EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted March 24, 2002 12:23 PM
 Edited By: EastBayDave on 24 Mar 2002 12:27
3/21 ride report
All I've got to say is "aaaaahhhhhh....what a ride!"
You guys missed a GREAT ride today (yeah I know, most "normal" folks are working. Well HIRE ME Dammit!) :o) Felipe met me @ my place, & we droned the 25 miles out to Livermore to meet up with Paul & possibly 2-3 others that didn't show. We met at ~10:30AM, & headed toward San Antonio Valley. We found Mines is even cooler on a weekday. NO traffic, zilch, nada, zippo. The day was bright with perfect temps (~68-70!), a perfect day for a ride.
I was being cautious as usual (my typical MO lately), & having a semi-bald front tire (the Dunflop WAS @ the wearbars), I was determined to just have fun today, & not to toss the bike, figuring this would be my last ride on this tire. I brought along my tire flat kit just to be sure; am I getting paranoid?
We had an uneventful ride in, Felipe & Paul pulling away quickly. I was being cautious in the recently re-graveled section. With the flaky front Dunlop, I was not taking chances, not tossing it in so hard as usual. I could occasionally catch a glimpse of them several curves ahead as we wound our way the 15 miles up the valley.
As we got to the narrow one lane section, the guys had pulled over to wait for mew (thanks for the nice comments guys "oh you were only a minute or so back"), & off again we went. Some debris from recent rains was on the tar & chip surface, reinforcing my caution- but I was going fast enough to enjoy the ride, dodging a lot of rocks fearful of a front blowout. The pace was "a semi-cautious but fast enough to have fun pace" for me. However the Felipe & Paul train was gone!
The road cleared greatly upon hitting Santa Clara County (for shame Alameda County!), & we shortly arrived at "The Junction." There were few folks there, but only one I knew: "Roger" w/his supercharged/customized Mazda Miata (200+ hp), & one other guy named "John" breaking in a new BMW K1200LT. He told me it was $16.9K OTD, & admitted playing "hooky" from work today too. Great day for riding isn't it? You bet'cha!
After a thoroughly artery clogging greasy meal (Linguisa Sandwich- sorry Mom), & a fair amount of bench racing & motorcycling racing history, off down the mountain East we went. As usual I stay with them about 5 miles until the county line, where I slow due to the "tar snake section" (is what I call it, I bailed there once!) Once again the freight train pulled away.
I was happily enjoying the ride, shifting, countersteering, "grunting" the 12R out of corners; thoroughly enjoying myself (especially on the rises-weeee); about halfway down the mountain when, suddenly I see Paul through the trees up against the hillside (OH NO!) An instant of fear strikes me until I get closer, & discover he's simply pulled over making an adjustment. "You ok?" "Yeah, no problem" "All right, I'll see you down the road..."
As I pulled away from Paul, around the corner a concerned looking Felipe is coming back the other way. I signal thumbs up "all is well" to him. I find later that Paul had suddenly disappeared from his mirrors, & he thought maybe I missed him & he might have been down a ravine someplace. Paul, you need to let other riders your with KNOW when you are pulling over.... ok? 
Meanwhile, I figured now's my chance to make "a break" for it, & build up a lead that will take them awhile to reel me in, eventually catching me at their speedier pace. So I blast for a few miles, then slow as I notice some more of those pesky tar snakes.
JUST as I slow, I spy a gendarme coming the other way couple corners up. Oh, a quick glance at the Speedo as I hit the brakes I discover I'm at the speed limit, so I just maintain my pace by him & up a gear to quiet the pipe.
He keeps going. As I go slowly & I motion the other pair to pass, waaaaaa, waaaaaaa...off they go, zoom. So I go slow & play "blocker" keeping at the speed limit for a few miles just in case - my records clean (knock on wood), go ahead, pull me over. Turns out Mr. Officer Sir must have kept going, as we never saw him again.
FYI, we noticed a NEW 35mph speed limit sign that's never been there since this road (Del Puerto Canyon) was paved back ~80' (yes, I rode the unpaved part once.) Grrrrr.... 35 on a road we can easily cruise ~55. Why??? Is Alice's repeating? I sure as heck hope not.
Shortly after Paul & Felipe flashed by, I started noticing more & more cows along the side of the road, on BOTH sides of the fence. You gotta watch these critters, they can bolt for the middle of the road at any time. So I slowed considerably. It's a good thing too, cuz out of the 50 or so I saw on the wrong side of the fence, ONE turns & starts strolling slowly out into the road. I see it a good hundred yards+ back, & start braking just in case he doesn't keep going.
Sure enough, he's stopping broadside, & staring at me with "duh...hit me" on his face. I had to come to a complete stop; blowing the snot out of the horn, rev the motor, before he started meandering off the road when I got pissed & got close to him. This is not recommended, sometimes they charge! Yikes! I got by him, & had a uneventful ride from that pointthe next 15 miles to the gas stop.
Caught a quick drink, & being a bit tired with chores at home to do, I elected to head back up the long straight deserted freeway (Akra 6th gear test ) & home. Paul & Felipe heading back the way we came; but I was tired so took the short route...
You can see this ride & the surrounding area at this link:
http://members.tripod.com/~Interstate80/130_e_san_antonio_valley_2.html
It was an awesome day! I think we passed 5 cars in 100 miles, numerous bovine (including the one suicidal one that "flinched" out into the middle of the road (thanks guys!)), one nice officer (?), & Felipe ran out of gas just as we got to the station (chitty, chitty, bang, bang!) LOL  My front skin is toast! A great ride, great lunch, & great company.
Thanks guys, we've got to do it again soon...
DD
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
  
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justaspeedfreak
Parking Attendant
Posts: 8
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posted March 24, 2002 06:02 PM
twitchy bovine
i hate those bovine that dart out into the road. man, especially when they have on their "Air Jordan's" and pull a stop and go on you...
nice to hear you had a great ride and returned safely!
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted March 24, 2002 06:34 PM
thanks, actually wrote this up for a local site, figured I'd share....
Not much response so guess I'll keep it local...
YES, damn cows scare me man...would do a job on da bike!
Cheers...
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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ZXtra
Expert Class
Posts: 490
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posted March 24, 2002 09:51 PM
Re: ride...
Dave...Looks nice a nice area to ride; very scenic. -ZXtra
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The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick!
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