Cycling Foodie

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My poor little Colnago has a frayed cable.

I started out Day 3 with a minor bike malfunction …

My ride today ...

But, it’s March Madness and I have another bike I can use, so no excuses except for work!

I logged 51.8 miles, Davis to Winters via Road 29, then back Putah Creek Road to Road 95 to Road 27, to Road 103, to Mace and home. Probably a few other roads in there, too, but the names escape me for now.

It’s a little cool out and there was a slight chance of rain (depending on which weather site you refer to), but I saw lots of folks out there looking like they’re dressed for summer! OK, so I was overdressed a bit today. My friends tell me I usually am. That and the glowing sunscreen have sort of become my trademark look.

I didn’t take my camera today, so these are just with my camera phone, but I got a few nice photos of some springtime blossoms.

Just off Putah Creek Road.

Busy as a bee ...

So sweet and fragrant!

It was a pleasant ride. Not too hot, not too cool. Not too sunny, not too cloudy. Just enough breeze to make me feel like I had to work a bit to get home. Some good training miles for my Tour de Cure. Next weekend … hills!

I'm pretty sure these are almond blossoms.

Have a beautiful day!

I think this is a good day to make some vegetable barley soup, but that will have to be another post.

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30.9 miles, just around the outskirts of Davis on country roads. It was pleasantly cool, overcast, and calm. Tomorrow’s forecast looks about the same. I’m looking forward to a nice ride!

The Napa Valley Tour de Cure is 9 weeks from tomorrow! If you would like to sponsor my ride, please visit my page: http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/A6SNF-SanFranciscoArea?px=4725188&pg=personal&fr_id=8674

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I am enjoying having a week off work before I start an exciting new job! I was a little concerned about being able to get some good riding in this week when it was super windy on both Saturday and Sunday last weekend, but day by day the wind has eased up. I logged 50+ miles on Monday, 70+ on Wednesday, and 30+ yesterday.

Greetings from Winters, CA!

And now, March Madness is off to a good start – 71.0 miles today! Here’s where I ventured today … Davis, Winters, Lake Beryessa, Pleasants Valley Road, Lake Solano, Winters, and back to Davis. First I made just a quick stop in Winters before heading out towards Lake Berryessa. I didn’t ride all the way up, just to the base of the dam. Yikes. I have got some climbing work to do & soon! The Napa Valley Tour de Cure is just over two months away and there are some hills I have got to prepare for.

Then I headed out Pleasants Valley Road past Putah Creek Road a few miles, & back for a quick stop at Lake Solano Park.

Near Lake Solano, I just couldn't resist any more of these beautiful blossoms!

Incredible visibility today ... too bad my little Nikon Coolpix barely picks up the Sierras in the background.

A quick stop to stretch on Road 29.

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This year I registered for my first Davis Bike Club March Madness. Registration is open to everyone, not just DBC members. It’s a great cause – proceeds go towards purchasing cycling helmets for school aged children. Check it out:  http://www.davisbikeclub.org/annual_events/club_challenges/march_madness

I’ve pledged to ride 750 miles in March. That probably doesn’t really seem like a lot to many of you, but being my first time, I don’t want to over-pledge. If you can’t get out on your bike, you can include up to 1,000 miles of indoor riding (stationary bike, spin class, your trainer).

If you would like to register, or make a donation to support this great cause, you can do so here:  http://2013marchmadness.eventbrite.com/#

This will also be GREAT training for my Napa Valley Tour de Cure!

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I am cooking up a bowl of steel cut oats with walnuts and dried cherries to warm and fuel me on this chilly morning. I am very, very hopeful that the wind won’t kick up again today or the rest of this week. There weren’t many cyclists out and about in Davis this weekend, so I know I wasn’t the only one who didn’t ride due to the crazy wind.

I’ve got just over two months to gear up for my 5th Napa Valley Tour de Cure and am going to take full advantage of this week off. I hope the weather cooperates!

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It was a weekend full of surprises and adventures.

Yikes. Really hoping that Trek will cover this under warranty. I bought my Trek 5000 in 2009, so I am within the 5-year warranty period. The Trek shop in Davis (Freewheeler) is going to submit a claim on my behalf.

Just a little roll on some Davis country roads on Saturday afternoon. A lovely day! Wish I had been up for more.

Saturday ... A little dough experimentation ... Whole Wheat & Rye Piadine Dough with fresh thyme and fennel seeds.

Fennel seeds have lots of health benefits, one of them being they are soothing to the belly. Just enjoy it in small amounts.

Sunday … got a longer ride in, but no photos. Then, home and baked a batch of bread to share as a thank you gift. This is another variation of the Tassajara whole wheat bread recipe I’ve used for years. This one has whole wheat, pumpernickel, millet, rye, and a bit of polenta. It made for wonderful toast this morning!

Sunday ... Whole Wheat, Pumpernickel, Millet, and Oat.

The weather was incredible this weekend for cycling – not too cold, not too warm, not too windy. All in all … if I could do it over again, I would! I’ll just have to wait 5 days. I’m super busy at work … they’ll go fast.

Speaking of going fast … training time for the 2013 Napa Valley Tour de Cure sure is flying by! Just 3 months to go!!! Please support me in this ride – you can make a donation here:  http://tour.diabetes.org/site/TR?pg=pfind&fr_id=6830

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The wind is an excellent training tool.
The wind is an excellent training tool.
The wind is an excellent training tool.

I felt like I needed to click together ruby cycling shoes as I repeated this to myself …

We rode from Davis towards Dixon, then towards Vacaville. English Hills. Steiger Road. Gibson Canyon. Into town, lunch at Nugget, then wound our way back from Vacaville to Dixon to Davis. The entire way out we were pounded mercilessly with wind.

OK. So maybe I’m a little melodramatic about the wind, but it was a lot stronger than it was supposed to be today and I really did not like it. Not one bit at all!

Honestly, I did not much enjoy the ride out, but I kept myself going thinking about the potential tailwind we would have on the way back. It took a really long time to get from Davis to Vacaville today; much longer than normal. Some days the wind really zaps me and today was one of those days. We weren’t sure we would make it back home to Davis before dark, but the tailwind was in our favor and we got home just in time.We rode just over 65 miles today.

This is the BEST ride and for a great cause!

I’ve got just about three months to get ready for the 2013 Napa Valley Tour de Cure. I’ve had a few setbacks in the past few months, and I’ve really got to get moving on my training.

If you want to join me at the Tour de Cure, you can register here:  www.diabetes.org/napavalleytourdecure

If you want to donate to my ride, you can here:  http://tour.diabetes.org/site/TR?pg=pfind&fr_id=6830

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Ah, my good friend Friday … finally you are here again! And with you, my friend, you bring the promise of beautiful cycling weather this weekend.

With just over 4 months left to train for the 2013 Napa Valley Tour de Cure, it’s time to do some serious cycling! Come ride with me!

http://tour.diabetes.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TC_homepage

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Take the ride of your life!

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You’re Invited to the San Francisco
DIABETES WELLNESS FAIR AND TOUR DE CURE KICK-OFF
Thursday, January 24; 4:30—7:30 p.m.
UCSF-Mission Bay Conference Center, 1675 Owens Street, San Francisco

For full details, please see:  kick-off flyer.San Francisco