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Subject: Late Tuesday Ride Report
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 23:37:37 EST


TUESDAY RIDE REPORT

Danny took another day off, complaining that he has been riding so much that
it isn't fun anymore. (How could that be possible?) So it again falls on
Franco to provide the virtual ride. Sorry it's a bit late.

Like, Water for Chocolate?

Conditions were perfect, the weather being a possible exception. Better to say
it was perfect Danny weather-raining when we left, and wetter as the day
progressed. El Presidente and your humble servant left the Knolls relatively
promptly. We headed for Fairfax and pursued the mystery of why road riding in
the rain is dicey at best. It tested all systems. It turns out you can't get
between the drops by going faster. At least, I can't. It was good to get back
in the slower slop, as we headed up to Lagunitas and Laurel Dell, via Rock
Springs. Rain all the way, and the cacophony of adjusting zippers was like the
drive-in movies as the lights went on; for a different kind of ventilation.We
reinforced our duds in the foyer of the Laurel Dell crapper. The lack of
aesthetics was balanced by the lack of water on our heads.

The day's cocoa was concocted from scratch. Unsweetened chocolate, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, a
dash of salt and the alchemy of heating that made it just so. You shouldhave
been there. A giant step for chocolatekind.

Sheep May Safely Graze

I have tried the extreme Pearl zippered jersey favored by el Presidente and
those close to Him. I must stress, I did not do it to impress Him. I did it
because I independently thought they were so chic, so elegant, so black and
mysterious. Right out of The Avengers. But again, I did not do it to curry
favor. In fact, I reluctantly determined that the wool is better in the wet. I
even went so far as to tell Him. Quietly. Wool is soft, cuddly, and wicks with
a wicked flair. I am going to git me a sheep. Fear of abrupt and premature
hair loss may make it skittish, but that's nothing like how terrified sheep
get around the boys from Geronimo Valley.

I say, baaaaa!

We were a tad apprehensive about the descent down Ridgecrest, and put
everything on. Right away, the rata-tat-tat of rain on the Goretex hood. Cozy
Cole on cokeKrupa on Crank. Polyrhythmic pounding punctuated my descent as a
southwesterly gale tried to take me down. A very energetic experience.

From then on things got fun. Bolinas ridge was alive. The hills were
hemorrhaging water, with a frantic white noise. We paused to uncork some
ponds. It was turning into a terrific ride! Back at Forest Knolls during
daylight. Still raining.

Stats:

28-ish wet miles;
4200' vertical;
no equipment failures;
no crashes;
clean bike at ride's end;

Your humble servant,

Franco