Ride Report: SFO Book Signing
Last week we completed the second stop in the tour for our book, The Rules; The Way of the Cycling Disciple. For the first two, we partnered with Rapha to do a five-to-six hour ride and then sign the books at the shop afterwards. In both cases, I was amazed by the quality of the riding and by the ride leaders themselves, Robert in NYC and Eric in SFO. Between the two, I have to say SFO takes the crown for an amazing ride outside a city; the views were stunning, we got to ride up a gravel road up to Mount Tam, and rode like howler monkeys on fresh tarmac on the way down.
Another great bonus from the ride was that I finally got to meet @Nate, who has been part of our community since 2010 or so. We’ve had several near-misses over the years but this time it finally worked out. He and Bicycle Time‘s editor Gary Boulanger took me for a lovely ride around the bay on Friday and a nice dinner in Cow Hollow. It was great meeting two longtime friends in one sitting. The next day was 100km covering about 2020 meters of climbing along breathtaking scenery with a great group of riders. Here is @Nate’s report from the ride and signing.
Yours in Cycling,
Frank
—
The Rules booksigning juggernaut rolled into SF last weekend, in the person of Keeper Frank. I’ve been trying to get @frank down here for a ride for a couple of years, and it finally came to pass.
Friday evening Gary Boulanger and I took Frank for a ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. Once we got off the bridge I thought we’d be out of the wind, but there was still a good bit of it. Thankfully we had the Dutch Monkey with us to punch a hole in it. There were some postride refreshments but no staying up till 1 am drinking this time around.
Back at the San Francisco Rapha Club on Saturday morning the Giro was being shown in HD on two large screens, and espresso was consumed. @HMBSteve was there, along with a large contingent of Rapha club ride regulars. In celebration of the Rules, the start of the Giro, and the recently-offered Rapha Pantani jersey (beautiful piece of kit, if you have the scalatorissimo to pull it off) we had some serious climbing on tap.
After a briefing by Eric, our able ride leader, the group of about 30 headed out, once again across the Golden Gate Bridge. Our double paceline soon found itself strung out on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais. The second half of the climb was on Railroad Grade, a gravel fire road, which was a blast – feasible on road bikes, but in sections you had to pick your line, and often the surface was quite rough. The only thing for it was to hammer as hard as possible so as not to lose momentum.
After a stop at the top of the mountain, we descended to the ocean, rode along the coast, worked our way back over the flanks of Mt. Tam, and headed back to San Francisco. Passing through the Presidio, Eric took us by the headquarters of Lucasfilm, where Star Wars obsessions were duly indulged.
Back at the Rapha Club, @frank, aided by some Chimay, signed every copy of The Rules in the club. It was very cool to see how the Rules resonate with so many fellow cyclists, whether they have only recently taken up the sport, or have been at it for most of their lives. And it was a blast to share our fine local roads with @frank.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Rapha SFO/”/]
Great write-up, and looks like you got a spectacular day for it. Must have been nice to see the store sell all its copies of the opus!
Man oh man, what a day out on the bike. Those photos tell quite a tale. Well done all around.
Epic all around. Envy.
I see our illustrious leader is still choosing to wear that ridiculous helmet…
@Mikael Liddy
I have photographic evidence that it highly resembles Lord Vader’s.
Just fucking wow. Fantastic place. Fantastic people. Fantastic riding.
I spent my early childhood looking across the bay at Mt. Tam. Those photos just gut me.
@Nate
http://youtu.be/cbeR6uYxU50
@Mikael Liddy
I’m taking delivery of the following two helmets in the coming two weeks.
The Evade is fucking fantastic in the wind and in cool weather. It is complete shit in the heat. As in, causes your shades to fog right the fuck up going uphill.
@frank
The POC looks like something out of Tron. I’m afraid it may be a downgrade in that respect.
Got an order in for the POC, first lot were sent back by the LBS as the paint finish was crap, the fit is great, big head, and the weight is impressive, very light, and from what I hear the ventilation is excellent .
If you’re determined to have something orange on your skull, I can’t recommend this model highly enough.
@frank Is that the Giro Aeon? I’d be interested in a report on that as it looks like our team will be in Giro helmets next season and I need to choose one.
Probably get an Air Attack too.
What’s going on in the regroup pic with the guy in the pink jersey?
been riding with the poc octal for a couple weeks now. long (>6hrs in 90F heat), short, rain, racing, racing in the rain. if you ignore what it looks like in pictures on your head, and it fits your head shape, its the bomb. adjustable, light, and seems to decrease neck/shoulder/trap stiffness post ride. YMMV. only problem is that one has to pay for it. I’m trying to rationalize a second one to setup permanently for commuting with a light and contour videocam.
@Rom
Frank told him to raise his saddle, and he figured the only way to do so and still reach the bars was to detach his torso. Commitment.
Not sure if it’s aero, though.
Picture 8, is that a EPMS? Or has your saddle shat itself?
@ClydesdaleChris
spare tub strapped with toe strap – old school Rules
@andrew
Huh, the guy in the red, white and black jersey is levitating as well. Interesting that he can pedal a bike all that way with legs amputated below the knee, but I suppose that when one can levitate, riding a bike without your lower legs becomes a rather small feat…
@sthilzy
@Mikael Liddy
Looking to get that this season
@Mikael Liddy Love my helium. Great winter outfitting as well (vent cap, insulated liner)
If only they’d make the XL in more than one color for myself & my big headed brethren.
I cam in Monday morning hoping to pick up a copy, but alas as you noted, they were gone.
Nice report, Nate!
Nice job, Keepers and everyone else. I continue to be damn fucking impressed by the Awesomeness you lad pull off and put out.
In awesome news: Saturday morning ride on my Casati, Sunday evening ride on my Tommasini. Gotta love riding classic steel both weekend days.
And, after a blip into the low 30s last week, this week is aimed at 20-22*C all week. Wow, great cycling weather.
I am pretty interested in some of these safety oriented helmets like POC and Kali …especially when I was comparing my kids cheaper Bell helmets with my nicer helmet… Pretty much the same materials, but not as much on mine. I am sure that my helmet has saved my life at least twice, but even better protection Would be nice. So despite the looks a POC helmet may be in order soon…
@Tartan1749
The Lazers are super comfy but won’t take my sunglasses in the vents, so sadly they are a no-go for me.
@frank
Lazer Helium definitely the best. Beats any crap Giro helmet out there, looks Euro cool!
Here is inspiration for Orange POC helmet:
@VirenqueForever
It’s funny, and I guess it has a lot to do with what top pros were wearing when you were having your formative cycling-aesthetic experiences, but the Giro/Oakley combination just says Pro to me (don’t mind a Rudy Project combo, either). I like my Giro Atmos a lot, though I haven’t tried dozens or anything, and I got through winter rides in Germany with a winter merino cap underneath. I think I’d be easier to please with helmets if I had some hair on my head to add some cushioning…
@frank
I like the Lazer so much I can overlook this flaw.
@andrew
…Perhaps, Perhaps…LOL
Had an Atmos, thought it was ok until I tried the Lazer, couldn’t believe how much more confortable it is (on 2nd one now). Could add that fits well on skinny climber types…
@frank I sit corrected. I withdraw!
Budgetatus option: nothing sexy, just a Bell Sweep, found NOS in orange/black/white, slightly shopworn, for a song. Couldn’t abide the thick/double straps and heavy turnbuckle, so I transplanted the retention system from a crash-damaged ProLite. Looks great with the V-kit: business up front, party in the rear.
Merckx. We went for awesome rides in Marin. I personally witnessed @frank’s FMBs cause a large rock to levitate in the air while we rode up RR Grade. To paraphrase what Benjamin Franklin said about beer, the roads Marin are proof that the Gods of Mt. Velomis want us both to be happy and to suffer — yet all we can talk about is helmets. It is my fault for being so coy above; here is Darth inspecting @frank’s headgear:
Nothing to see here, move right along.
@frank
Weird, I seem to have no issue with that…Jawbones tuck in there upside down with no issues.
@VirenqueForever
Hah, OK, now you’ve nearly got me convinced… I’ll have to find a place that stocks them around here and try one on. I’m sure I can make a good argument for needing a summer and winter helmet. As long as I get my wife one, too.
@pistard
Bell sweep was my favorite-ever helmet except – and this is an issue with all Bells – the two sweat pads on the front are placed precisely over my eyebrows and the helmet sits low on my forehead, which means that when I get my V-Face on my brow squeezes the sweat out of the pads and right into my eyes. Massive suckage.
@Nate
AWESOME QUOTE.
And what could be better than nitpicking over helmets? Best conversation we’ve had in ages.
@frank
I suppose there are a lot of helmets in that picture.
@Nate
Frank, forget Darth! How about coming up to Toronto to meet Mayor Ford and sign some books,EH??
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post!
It is the little changes which will make the biggest changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!