Whine and Dine Ride August 23

Here are the rides for today. I am not going to be able to make it out of work:

M Ride

LM ride

Ride Sign Up Sheet

I will try to make it to Burritos!

Whine and Dine Birthday Bash

Camera Phone Post: Jolyce and Candy's birthday celebrated on bike ride
The whine and dine ride of August 16 was likely the last big evening whine and dine ride of the 2006 season and may be my last of the season as school is starting next week. We had a great ride up Hicks road and stayed out partying until after 10pm. It was Jolyce's birthday and next Sunday is Candy's. So we had a cake and both women blew out the candles. We also had fine wine as Pam brought a bottle of Silver Oak. We had so much fun!

Whine and Dine August 16

Let's do a Hicks Redux!
Both routes will do Hicks on Wednesday. The LM ride will do the turn around. The M ride will have the option to do the climb or not. Route sheets are here for you to download and have before the ride:

http://homepage.mac.com/s_sloan/whinendine/rides/half_hicks.pdf

The road around Summit bikes is reportedly good. I called the bike shop. They confirmed that the road is good and that there is parking at the bike shop. So, we will be starting at the usual place/time (6pm at Summit Bikes in Los Gatos.) This may be the last Wednesday Whine and Dine for me this season. I am starting teaching on the 23rd. However, enrollments for this class are low. So, there is a good chance the class will be canceled. But, you can bet I will not be there the 23rd. I may be there a Wednesday or two after the 23rd.

Tom Maddox Memorial Bike Ride

On July 12, Tom Maddox was killed by a passing motorist while riding his bike on Skyline Blvd, 1/2 mile north of Hwy 84. His family and friends would like you to join them for a bike ride to commemorate Tom and all that he meant to us.

Details:
Sunday, 27 August, 9:30 am
Meet at Portola Valley Town Hall, 765 Portola Road.

There will be a 15 mile and a 30 mile route. We will ride together to the Pulgas Water Temple, and then those that  want to climb to Skyline can do so and the others can return to Portola Valley.  Pace to the water temple will be very easy.  For those that wish to ride to Skyline, the pace will still be very friendly, but riders should be fit and accustomed to extended climbing.

Obituary: http://www.almanacnews.com/story.php?story_id=2231

Heath Maddox
Associate Transportation Planner, Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs
City of Berkeley Public Works Department
Transportation Division
1947 Center Street, 3rd Floor
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-981-7062

Grete Johnson issue bike club newsletter

A salute to Grete
The final PDF version of September 2006 Almaden Cycle Touring Club newsletter is posted here. This is the entire issue. This is how it has gone to the printer. I appreciate very much all the help I have had with this issue. From beginning to end this has been a group effort. I think it is a fitting tribute to a very dear friend.
~Steve

Finished: Sun Aug 13 17:26:51 PDT 2006

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Grete Johnson newsletter issue, Pre-release

Grete Johnson Memorial Issue In Production: Sun Aug 13 10:34:07 PDT 2006
The "beta version [ definition here ]" of the September 2006 newsletter is posted here. [PDF File Link] This is the entire issue. This is posted here for editing and final review, and this will be posted to the E-list as well. This is for correction of any errors before it goes to the printer. Please let me know if you see errors in these pages so that I can correct them. Thanks!

Special Thanks
I wish to give special thanks to all who contributed to this issue, especially to Paul Greene for the wonderful story about our dear friend. I have special thanks to Bob Thompson and Paul Greene, for all the help with the gathering the photos for me, Naomi Bloom for the wonderful editing and consultation and Jerry  Schonewille for going over the early versions of the newsletter when they were on the blog.
~Steve

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Last Alpha of September 06 BBB

Grete Johnson Memorial Issue In Production: Sat Aug 12 22:17:28 PDT 2006
The third and last "alpha version [ definition here ]" of the September 2006 newsletter is posted here. [PDF File Link] This is pages 1-19. Only one more page will follow. These early versions are posted here for editing. After the last page is entered the beta version will be posted for final review, and this will be posted to the E-list as well. As always I reserve the right to make substantial changes to the layout and design before final release. Please let me know if you see errors in these pages so that I can correct them. Thanks!
~Steve

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Odocoilean Terrorists Operating In Los Gatos

By DAVID ROSSOW, Independent Correspondent
LOS GATOS, CA -- Terrorism has hit again within our own backyard. On Friday evening, August 11th, 2006, Odocoilean terrorists launched a second attack. Both attacks have been upon unsuspecting cyclists. The latest attack was against myself, author of this news release, while the first attack, one month ago, targeted cyclist Tim Gathercole. The group, Odocoileinae Virginianus, has claimed responsibility for both attacks, where the unfortunate victims were able to escape with only abrasive injuries and bruises. The attacks occurred in Los Gatos, CA along a stretch of Alma Bridge Road between Soda Springs and Aldercroft Heights, where the terrorists have a suspected hideout for their roadside assaults. Reports of a hidden training facility deep within the nearby Sierra Azul Open Space are unsubstantiated at this time.

Homeland Security has been notified of this terrorist activity; however there has been no official response from the Whitehouse regarding this second attack. George Bush, overheard on a microphone that was left on accidentally, has been quoted as saying, “I think these are the same terrorists that deployed high-tech mind control weaponry on Vice President Cheney and made him shoot his best friend in the face.” to which British Prime Minister Tony Blair was heard to respond, “No George, that was a bird.”

While it is widely accepted that these terrorists are home grown, it is not yet known whether they have any ties to foreign factions operating outside the U.S. Their method of attack, lurking in the cover of roadside shrubbery and leaping out in front of their victims, is similar to that of other terrorist organizations, leading many to suspect there may be a vast network of terrorists operating within our borders.

To date, there have been no public demands by Odocoileinae Virginianus, known commonly as “White-Tail Deer”. In a statement released after the first attack, a Whitehouse spokesman was quoted as saying “All attempts by this Administration to garner information from suspected terrorist detainee’s have failed. They simply will not talk, even though they have not been given the right to remain silent.”

At this time, the military has not been called into action, though an anonymous source with ties to the Pentagon has provided an email message from prominent Haliburton executes discussing a potential opportunity in the South Bay Area of Northern California.

Policy makers unanimously agree that we may never be able to rid ourselves of this terrorist threat. It is therefore advised that all cyclists exercise caution when traversing this patch of road that has already claimed at least two victims. A file photo of this group’s ringleader has been included with this story in the form of an external web link.

---

Undated file photo of the unnamed ringleader of Odocoileinae Virginianus.

Second Alpha of September 06 BBB

Grete Johnson Memorial Issue In Production: Sat Aug 12 17:53:15 PDT 2006
The second "alpha version [ definition here ]" of the September 2006 newsletter is posted here. [PDF File Link] This is pages 1-13. More pages will follow. The early version is posted here for editing of what is here and so you know what the look and feel of the newsletter will be. More will be posted as it becomes available. As always I reserve the right to make substantial changes to the layout and design before final release. Please let me know if you see errors in these pages so that I can correct them. Thanks!
~Steve

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First Alpha of September 06 BBB

Grete Johnson Memorial Issue In Production: Sat Aug 12 15:17:54 PDT 2006
The first "alpha version [ definition here ]" of the September 2006 newsletter is posted here. [PDF File Link] This is just page one, but it will set tome of all the pages to follow. The early version is posted here for editing of what is here and so you know what the look and feel of the newsletter will be. More will be posted as it becomes available. As always I reserve the right to make substantial changes to the layout and design before final release.
~Steve

Technorati Tags: ssloansjca, actc

September Newsletter Starts Production

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION - Sat Aug 12 14:07:51 PDT 2006
This is a newsletter production weekend. The BBB Queue is closed and the newsletter is in production. If you wish to follow along, help and/or see pre-release versions of the newsletter I will be posting information as production progresses to this blog. If you wish to view the state of content of stories at the time the newsletter went into production, please check the newsletter queue:

http://homepage.mac.com/s_sloan/bbb/200609/

Cyclist dies in Santa Cruz County

Cyclist killed on Felton Empire Road
On Friday morning, 8/11/06, Bob Hebeler was killed in a bike accident on Felton Empire Road in Santa Cruz County. Hebeler was a cyclist/tri-athlete.

The accident is still under investigation, but initial reports say Bob was
riding south on a corner when his bike crossed the double-yellow line and
hit the driver's side of a northbound vehicle. "Basically, he went through
a curve and the momentum pulled him to the outside of the lane," CHP
officer Grant Boles said. It is estimated Bob was traveling between
30 and 40 mph on the downhill stretch. The speed limit for the road is 35
mph.

Bob is survived by his wife & two kids. He was an incredible athlete, an
amazing father, and a wonderful husband. He will be greatly missed. Kain
Performance Team will be dedicating Folsom 2006 in Bob's honor.

To read the entire story, follow this link.

Ride ride party party

Great day for a ride and evening for a party
On Wednesday August 09 we had a great evening ride. The weather was warm but not too hot. Thirty riders came on the evening ride and the party after went until after ten. It was a fun evening.

About the new blog

About my new cycling blog

About a year and a half ago, when I became the publisher of the Almaden Cycle Touring Club (ACTC) newsletter The Black and Blue Bottom, I started a cycling blog. I named the blog The Black and Blue Blog. My idea at the time was that the blog would become a place that folks in the club could get timely cycling news and information about the club and the newsletter. This blog was very closely associated with club and was branded similarly to the club newsletter even though it was my own personal blog. Over time I started using this blog to do other things, like list information about the series of Wednesday whine and dine bicycle rides.

Now I am planning to retire from my role as newsletter publisher and still want to have a place to list such ride information. I decided to start a new blog, not branded with the club, called Sloan's Cycling Blog. I will retire The Black and Blue Blog when my last issue comes out as publisher. Meanwhile, I will just double post for awhile. I am using Wordpress for this new blog so I can learn that tool. I really like it a lot!

I am creating a new cycling blog

Here is my new cycling blog
As I retire from the role of ACTC publisher I am going to be posting my new cycling content here on the BBBlog and my new cycling blog. When I finish with the last issue of the newsletter I will close this BBBlog blog for keeps and do not plan to post here. In the meantime both blogs will mirror one another to a large extent. Except, there will not be newsletter specific content on my new cycling blog.

My new cycling blog is here:
http://ssloansjca.wordpress.com/

August 09 Whine and Dine Ride

Yes, the days are getting shorter!

M Option For Wednesday
Canon + Peach Hill Medium - PDF Route Sheet here.

LM Option
Canon + Peach Hill Short - PDF Route Sheet here.

As always riders in this evenings ride are invited to join us for food and liquid refreshments after the ride. Bringing a bottle of wine or some beer to share after the ride is encouraged.

September 2006 BBB Queue Starting

The queue for the September BBB is under construction
The queue is being built. It is viewable here. There is a lot of missing content. Please do not ping me about it until I announce it is complete.

World class cycling here

Many great cycling destinations around here
There are many great places around our area to ride a bicycle. This is Sanborn Youth Hostle where we rode our bikes on last Wednesday's Whine and Dine ride.

August 02 Whine and Dine

Welcome to August 2006
M Option For Today
Sanborn Medium

LM Option
Canon + Peach Hill Medium

As always riders in this evenings ride are invited to join us for food and liquid refreshments. Bringing a bottle of wine or some beer to share after the ride is encouraged.

~Steve