This was our first post-tour family ride. I’ve been bike commuting, but Anne hasn’t been in the saddle since we got home. She was a little worried about how it would go, but of course it was no problem.

Continue reading Tour of Napa Valley 2016 Hilly 40 →

We’ve done this organized ride a number of times, both this shorter one and the longer metric, and it’s always a good time. This was Max’s first organized ride, and his longest ride (in miles) thus far.

We brought our new Hase Trets trailer for Ruth, which is basically a recumbent trike with the front loped off to make it into a trailer. It has pedals and a derailleur for her to play with.

The forecast was for hot, so we tried to get an early start. A 4:30 alarm got us out the door at about 6. Between the drive up to Yountville, unpacking the bikes, registration, and a couple of potty breaks, we got rolling at about 8:30.

The ride itself was nice. The 35 mile (previously 30) route is pretty flat as it winds around the vineyards. Ruth enjoyed pedaling, although she complained about the derailleur making noise in some gears (it isn’t adjusted quite right yet). I heard her shifting a number of times, but I’m not sure if she actually understands picking out the right gear yet.

The ride used to have a turn around point, but now it’s a short loop with a gentle climb and faster descent. I opened up a bit on the way down to see how the trailer handled at speed. It was too short for a full test, but seemed stable enough.

After a rest stop for some popsicles and other food, we finished the ride. The carnitas at the end was good, as usual.

All in, a successful ride. The new trailer worked out well, and the heat was manageable. We had plenty of supplies, but of course, we mostly ate at the rest stop.

Animal sightings: Some cows, maybe?