Bidding good-bye to 2011 couldn't have been any better. In great RBW spirit, I finally met fellow list member Ray Shine who had always offered to take me on rides around San Francisco. It is entirely my fault for having taken so long, but it finally happened.
Yesterday I met with Ray at the San Francisco Marina and together we rode over accross the Golden Gate Bridge and then up Conzelman Road into the Marin Headlands to do Ray's loop. Being the last day of the year and with the gorgeous weather we had, the place was invaded with tourists on cars and rental bikes. Luckily, the rental bikes were turning left into Sausalito and not going up Conzelman Road. Ray was amazed at how many cars there were, so we were careful but had no issues. Plenty of roadies on CF bikes passed us, and while no one asked how much our bikes weighed (who would ask that after taking a look at me...?) I got an incredible number of compliments on my Atlantis. Even Ray complimented my bike when we first met. He was complaining that no one was giving him any compliments on his black Yves, although a couple of people complimented us both as they passed. Still, he couldn't believe the number of compliments. After taking some photos of the view of the Golden Gate, the city and the Bay at the highest vista point, we went down the 18% descent that has seen Ray crash twice last year; fist in January when he broke his collarbone and recently when he had his rim blow-out. We went cautiosly with cars coming behind us and pumping the brakes so the rims wouldn't heat up too much and stopped in the middle where more photos were taken. That descent is absolutely breathtaking. It's not just the 18% downhill grade, it's the fact that you have the ocean in front of you and just a guard-rail between you and the breathtaking view. Just awesome. After the descent we continued on Conzelman Road to its end, took some more photos of the two bikes and then Ray got me on the Atlantis with all the silver parts reflecting the setting sun. Back via Bunker Road and then up to Conzelman Road via McCullough Road for a final descent on the steepest initial climb up Conzelman, back over the Golden Gate Bridge and finally, once down on Crissy Field the search for a coffee place that was closed and then further ahead, a Starbucks that was open. Having had nothing to eat since breakfast, combined with a few days of getting back on the proper eating plan plus not enough riding in the past 6 months resulted in my legs feeling completely empty by the time we finished the ride. A good soy latte and a chicken sandwich restored me and tasted like glory. Ray's company and guiding was nothing short of wonderful and to me, the first of many wonderful rides that I'll be asking him to take me along. On our way back after crossing the Golden Gate we saw the only other Rivendell bike that we'd see all day, and as luck would have it, the owner ran into us again as we were walking from the Starbucks to find a bench to sit down and eat on the Marina. Words and salutations were exchanged, mutual admiration comments on our bikes (he was riding a beautiful orange Sam) and he and Ray exchanged contact info since both live in the city and Ray has seen him before. For me, the most incredible thing was how incredible the spirit of both Ray and this other rider who is in his 70s is. As a "younger" man in my early 50s, it's awesome to see how these men contradict the traditional image I grew up with that as we got older we were just not supposed to be doing these things anymore. I guess I understand now why I always rebelled against so many things that were "taught" as the norm as I was growing up. A wonderful afternoon on the last day of the year spent in the best way possible; meeting a new friend, doing a new ride, feeling awed by the beauty of the SF Bay Area and feeling just thankful for everything, including finally nailing the fit of my Atlantis with the 150mm Bullmoose bars as its cockpit. Using the now immortalized words by Manny... pictures prove it actually happened! *http://tinyurl.com/74smdkq* ** I'm feeling pretty bullmooish about 2012!!! Happy New Year everyone!!! René -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
