My Enthusiasm for Cycling Builds...

So after my first DBC ride with the Climbing Clinic, I started to look for others to ride with during the week.  I don't remember the exact sequence, but it may have been the next ride with DBC members when we went up Cardiac, a two-mile grade of something like 6% on Hwy 128 near Lake Berryessa.  I rode with John,  Linda and Russ on a Friday.  I got to know John and Linda pretty well, as we rode along together chatting along the way.

I learned a lot about group riding etiquette, including things like the leader is responsible for pointing out obstacles, potholes and broken pavement that might disrupt followers.  The rearmost rider typically calls out "car back" when a vehicle (car, truck or motorcycle, doesn't matter) is coming up on the group.  This way riders aren't surprised by approaching traffic, and we stay as safely to the right side of the road as is practical.

Linda, in particular, seemed a very experienced rider.  While she would often get out into the middle of the road to ride next to other riders (easier conversation and smoother pavement), she always seemed to get to the right before I was aware of traffic from behind.  She uses a rear-view mirror that mounts on her glasses frames, and they really seemed to help her monitor what was happening from behind.  I put that on my list of things to get soon.  She told me later that it has likely saved her bacon more than once.  Here is the Take a Look mirror:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPP_100TAL.html

I bought one, and it works great.  I admit that mirror looks kind of dorky, but you can relax more when you ride.

We rode out from Winters, and while I had driven 128 many times, I was a bit apprehensive riding it on a bike.  Not just because of the hills (they aren't that steep), but sometimes this road has a lot of traffic, particularly on boating weekends, where pickups and wide boat trailers filled with partyers are wending their way to and from Berryessa.  This was a Friday morning ride, and there were 4 riders, which made us more visible than a single rider.  There is safety (perceived safety, anyway, I don't have evidence for this) in a group of riders.  If nothing else, you are more likely to have witnesses!

Turns out, traffic was light, and the ride was very enjoyable.  After we got up Cardiac, since it was a sunny and warm day, we decided to ride a bit further to Moskowites corner, at the junction of Hwys 121 and 128.
We stopped for snacks and drinks, and got a photo of us from a passerby.

Left to right: Russ, Drew, Linda, and John. We rode about 40 miles or so, which was the furthest I'd ridden to that point.  I was tired, but it was a good day!  Here is a link to the route taken:
http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/d0b9/a677/4d24/49d3/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20110128-1005.kml

More another time.