Day 1 has the most climbing of any day, but we have fresh legs, and lots of excitement to motivate us. This is our smiling faces at 5am at the Cow Palace. We have just dropped off our luggage to our truck "B" for the week.
It was beautiful and sunny as we rode out. Which is rare in Daly City at 6:30 am.
This is Rick in blue, looking a Jan in orange.
The riders go out in a huge mass, with a police escort, the 1st 5 miles or so.
At which point we eventually ride single file, unless passing.
These are both rest stops, there are about 4 a day and on long days a couple more water stops, in addition to the lunch stop. There are all kinds of snacks at each stop. Pop tarts are a favorite.
After the stop on our ascent up CA-1 to Devils slide the weather turned cold. Climbing in cool weather isn't bad. Riding down in wet weather is not as comfortable.
Shot of a few of, approximately 1000 riders, at the time we were at lunch.
After Lunch there is a Lighthouse where we found Training Ride Leaders, who we regularly train with, who weren't doing the week long ride this year, there to cheer us on, in costumes.
Food is always amazing and you can eat as much as you like, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
These are shots of the scenery as we rode down the coast.
It is a very different experience to ride a bike down the coast, than a car.
Front: Jan, Emilia, Jamie. Back row: David, Ike, Mike. It was dark out still.
Then, right before we rode out of the Cow Palace
Opening Ceremonies at 6am announced record funds raised, over:
16.7 MILLION
After that announcement, we went to retrieve our bikes and prepare to ride out.
After that announcement, we went to retrieve our bikes and prepare to ride out.
It was beautiful and sunny as we rode out. Which is rare in Daly City at 6:30 am.
This is Rick in blue, looking a Jan in orange.
The riders go out in a huge mass, with a police escort, the 1st 5 miles or so.
At which point we eventually ride single file, unless passing.
These are both rest stops, there are about 4 a day and on long days a couple more water stops, in addition to the lunch stop. There are all kinds of snacks at each stop. Pop tarts are a favorite.
After the stop on our ascent up CA-1 to Devils slide the weather turned cold. Climbing in cool weather isn't bad. Riding down in wet weather is not as comfortable.
Later riders had a drier time of Devil's slide. This is the top, before a long descent.
The bike/pedestrian path has no motorized vehicles, lovely.
The bike/pedestrian path has no motorized vehicles, lovely.
Luckily it was very windy. Those of us who were wet dried out quickly.
Most of the climbing is before lunch. Lunch is at San Gregorio State Beach.
Snap shot of the top of our route sheet.
That is the down before 1. The numbers represent rest stops, L is lunch stop.
They aren't exactly placed.
Snap shot of the top of our route sheet.
That is the down before 1. The numbers represent rest stops, L is lunch stop.
They aren't exactly placed.
Weather cleared by lunch and the beach was beautiful.
Shot of a few of, approximately 1000 riders, at the time we were at lunch.
After Lunch there is a Lighthouse where we found Training Ride Leaders, who we regularly train with, who weren't doing the week long ride this year, there to cheer us on, in costumes.
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| Bike Parking in Santa Cruz with Tents in the background. There is a Camp Lounge where folks can just hang out and visit. |
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| There is a Camp Lounge where folks can just hang out and visit. |
It is a very different experience to ride a bike down the coast, than a car.
