An invitation to ride...

Saturday, March 7, TVC will be having its regular "Coffee Cruisers" ride. The ride is specifically designed for those who are new to cycling, or if you have not been riding for awhile and would like to start back up. The route is relatively flat and the pace is going to be slow (12-15 MPH), and emphasis on SLOW, but please be able to maintain at least the 12 MPH. The group will stop at the Starbucks on Madison in Murrieta prior to returning to where we started. The total distance of this ride is about 20 miles.

Although this is going to be a short easy ride, it is still important to make sure your bicycle is in good mechanical condition. Check your tires for proper inflation. Be familiar with your bike and know how to operate it.Don't be shy to ASK questions or for help before we leave...we've all had to do it (some of us more than once...same question). You should take at least one full water bottle with you. Always carry either a hand pump or a CO² inflator. Remember to ask if you are not sure how to use either one.

Know how to fix a flat. You'll soon learn if you don't, but it's a better to know ahead of time. However, there is always someone in the group who can help you with this during our rides. Bring along a minimum of two spare tubes. This is particularly important if you have an unusual wheel size. If you do have an odd sized wheel, you might also consider carrying a fold-up spare tire. We all share, but we can't lend you something we do not have.

Don't forget sun screen. Chap stick is also helpful.

Although most of us have road bikes, we have a few folks who rides on tandems. You can use any type of bike with gears that you are comfortable with whether that may be a mountain, comfort, hybrid, tandem, or recumbent bikes, just remember the minimum speed requirement of 12 MPH.

We will meet at the Starbucks on 79 S and Meadows Parkway at 7:45AM and will roll out promptly at 8:00AM. So come on out with your family and friends and join us. If you are a regular rider with TVC, pass this on to those who may be interested in this ride.

Tour De Palm Springs Ride Report

February 14th, Valentine's Day, turned out to be a perfect day to ride in the Palm Springs area. Several of the group met at 4:30 a.m. and headed out to the area hoping for some clear weather and good temps. We had both. Several of us had to register that morn and so 8 of us, Tall Mike, Short Mike, Butch, Dan Maidment, Rosalie, Bonnie and Jim Dover, set out around 7:20 for the 100 mile ride. The temperature starting out was about 44 degrees but the first 15 - 20 miles the winds were so bad, I was thinking that the 55 mile route sounded pretty darn good. But by 20 miles, the winds had died down, the sun was out and the hills were topped with snow and they seemed to almost surround us.

The first rest stop was so jammed we all got a bit separated and I ended up riding alone until "Tall Mike" and "Tandem Mike," also known as "Short Mike" caught up with me. They pulled me along and we had some great downhills where I hit my record speed. (I've been advised by Short Mike not to reveal that because it's not all that fast) I've never seen so many flats so early in a ride before. There were a ton! The 3 of us rolled into the lunch stop at about 52 miles and soon after, Butch came in and then Dan. We ran into Leah and Joe as we were leaving the lunch stop and they said they would catch up with us. Ha! No way! We rode like the wind. Well, Dan was bent on, oh never mind. Some excitement for me was when we were in a long paceline and someone hit the brakes and Tall Mike swirved and Butch hit my back tire. But good Ol' Butch! He stayed upright this time! Good job, Butch! We ran into some friends of mine and Short Mike's from the forum and they took some pics which will be posted on the website soon.

The ten of us went to an English pub in the downtown area and had dinner afterwards. The roads were rough, the food was fair, the company was great. It was alot of fun and a great ride in Palm Springs! Thanks again, guys, for pulling me along.