild west!

A rattlesnake who wanted to ride but had no bike or legs

At the top of the dam in the shade, we refreshed and relaxed in the shade.  Well half of us anyway, the other half embarking on a pushup and sit up session egged on by Andrew.  This brought a one of the best quotes of the weekend - "my ass is too thin".  I won't say who it was, but bonus points on who can guess.  (Hint, not me).

Just as we were saddling up and ready to head down hill, we had our biggest surprise of the weekend - the glorious return of Jeff - who had bike all the way solo hoping to catch us at the top!  It was great to get to ride with the Mr. Miyagi of the Penultimates.  We headed off, dropping back down and heading south down Paseo de Vulcan through some very desert looking scenery.  A catastrophic flat, a quick repair, and we back on our way.

A quick tire change by Mr. Miyagi

Another rally stop for refueling and filling water bottles, and we were headed toward Corrales on the last 25 miles of the ride.  A very hot last 25 miles of the ride.  Weather reports said it was close to 99 deg around noon, but expert opinion on the ride pegged the temperature closer to 120. At Alameda, Laura, Eric, and Jeff split off to head up Tramway and back home, with the 5 of us headed back toward Nob Hill on the Diversion Channel trail - a marvelously shaded route at noon. 

Ha! All stuck behind me on the hill!

We all survived and rolled into Nob Hill shortly before noon.  Some went to a late breakfast at Serafins, with most to limp home toward shade and air conditioning.  In short, a good ride!