Saratoga Gap Ride

Tuesday's ride was at Saratoga Gap with Stevo, John and Mike J. It was a warm day but thats okay because these trails are the best for a warm day like today.

No, I wasnt bored here in this picture. I was trying to catch my breath. These guys decided this was a good day to race through these trails and me being the out of shape clown that I am couldnt handle it. I thought I was going to throw up by the end of the ride just trying to keep up with them.

Just a few more pics of the Gap trails to show you southern Californian's what a real trails suppose to look like. These trails are so beautiful, you really can't find a bad one.

I can't wait to get some pictures of Demonstration Forest on my blog.

Mike J., thanks for the pics.

Eveyone Enjoy~

Chaka Khan

~I love the music of Chaka Khan~
http://www.chakakhan.com/fireworks/discoh/discoh.html
http://www.chakakhanfoundation.org/

Signs

I got back from Livermore and was beat. The weather was so hot out there I could hardly sleep but I still had a great time. We (me, Linda and Donna) had time to tell my neices stories about the trouble we used to get into, proms, outings and the old boyfriends I had. Yikes, I guess my brothers are telling their daughters the same things my father used to tell me. I guess it's true that the apple doesnt fall far from the tree. ~Poor girls~

When I got home on Sunday I just wanted to rest the remainder of the day. So, Nikki and I watched the move Signs last night. I like the movie but Nikki got a little scared. I think she's been hanging out with her boyfriend a little to much.

I feel like I'm always on the go, which is good but there are days when I would love to sit and watch a good DVD. I just havent been able to find a good movie. Some of my favorites:

Delicatessen:
City of the Lost Children:
Anything with Edward Norton: Italian Job, Red Dragon, Fight Club:
Ray:
The Messenger:
Motorcycle Diaries:
Blue Velvet:
Four Rooms:
Vanilla Sky:
The Game:
Ninth Gate:
Angel Heart:
Monsoon Wedding:
Reservoir Dogs:
and suprisingly The Butterfly Effect was a pretty good movie too.

Stiles Ranch/Santa Teresa Park

This is exactly what I needed. A great trail and great company. It doesnt get much better than this.

Mike P. heading up Stiles Ranch. Both DeAnna (New Velo Bella) and Mike P are doing a great job riding up the switchbacks at Stile's Ranch. I have high hopes next year for DeAnna and her new Racer X.

John, JR, Dono, Mike J., Mike P, Jason, DeAnna and myself taking a rest before completing the downhill of Stiles Ranch.

JR and Dono hanging out waiting for the rest of the gang.

Its beautiful at the top of the fireroad at Santa Teresa Park but it's getting late and we dont have much riding time left. The guys head down Rocky Ridge and I take DeAnna back down the fire road. Down and out we go headed to Chili's Bar and Grill for our beer and burgers!

Linda

Okay, so I havent blogged in a while. Although I've been having a blast riding all over the trails with DeAnna and her new Titus, Racer X, in the back of my mind I've been thinking about my sister-in-law. Linda finally came to the conclusion that a double mastectomy would be the best choice for her right now. Linda is one strong b*tch and I just know that she's going to be fine. But, to hear that she's been crying as often as she has been just breaks my heart.

Just last week she was opening up not one but two new Marriott Hotels, as if nothing was going on in her life but that.

We'll her surgery was yesterday and she came out of it fine. This weekend my brother and the twins will be out of town so me and my other sister-in-law, Donna will be staying the weekend with Linda. I dont know what I would do without my sister-in-laws, Linda and Donna in particular. We've grown up together. Linda got me my first job at RedEye in Oak Ridge Mall where she and another girl that was dating one of my other brothers was working.

I hate days like today where the only thing I can think about is how she must be in soo much pain and there is nothing I can do for her except keep telling her that she's a strong woman and going to be alright. I feel so lame....and helpless....

I guess as long as she really does get throught this and all the Chemo and radiation and whatever else they decide to put into her body... then everything is good, right?

God bless her and keep a positive outlook for her.

Pooch in a Pouch

DO YOU THINK THEY BOTH GET MEDALS FOR PLACING?

Team OTB

Team OTB at the 24 Hours of Adrenaline. http://www.teamotb.com/
Our Rides:

STEVO: Santa Cruz, Heckler
JOHN: Santa Cruz, Super Light
DONO: Santa Cruz, Nomad
CYNTHIA: Santa Cruz, Juliana
BRIAN: Santa Cruz, Nomad

New bike?

I'd rather see a bike in his hands. That is unless, I'm suppose to use the card to buy a new bike?

2 Bellas and a Fella

Bump bump,

“what was that”?

“oh that’s just Cynthia”

“she’s under the bus”

Now that that is out of the way – LOL

Our story of intrigue begins with a conversation between Cyn and Dee;

So off our intrepid Bella’s go – into the Maw of peril, gracefully negotiating the snaking, rocky, somewhat steep singletrack that is known as “Stile Ranch trail”
Smoothly upward they go – the occasional grimace as DeAnna steeled her resolve and hit the gas to surmount rocks the size of Televisions and Bowling balls leaving them as crushed rubble to flatten the trail for Cynthia. Around the narrow, rocky, stepped switchbacks DeAnna once again delivers and mentors Cynthia in the nuances of the fine balancing act of momentum, power, courage, and talent that is required to negotiate terrain of such a technical nature. At one point it seems that DeAnna was nearing her AT and on the verge of “blowing up” when we pulled off the trail at the top to investigate, it seems DeAnna was the subject of sabotage. In her subversive rascalness, Cynthia had tampered with DeAnnas Brakes and gears – the brakes were set to drag at full engagement and her only gear selection the 44 – 17. In empathic acquiescence DeAnna chose this opportunity to inform Cynthia, “ Okay Cynthina, I’m going to charge this upcoming super technical crux section climb with the staircase steps and bowling ball rocks and after I clear the turn I will excecute a 192 degree slow speed pirouette and come to a gracefully smooth stop while expertly simulating several small lacerations on my left posterior calf and left anterior forearm. To which Cynthia replied “Whatever, I do want I want”.

Upon DeAnna completing her skills demonstration we see on the horizon the waning light, it was decided that it was time to have a couple of libations and supper with the loved ones before heading home to regale with daring stories of bravado and devil may care risk taking.



And for the real version.

C> “Hey you guys wanna ride today”?
D> “sure, we’ve been so busy that I haven’t been on the bike in a few days, I need to get out there and keep my edge”
C> “We’re going to ride Santa Teresa” “it’s EASY”
D>” Is it hard like St Joe’s?”
C>” It’s so easy, way simpler than St Joes, and the hills are shorter”
D> “OH, Okay!” I’ll see you at 6”


Santa Teresa county park is probably one of the most consistently technical places to ride in local San Jose. The nice thing about ST is that if you can comfortably ride here, there are not many places on the planet that you cannot ride with confidence.

DeAnna is rapidly gaining experience and skills that will be well put to use as a Velo Bella you girls better be looking over your shoulders cause here comes the incomparable DeAnna Papedis with a fire in her eyes and piston like legs on a mission to lay waste against all who would dare to oppose her.

I am truly impressed by the courage, resolve and sheer determination of DeAnna to go WAY outside of her comfort zone and through sheer will to succeed, ascend a trail of such a technical nature.

Another Item of note, DeAnna cleaned Stile Ranch with ONLY 3 dabs for the entire trail – That she performed this feat on a Hardtail and on her first try is testament to the positive mentoring and enthusiastic coercion of Cynthia Robles to see the potential in DeAnna and to nurture that seedling until it blossoms.

Congratulations DeAnna and I look forward to seeing you master the sport – you’re well on your way…..

p.s. I’ve included some spy shots of DeAnna working her skills!!!

Daniel Abernethy

This will be my next bike....

If I dont stop crashing~