Someone needs to update their program or database.

That picture above shows that after around 8 miles, it’s more or less downhill over the next 14 miles.

Not quite what I experienced today.

The first 8 miles were pretty tough – with a pretty serious incline to end it – but it was thankfully short. Was a nice, little, mean exclaimation point on the end of the uphill.

Made it to the first rest stop in good time – about an hour. Though my SAG car did a drive by – making me feel like we were slow. Salvador slept for most of it.

I was feeling it a bit in my calves and such – but since the next 14 miles were more or less downhill, why worry?

We got some good speed down to the 280 and there was a slight uphill as we turned along side the 280, but I wouldn’t argue about that not being on the profile – in the big picture, it was negligible. 

But this street – Elena – wasn’t.  A very unpleasant surprise. Nowhere on this profile map – it’s around mile 14 – mile 14 in that picture above looks tranquil. Looking at it now, miles 12-17 look like data’s just missing – so they drew a strange, tranquil line.

Tranquil does not lead to calves cramping.

Sweat pouring down my face – I just focused on how it was a good thing that I didn’t drive the route first – as this whole thing was better as a surprise. I had to focus on that because for some reason, if I didn’t, I was focusing on the sweat on my nose which irritated me for some reason today. Might have been a touch of allergies up in those hills.  Still, each corner held hope for me that it was over. But wasn’t. If I drove it – I wouldn’t even have that hope – so I was glad I hadn’t driven the course first.

Lots of nice houses up there. Pretty scenic too – but you’ll have to ask Salvador about it. I was concentrating on mainly the 10 feet of asphalt infront of me.  Then it was downhill.  And a nice cruise to the picnic.

Picnic, though we were there early, had cold burgers. And chili that Sal thought looked better on me than it tasted.

It was shorter than advertised – at around 25 miles – cause they had to change the start/end location.  I think I could have done another 5 miles at the end. Though I wouldn’t have wanted them at the beginning of the course – starting with the Sandhill/Portola section was a good idea. Did it in about 3 hours, with maybe 30-40 minutes at the reststops letting Salvador socialize.

We saw the church up in the hills where Rob got married. That was a little strange. Passing by that made me realize we were really way out there. We also saw the hospital where Chapo had his eye surgery.

All in all, a fun ride. Some money goes to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I’m on a diet so the food being no good wasn’t a big issue. They still gave me an XXL shirt.

I could use a massage. In places no one wants to touch.