Ducati Monster Forum

Last week, I moto-marshalled the AIDS/Lifecycle event (550 mile cycling event from SF to LA benefiting the SF AIDS Foundation).  First time in six that I've participated in the event NOT on a bicycle.  This time, I volunteered as a moto safety crew member, and this work had me FAR more exhausted at the end of each day then I ever was when I did the ride by bicycle (a fixed gear one, even, as I did last year).  As it was on previous occasions for me on the bicycle, the week was one of the most uplifting, spiritually rewarding and enriching social experiences I've ever had.  I worked with some truly cool people, and complete selfLESSness was the overall spirit of the week.  True harmony amongst an indescribably diverse group of people... amusingly symbolized by hugs exchanged among riders of all sorts on Harleys, rice burners, Euros, Beemers.

Sadly, no photos of my own from this event.  Either too busy, or too exhausted to shoot.

I did snap a few on my return trip a couple of days later.  Choosing to ride back mid-week proved itself a really rewarding decision.  Highways 33, 58 and 229 were practically all mine.  I split the ride back home into 2 days, clocking about 900 miles in all, and spending the night at my friends' in SLO.

Hwy 33, not far north of Ojai:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2571568229_c375bd8d76.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2571565673_92f208399d.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2571566365_6d70c9d243.jpg)

Maricopa:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/2572390014_4e6b261056.jpg)

Stopped by the Tule Elk reserve:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2571566771_f76e048d27.jpg)

Got bugs?
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2572390610_8bd06d0aed.jpg)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2572390854_abf5e60eb5.jpg)

Creston
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2571567263_d5ca5f0b0d.jpg)

Morro Rock:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2572390996_b275a302e2.jpg)

Other shots here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/oyj/sets/72157605564163280/)

Sweet pics!  [thumbsup]

Very cool, thanks for sharing! [thumbsup]  A friend of mine rode in ALC. :)

your pictures are cool, thanks for sharing  [thumbsup]

Very cool!

I'm riding (a pedaler) in my first century this August.  People tried to convince me to try the AIDS ride and I think it would be too much.  I'm nervous enough for 100 miles...let alone more.  These photos are awesome.   [thumbsup]  I need a new camera.  I need some better cycling shoes first though.   [laugh]

Road or MTB shoes?  I ask cause I have a pair of road shoes that need a home, I decided to go with SPD on everything.

I've got HUGE feet for my size...at least that's what I'm told.  Size 8 here.  I'm sure you're like a 6 or something "normal."  Thanks for the offer though!  My pained feet go with my numb butt--need decent shorts too!   [laugh]  (I'm just gonna stop a lot for breaks.  ;D)

First of all, bravo!

Great pictures. I especially like this one:

Pre-congrats! I did my first one earlier this year. Just take it easy, pace yourself, and keep hydrated/foodated (especially in August!), and you'll be fine.


Honestly, that sounds more like a fit/adjustment issue than inadequate clothing. If your bike fit makes you that uncomfortable on short(er) rides, it's just going to get worse the longer you go, obviously. I'm not necessarily making a recommendation here, but just as a point of reference, I've never worn padded anything on a bicycle, my saddle isn't padded, and I'm perfectly comfortable, even after over a hundred miles.

I like your red bars!  What is Cinelli?

looks and sounds cool,   how does one become a volunteer moto marshall?  sounds like a great way to volunteer and ride at the same time.   I had considered riding a bike but hills scare me ( uphill, i'd do downhills all day long  :) )

Baby steps.   ;)  And if it makes you feel any better, most new participants in ALC had never done a century themselves, let alone have called themselves cyclists.  I used to train participants for these events, who had never gone further than 20 miles on their hybrid clunker, and with some consistent and patient preparation, they transformed themselves into remarkable riders who rode every single mile in that first week of June.  It's sooooooo doable, and so rewarding.


When registration opens for next year's event, simply sign up (http://www.aidslifecycle.org) as a 'roadie' and specify your preference EARLY to be part of moto safety team.  It's a very popular team.  You should know now that the job actually entails much less riding as it does STANDING and managing safe passage for the riders.  There usually are 20-30 in the team.


Cinelli = one of the most timeless names in Italian bicycles.  It was my first love on 2 wheels, much as my Monster's my first moto love.  Call it an homage, and my cycling peeps get a kick out of it every time.

    [laugh] That's awesome!  [thumbsup]

Kudos! Very very cool. I really want to ride that.   [thumbsup] I'm so jealous. Work prohibitive. :-\  Next year!


+ 1 a centimeter off is HUGE on a century. Get professionally fit - you can't spend better money on your bike. It can also be the way you hold   your hips, you're more forward or back, that gets you numb butt. Try sucking in your gut a little and tucking in your tail. Even just very subtly – not anything crazy. Also back up on your saddle a smidge. Change it up as you ride.

Though, you got to get shoes you love. Forget ‘these will get me by.’ Just get shoes that love you back.

Break in a Brooks saddle and you'll never even think about your ass while you're riding again.

eshutter, great pictures! I always laugh when I see your Cinelli Monster as well. The longest I've gone on my fixed is Paradise Loop (about 50 miles?). I've just recently started back in on more frequent cycling sessions this year, but maybe in a month or so we should do some big fixed ride.

1st) how come we SoCal folks didnt know about your dissent?  [drink]

...that could have been a nice chance to interact with one of you "northeners"...i hear you grow facial hair and beat your women  ;D

anyhow, this past weekend a few of us took almost the same route in a 2 day ride... Ojai - Pismo via 33-Lockwood-Cerro Noreste-166-58 back down to Pismo where Gus Duc let us crash...and back the next day :)

GREAT ROADS!! [thumbsup]

SOCAL RIDE (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=2840.0)

The quickest way to numb up your nether-regions is to either tilt the saddle down enough that you slide down the nose of the saddle, or tilt it up enough that the nose is jammed up there. A properly tilted saddle alone, I've found, will get you a great deal of the way toward a usable fit.

Yep. Sidi makes bicycle shoes. Need I say more? ;)


Thusly, truth was spake.

(http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/9353/mmmbrookson3.jpg)

Knowing full well that I had to be on my own schedule for the return (visiting friends in need, friend in hospital, that sort of thing), I didn't bother checking the SoCal board.  But man, what coincidence.  I think I would have been kicking myself more if I knew beforehand your ride was happening and I still couldn't join up.

Just as well, since it wouldn't be fair rolling with the SoCal peeps before even meeting most of the MOB first.   ;)


Break in schmeak in.  All of the ones my main squeeze and I use (we're big fans of the Team Pro) were comfortable OUT OF THE BOX and the saddles of choice for many a steed in our stable (including the fixies).  Not all Brooks's are created equally for all posteriors though.  Just like saddles in general, ya just gotta find the one that mates yer sit bones well (e.g. I very much dislike the Brooks B-17 and Swift).

All this cycling talk might be a foreshadowing of a resurrection for the ill-fated 'belle East Bay ride last April (http://www.ducatimonster.org/forums/ducati-mob/183206-break-out-yer-cleats-4-13-bicycle-ride.html).  So how 'bout it, MB?  Some company for your century training?

Briefly back to the AIDS/Lifecycle topic, thought it would be fun to draw the bike score card on this year's moto safety team:

Harley: 6 (the majority here, yet the most defensive bunch  [laugh] )
BMW: 4 (2 RTs, 2 James Bond cruisers)
Honda: 6 (5 of them cruisers)
Duc: 2 (both pre-'00 Monsters)
Aprilia: 1
KTM: 1 (990R, smokin' hot thang)
Triumph: 1
Yamaha: 1 (a sidecar equipped XJ with over 130,000 miles on the clock)

I've been lucky in that neither of mine have needed breaking in, either. In such a case, they just get better and better. :) Both of mine are B17 Champion Specials, but I've been thinking of giving a Team Pro a spin. Supposedly better for bikes with lower drops than the standard B17.


Heh, a bicycle ride organized on a motorcycle site. That'd be fun.

Funny you should mention it... I've been doing one road ride a week (a ton for me) and man have I noticed the difference!  I'm heading back out again this weekend.  Mt. Diablo is my target.  Am debating riding from the house up there.  That's what I *should* do, but I'll probably just end up driving the bike up a few miles from the gate and ride up from there.  I'm going to have m'boy in tow, but I think we're just planning on him waiting for me to come back down to the ranger station and we'll descend together.  If I'm feelin' spunky I'll head back up again, but I'll probably just want a sammich and a nap.  I think I'm the laziest cyclist I know.   [laugh]  Anyways, if you want in, let me know.  We're leaving my place around 10.  I can give you and anyone else directions.  Enzo's gonna be riding a "social pace."  I'll be doing a click faster, but nothing mind-blowing, so there's a little something for everyone.  I'm happy to do the Bear Creek ride next weekend.  I don't have anyone to ride with then and I need to crank out a few miles. 

Would have loved to be the primary instigator to get you to ride from home, since you could always hop on BART after the mountain.  I'm in Seattle this weekend so no Diablo this weekend, but I'll be happy to join up the following weekend (6/28-29).  Saturday or Sunday should work for me.  Start up a thread! You'll get more takers than me.   [laugh]