We're heading from Waves to Wine!

This year the Fast Friends are coming full circle and participating in a ride to benefit the cause that brought us all together in the first place.

On day one, we'll start from AT&T Park in San Francisco, head over the Golden Gate Bridge (SadieKate is really looking forward to that!) through Marin, up Highway 1 past Stinson Beach, and then we'll cut inland for the overnight at Sonoma Mountain Village in Rhonert Park. Except since we're a bunch of pampered princesses who prefer soft beds & indoor plumbing, after the festivities at Sonoma Mountain Village we'll head off to a nearby motel for the night. On day two we'll head from Rhonert Park thru wine country to Healdsburg and finish at Lake Sonoma.

We'd be grateful for your support!
Here's a direct link to the team Amici Veloci fundraising site:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/amiciveloci

You could contribute to our team, or, click on the name of a team member to sponsor her individually.

We thank you so much for your help in the fight against MS.
SadieKate, V, snapdragen, aka_kim, Trekhawk, Ninabike, Emerald, mtkitchn, and jobob.

You NEED an AV jersey ! :) Order deadline July 18

Goodness gracious, the Fast Friends are at it again.

Here's your chance to finally own a lovely and highly coveted Amici Veloci jersey. Or vest. Or jacket. Or armwarmers. Or all of the above! ;)

Order Form (excel version) --> Please, if you can, use the excel version of the order form, it will make order processing so much easier for our good friend snapdragen!

Order Form (pdf version)

Payment is by PayPal only. See the instructions on the order form.

New for 2007 - Women's sleeveless in Club Cut! Yay!! No annoying elastic at the bottom!

Here are some photos of our model in the womens short-sleeve club cut jersey, with and without the matching armwarmers. The jersey will be slightly redesigned for 2007 to include the bike journal and Team Estrogen logos.

Got Questions?
Check out these threads on the bike journal and the Team Estrogen forums. Your questions might already be answered there. And if they're not, please go ahead and post 'em on one of these threads.

Fast Friends support RAAM

I am just brimming with pride over my friends. Somehow I missed the fact that someone I had grown to like and respect via a cycling forum was riding RAAM was again this year. I had the opportunity to meet and ride with Bernie Barge of Team JDRF when a few friends, my husband and I rode in the San Luis Obispo Wildflower Century this year. It turned out there were no wildflowers (well, hardly any) but there sure was a lot of heat, 103 degrees of it to be precise. We were all sick with it, but I was in particular stress. Bernie stuck with me through thick and thin and we made it across the line. During the ride when we were slowly grinding away in the heat and wind, I found out that Bernie was racing RAAM again so last night I did a little sleuthing around on the ‘net idly looking for his team information, only to find that we could stake claim to time stations to not only support Bernie and his team, but to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Being the enthusiastic yakker that I can sometimes be, I emailed a few friends as test cases and they were all game to chip in and get time stations. Taking this as a good sign, I posted on the women’s cycling forum at http://www.teamestrogen.com/ and emailed a bunch of folks I knew through http://www.bikejournal.com/. Wow about sums it up. I am speechless with the generosity that flowed.

As of Thursday night we have 10 time stations:

§ Lake Henshaw, CA
§ Williams, AZ
§ Collins, MO
§ Greenville, IL
§ Putnamville, IN
§ Troy, OH
§ Parkersburg, WV
§ Rouzerville, PA
§ Delaware Memorial Bridge, NJ
§ McKee City, NJ

Thanks to the generosity of these wonderful folks, we’ll help defray team costs and support the Research Foundation with any leftover funds.

§ Veronica* and Thom
§ Jobob*
§ aka_kim*
§ pkq
§ Fredwina
§ TrekHawk
§ Pansy Palmetto
§ Yellow and Mr. Yellow
§ Tenbrooks
§ Melissam
§ ShubieGA
§ BikerZ
§ WrenchBoy
§ Adventure_Girl*
§ Triskeliongirl
§ GT

*Amici Veloci Bored Members

I was hoping to fund one time station and we have 10. What a tremendous group of people I’m honored to know.

Team JDRF, we’re at your back and we’ll be ready for those calls anytime day or night.

Vada velocemente! Go fast!

Show me your Buff money!

The gang has decided they'd like custom microfiber Buffs - so we can fly the AV colors even more. We’re ready to collect your funds so here are the details. There will be limited quantities (and this is a one time order) so the early bird gets the Buff.























Design and Colors
The Buff design is still to come but we’re envisioning something with an allover chain ring design – using our signature gazelle chain ring of course – with “Amici Veloci/Fast Friends” in the borders. Buff’s designers in Spain will be working on the design very soon. There is enough interest to order two versions: one with a black background and one with red.

Price:
$18.50 per Buff -- includes uninsured USPS postage to US locations
Australia, New Zealand and UK orders – add $3.20 per Buff
Canada – add $2.20 per Buff
All others – email me and we’ll figure it out.

Ordering
Best method: PayPal to sarahandbubba at sbcglobal dot net.
2nd best because it’s via snail mail: Cashier’s Check or Money Order (request address through the buddy list)
Order info: name, address, email, QUANTITY OF EACH COLOR (black and red available)

Quantity available
Quantities are limited. Operators are standing by. This means that you are only guaranteed a Buff if you order now. I expect the deadline will be around Nov 26th but I’ll know more once I get a sample design.

Order early, order lots.:)

Changed to Sunday, Nov 19 – Mt George/Atlas Peak road ride

Come explore more of the remote roads of Napa. We’ll start in Fairfield, ride up Wooden and Gordon Valley roads, over Mt George to Napa and then up Atlas Peak. This is part of the spring Davis 200k brevet route.

Distance and climb: 60 miles (out 30 and back 30) and about 4,900 ft.
Start: Safeway parking lot in Fairfield at Waterman/I-80/Hilborn
Route Map: click here
Eats: Corner store/gas station at 20/40 mile points as we go through Napa both ways
Time: 10 am.

Oh yeah, rain cancels.

Nov 4 - St. Helena/Pope Valley road ride

I've been asked to coordinate another ride in the wine country hills.

I mapped out this route which should be very nice for the fall color of the grape vines, the salamanders on Ink Grade and fewer goobers (uh, boat traffic) by Lake Berryessa --about 54 miles and the actual climbing will probably be about 4,000. Our core group is about average club pace - some faster on the climbs and some faster on the descents. We all get there together.

Goobers and Grapes -- www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=12207

Parking: Library and Adams St east of Main St in St. Helena. Both are dead end streets and recommended by both the Police Dept traffic person and the St. Helena Cyclery.

We'll find chow in St. Helena. There are always a lot of votes for Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen but suggestions are always welcome.
www.cindysbackstreetkitchen.com/index.php

9:30 am on your bike start - rain cancels (OK, we're a bunch of fragile flowers, you can say it).

Edited Friday at 4:19 pm - Weather looks fine. We're on!

Let me know if we should expect you.

SK

Iron Mtn Road Ride - Sunday, Aug 27

Edited to add: 8 am at the parking spot indicated in the link.

We've got plans in the works for a morning ride up Mormon-Emigrant/Iron Mountain. If anyone has words of wisdom about conditions, weather, etc., please add your 2 cents.

Route info from Beautiful Vista

Jersey ordering info

All the info you need to choose a style, size and pay via PayPal is on the ORDER FORM.



Remember, the deadline is Wednesday, June 14th.

Jersey Re-Order Progress

Amici Veloci - Fast Friends

OK - here's the count so far. We've not met minimum yet.
Short sleeve jersey - 24 (need 25)
Arm Warmers - 4 (need 25 if ordered alone, 15 if we get 10 long sleeve)
Long Sleeve - 6 (need 10)
It's still early, don't panic.

snap

JERSEY RE-ORDER

After much procrastination, I’ve finally got the new order process ready and Snap has graciously agreed to collect the orders with payment via PayPal. If we can get the orders collected by June 14, the orders will be shipped the week of August 7th. They’ll go off to the equally gracious yellow (to avoid CA taxes) who will ship the individual jerseys.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Amici Veloci story, here is the short version. Back in August 2004 I was diagnosed with MS and was open about it on this forum. I decided I wanted to ride in the Top Hat Classic 2005 (a local MS ride) and I suddenly received an incredible email from jobob, snap, aka_kim, veronica and Adventure_Girl. They wanted to be on a team with me! Wow, was I an emotional mess. Our team grew to 15 strong and we were the largest non-corporate fundraising team (thanks to many of you). Out of that we decided that we needed a jersey but that also we would try to ride one charity ride a year. We want anyone and everyone who wants a jersey to have the opportunity to buy one and encourage all to wear it in a charity event.


http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Amici%20Veloci%20jersey/

The details:

• DEADLINE: JUNE 14
• Photos: go to the photobucket link above
• Items available: See order form which is for information purposes only. You will need to give snap all the details on the PayPal transaction.
  **We need 25 minimum short sleeve/sleeveless items for the min order.
  **25 min also applies to arm warmers and or long sleeve jerseys.
• Shipping: included in cost
• Payment: PayPal only
• Fit: if you have a local shop that carries Voler team kit, ask to try it on. Feel free to ask anyone who already has a Voler jersey for advice but check which fabric is used. The AV jersey is made from SQPro which does not stretch as much as Aries MicroPlus.

If you know anyone that may be interested, please feel free to direct them here www.amiciveloci.org.

May we all be Amici Veloci, fast friends.

Special thanks to spazz for her design help. I finally get to meet her Saturday!

Fleming Meadows - May 28, Sunday

Bubba and Sarah are planning a little jaunt at Fleming Meadows. Been too long since we've played in the dirt.

Time: Ready to ride at 10 AM
Where: The Trailhead

Call us if you want more info.

Mt Diablo 5/27/06 - road ride

Ride up South Gate Road to the summit (or wherever you want to turn around)

When: Saturday, May 27
Start: 7:30 or earlier if it is hot
Where: Train Museum in Danville http://www.museumsrv.org/directions.html
After Ride Rehab Location: La Ultima (New Mexican restaurant in walking distance)
Distance: 15 miles climbing up 3,850' and then back down the same path.

Dam Corners and Valleys Ride AGAIN - May 20

Saturday morning at 4:30 am and KCRA's triple doppler is showing clear skies. Looks like it could be one great day!

I'll only post again if it looks like **** when I deliver everyone to the Davis Double start.


We're going to try again. The Davis Double is also on May 20th so we may have a few sane people joining us whilst spouses go abuse themselves. The DD will have a rest stop at Markley Cove from 6-9 am so we should see the DD riders.

This ride will be a relaxed ramble through the countryside. We’ll climb northwest up the canyon alongside Putah Creek over the Monticello Dam and Cardiac Hill, which are the only big climbs of the day, to Moskowite Corner. From there, one little bump and then we fly down Wooden Valley to Mankas Corners and on to Fairfield where we'll take a food break at the coffee house. We’ll turn north, climb a few short rollers and then have a couple options: 1) a nice smooth ride all the way north back to Lake Solano Park and on to Winters or 2) head east across Vaca Valley Road, up Gibson Canyon and the east side of Cantelow. Option 2 rejoins the Option 1 riders for the smooth ride back to Winters.

Start: Steady Eddy's Coffee House in Winters (park in lot next door)
When: On our bikes by 7 am (early because of the heat and the boat hauling idjits)
Length: 62-72
Climbing: 2,780 without the extra climb of Cantelow

To get to Winters: Interstate 505 goes north right into Winters from I-80 or your can take Russell Blvd east out of Davis.

Let us know if you're interested.

Dam Corners and Valley road ride - Sunday, April 30

A reprise of a lovely route. This ride will be a relaxed ramble through the countryside. We’ll climb northwest up the canyon alongside Putah Creek over the Monticello Dam and Cardiac Hill, which are the only big climbs of the day, to Moskowite Corner. From there, one little bump and then we fly down Wooden Valley to Mankas Corners and on to Fairfield where we'll take a food break at the coffee house. We’ll turn north, climb a few short rollers and then have a couple options: 1) a nice smooth ride all the way north back to Lake Solano Park and on to Winters or 2) head east across Vaca Valley Road, up Gibson Canyon and the est side of Cantelow. Option 2 rejoins the Option 1 riders for the smooth ride back to Winters.

Start: Steady Eddy's Coffee House in Winters (use Rotary Park parking lot at Railroad and Main east of Steady Eddy's)
When: Ready to ride at 10 am
Length: 62-72
Climbing: 2,780 without the extra climb of Cantelow

To get to Winters: Interstate 505 goes north right into Winters from I-80 or your can take Russell Blvd east out of Davis.

Let us know if you're interested.

AV team jersey spotted in the desert!

Look where it turned up?

72 degrees fahrenheit. Lovely.

Friendship, Life, and Cycling

SK and I have been having an offline email conversation about this little (big?) electronic world through which many of us have become acquainted. But for the Team Estrogen forum, many of us may have never met...just waved a friendly hello as we rode by. But now as a result of that forum and Team AV, we have new friends that have affected our cycling and everyday lives in many ways.

Fer instance, do not most of us gals now call restrooms "elephants"? And we all know what a "cheese hill" is.

Yesterday I was out skate skiing in Park City and I ran across this sign. I immediately thought of Princess Zippy, who introduced most of us to the term "cheese hill". After zipping by the sign, I turned around and went back to take a picture. And it made me chuckle a few more times that day.

Thanks, P Zip and everyone else for making my life a little richer!

New Year's Day Road Ride

THIS ISN'T LOOKING GOOD. EXPECTING THE FREEWAY TO BE FLOODED THROUGH FAIRFIELD AGAIN SO DON'T EXPECT THE DAVIS CONTINGENT. THIS MAY BE A MOVIE AND HOT COCOA DAY.

If the trails are awash in mud, come join us on a road ride up Mt. Diablo. Seems a good way to welcome in the new year - not that Mad Cyclist's dirt ride wouldn't be just as good.

Princess Zippy is training for the DMD so she's going for the summit twice. She and her coach are starting at 8 am. The rest of us will meet them at the North Gate Entrance at 11 am.

I'm guessing that means being on your bike at Arbolado Park at 10:30 but I really can't remember how far the entrance is from the park so this time may change.

Probably head for the local pizza and beer joint after. I believe it has received the Jo Certificate of Approval.

If you want to carpool from Davis, you know how to reach us.

PS - Rain cancels, but if the skies just look threatening we may choose a more weather-friendly route.

Yellow's Yewtah "New Home" Adventures

As most of you know, I (yellow) relocated from Placerville, California, to Salt Lake City, Utah a couple of months ago. After living in a rathole for a month, we found a nice little restored home (originally built in 1890 at 850 square feet!) and moved in around the middle of November.

Our biggest challenge has been going from a 2100 square foot home in California to a 1400 square foot home in Utah. Now I think this is good because it has forced us to learn how to live with less (space, and therefore, stuff) but we've had other challenges that I didn't really anticipate.

Fer instance, the upstairs is a finished attic and while it is relatively spacious, there are few flat walls (most are the slope of the roofline) and only one smallish closet. Consequently, we still haven't figured out where to hang most of our clothes. We're looking into getting a "portable" wardrobe closet, but are having problems finding one that isn't too tall so that it doesn't come into contact with the sloping ceiling/wall. And how do you hang a mirror in the bathroom if the walls aren't flat? Oh, the challenges.

But today, this very morning, took the cake. We had our first very cold storm yesterday and last night (it got down to about 12 F), resulting in about 4 inches of snow here at the house in the city and a couple of FEET up at Alta, where I have been skiing. So OF COURSE I was going to go get some of that fresh, famous Utah powder. But...I go to flush the toilet in the downstairs bathroom and...it doesn't re-fill. Yep. Frozen pipes somewhere in this house that I'm still getting to know.

So I get on my grungy clothes and prepare to go under the house. I don't like confined spaces, so this is not something I am looking forward to. Fortunately, it's well lit, pretty spacious, and not nearly as scary as the Placerville house. And unfortunately, I discover that NONE of the very numerous (plastic) water pipes in the exposed area are insulated. Because there is more thawing required than can be accomplished with a hair dryer, I venture to Ace Hardware to purchase a space heater and some pipe insulation. I must have been a sight, all dirty from going under the house and, as I discovered later, with my shirt on backwards and inside out.

The good news is I got the pipes thawed and none of them were broken. I stayed down there and insulated everything as well as I could. And now that I'm done I'm pretty durn pleased with myself (though that doesn't make up for missing out on the good snow). My neighbor tells me this weather is not usual.

But the ultimate cruel fact-o-life is that it's not supposed to snow again in the near future, so I get crud tomorrow. It figures.

Cool and Pink!

Bubba and I had a few errands up in the foothills today, so we got in a quick loop in Cool. Mathilda has her new pink wheels and was just tickled . . . well, you get the point.

Don't think it got out of the 40s today. I think Old Man Winter is with us. Any place there are springs or the drainage isn't perfect, the horses have destroyed the trail. They even go off on the singletrack that was obviously built by the mountainbikers trying to minimize the damage. They're breaking down a bridge that should never have horses on it. Very frustrating what they are doing to public land.

Otherwise, we had a superb though quiet ride. We were the only bikers and most of the horse folk were finish up when we arrived. The bay berries were just glowing and the oak leaves were a carpet in some places. Knickerbocker Creek gurgled away but was very rideable. Some of our most memorable rides seem to be in the cold winter weather (see Utah rides below).

Guess we're just going to have to figure out how do help with the trail maintenance. Bubba's poison oak incident last year was very serious and I get sciatica when wielding a shovel. Maybe we can tote the lemonade. Need to find some way to help.

AV Late Fall Utah Meeting

SadieKate and Wrench Boy ventured to Salt Lake City, my new home, over Thanksgiving weekend to visit Wrench Boy's mother. Of course they were willing to bring their bikes.

We did two rides, one up in Mill Creek Canyon (brrrr!) and one on Antelope Island (an island in the Great Salt Lake). What fun it was to see and ride with them again. It was chilly (especially the ride up in Mill Creek Canyon), but we just wore lots of clothes and rode faster than we might normally! Oh! And we did have Thanksgiving dinner together at a lovely little bistro in one of Salt Lake's trendy neighborhoods. Thumbs up to having someone else cook and clean up.

To see all of the ride photos, you can visit SadieKate's Photobucket site (I'm gonna have to git me one!)

(At Antelope Island, from L to R, Brian, Yellow, SadieKate, Wrench Boy)