Frankie's ride

Yesterday I took the day off to join my friend Frank and some friends for his birthday ride. I picked up Frank his friend, Jacquie Phelan (yes one of the original mountain biker chicks !) and we made our way to Lagunitas. At lagunitas we meet the rest of the group; Gus (singlespeed), Curt (singlespeed), Monia (luna chick), Gregg, and Sharon. After much loafing around, it's amazing how long it takes mt bikers to get ready to ride :-), we were off and up Mt Barnaby on the glorious Bill's trail. The weather was fine, cool and damp. Sharon and gus set an excellent tempo pace all the way up the steady but never too steep climb.

At the top we all agreed turning it right back around and enjoying our work would best. Jacquie and I hung back to give those with the squealing brakes some distance and enjoy the absolute damp forest silence. No surprise Jacquie is way smooth on her bike. At the bottom we bid adieu to Jacquie as she made us promise to come out and race in the singlespeed worlds at Napa next summer.

We continue on through Samuel P Taylor bike path and start up the always longer than I remember climb up Jewel/Fairfax-Bolinas Fire Rd to smokers rock. At this point what I thought would be some long slow miles turn into intervals as Sharon and I race all the way up through the fog and then rain to the rock. Sharon has been consist podium finisher the season expert womens field and is gearing up for State Champs this week, go Sharon !!!

It's raining hard now so we cut the ride short and head for the trees and sweet pee. A bottle of wine is uncorked and we toast all the fine times we've had w/ Frankie. Than its down sweet pea to our cars and dry clothes.

Awesome ride thanks Frank !