Chicks that volunteer

I know that Cyndi and Terri did a 45 mile ride in Orange County, but a few of us drove up to Onyx Summit in Big Bear to volunteer for a rest stop for OCW's annual Ride Around the Bear.  We helped with set up and then cut fruit, make sure the snacks were stocked, kept water cool and mixed gatorade.   Over 300 riders (and not many of them women) started early in the morning in Redlands and climbed up the mountain, rode around the lake and climbed the summit to Onyx.

Some years it can be quite cold in the summit climb and downhill after, but this year it was hot hot hot and all the riders were appreciative of the easy ups for little bit of shade and time to refuel and refill water bottles.

We were quite surprise to see our friend, Sylvia Maddock, come riding in with one of the last groups.  We had been following her cycling escapades as she is working toward earning her triple crown. She is nothing but smiles even after that tough hot climb.

From this point it is 60 miles into the ride and the rest of the way is mostly downhill with one little climbing section.   It made for a fun day and we feel it's great way to give back in appreciation to all the volunteers that work the Amtrak when we ride that ride later in the fall.
 

New Chicks that Ride.

Tonight, after we admired Cyndi's new gear, we decided to explored some new territory and two new chicks joined us - Julie and Jennifer.  These ladies have been riding on Saturday's with the OCW women's training group and were ready to go.  Jennifer rode from her house to meet us (racing by not one, but two trains) and Julie showed up in a beautiful Japanese print jersey.

We took Peter's Canyon north heading East on Hicks Canyon and everyone pushed through the 1, 2 and 3% (deceivingly flat looking) steady climb as we made our way through the houses to Portola.  Cyndi and our token "wrench", Steve then led the group on the climb up Portola with Cyndi taking an 8th on the Strava leader board. That Giro gear must make her faster.  I wonder if we all can get a Chicks discount?

Sandy who has only just started cycling in the last couple of months and Becky who has missed her ride training for the last couple of weeks were able to maintain a great pace and were never far behind.

We made a big circle down Portola Springs to Modjeska and then back along Irvine Boulevard, where we headed South through the Jeffery Open Space trail.   Steve and I talked about how even 5 years ago many of these roads and certainly the trail weren't even there and definitely not paved.   There was minimal traffic and some pretty rolling hills.  The trail wound it's way through a nice green welcoming park.   Then we completed our look west on Trabucco and joining up Yale down to catch the Walnut trail back to Harvard.

We ended up with a quick 19 mile ride with some steady (but doable) climbing and made some new friends.

Chicks that win contests...

Did you hear about Cyndi's new Giro gear?    Cyndi joined us this season and started riding with almost all hand-me-downs.  She bought Pat's Fuji hybrid, wore her son's old cracked helmet, her mother-in-law's 90's arm warmers and old men's cycling gloves.  She still managed to blow us away on the hills and the flats.

Cyndi in her old gear

It was time for her to upgrade her gear especially after she started riding her newly acquired Carbon Trek Madone 4.5.   Not one to turn down shopping for bike accessories, Theresa almost had her talked into shopping for a new helmet, when Cyndi said she wait for an upcoming birthday.  Theresa saw a Facebook promotion for a Giro Women's Gear Makeover and quickly submitted a nomination.

You can read the nomination here: Giro Women's Gear Makeover
There were a lot of very deserving women and Cyndi claimed she never wins anything. After the initial excitement and dreaming (like what if we won the lotto....) she went back to fitting in her weekday and weekend rides among all her other busy day-to-day activities.

Cyndi looking sharp in her new Giro gear

Amazingly Cyndi was one of the two women picked for the Giro Gear makeover and before she knew it she was looking through the online catalog and picking styles, colors and sizes for a new helmet, new shoes, socks and gloves.  She wasn't disappointed, when her new gear was shipped to her and she was excited to try them out for the next club ride.  She appreciated the small details on the craftsmanship of the soft "Monica" gloves and ratchet closing on her new "Factress" shoes.  After wearing her matte white and Silver "Aeon" helmet, she realizes she will never settle for men's gear again. 

Next time you see Cyndi ask her about her new gear and next time you are in your LBS, check out the Women's Giro gear.  (you can see some of their line at http://www.giro.com/us_en/products/women.html)