KARL'S KORNER
An occasional and different perspective
of the Tuesay/Thursday-morning ride found so often in our
almost-daily diary
01/30/07-
Local Alto Velo rider takes 3rd
consecutive final Olive Hill sprint on Mike’s Chain
Reaction Tue/ Thurs Ride.
I am compelled to dust off Karl’s Korner and proclaim to
the world my heroic exploits of the unprecedented
collection of wins of the final sprint of our ride.
Actually, each win was quite different and here are the
details.
I have been stepping up my intensity level for upcoming
road racing that will start in just 2.5 weeks for me.
This translates to more frequent attacks, surges and
contending for the various sprint points in our ride.
The Olive Hill sprint is always the hardest for me to
win for some reason. Without a doubt Mike and Todd are
faster sprinters that I and nearly always beat me, but
it is still worth trying for the tactical practice and
training. My first win last Tuesday was how I have
dreamed of doing it, from a ways out. Its my only chance
against Mike. I have not had the fitness to get and hold
a gap on flats or slightly uphill section leading into
the sprint ...until this day. I had done some other hard
efforts along the ride and was reeling from the new
harder intensity level! I felt great immediately
afterwards and for hours later as well, calm and
satisfied and very much alive. I think that it also
helped that I had drilled it on the little rise at the
base of Hwy 84 decent, with only Mike shadowing me.
Win # 2 was a teamwork effort with Millo. Millo was
riding the best I have seen him on both hills and flats
on this day. We two got off the front on Skyline and
then again at the base of 84 and traded pulls all the
way through the maze. I was not sure if we two temporary
teammates would contend for the sprint or just coast
across as a team, well ahead of the others. But I was
wrong as Millo proceeded to wind things up at 150 m out.
I was fired up and think that I edged him out at the end
(a stop sign!). Wow that was fun and really simulated
the finishes of races of where things tend to ramp up.
Today’s final win was only at the sacrifice of Chris,
who volunteered to both pull me back up to Mike and
Kevin, drive the pace once we regrouped and then do a
final leadout up the gradual rise about 500m out from
the line. Earlier Chris was quite torturing me on the
climbs with his own surges, so maybe he felt some pity
for this old guy. I should have eased up and let him
have video recorded victory for his hard efforts. All
this was only possible for going from far out to tire
Mike, Todd was not there, George was getting over a cold
and Millo was filming instead of riding with his young
son Chris. But , a win is a win, especially on this
ride!
That’s my story and I am sticking to it. Its not about
me, but the pain and fun that tends to bond us together
and compel each of us to wake up in the dark, two days a
week and brave the freezing cold temps, ice, sand, crazy
drivers, water, fog, rocks, etc. mostly because we know
that the others will be there and maybe this will be my
day to win the final sprint on Olive Hill!
Ciao, kbe
The weather had been going
back and forth for rain or no rain. Last check said the
rain would hold till the afternoon. I was also going back
and forth as to whether or not I should participate in the
annual Mt. Hamilton New Year’s Day Ride, my first time in
January.
Kevin called me at 0700 and
convinced me that I would be a wimp if I did not go and he
had room for me as well in his car. I threw together
various warm clothing along with my bike and a tub of
oatmeal and met Kevin and Leslie at the Park and Ride.
Plenty of clouds but no rain, that is until we get there
and start unloading the bikes! Now it was not quite
horizontal, but it was at least 45 degrees.
Now I am trying to think,
which is hard with wind and rain going on and clothing
choices to make and put on. Mike and gang pull up across
the street and they look determined. Me, I am definitely
having second thoughts. I had just cleaned my bike
yesterday but good, including chain removal and toothbrush
scrub, so it was spotless and freshly greased and lubed.
And I did not think to bring my SKS fenders or neoprene
booties.
Next thing you know Mike,
Todd and Ron (I think) head up the road…into the rain.
Well, its not raining that hard…so Leslie and I shove off
with Kevin waiting for Mark (recent regular on T/Th
ride). Why am I doing this and why didn’t I bring my
fenders!! The wind is howling out of the Southwest and
almost bowls us over several times. We start to see some
people turning around, hmm. The next wind gust forces
Leslie to lean her bike at least 30 degrees to stay up
right and I am aghast at the temporary angle. Then
another rider comes down and with a really scared serious
look, says “its really dangerous up there”. That look
along with how the trees were moving ahead and our own
indecision was the tipping point and we turned around as
well. We come upon Mark and Kevin coming up and tell them
that its just too windy and get them to turn around as
well. Now we are back to the car and with the rain easing
up just a bit, collectively decide to at least ride around
some, after all this is NYD and we are already out here.
So we head up towards Alum Rock Park, me more slowly, sort
of following, but grudgingly. Then we turn up this
blocked off road that is both steep and wet enough to have
to walk up it. Now this really sucks, I am thinking to
myself. Why are we going up here. I am playing Eyore, in
case you had not figured this out yet. Its steep and I am
hot in my plastic rain jacket and thermal tights, but I
temporarily get distracted by some sheep that I bah at and
they back at me. Then we see some little baby lambs
bahaing, likely scared of the crazy storm weather. Kevin
and Mark are ahead, me back with Leslie. Then our little
side road spits us back onto Mt. Ham road again. Greeaat
right back where we started, but at least the rain has
subsided. I get convinced to keep going up under the
guise of we will re-eval at Grant Ranch. I am thinking
that’s definitely where I will turn around as its only
going to be “windier” up higher, especially on top.
We expected to see Mike and
crew at Grant Ranch, but were surprised to not see anybody
at all. We all take a pee and discuss our options. Next
thing I know I am heading up the road again. Really hard
to stay upright around some of the corners after Grant
Ranch with the wind literally swirling around in eddies in
the turns. This makes for forces hitting you on either
side. At least the leaves sometimes give you a warning
from which side the wind will be coming from, so you can
prepare counter measures to stay up right. It did seem to
help to take off the rain jacket, more aero now. So on we
go, now its Mark and I leading with Kevin hanging back
with Leslie. It was Mark’s first time up Hamilton, so I
was telling him how the road will make some turns out on
the exposed ridge where the wind was audibly howling
loudest. We braced as we rounded the first left hander
and took the full brunt of the gale force blast of not
that cold air. We realized the worst was the initial
blast and that once it was head on, it was more just
powering into it and less side to side buffeting. Still
it was quite challenging to stay up right and oh yeah, how
are we ever going to get down? I am thinking very
slowly. We come to the tree across the road. That should
cut down the car traffic, I tell Mark. Then we ascend
into the clouds and darkish drizzle.
The road is switchbacking now
and I am amazed at the strong downwind on the left
sections. Its more of an upwind downwind as it both
pushed and lifted us to the point of no pedaling required
to go uphill. I felt like giant hand or arm chair was
scooping me up and shooting me up the hill. I would whiz
past Mark a few times who was enjoying these brief gust
less than I.
We are going to do this
after all, I am now thinking. We should get up and down
as quickly as possible we agree before the skies open up
and deluge us, as it looks it could do at any moment. We
make the summit, passing some other crazy cyclists and
then on up to the main observatory where we expected to
see Mike and gang. But no, no one is there at all, must
be locked I think, no, its open, we quickly go inside,
bike and all. Its warm, has 2 vending machines, drinking
fountain, bathrooms and blasting heater! We’re saved and
strip down to dry out our clothes eat our bars and drink,
etc. Still can’t figure out where everyone else is, but
at least its warm in here. 15 min. later Kevin pulls up,
but is not as cold as we were. Leslie had turned around
at the clouds. We poke around a bit and no Mike, no
wedding, so re don our duds and congratulate one another
for still being alive and each exclaim that “ I will be
the slowest down” and then take off …slowly. To our
surprise its not as bad as we thought. Our speed and
confidence grew, but we just had to really slow down and
be careful around exposed corners. I even put a foot down
once to stabilize.
Then we pass Mike, Todd and
Ron coming up?? How can this be? We regroup and discuss
how it was possible and then keep going down, down. I was
a bit cold and had the shiver wobbles going for a bit, but
was warming up some now. I welcomed the uphill section as
a chance to create some heat. The last section of less
steep afforded a fine clear view of Silicon Valley with
storm clouds o plenty, but I was not able to look much as
this was downwind and fast with road partially dry now.
Had to also watch for large branches and tumble weeds to
see which way they were going. So we made it down
without incident and were glad to be alive, all giddy with
enthusiasm and adrenalin.
We survived the mountain and
the weather, it was a good day afterall, now just give me
that hot shower and a warm dry place to nap. Happy New
Year!
Karl B.
Ehlert, DC
8/18/05 Mike,
Missed riding with you this
morning...well sort of, actually it was nice to start out slow
up Kings. I am resting down for Winters RR this Sat. and Todd,
Kevin and Rob were not much ahead of me going up. We were
trying to think of what to write for the Ride Report as it
started out pretty uneventful. A bit chilly this morning with
some fog hanging onto the ridge in parts.
As per usual Todd took all the
intermediate sprints, so far as I could tell from behind. Rob
tried to lead out on the bottom of hill on 35 coming into Sky
Londa, but was shadowed by Todd and Kevin both, who duly (sp?)
trounced him. Me watching this all from behind with good
restraint. I just hope that Rob is learning from this, as in
what not to do in a race situation.
Anyhow, regular stuff. Pretty easy
up West OLH as well. So, we were starting down E 84 with Kevin
in the lead and a truck gets in between him and us. A
portapotty service truck no less. So, we back off thinking that
our decent had just got "canned" for the most part. There was a
car in front of Kevin, so we did not think he would get very far
anyway. Well the portapotty truck pulls over to let us 3 pass,
cool! At this point Todd the fearless takes off, presumably
chasing now out of sight Kevin. Roads are dry on this side and
I am leading Rob down and a nice clip with Todd already out of
sight.
After the biggest right roundabout
turn (the one that keeps going and going) there is a left hander
after a straight stretch. Well, I noticed a rider and bike
tucked in between the guardrail and the dirt...wearing a
Stanford kit. Braking now, but looking to make sure Rob does
not take me out and has room to stop as well. Todd is kinda
jammed under the guardrail and not moving much. Rob is first on
the scene and removes Todd's glasses from the roadway. Then we
do damage assessment. He seems a bit stunned and is still in
the same position that he landed in. Todd knew what day it was,
did not seem to have any one area of pain, shoulders looked
intact, clavicles palpated ok. He does however have a nice
distribution of road rash with ripped jersey at the shoulder, 2
gaping holes in the shorts, knee and cuts on the hands or at
least thumb. All looked to be mostly superficial.
Now the bike. I had to
pull/untangle it out from under the guardrail. Chain off, but
wheels pretty true, both brake levers bent in and a little
ripped on the bar tape, but otherwise seemed functional. After
a while I offer that its only going to get worse and do you want
to ride down. Rob wisely suggests that he just walk first to
test the legs. Todd's bit dizzy and looks a bit green around
the gills and sits down on the guardrail for a bit. He's a bit
dizzy and accepts my offer to get a car to drive him down. Rob's
stays with Todd and I ride on down the hill, a bit shaky at
first, but then loosen up.
It seems that Todd's rear wheel
slid out and down he went. I did not see anything particular on
the roadway there, but maybe some small amount of oil kinda in
the road.
I took Todd home and his mom was to
meet him shortly for a ER visit just to make sure. They at
least do a pretty good job of scrubbing out the wounds...the
very worst part of the whole deal, to be sure. Todd seemed ok
and was relieved that he got his yearly crash out of the way.
Don't know what Kevin did, as he must have ridden on after
waiting at the bottom of the hill for a long time.
Could have been worse, at least
that's what we are saying right now. Me, it only adds fuel to
the "better to be safe than sorry" method of riding and
descending.
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