So the season progresses to longer rides. The Flèche is a fun event because the focus is on teamwork and riding a full over-night, rather than on speed. Several teams (groups of 3 to 5 riders) start and ride simultaneously from different points, all heading for the same finish point at a designated time 24 hours later. So when teams all arrive they all have stories to share. The pace is relaxed, the Randonnee minimum 15 KPH, so that the actual distance covered is in the 360 km range. So planning, navigation, and team spirit make a successful ride. We rode as the "Hobos" team because we had all planned to arrive at the starting location in San Luis Obispo using public transportation, since no one (except Vickie, our team captain) expected to return to the start point. I rode the Metrolink from Palmdale and caught the Amtrak Surfliner from Glendale on Friday, then rode around SLO and Avila Beach in the afternoon before the 8:00 AM Saturday start.

I enjoyed the Flèche thanks to Kerin's support as the brevet coordinator and host, Vickie's planning as captain of the Hobos team, and Greg for opening his home at midnight as our rest stop. On Friday, on the Amtrak I enjoyed talking to Ryan and Marcus as we all headed towards our respective start points. I took a little time in the sunny afternoon and rode out to Avila Beach. Saturday was beautiful and we four Hobos (Vickie, Mark, Rick, and I) simply sailed along through the verdant spring countryside of San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria, and into Lompoc. Mark got dual blowouts on the descent of Harris Grade but fortunately came to a safe stop and all was quickly repaired. A quick stop in the Lompoc bike shop to re-supply and we were on our way, enjoying tailwinds along the San Julian grade on Hwy 1 and down the coast. It was great talking to Mark and Rick about their upcoming trips abroad - what a schedule!

After an obligatory stop at In-and-Out Burger in Goleta we continued down through our regular PCH route until Santa Paula, where Vickie had planned a little treat for us - a climb over Grimes Cyn into Moorpark and a layover at Greg's house. Greg had hot food waiting for us (thanks again for the chicken noodle soup!) and we had a power nap before heading out through Simi Valley and Santa Susana Pass. The forecasted high winds finally materialized at the summit of the grade and we had to fight for a time on Rinaldi into some high gusts. We barely made our 2200 hour stop at Denny's in Tujunga but with that done we breezed down through the canyons to the waiting breakfast party with Kerin and the other arriving teams.

The last task of being a Hobo was to get myself back to Quartz Hill, where I had planned to take the Metrolink. But the rail line was closed for maintenance between Burbank and Sun Valley. So I took the Metro Gold Line from Sierra Madre to Highland Park and rode my bike from there to Glendale, and (after a three hour wait) took the Metrolink up to Burbank and then a bus from there to Sun Valley to re-board the Metrolink up to Palmdale. During the ride I began to notice a "hitch" in the power train, like a loosening bottom bracket or pedal, but I couldn't find a source during the ride. While riding the train home I was looking at my bike and realized that the crank arm bolt on the left side was gone. So I felt discretion was in order and called Ann to come pick me up at the Palmdale station, so I failed to complete the journey as the Hobo I claimed to be. I laid the bike across the floor of my Subaru Forester like I often do, with chain side up, for the ride home. And when I unloaded my bike at home, there was the left side crank arm, fallen on the floor, having parted company from the bike.

Fart Bikes

I completed my triple double with the Death Valley Spring Double.  It was a nice weekend out at Furnace Creek, with warm nights and mild breezes.  I met my friend Greg at the start and we rode at a pace of nearly 20 MPH (according to my Garmin) to Ashford Mill before stopping long enough for a water refill before tackling the wonderful Jubilee-Salsbury passes to Shoshone.  Greg had wanted to do 13 hours - I was looking for more like 14 so we parted company and he began to ride away.  Back to the Salsbury climb I caught up again with Greg and we rode together again to Ashford Mill.  I had to take a nature break so Greg was again on his own through Badwater and the evening run out to the Stovepipe Wells turn-around.  We passed again on opposite sides of the road not far from the turn-around, so I was not doing too bad.  Finished at Furnace Creek with a time of 13:35 so I was pleased.

I love the Death Valley rides because of the fresh air and minimal traffic.  For the ride we were treated to a group of motorcyclists on big V-twins, riding in a column between stops like they were part of the double century.  Now I have no room to complain, since I own a loud, nasty polluting muscle car as a hobby, but these flatulent V-twin bikes just rattle my brain when they pass. Which they did way too often.  Is there any regulation on the emissions on these bikes?  Man, they stink up the place, even passing by on the open road at speed.  On the return visit at the Badwater stop, there they were, forming up their column next to the bike stop.  Their idling engines were putting out such a putrid cloud that all our fellow riders were holding their noses and fanning the air with their hands.  Share the road, not your stank!