Day 10 the Seniors Discount Oroville to Red Bluff Stage Sprint

Nice and hot and very flat today. My time was 4 hours 56 minutes ride time for 130 km on basically 0, yes zero, gradient with slight tail wind, very low humidity, blue sky, hot sun and 40 plus temperature. Almost perfect. M2 was the duty driver and we plotted a 'farm roads' route before we took off from the Feather Falls casino.



Yes the Duke wangled his way with Kathy the waitress for seniors discount at he breakfast buffet, so we all had OJ, omelette and coconut pie or equivalent before we too off at cheap rates ($6.95 each).

First we rode through irrigated rice fields that stretched forever on our way to Chiko while suffering through a dozen 'roll' jokes.

Here the Black Cav, resplendent in yellow gives the peloton the secret 'I'm going to sprint now' sign.


Did I say that we accumulated 7 flats today, but one elite or skilled rider avoided this misfortune, being the renowned Electric Cowboy. The others must have had cheap equipment.


More rice and corn fields.


Fine formation riding, L to R the Grand Duke, Black Cav, Goose and Rocket.


Chico is a college town expecting 20000 students to return next week, it was flat and has a great bike path network with many bike shops to cater for the student riders. We had lunch at the Mammoth Bear bar or like. It is all set for student drinking nights. Anyway we all had a healthy lunch for the remaining 70 km.

Lunch venue with Priscilla doing a celebratory lap of the town.


Cold lemonade,I found out it was pink after the third glass ( true!) and Bear Burger and fries.


After lunch we rode north out of Chico crossed the Sacramento River and headed to Red Bluff still following the historic old route 99 that no one else uses.



More back roads and canals to cross


Any shade was a respite in the hot conditions. Note how none of the pictures has anything resembling a hill in it.


The long ride was beginning to wear the troops out. Here goose and Rocket share a shoulder in the shade while the Black Cav repaired his front tyre. 7 flats for the ride and Priscilla went out in sympathy with the 'low tire pressure' light illuminating. Fixed at the next servo luckily.


Almost at Red Bluff, still no hills.


With only a few sprints, no KOM the Black Cav was able to hold his lead from the closing Electric Cowboy. M2 is still the custodian of Cadel.

Tomorrow it's a sleep in and car transit for 184 miles to Garberville where the temperature should drop by 10 degrees and then it's along the coast for the run home to San Francisco.

It's also great that we have had over 850 page views and we look forward to the thousandth view, might even be a jersey in it if you let me know with attached screen shot
Off to sleep now


- Posted by The Electric Cowboy using BlogPress from his iPad

Location:Adobe Rd,Red Bluff,United States