Santa Cruz AIDS Bike Ride Oct 1

[Trekkie Dad]

I am signing up for the Surf City Century, a bike ride on October 1 that benefits the Santa Cruz AIDS Project. While riders are not required to solicit additional donations, my bike club has already given me a check for $25 to pass along to SCAP. SCAP does not have an online donation page, but they do have a form for riders to turn in additional donations.

Frankly, I don't want to take away the spotlight from Mice Chat's team participation in the LA AIDS walk, so please don't send me money that you would otherwise give to the Mice Chat team. However, I will be happy to present your check along with my club's check on the day of the ride, should you wish to donate to SCAP through me. It can be made payable to the Santa Cruz AIDS Project, and I will PM my address to you for that purpose. If you don't want to go through me, they have an address posted at their web site.

Actually, I would rather have the participation of a few Mice Chatters than carry their checks to the ride. While I plan to do the 100 mile ride, there are shorter rides of 25 and 60 miles. If you are a cyclist living in the area or visiting at that time, I urge you to consider participating.

[Trekkie Dad]

Re: Santa Cruz AIDS Bike Ride Oct 1

The ride is now just a week away.

[Trekkie Dad]

Re: Santa Cruz AIDS Bike Ride Oct 1

I finished the bike ride today, and I'm please to report that Princess Buttercup (who also hosted Jimmie and me this weekend) gave a donation to SCAP along with my bike club.

I'll post a ride report in the near future.

[Trekkie Dad]

Surf City Century ride report

I don't often do a full century, but this one is very pretty, and it's
only 4700' of climbing, according to the organizers. The ride benefits
the Santa Cruz AIDS Project (SCAP), and while they are the organizers,
it's obvious they get a lot of help from the Santa Cruz County Cycling
Club.

I had planned to start closer to 7:00, but my late getaway from my host
family and long line at the registration table delayed me somewhat.
Still, I was on the road by 7:45. I had also left my bike computer at
home, which was both a blessing and a curse. I never really knew how
fast I was going, and I had to rely upon my sense of distance and my
knowledge of the course from last year, as well as the map, directions,
painted arrows, and other riders. I compensated by recording voice
memos on my cell phone at each stop noting arrival and departure times.
That would at least allow me to calculate an average speed based on the
published distance. Are you still with me?

As I passed a group on a hill, a woman called out, "Hey, Stockton!
Anyone else from your club riding?"

"As far as I know, I'm the only one."

Cath was the woman's name, and she is Joni's friend. Farther down the
road, Cath's group caught up with me, and I rode in their pack to the
first rest stop in Corralitos (mile 11.1), arriving at 8:25. I only
stayed about 5 minutes, deciding to ride at my own pace.

The route took us through Browns Valley and Hazel Dell. There was a bit
of a climb on Hazel Dell, so I found myself passing everyone until I
caught up to a woman who was riding alone. She hadn't seen many other
riders, but I assured her there were plenty behind me. We chatted for a
while, and then I picked it up after we caught up to a couple other
riders. A couple of miles later she got back on my wheel, saying that I
was one of the few riders who could hold a line. We rode into the
second stop together (Gizdich Ranch, mile 27.2, 9:27) and parted
company there.

Gizdich Ranch


Cyclists arriving at Gizdich


Decorations and Volunteers at Gizdich Ranch


I lingered longer at Gizdich longer than I intended (left at 9:44).
Cath's group came and went, and I passed them on the way to Aromas
(mile 35.3, 10:12). My rear derailler was having fits, so I asked the
mechanic to take a look at it, and 10 minutes later I was back on the
road.

"Sand Witches" at Aromas

Just out of Aromas is the steepest climb (but not the longest) up Carr
Rd. Of course my phone rang half way up. it was "Pixywingz", a
MiceChatter who lives in Aromas. I had left a message for her earlier,
but we were unable to meet as I was passing through.

I rode alone to the next stop in San Juan Bautista (mile 47.4, 11:07).
It was time for lunch, and San Juan Grade lay ahead. I found Cath and
her group there, but they were gone before I finished lunch, and I
didn't see them the rest of the day. I left San Juan at 11:35.

"Different Spokes" at San Juan Bautista lunch stop


Again I rode alone, riding at an unknown speed over San Juan Grade to
our next rest stop in Salinas. (mile 60.9, 12:30) My chain was getting
noisy, but they had no chain lube. Still, I stayed about 10 minutes
before heading out into the wind alone. It also began to sprinkle.

Salinas rest stop


The next rest stop (a fire station at mile 83.3) was a long way off,
but I found a parked SAG vehicle (mile 66.6) on one of the turns and
asked about chain lube. Relief! And there was a potty stop at a produce
market at mile 71.6. This long section was mostly flat and exposed to
the wind. Once it passed Castroville and approached Elkhorn Slough, it
got rollier and more protected. The sprinkles intensified, but the air
didn't feel too cold, and the road was barely damp. I arrived at the
fire station at 2:15. There I stayed about 15 minutes. I put my vest
back on and decided I'd skip the last stop.

Finally, a view of the ocean

As I got closer to the coast, the road got damper, but the rain
stopped. The splash was minimal. At about mile 90, I finally got a
glimpse of the ocean at Sunset Beach. I had to take a couple of
pictures. And at mile 92.6, I saw the last rest stop and changed my
mind. I downed a few strawberries and a can of Pepsi and took some
pictures. I probably stayed about 10 minutes, but it was worth it. I
got back on the bike and continued to pass other riders (save one, who
passed and let me ride his wheel for a couple miles) all the way back
to Aptos.

Final rest stop


I rolled into Aptos at 3:45, seven hours after I left. After
subtracting all the time I stopped, it turns out I was in the saddle
for 5:25, and my average speed I calculated at 18.5 mph.

The post-ride meal consisted of salad, pasta, tri-tip (which I passed
up) tofu skewers, and rice pilaf. This is a well-organized ride. Except
for the uneven spacing of rest stops, each one was well-stocked. SAG
drivers would park along the route for a time and then move on. (I
think I saw the one that helped me about six times.) Very reassuring.
Road markings were clear, if small, but if you knew where to look, you
could find them. Crossings on major roads were marked with big yellow
signs borrowed from the bike club. And the volunteers were very upbeat.