Mid-Week Rides: January Lunch Ride

Wednesday, Jan 7 2015

Pictures start here

WWWobble writes:

Today’s MWR came about from a short e-mail conversation between Don T., WWWobble, and the Captain. Don was looking for riders to come with him to the Junction Cafe on Mines for lunch on Thursday. The Captain couldn’t do Thursday and suggested Big Basin and lunch in Boulder Creek on Wednesday. WWWobble misunderstood Don’s reply thinking Don was OK with Wednesday, signed on to the Captain’s plan, which was published Tuesday afternoon for a Wednesday ride on the Captain’s 5,000 member e-mail list.

Despite short notice, seven showed up. The Captain, Marco, Paul from Alameda, Randy H., Alberto, Rich, and WWWobble. But no Don T., who couldn’t make it. Ooops.

Well, if we were a little “befuddled” putting the ride together, the Captain certainly arranged the rest in splendid fashion. First order of business: Weather. Crisp and clear in the damp canyons, sunny and warm coast side. You just gotta love the winter coast. Second order of business: Delegate. He points to this scribe and orders, lead the ride up and over, around and about, hit Big Basin for group portrait at the Tree, then lunch in Boulder Creek. “Yes sir.”

Why the delegation? Because he’s on a recently acquired, spotlessly clean 2011 R1200RT with knobs and buttons and electronic aids that he wants to learn to operate as we go along. It’s a fine looking machine, with some nice aftermarket farkles installed as well.

So, where did we actually go? OK, for those who are interested in the facts:

Saratoga / Los Gatos Rd to Hwy 17
Black Rd to Skyline
Left turn on 9, continue on 236
and into Big Basin. Gather at the Tree.
Boulder Creek for lunch, not fast, but pleasant.
Alba Rd to Empire Grade
Pine Flat, around Bonny Doon
down to the Coast
North on 1 to Davenport
brief visit with friends of the MWR
Swanton Rd then back on 1
and home.

Good companionship, fabulous weather, a bunch of fine roads, a great way to spend the day.

Alberto’s take on the ride:

The FIRST ONE of the year.

Wednesday January 7, on a short notice, Chris was ready to take the new puppy out.

Yep! We did again. A crew of seven, just like in the Disney story “The seven dwarves minus Cinderella” (she was waiting home, rolling pin at hand… read on) hauled to Boulder Creek for lunch.

Chris Weld, Marco Hyman, wwWobbles, Paul no Last-name (welcome back!), Rich Penrose, Randy (he also does not have a last name – hmmm… related?) and Alberto (no last name – but not related).

What a morning! Low 60s, bright and sunny. Wobbles, was our fearless leader, emphasis on fearless. Holly smokes, he sure enjoys cranking the throttle just as the turns get serious enough to challenge the timid - yours truly. But, without a challenge we do not get any better. Yep, keep it up Wobbles, we all need that little bit of pushing.

Hwy 17 to Black Road and over the hill somewhere we ended up at Big Basin Park for the mandatory photograph. Nice touch, Paul No-name, had a tripod and included his self in the picture. Here we lost Rich who had to take off – Ahh, some must work for a living. Shame, he missed the better part of the ride.

Six dwarves went to Boulder Creek for lunch. Yes, there is a coffee place serving great sandwiches and a Mocha worth the effort. Just one block north from Big Basin way, it is on the corner. If you go there to eat, seat in the back room as it has a great view of the creek. It is classy, very classy for a dumpy looking place.

Here we changed leaders. Chris, on his new-to-him BMW 1200 RT (what a toy!) had enough. Pipe-on-hand, off we went. I think I saw Empire Grade and somehow over to Bony Doon we ended up later on Hwy 1 (north).

Swanton Rd and back to Hwy 1… a few miles later, Alberto peels off on 84 and home, the remaining dwarves headed north. Chris, concern on his face, on a quest for flowers, to appease Cinderella (aka boss). She is not a happy camper when Chris extricates himself for a MWR. She is going to “let him have it”. Hope your survived Chris! Say hello to Cinderella. Well, Chris, it was nice knowing you!

A nice point of discussion ensued at various stops. (1) Counter steering (2) Body steering.

Alberto, from the Pridmore School of motor-biking has been doing the body-steering thing, with relative success. Yes, I seem to be comfortable. The knee out and shifting the rear end seems easy enough. Marco, (and Wobbles, Chris, etc, etc, etc), however, when riding I see no shifting and no knee out. What gives?

So I was instructed (for the second time) on the mechanics. When I left them on Hwy 84, this I discovered: By Gummies! They have something worth practicing.

Yes, weight to inside peg, soften the inside elbow (what Marco calls lower the inside shoulder) and look over the inside mirror – Huh? This last one took a bit to understand.

Looking over the inside mirror, became shifting your head, (more accurate: your head and upper body – as in body shifting but not really), to the inside of the turn. WOW!! Is all I can say. This is amazing. Hwy 84 was an absolute pleasure to test this technique. Ever more so on the Bay side of Hwy 84 as it contains a much higher number of sharp turns.

I may add wwWobbles’ suggestion: Keep your arms soft! Yes, yes, and yes! Got it.

Citizens, ride and ride well with much technique and good spirit.

See you all next Sunday.