The Roubaix, a story evolves.

In my prior post I told my story regarding the old Fuji and the new Fuji.  Other than the new Fuji is a racing frame and I do not anticipate racing there is really nothing about the new Fuji I do not like.

The "new" Fuji's inaugural ride was February 6, 2011.  I found the steering to be "twitchy" at first but not overly disconcerting.  I have ridden less than 300 miles on the Fuji with the Ultegra groupo.  I found the bike ride to be smooth.  The wheels, Mavic Open Pro with 32 spokes per wheel, rolled very easily.  The compact drive train, a 34/50 combination, shifted very nicely.  I missed the granny gear bail out a triple provides on some steep climbs but I was able to get up the hill anyway.  My low gear now is a 34 X 28 as the Ultegra long cage rear derailler handles nothing bigger than a 28.  But a new vision was forming in the back of my brain.

Scott had been johnny-on-the-spot at the Las Vegas bike show when he learned a nearby competitor had lost the Specialized dealership.  Since completion of the necessary paperwork we have been incorporating various Specialized bikes into the shop.  Scott picked up a 2010 56 centimeter Specialized Roubaix at a good close-out price.  I stood over it and found it to be an appropriate bike fit.  It came with a complete Shimano 105 groupo.  I knew I would have to sell one of my current crop of bicycles to be able to afford the Roubaix.  I began to imagine the Fuji as a 105 bike and what its worth might be.  Initially I had stars in my eyes imagining what I might get for the Fuji.  The plan as I saw it was to take all the Ultegra stuff off the Fuji and replace it with 105.  The Roubaix would receive the Ultegra componentry.

What has happened after clearing it with Scott was the Roubaix received all the Ultegra componentry but my Cannondale Synapse frame has received the 105 and the various "old school" componentry originally on the Cannondale is going on the Fuji.  I will keep the steel Fuji.

The Cannondale Synapse is a replacement frame like the Fuji Connoiseur.  Noted in the previous blog entry was a mention of my acquiring a Cannondale 3.0 bicycle.  This bicycle dates from the days prior to replacement derailler hangers.  I believe Cannondale came out with replaceable rear derailler hangers the next year after I purchased my 3.0.  In any event my derailler hanger cracked after approximately 15 years of service.  I called around to various dealers inquiring if Cannondale would warranty the frame.  Mike's Bikes in downtown Sacramento said to bring it in and they would have the rep check it out.  Obviously Cannondale warrantied the frame and provided me with the Synapse frame and carbon fiber fork.  I moved the Shimano 600 brakes and crank over to the new frame; added a new inexpensive 9 speed Shimano hub wheel coupled with Dura Ace 9 speed bar end shifters and voila a new bike to ride.  It has served me well.  

A month, approximately, after the Fuji's first ride, I completed the transfer of the Ultegra groupo to the Roubaix and rode out to meet Geno, Herb, Jim, Mike and Eric in the El Dorado hills.  I achieved the buzz for having a carbon fiber bike.  Eric was the first to get a new carbon fiber bike the previous spring which he bought at Patriot.  He requested some component changes which fed my thinking about changing the componentry to Ultegra from 105.

I was peppered with questions about how fast it accelerated and went up hills.  To the first I just shrugged as I have almost always been the first to accelerate from a dead stop at a traffic light and look back to see everyone else 50 yards behind me, to my surprise.   The same when I might accelerate with minimal effort to the front to relieve someone only to look back and see I have dropped everyone.  The Roubaix did not change any of the preceding.  As for going up hills I really feel that is more dependent on the condition of the engine.  I still chase Geno up hills.  Nine out of ten times he is waiting for me and the others at the top.  That has not changed.  The bike as it now sits weighs 20 pounds.  The wheels are not light weight but they are sturdy and roll like they will go forever.  The wheels represent the one piece where I could lighten the bike considerably.  Scott's two carbon fiber bikes both weigh in around 15 to 16 pounds each on large frames.  He has light weight wheels.

Pictures of the Roubaix build are below.

Roubaix almost stripped with the parts on the Cannondale in the background.

The Cannondale with the Roubaix in the background.

The Fuji with parts from the Cannondale.

The one experience on the Roubaix I find significant happened on the first day.  The others had started from the CSUS Aquatic Center parking lot.  After leaving them there I skedaddled home to catch Marcia before she left for an overnight with the VOCARE team.  VOCARE (vo- car- ee) is a Christian renewal experience for 20 somethings put on by 20 somethings with support from clergy and a few other older people.  After Marcia left home I pedaled on over to Patriot to weigh my bike, 20 pounds, 3 ounces.
I had left my pump behind and noticed a few blocks away from the shop.  I returned to the shop for the pump.   I had taken a circuitous route home and during my self-talk as I rode along I said to my self: "Self, lets keep riding."  The idea really appealed but as I had already put in 40 miles and it was getting late I probably shouldn't so I didn't.

I find the previous train of thought significant in regards to the comfort of the bike.  I had not burned myself out, nor was my butt sore (I kept the Specialized Body Geometry saddle that came stock with the bike), and the bike just rolls along.  Other owners of carbon fiber bikes describe the ride as less harsh than metal bikes.  I still feel the road through the frame but maybe it really is dampening the road feedback so as not to be harsh and debilitating, i.e. the body's muscles do not have react to the feedback quite as energetically as it might on a metal bike.  I have ridden steel and aluminum but not titanium and could never determine for myself the difference in ride feel.  I am not sure I can yet.

Specialized Roubaix as she rolls with 150 miles

No Bicycling Across the US this coming summer

Due to Marcia's summer sabbatical, July, August and September, I informed Bob A. I could not do the planned bike trip this coming summer.  I hope the future allows me to accomplish this goal soon.

Bicycling wise I have been working on the following story.  My bicycling journey began years ago with a Schwinn Continental given to me by a friend, Gary, with whom I worked at Mid-Valley Youth Center in Salem, Oregon.  It was a typical Schwinn as it was composed of a plumber's pipe frame with serviceable components including steel wheels.

My friend, Michael, had connected with a bunch from a new bike shop just down the street from where he lived.  It was a collective bike shop, co-owned by several people. It had service bays for people from the community to come in and work on their own bikes.  It was called the Bicycle Doctors.  The three original members were Steve W., Steve D. and Martha as I recall.  You could ask for free advice from whomever was working in the store.  They also sold bicycles and worked on bikes besides being a source of information.  One of the brands they sold was Fuji.

The bike store was closed on Sundays.  The collective went riding on Sundays inivitng friends they had met through the shop to ride with them.  Generally the route was from the shop in West Salem, west and south toward Independence with a stop at Taylor's Drug Store for refresments which was about half-way.  It was Michael who informed me of the Sunday ride.  I agreed to meet them at Taylor's as it was only three miles from my home at the time in Monmouth.  I joined them at Taylor's indulging in a fresh lemon flavored coca cola in a small coca cola labled glass.

Taylor's had been a local icon for many decades.  It was the meeting place when I was in junior high and high school.  Flavored cokes for 5 cents, 10 cents and 25 cents were the de rigeur of the day.  Generally one went there with a friend or friends or to meet up with friends.  You could nurse a 5 cent coke and shoot the breeze until something better came up or if nothing else came up go home because it was time to do so, like dinner time.

So I nursed my coke while the others indulged in ice cream treats, such as milk shakes or a two scoop cone.  We sat at the counter just like Michael and I had years before except now we rode bikes.  Back then bikes were not cool as Michael can attest.  His parents bought him a new Pugeot when we were in the 8th grade and as I recall was ridiculed by the boys for being seen on such a machine.  I can't recall how the girls reacted.  I may have even partaken in the ridicule of my friend.  The tables were soon to turn.

The Bicycle Doctors had two Fuji Americas in the store during the summer of 1977.  Michael bought one of them and rode it with the others to Taylor's on that sunny Sunday.  They were wearing the wool shorts with real chamois pads and wool jerseys.  I showed up in a t-shirt and cut-off levis.  Once finished with our treats we hopped on our bikes and headed south out of Independence to cross the Willamette on the Independence bridge.  As the group started up the bridge I quickly fell behind and by the time I reached the top the others were off the bridge and speeding away.  I sped down the bridge's incline, only to look up at the bottom and see tiny dots disappearing around a bend in the road.  I knew I would never be able to catch them.  I turned around and headed home.  That was the first indication the Schwinn was a second class (or worse) bike.

The next indication came after riding the Schwinn into Salem from my home in Monmouth to spend all day working on a newsletter.  I did not stop working on the newsletter to eat lunch or even take a break.  When we  finished I hopped on the bike and took off for home.  I was probably 8 to 10 miles from home when my poor butt screamed at me to 'get of this poor excuse for a bicycle seat!'   The seat was a set of springs connected to the nose and radiating out toward the rear to connect to the back and covered by vinyl.  As soon as I hopped off my butt was screaming 'get back on this is worse!'  What could I do but get back on.  I rode two or three miles to Rickreall and called Marcia, my wife, to "come get me, I can't go any further."

My oldest child, Dameon, was born in December, 1977.  As result of his good timing we received a healthy tax return.  Marcia conceded to my wanting to spend our tax return on buying a bicycle.  So in the spring of 1978 I bought the other Fuji America.  The America at the time was Fuji's flagship touring bicycle.  It was a beautiful Rainbow Blue with chrome forks, seat tubes and chain stays.  The componentry was Sun Tour deraillers and Sun Tour G caliper brakes.  The crank was a Sugino with a 34, 42, 52 triple chain ring connected to a six cog freewheel.  Eighteen gears, just imagine!  The hubs were Sunshine sealed hubs.  I changed the rims  enough over time I cannot now recall what the stock rims were.

I rode the Fuji everywhere.  Soon I was gapping everyone else going over the Independence bridge to Salem.  I bought panniers and a handlebar bag but never toured anywhere.  I did commute to work on it.  I changed the components keeping up with what was hot but eventually bought a second bike, a Specialized Rock Combo, with drop handlebars then a third bike, a Cannondale racing frame bike.  All this made possible because I went to work at Bicycle Doctors.

I think of the America as being born and raised in Oregon, subject to the rains and a not very regular maintainance schedule.  We moved to California in 1990.  All my bikes came with me, of course.  I continued to use the Fuji, on occasion, as my commute bike from our home in Berkeley to work in San Leandro.

When Marcia graduated from seminary we moved to Sacramento where she had been hired for her first job as a priest in the Episcopal church.

Between the 3 bikes I rode the Fuji as much as I did the other 2 although I eventually converted the Specialized Rock Combo into my commute bike.  The Fuji America was the touring/winter bike with fenders in the winter and low gears for the hills during the summer.

Several years ago during a ride I heard a creak.  I went through several procedures trying to isolate the creak but could not pin point where its origin was.  Then one morning as I was rushing out the garage to make a Sacramento Wheelmen breakfast ride I did something that caused the bike to creak before I mounted.  I may have put pressure on a pedal and caused the frame to flex.  Once I knew what to do to cause the creaking sound I did it several more times but could not determine what specifically was the source.  I hopped on the bike and rode off to the ride start.  At the start was the owner of our local bike shop, Scott.  I got his attention and asked him if he could determine the source of the creak.  Scott flexed the pedal/crank arm assembly and pointed to a spot just above the bottom bracket lug on the seat tube and said "Your frame is cracked."  He advised me it would be OK to ride as long as the bottom bracket assembly was intact because it would hold everything together.  I went for a short ride with the group then rode home and hung the Fuji America up.

Three years ago faced with a decision about my future having been one of many, last in-first out casualties of our great recession, I decided to go into semi-retirement.  I wanted to do something I enjoyed doing as a second source of income.  I love bicycling so applied at Scott's shop, Patriot Bicycles.  Scott hired me and so there I was one Tuesday afternoon when the rep for Fuji bicycles came in to the shop.  Patriot does a strong business in BMX bicycles and Fuji owns SE bikes.  During a break in the conversation with Scott I asked the rep if Fuji would warranty my frame.  The rep said he could make it happen.

It took me several months to get the America into the shop so the rep could see it and warranty it.  He was able to persuade someone back at the warehouse to send a replacement frame.  I was excited anticipating a second touring frame and what I would do with the bike I had previously built up to replace the America.

What I received as a replacement was a Fuji Connoiseur.  A Reynolds 725 Chrome-Moly steel frame.  I looked all over the frame for the bosses and eyelets needed on a decent touring frame.  The only threaded bosses to be fund were the water bottle mounts found on all bicycles today.  I pulled the fork out of its packaging noticing right away they were straight forks not the gently raked forks to be found on a touring frame.  As I assayed the fork for bosses I noticed in bright bold red paint "Racing" on the fork.  I went back and looked at the frame again.  Sure enough, below the Reynolds 725 sticker were the words "Racing Frame."

There was no way this frame was going to become a touring bicycle as to many adaptive adjustments would have to be made to get bags and equipment on it.



I subscribe to "Bicycle Quarterly," a publication out of Seattle with a focus on Randonneur bicycling.  It is edited by Jan Heine.  Randonneur is French word for riding long distances.  I thought the Fuji might become the long distance bicycle.

Once I decided what to do with the Fuji I had to decide what bicycling componentry to put on the bike. I chose to go with Shimano Ultegra.  First rate componentry but not at a Dura Ace, top of the line, price.  I began ordering the pieces and parts through Scott eventually getting a complete bike build.

Front derailler

Compact drive.

Rear derailler

Front hub

Rear hub with 10 gear cassette.

The complete Fuji.  Note the Dura Ace bar end shifters, Nitto Noodle handle bars connected to the bike via a Technomic's stem.

The complete bike, but there is more to the story to be described in the next post.

Last appointment with electrophisiological cardiologist

A friend had misplaced her link to this blog and asked me to resend it.  In turn, I began to think about this blog and how it has been some time since I entered anything.  And, as the mind turns,  I recalled one of the topics of interest was my health.  Thus I am reporting the last meeting, or more to the point, the first meeting, with my cardiologist who specializes in the electronic monitoring of my heart and many other hearts.
 What can I say?  It was very anti-climatic.  A technician downloaded the accumulated data.  Asked me about a few high spots, i.e. "are you still bicycling?"  "Yes," then removed the print out and disappeared out the door saying the doctor would see me shortly.  Approximately 20 - 30 minutes later the doctor came in and said nothing remarkable appeared on the print out.  He then presented the option of the device being removed.  Whoa, it can come out?  Whenever I choose?  All right then I will wait until after our next meeting.  Now scheduled for the end of March.  He then proffered his opinion the initial episode may have been attributed to dehydration rather than a heart issue.  What I failed to do was pull the 18 oz bottle of water I had in my coat pocket and explain to him on non-cycling days I drink 3 to 4 of them and on cycling days 6 to 7 when I am at home.  Therefore I don't think dehydration was the issue.  More like, I lost control on a rough patch of pavement, hit my head and suffered pre-event amnesia amounting to about 5 seconds of my life I will never get back, memory wise, that is.  I didn't, so I left him with his opinion and I still have mine.    

Still Catching Up: Tour of NW CA days, Day 11

Day 11: June 4, Garberville to Redwood River Resort.  The day was primarily grey, drizzly at times.  We stopped in Benbow to see the Inn and witnessed the beginning of the set up for the Reggae festival.  It was a short day, around 19 miles.  It actually started to rain just before we arrived at Redwood River Resort.  I remember the highway corner the resort sets on from the many trips south or north by car.  I do not recall the resort because it sets back off the sharp, narrow, corner, with a slight uphill if going south and the entrance was easily missed but not the entrance to the House of Mystery sitting opposite across the road with a big ol' sign.  In my old VWs I would have to shift down.    The House of Mystery wasn't very busy according to Bob and Geno who went to their restaurant for a hamburger.  What has recently happened is Cal Trans has straightened out the corner and installed a new bridge across the river.  The Redwood River Resort is now much more noticeable while the House of Mystery is even more mysterious because it is less obvious when going through the new corner.
I elected to prepare dinner for us and decided on spaghetti as I knew from a perusal of the resort store they had the makings, Ragu sauce and noodles.  I also found frozen hamburger but no fresh vegetables and no onions.  I did find potatoes but somehow when I thought about spaghetti with potatoes it just didn't appeal.
After dinner we watched our favorite past-time for this trip, the weather reports.  It was looking more favorable for a change.

Day 12: June 5, Redwood River Resort to McKarricher State Park.  It was overcast when we left the resort.  We rolled down 101 to a store directly across from Standish Hickey State Park.  We feasted on breakfast burritos, warmed up in a microwave and washed down with fresh coffee.  While there a young couple rolled in from the park to get breakfast foods, fresh eggs for one.  I remember seeing them on the road the day before.  If I recall correctly they came past the resort in the rain and it was getting dark.  They were headed to San Francisco.
Down the road a piece is Leggitt and the junction to Highway 1.  We paused a moment and two cyclists came zooming into town but didn't turn onto Highway 1.  We did and shortly after doing so began to pay our dues to get to the Pacific Ocean.  We gained around 1000 feet rising to 1781feet.  We stopped to rest and chat about another granny gear climb.  The descent though was very long bottoming out near zero feet in elevation. Much of the descent was following South Fork Creek.  The air was warming but we weren't getting full sun shine yet.  To do so we had another granny gear climb of 600 feet over a couple miles.  Both of the days climbs were primarily shaded by deciduous and evergreens of differing varieties.
We paid our dues and were rewarded with sunshine and great views of the Pacific.

The Pacific and 4 happy travelers.  Picture w/Geno's camera by East Coasters in a big hurry.  

This was my first look at the Pacific in a couple years.  It is a good and deeply mysterious feeling.  We meandered down the coast stopping in Westport for food (a bagel and cream cheese with two peanut butter cookies for chasers).  Before leaving Westport I filled out a survey form meant for cyclists at a little wayside.
Highway 1 goes up and down quite a bit.  No climb was steep nor very long and the sunshine tempered by cool ocean breezes made the climbs very tolerable.  It was a fun day.  The town of Cleone was where McKarricher Part was located.  We stopped at a store for more food and chatted with locals about where to eat dinner.  Turns out a Mexican Restaurant located right next to the park got the highest recommendation.  Works for us.
An interesting phenomena I began to notice was how many businesses on the coast did not take credit or debit cards.  I surmised it was because of bank charges.  The Mexican Restaurant would take an out of town check or cash.
After dinner Geno, Frank and I walked down to the shore to watch the sea lions and seals frolicking in the waves and rocks.  We were very entertained.

Day 13, June 6, McKarricher State Park to Van Damme State Park.  Per our usual morning routine Bob and I trailed Geno and Frank out of camp.  We road a bike trail through McKarricher to Fort Bragg, following the shore line, only about 4 or 5 miles and caught up with them at Egg Heads, a very popular breakfast spot in Fort Bragg.  After breakfast we wandered the town checking out the outdoor store so Bob could purchase a new air mattress.  He had grown weary waking up every morning on the ground.  He tried very hard to find the leak but to no avail so bought a new one.  We also elected to do laundry while in Fort Bragg.  It was to be another short day so time was not an issue.

Van Damme Park is a few miles south of Mendocino.  I arrived first.  I rolled up to the ranger station prepared to pay a bike/hiker camp fee and was told I owed $30 for a camp site.  Having only paid $5 the night before for a bike/hiker camp I was astounded.  I pressed the gentleman a little bit so he got out his training manual and found the correct information indicating it was only $5.  Apparently the state fiscal woes had shook up the state parks quite a bit.  I am guessing a lot of desk jockeys now found themselves out on the front lines doing a job they didn't know much about.  The ranger at McKarricher admitted to being new and this gentleman had a compatriot enter the station who also indicated they were new at the job.
I picked my spot, set up my tent, showered, and met a man from Fair Oaks who was partaking in an annual family camping outing at Van Damme.  He had noticed my bicycle and was checking it out when I came out of the showers.   He invited me up to their camp site.  It was maybe an hour later when the three amigos showed up.  They had no problems with paying the bike hiker fee.  Gee, I wonder why?
After setting up his tent and showering Geno and I hiked up to the resort above us to see what dinner prices were like.  It was pretty expensive so we went across the road to the store and gas station.  To our delight we discovered they served hot food with a view of the ocean to boot.  We went back to camp to report our findings to Frank and Bob.  We ate dinner up there at the store.  After dinner Bob and I went looking for the man from Fair Oaks camp site.  Turned into quite a hike as they were located on the north bluff overlooking our camp site.  We chatted for awhile then took a trail back to our camp site which was about half the distance of the original hike.

Day 14, June 7, Van Damme State Park to Ukiah Sunrise Motel.
It rained on us during the night.  Not hard but enough to pack up a wet tent the next morning.  Breakfast was at the same store.  It was overcast on the coast but we were heading inland today.  We headed east on Airport Comptche Road.   There were several low key climbs before topping out on a ridge.  We stopped to see the Pygmy Forest.  Interesting geological fact was the park was directly east of Van Damme and contiguous with it.  If we had known and wanted to we could have taken a trail to the Pygmy Forest.  A micro climate created these small pine trees.  We did an easy descent amongst the Redwoods to reach Comptche Ukiah Road.  We rode a long descent into Comptche to the store for food and drink.  The sun was shining and it was warm.  We had a choice here.  We could ride due south to Hendy Woods State Park or go due east and end up in Ukiah.  Going east would cut a day off of the trip thus catching up with our schedule as layovers had put us a day or so behind.  As you might have guessed we elected to go east.  Geno had told us we would encounter some tough climbs.  HE WAS NOT WRONG!!  A few miles out of Comptche we encountered the first 10% grade lasting two miles.  Another long, long descent to a valley and a stop to admire some sort of long haired Asian cows.  There was a road to a Buddhist retreat center located next to the field with the Asian cows.
We rolled along and it began to feel like we were climbing, it was subtle, but the legs do not lie.  We stopped at Orr's Hot Springs Resort to eat lunch.  Bob and I were preparing to mount our bikes when an employee asked us if we were heading toward Ukiah.  We said yes and he told us it was a very steep climb but after the 3rd 180 corner it got better.  He rode it every other day.  I am here to say it did not get better until you reached the very top or summit just before the descent.  There was a point where it probably stopped being 15% but only leveled off to 10%.  There was also the false summit where one went down but back up again and down and back up again and all those ups seemed steep.  We stopped at the top to look out toward the east overlooking Ukiah.  The wind was blowing and it was refreshing up on this hill.  Next we had to deal with a steep, on the brakes all the time to control one's speed, until the road finally leveled out.  Geno and I stopped in Ukiah to wait for Frank and Bob.  We decided to find a place to eat an early dinner and chose a Chinese Restaurant.  While seated at the table Geno looked at us and asked, "What do you guys think about spending the night in a motel?"  No one had a negative response.  I believe we were all thinking it and Geno said it for us.  We found a reasonable rate and settled in.  We staked our damp tents down to dry out and they did.

Day 15, June 8, Ukiah to Lakeport, Willow Point RV Campground.
We ate breakfast in Ukiah then headed out ostensibly for Harbin Hot Springs just outside of Middletown, a ride of 60 to 70 miles.  Doing so would put us a day ahead of our original schedule.  The ride today was relatively easy.  No hard climbs but we were on Highway 20 which is a very busy highway but does have, for the most part, nice wide shoulders.  We turned off at Scott's Valley Highway and rode it into Lakeport.  This is a very low key road and perfect for cyclists.  It leads directly into Lakeport.  We had lunch and the discussion centered on moving on to Harbin Hot Springs or looking for a place to stay here.  I was feeling OK and thought another 35 miles was doable.  The others were saying stopping would be OK and let's check out the possibilities here first then if nothing is available we can move on.  Our waitress recommended Willow Point.  We road down there and it was a very nice spot.  We were able to choose a camp site right on the edge of Clear Lake.  We had another Mexican meal sitting on the water's edge and then watched the Celtics vs Lakers playoff game in the bar.  I took these pictures of the cloud formations with my iPhone just before turning in for the night.

While setting up my tent I realized I really was not the Mr. Gung Ho I was trying to be over lunch.  It took me a little longer to set up my tent than normal because I was feeling pretty tired.  We walked around Lakeport checking out the stores and having a coffee at the local espresso shop.  Lakeport is a nice town.

Day 16, June 9, Lakeport to Middletown.  I was the last one to breakfast at a restaurant in Lakeport.  In fact the others were through eating by the time I got there.  We took secondary roads to Kelseyville.  There we found a local bakery/espresso cafe and had coffee and goodies.  We stayed on secondary roads and crossed Highway 29 eventually hooking up with Bottle Rock Road.  Before beginning the climb up Bottle Rock we agreed to meet in Cobb.  Geno took off and I plugged along behind.  Frank and Bob followed me.  You climb in semi-arid, exposed, country to the top of a ridge where at the top the pine trees show up and then you begin a descent into a forested valley lying at the foot of Cobb Mountain.  I had ridden this road once before so it wasn't all new country.  To get to the town of Cobb you have to climb out of the valley.  It is an easy, shaded, and short climb.  When I reached the intersection of Bottle Rock Road and Highway 175 I stopped.  I looked right, left, across the road, in all directions, several times but did not see Geno.  I figured he rode on ahead to a store he knew about.  I turned right and headed toward Middletown, checking for stores, including going off the road to check out a strip mall but no one I knew was there.  I continued on and very shortly was out of Cobb and descending at a good rate of speed.  Soon I was in Middletown as it is all downhill from Cobb.  I rode up and down the main drag looking for Geno.  Eventually I decided he was not in Middletown and I was hungry so I picked a restaurant.  The three lost ones showed up an hour after I had arrived.  I hurried out of the restaurant and flagged them down.  Once in the restaurant Geno chastised me for not knowing where he was hiding (my word) in Cobb.  Do you, dear reader, recall my experience with the barrista in Myers Flat who flatly denied he was a mind reader?
Once again over food it was suggested we see about getting a motel room instead of doubling back to Harbin Hot Springs to camp.  Geno volunteered to ride out to the casino and see what their rates were.  We signed up for the gamblers' club and got reduced meals.  It seemed pretty luxurious to me.

Day 17, June 10, Middletown to Putah Creek Campground.
Another beautiful day to go for a bike ride.  We had a cheap breakfast at the casino then headed out to climb up and over Butts Canyon into Pope Valley.  We stopped at the remodeled Pope Valley Store for lunch.  We got to climb Cardiac Hill, Oh Boy, what a treat!
After the double dip of Cardiac we cruised on down to Putah Creek.  We stopped at the store for food before entering campground.  We found the camp host who told us to circle around and find a site then come back and pay him.  We found a site, went back and paid then ran into a couple from New York who really wanted the site.  Meanwhile a second site was found and we elected to trade them.  During this trade Bob lost a piece connecting his pannier to his bike.  Rather important.  He back tracked his steps.  Meanwhile the New York gentleman came to the camp with the missing piece.  We sneakily replaced the part.  Bob returned and was examining his pannier and lo and behold the missing piece was there.  What the heck!!  Bob began to doubt himself.  The peanut gallery encouraged this tact until they could no longer contain their mirth and burst forth in guffaws.  Bob, of course, had no idea what was so funny and between yuks we explained what had happened and Frank was the one who replaced it.  I made sure I was not noted as the sneak who came up with the idea.
We walked back over to the store after our camp dinner for dessert.  Then we bedded down for our last night on the road serenaded by the numerous peacocks residing in the area.

Day 18, Friday, June 11, Putah Creek to home.
During the night the wind came up big.  It blew and blew mightily.  We were lucky no tree limbs fell on us although I do not think any limbs fell during the night as I saw little wind damage the next morning.  The hope was the wind would die after sun up, but not this day.  Bob called our friend Bob Tribe to let him know we were going to eat breakfast in Winters at the Putah Creek Cafe.  Bob T. said he would join us.  The journey to Winters was interesting in that the wind was primarily out of the northwest and we were headed east.  That made the wind a side wind and more or less in our faces.  I put my head down and put the power to the pedals.  The others couldn't stay with me so as a result I rode into Winters a few minutes ahead.  We fueled up at the cafe.  Bob T. arrived a bit later but had already eaten so he just entertained us with his stories and anecdotes.  Bob T. took the picture below before we saddled up and headed for Davis.

The ride to Davis was very challenging.  Now we were headed due east on an exposed highway.  We opted for the shortest route to Davis.  Once again I put the power to the pedals and pulled away from the others.  We planned to enter Davis on Russell Blvd. which required our exiting Highway 128 after 5 miles or so.  Turning onto Russell meant heading due south.  I backed off and coasted.  I looked down and I was traveling 15 miles per hour solely by wind power.  This meant I had to put the brakes on and stop.  We grouped up again and now we stayed together.  We moved in and out of wind breaks provided by the various farmers and university croplands.  We stopped in Davis for another break.  The wind wasn't too bad in the city.  On the east side of Davis it picked up again and we dealt with it crossing the causeway.
Before we split up, Geno, Frank and Bob headed to his place, and me for home, Geno had us gather in front of the state capital for a final picture.

I had another 15 plus miles to travel.  They had about a mile or two.  The ride home was much more pleasant as the wind seemed to have lost intensity.  I also had buildings and trees to break the wind.
As of today, 10-29-2010 I am still planning to cross the US with Bob this next summer.

Catching Up: Thyroid Biopsy and other odds and ends

I have not blogged for several weeks as I let my life eddy and flow.  I shall endeavor to catch the readers of this blog up on what I have been experiencing and thinking .

First, the thyroid biopsy was much ado about nothing.  The ENT specialist indicated it is benign (my words not his) and to be sure I will have a follow up with him in 3 months then maybe once a year.

The scar or rather the incision point for the heart monitor is healing up nicely.  I must admit to thoughts of what is this hard lump? whenever I run my fingers over the area where the monitor resides.  I have been riding my bike and attempting to get the heart rate above 140 to provide some excitement to the techs who "might" be monitoring my activity, if it is WiFi and if my activity is being transmitted ( I think the answer to both of the implied questions is 'no.')

As to riding the bike my body is out of shape after eight weeks of minimal activity.  I rode 6 times before the insertion of the monitor then a wait of another 2 weeks before continuing to ride.  On the 2 months anniversary since the 'accident' I got back on and afterwards it felt like I had not been riding for 2 months. It was hard and I was sore.  To complicate matters for me I was not able to ride again for another week due to work schedule at Patriot Bicycles and weather issues.  The 14th I rode out to the Aquatic Center to meet  Bob T., Herb and Mike B.  After about an hour of riding and heading for the El Dorado hills I realized I would not enjoy the ride as I was feeling fatigued, sore and my lungs hurt a bit.  During the first part of October, Marcia came down with pleurisy and eventually it came to me.  Thus the small spot of soreness in my lung.  The message to self was 'go slow.'  Since the 14th I have managed to get out 5 more times including a 48.5 mile ride the 21st.  I was pleasantly tired afterwards and very stiff the next morning.  I rode another 20 miles the 22nd then the rains came into Northern California.  The sun is shining today and fall weather, for Northern California, is officially here, i.e. daytime highs in the mid 60's.

I made a very quick trip to Oregon to give my MacBook Pro to my youngest son, Jaxom.  He has taken the big step to go to college and get a degree.  He is interested in video and is enrolled in Portland Art Institute (I am sure I have the name wrong but Portland and Art are in the correct name).  I drove up on Monday the 11th, spent the night with my friends, Mike and Angie.  The next day I picked Jaxom up and we drove down to Independence to see his grandmother, Fran.  My sister, Charlene, was doing morning duty with Frannie.  Frannie looked great.  She was beaming all the time we were there.  Jaxom shared his story to catch her and Charlene up.  Charlene was a bit anxious as her grapes were being picked that very morning and she was not sure if her husband Steve would need her assistance in managing the professional grape pickers.  Steve called her while we there to inform her they had completed the job.   We left and headed for Salem where we got some lunch at Jerry Frank's Kondeteri. Once we returned to Jaxom's abode I did my best to get to get him up to speed on the Mac although he did not have access to WiFi so there was a bit of a gap in what he needed to know.  When I had finished showing him how to use the Mac I left and drove down to Rickreall to spend the evening with my friends Bill and Karen.  During the evening Bill attempted to show me how he had set up his Mac Mini to do his TV stuff.  I should have taken notes because when I got down here and began exploring how to use Hulu and Plex it didn't look the same as what Bill had set up.

Jaxom essentially is computer illiterate.  He called a couple days later upset because the printer wouldn't work and did not understand he needed web access to download the printer driver.  His first assignment was due that afternoon and he could not print it out.  He indicated he had been up until 3 AM finishing the essay and I would imagine watching the movie he had to write about.  I since have instituted a series of emails to him suggesting things he could do to make his college experience go better.  I have not heard back from him so I do not know if he appreciates my suggestions or would rather not read them.  Perhaps he has not been able to set up his email account so he can receive emails on the Mac?  The good news is he is taking a class about how to use the web.  I imagine when all is said and done he will be telling me how to do stuff with my computer and the web.

My next post will be to bring to a conclusion my Tour of NW CA which is long overdue.

Biopsy comments, Geno's farewell breakfast & my new computer set up.

Yesterday I had a thyroid biopsy.  Due to the doctor having a cat medical emergency he was delayed while speaking with the vet.  He came out to the waiting room and apologized to the 6-8 people sitting and waiting,  I was running about 30 minutes behind my scheduled appointment.  Right after he explained and apologized he saw me.  Did a nice job of explaining how nodes 10 mm and under I simply monitored as most of the population has small nodes like that and they amount to nothing.  11mm and over are biopsied.  Mine appeared to be the small variety but he needed to ultra-sound it to be sure and take pictures.  After the ultra-sound he determined it was a bit larger than first indicated.  He took 4 samples with a needle.  He optimistically stated the honey color might indicate it was collodial, my word, as I found in an online dictionary the following definition: colloid, (Medicine) a substance of gelatinous consistency.   Further tests will reveal actual significance.  I see the ENT for his debriefing of the findings October 14.


My friend Geno is leaving for Katmandu Thursday, October 7 for a 10 day trek.  We gathered to wish him well over breakfast this morning.  My friend and Geno's long-time friend, Jim, picked me up.  I woke up 10 minutes before Jim got to the house so when he arrived I was making my first cup of coffee for the day.  A bunch of folks rode their bikes to Geno's then rode to the restaurant.  I found my self explaining the health issues and showing off the wound where the monitor or loop was placed.  Then when I got home I involved myself in a chat with David who was the intended ride pardner the day the accident happened.  


I am hoping people are keeping up with this blog or more specifically do I have an audience?


Within the last week I have been changing my computer set up.  My friend Bill Farmer planted a seed when last I was at his house.  He has had a Mac Mini for quite a while, using it for various purposes and lately he decided to use it (I may not have the facts correct) as a television receptor.  The seed has sprouted into my purchasing a Mac Mini, a magic mouse and a wireless keyboard and putting in an order for Apple TV all to be hooked up to our LCD flat screen Vizio TV.  Soon, once the Apple TV arrives, I will dump Comcast as the TV source and rely on Netflix, iTunes, and the Internet in general, as our primary source of television.  I will keep the Comcast broadband hook up.  The shows I like to watch are available from one of those sources mentioned previously plus I am thinking I will get a desktop antenna for the local broadcast stations.

Node on Thyroid biopsy tomorrow

I just reread my last entry.  A correction I would like to make is they asked me to walk into the surgical room.  I was not wheeled.

The past few days have been a mix of anger and frustration.  If I would have had sense enough to lie about my accident I would not have to put up with the wound from the insertion of the monitor.  I may be in an incredible state of denial here but life seems like it would be a whole lot easier and more pleasant.  Actually it is 2 wounds as they had to cut into the femoral artery to do the non-diagnostic electro physiological study before the insertion of the heart monitor.  The good news, for me, is the groin injury has not been a bother except when I lean against the kitchen counter just right and I feel it. A whole lot of fabulous colors down there though.

An irony is the amount of shaving of my body hair done and they still missed where the femoral artery area is.  Both tops of my thighs and two adjacent areas on my left hand and wrist were shaved.

So tomorrow is my bioposy to check out the small node on my thyroid.  A fifteen minute operation with a fine needle inserted somewhere in the thyroid area (I'm sure) and I'm outta there.