CUF ride 2011

[mtnbiker]

So you enjoy live updates, huh? Ok... Did you know the 'A' in PAC's board name doesn't actually stand for 'Alto' anymore? Now it stands for 'Archaea', which he was definitely channeling this morning as we headed out for a morning ride to Tahoe City. No warm up, he just charged off into the morning mist going full tilt, challenging us to keep up. Ugh. Better not do that tomorrow, or we'll be strewn all up and down the road.

So as we were getting our bike gear out of the car, my wife discovers that she'd forgotten her cycling sunglasses. All she had were some big movie star units. They didn't fit under her bike helmet, so I let her use a pair of mine. We stopped in at a bike shop and started looking at their sunglasses. After trying on several pair, my wife handed one to the salesgirl and asked how much they were, since there wasn't a tag on them. The salesgirl looked at them funny... "hmm, I wonder if someone swapped their old glasses for some new ones... they're polarized... hey, they're all scratched up! Peppers brand sunglasses? We don't carry those." At which time I realized they were talking about my sunglasses which my wife almost left there on the rack.

Oh, and we actually did 'dine' together this morning, stopping off at a restaurant in Tahoe City for what passed as breakfast. Petrified bacon, anyone?

[Jarid in Cedar]

Checking in from Fallon, Nevada. Only 100 more miles to go :rockon1:

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

[bluegoose]

A most excellent start to the 3rd annual CUF Tour de Tahoe. We had a nice dinner at Rosies once again and were actually seated at the very same table where we were seated 2 years ago. Included with dinner was the presentation of the new Tour de France trophy. This years addition was a piece of chain attached to the board, formed in the shape of a "C", for Cougars, of course.

After moose tracks ice cream cones and a rousing game of chess between the older two goslings, we are now relaxing as we eagerly await bigpiney's arrival along with his family. Actually, since they won't be arriving until 11:30 he's on his own. I'm tired and need lots of beauty sleep before tomorrows big ride.

Forecast calls for 72 degrees and sunny. The lake looks just as incredible as always. The truckee river near squaw valley was full of people floating on tubes and the adjacent bike path was bustling with riders who will undoubtedly be dropped like a hot rock by our powerful peleton in the morning. More updates to come in the am.

[bluegoose]

30 miles down and everyone is feeling very well. We are currently at donner lake working on a mechanical issue. Weather is amazing. Max speed on the descent was about 52 mph recorded by severAl riders. Jic's wife just showed up with cold water and fresh grapes, which are heavenly.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

30 miles down and everyone is feeling very well. We are currently at donner lake working on a mechanical issue. Weather is amazing. Max speed on the descent was about 52 mph recorded by severAl riders. Jic's wife just showed up with cold water and fresh grapes, which are heavenly.

Don't eat each other.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Donner Pass was great with superb views, we're back home and snacking on various treats, rather than each other, as we wait for dinner this evening courtesy of Mrs. PAC. She needs to get to work.

Details of the days events to follow. Best news is that we didn't need to call upon the services of our large medical staff.

[Parrot Head]

Donner Pass was great with superb views, we're back home and snacking on various treats, rather than each other, as we wait for dinner this evening courtesy of Mrs. PAC. She needs to get to work.

Details of the days events to follow. Best news is that we didn't need to call upon the services of our large medical staff.

Is that bear from June still hanging around the condos? You out-of-towners better watch out, because don't they find Utahns a little more tasty?

[PaloAltoCougar]

Is that bear from June still hanging around the condos? You out-of-towners better watch out, because don't they find Utahns a little more tasty?

No bear attacks this weekend, yet. As for the CUF Ride, I swear I've seen a lot of stuff in my life, but that... was... awesome. Actually, the ride was fairly uneventful, and the missus and I have covered the same route before, but the awesome part is how former strangers who met through the internet can come together and have a great couple of days together. The meal at Rosie’s the night before was only so so, but the company was superb, the awarding of the Creekster Trophy (from bluegoose to, uh, bluegoose) was a deeply emotional experience, and it was nice to welcome our first Ute to this annual event—JIC and his family (well, the third of the family that came) were fun to have along.



The day of the ride was cool (thankfully) and clear. Here we are at the start (BigPiney, mtnbkr, Bellavella, ER Cougar, Mrs. PAC, unidentified old man, bluegoose, JaridinCedar):


Although this year’s ride was a bit short (around 60 miles), it featured two decent climbs, one over the Brockway Summit.
After this photo was taken, we took off down into the Truckee Valley; mtnbker hit speeds well above 50. Even the slowest among us (okay, me) was in the mid 40s.

The next climb-- after riding along Donner Lake and dining on light snacks of PowerBars and our fellow men--was over Donner Pass. Unfortunately, bellavela sustained the worst mechanical in CUF Ride history when her rear derailleur snapped off at the base of the Donner Climb. That woman can ride, and I had to go Ben-Hur on her rear wheel to salvage my pride. Fortunately, Mrs. JIC was providing SAG support and picked up bella while the rest of us continued on. This shot is at a vista point near the top, more than 1,000 feet above Donner Lake.


At the rest stop, a carload of elderly tourists came over to harass us. Typically, onlookers heap praise upon us for doing these big climbs. The leader of this group, however, went off on a lengthy but lighthearted rant about how we were crazy to be doing what we were doing. “You don’t need to exercise!” Pointing to his 92 year-old brother, the leader continued, “He hasn’t exercised a day in his life! He’s a doctor, and he just sits around drinking beer! That’s what you need!” (I’m assuming this entitles me to a Section 89 medical exemption, so tonight, let it be Lowenbrau). He went on to tell the longest and most incoherent joke I’ve ever heard. When he finished, apparently, we all broke into a round of courtesy laughter, but looked at each other with a “What the hell was that?” expression. Meanwhile, the doctor/brother had turned to Mrs. PAC who had just pulled up after the arduous climb and he copped a quick feel, grabbing her wrist to take her pulse, or so he said. Uncertain what he was up to, she demurred, “Uh, I’m wearing a heart monitor, it’s 115, but thanks anyway,” as the doctor lit up a post-encounter cigarette. BTW, Mrs. PAC is the Miguel Indurain of the group, her HR was in the 80s less than a minute after coming to a stop. The aged doctor mentioned something about hoping to die at 95, shot by a 30 year-old jealous husband, but I told him to move along, permitting me to make some time with our group’s photographer.


As expected bluegoose, BigPiney and newcomer ERCougar dominated the cycling. A relative newcomer to road biking, ERC is in superb shape and tackled the mountain passes easily, although he derived considerable motivation by seeking to avoid my incessant medical questions. He also travels with a rice cooker and whips up a mean batch of oatmeal. But Rookie of the Year has to go to JiC, who completed the longest ride of his life in fine form, despite wearing a hideous color. Thankfully, his Ute cycling jersey apparently arrived at his home a few hours after they had left for Tahoe, so he had to settle for a red t-shirt. Mrs. PAC blew out a tire with five miles to go, and I suck at replacing tubes quickly, so we shared the Lanterne Rouge at the ride’s end. Thankfully, no injuries, although I sustained a nasty paper cut with a food wrapper—cycling can be brutal.

Despite the long ride, Mrs. PAC hosted a dinner for everyone (except BigPiney who had to split early with his family to attend to his needy flock back home). JIC’s and bluegoose’s kids, not to mention their fine spouses, were supremely patient to permit a bunch of Cuffers to sit around for a few hours talking about pretty much everything, solving the world’s problems, dissing every Cuffer who wasn’t there, and planning future events. This morning, ERC asked if we wanted to join him on an easy 6-mile run through the Tahoe forest, down to the Ehrman Mansion.and back, and Mrs. PAC burst into laughter (and certainly not due to any Sabbath concerns, although today will certainly be a day of rest). In all, a great weekend. This is really a fine community.

[Babs]

You know that game they play on Sesame Street where they sing one of these things is not like the other . . . one of these things is not the same . . .?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Wow. Sounds like a terrific outing. Very sorry I has to miss out. Turns out I have been battling a knee injury for the last two months so I was doomed either way.

[HawkeyeUte Scads]

Thanks for the report. Sounds awesome. I don't know when, but I told my wife that this ride is now on my 'to-do' list.

[TripletDaddy]

Looks like another success. Very fun experience.

Also, mtnbiker is yoked! Does CUF test for performance enhancers before and during the ride?

[mtnbiker]

Also, mtnbiker is yoked! Does CUF test for performance enhancers before and during the ride?

Yoked??? Just yoked (equally) with my wife.

Here are a few more pics.
bluegoose trying to use the repair app on his iphone to fix bella's derailleur hanger


chugging up the Donner Pass after getting bella squared away with JiC's wife


rappeller

[il Padrino Ute]

You know that game they play on Sesame Street where they sing one of these things is not like the other . . . one of these things is not the same . . .?

Yeah, I noticed that too. It's either Bellavella for being too short or ER for being too tall.

[bluegoose]

Also, mtnbiker is yoked! Does CUF test for performance enhancers before and during the ride?

You don't know how right you are. Did you see what he did to Bellabella's rear derailler? He just doesn't know his own strength.

I had a fantastic weekend. I hope to get a proper ride report written up soon. It was great to see several old friends and to meet a couple of new CUFfers. My wife and kids also had a most excellent time.

I thought the route was amazing. Its been awhile since I have been that up close and personal with the High Sierra, and I was just blown away by how pretty it is up there. The pictures just don't do the views much justice.