Have you Heard? Our very own Steve Blair is becoming a super techie. In his newest tech adventure he has started a blog about bakeries all us bike enthusiasts love to visit. So, check it out at: “http://biketobakery.blogspot.com/“.
Author: randy
POETRY CORNER
Cyclist Encounters an Insect
This butterfly, the touch of a cat’s soft paw
Against my chest. A short moment of vibration.
The soft claw of wing’s edge. Then air.
Lawrence N. DiCostanzo
On the Volcano road,
May 27, 2007
Resurrection
Bury me in a meadow, some untilled waste,
Next to fields of lettuce or off the highway’s verge.
Let it be my stone, engraved in repeated rotation
Through timeless years. Where rabbits start in the grass,
Mice rustle, and slender king snake makes his way,
In the warm breezeless understory of bush and weed;
Where song sparrow hangs on sideways to dry stalk,
And kestrel teeters, flaps, teeters, on rigid feathers
Spread out in points. Here it is dry and quiet.
And, when the Resurrection comes, let the trumpet be
The brassy, tuneless vibration of the bee, against the clacking
Of locust wings. Let my waking eyes gaze up
On sweet fennel or Queen Anne’s lace in sun.
And, if God should come to look for me, Let Him be
The cyclist, pausing to rest. Hands light
On handlebars and saddle, He gazes on this modesty.
And let Him say: This is too good to waste.
Lawrence N. DiCostanzo
June 27 – 28; September 14, 2005
Top of the World: Bicycling Coleman Valley Road
I climb above the fog, yet do not know
The reason for this effort. Can it be
The pleasure when I draw up and see
How sunlight blankets rolling grassland with no
Dark tree to stitch it to the blue. I slow
And see the seam of the horizon smooth
Against a bowl of blue, the only truth
And world my distant forebears long ago
Could love. They hoped beyond that line
There await the lovely muscled herds, the streams
Of fish, the comfort of a hunt: in short, the Place
Where limbs feel happy aches. God, rushing by when time
Runs down, should see I have romantic dreams
And fondly scoop me up from this high place —
The cycling dawdler with the dreamy face.
Lawrence N. DiCostanzo
July 12 – 15, 2009
President’s Message May 2013
Hello all you Veloraptors:
Let me start by saying I am honored to have been elected as your new President by the Board of Directors, following the May 20th Members meeting held at Sibely Volcanic Park. Prior to the Board meeting, the members attending the annual membership meeting re-elected Susan Stewart (outgoing president) and Robin Brumell to their second 2-year terms as Directors and Tom Wilging to his first 2-year term as Director. Having been a member of the Board for the past 3 years, I have had the privilege of working with the many committed VeloRaptors who volunteer so much of their time to our club. It is all the volunteers, along with the full membership, who make our group so much fun. So, thank you Susan for being our President for the past 2 years, and thanks to the many volunteers that plan and lead the Saturday, Wednesday, and special rides. It’s because of all the volunteers’ work that we have many fun rides to participate in each year. Of course, a special thanks is in order for the volunteers who bring us special events like the Holiday Party, Halloween, and BORP Bike Wash Party, to name just a few.
As President, I look forward to working with the Board, the volunteers and all the special committees, to make the coming year fun and rewarding. And, remember, what makes the VeloRaptors such a fun group is not just our members, but their significant others and guests who make-up the VeloRaptors family.
Let’s have a great year, and I look forward to hearing from all members as to how we can keep improving our club experience.
Randy Mellin
PS: We continue to have great participation in the Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday rides. So, if you haven’t been riding much, please come out and join the fun.
2013 Bike Wash Party and BORP Support
YES the Veloraptor annual “BIKEWASH and BORP Party” will take place June 22, 2013. Please check your emails for the invitation and be sure to RSVP. You can now go to the “www.borp.org/revolution” and join the VeloRaptors team. Last year we had 17 riders and raised over $14,000 for this worthy cause, lets see if we can improve on last year’s results this year. Once again Randy Mellin and Steve Goldenberg are co-chairs of the VeloRaptors BORP “BIKEWASH Party” and the VeloRaptors BORP Revolution team.
Solvang 2013 Report
Thanks to Robin and Jeff for organizing another fabulous Solvang ride (March 14-17). Thirteen riders went down on Thursday and rode Friday and Saturday. The weather was just right, wildflowers were plentiful, and a great time was had by all. More details can be found under Rides and Events/Past Ride Reports/Solvang 2013
Rob summed it up this way:
Sensational planning by Robin and Jeff!
Ostriches running in a field…who knew?
Lots of laughter and great company.
Views to die for.
Absolutely perfect weather.
Nature in all its beauty everywhere we rode.
Going next year? I am!
Poetry 1
Cyclist Encounters an Insect
This butterfly, the touch of a cat’s soft paw
Against my chest. A short moment of vibration.
The soft claw of wing’s edge. Then air.
Lawrence N. DiCostanzo
On the Volcano road,
May 27, 2007
Resurrection
Bury me in a meadow, some untilled waste,
Next to fields of lettuce or off the highway’s verge.
Let it be my stone, engraved in repeated rotation
Through timeless years. Where rabbits start in the grass,
Mice rustle, and slender king snake makes his way,
In the warm breezeless understory of bush and weed;
Where song sparrow hangs on sideways to dry stalk,
And kestrel teeters, flaps, teeters, on rigid feathers
Spread out in points. Here it is dry and quiet.
And, when the Resurrection comes, let the trumpet be
The brassy, tuneless vibration of the bee, against the clacking
Of locust wings. Let my waking eyes gaze up
On sweet fennel or Queen Anne’s lace in sun.
And, if God should come to look for me, Let Him be
The cyclist, pausing to rest. Hands light
On handlebars and saddle, He gazes on this modesty.
And let Him say: This is too good to waste.
Lawrence N. DiCostanzo
June 27 – 28; September 14, 2005
Top of the World: Bicycling Coleman Valley Road
I climb above the fog, yet do not know
The reason for this effort. Can it be
The pleasure when I draw up and see
How sunlight blankets rolling grassland with no
Dark tree to stitch it to the blue. I slow
And see the seam of the horizon smooth
Against a bowl of blue, the only truth
And world my distant forebears long ago
Could love. They hoped beyond that line
There await the lovely muscled herds, the streams
Of fish, the comfort of a hunt: in short, the Place
Where limbs feel happy aches. God, rushing by when time
Runs down, should see I have romantic dreams
And fondly scoop me up from this high place —
The cycling dawdler with the dreamy face.
Lawrence N. DiCostanzo
July 12 – 15, 2009
The Race
Don’t tell me how many miles you ran,
Tell me of the flowers underfoot at the first mile
How the birds sang when the end was in sight,
The way the clouds parted for the light.
The night.
Tell me the story of the grass, how it flattened
As the wind blew you by,
How it sprang up again.
The rain.
Tell of the flight.
Don’t tell me how many miles you ran, how fast,
Tell me of the last mile,
and whether you reached at the last.
Route Maps and Cue Sheets Link
Several Routes and associated cue sheets are available at the VeloRaptors group on the Ridewithgps site. You can open the link here.
Half Moon Bay – Davenport 90 mi loop
Half Moon Bay – Davenport Loop
Route: 90 miles | Route Sheet
Yosemite Ride Description
Giro d’ Yosemite is a club sponsored “Fully Supported Tour” for our members. Support includes luggage/equipment transport, meals, accommodations, rest stops and other on route support services. Participating riders only need to train, pay fees to cover expenses, get luggage to start and RIDE.
Day one of the Ride starts in the Bay Area and travels to Jamestown on Day One. Highlights are lunch stop in Ripon, and rest stops at a Cheese Factory and and Ice Cream Shop. Accommodations and Dinner are provided in Jamestown.
Day Two includes Priest Grade climb, lunch at Big Oak Yosemite Entrance, Crane Flat Summit and a breathtaking Ten Mile Descent into Yosemite Valley where libations, dinner and social celebration of your accomplishment await.
Day Three gives time to explore Yosemite Valley before returning to the Bay Area.
An optional Day Four ride follows the Merced River from Yosemite Valley to Merced Amtrak Station for a Train Ride back to the Bay Area.
The Giro d’ Yosemite is brought to you compliments of Leslie Masler (Support Services), Kevin McTighe (Ride Coordination) and is held annually since 1994 during springtime in peak Waterfall Season for Yosemite Valley.
For more information contact Veloraptor Kevin McTighe.
Below is a map of the route. This map stops at Crane Flat, but the ride continues into Yosemite Valley.
Wednesday Ride
The Wednesday ride starts at Nelly’s Java in Montclair Village. The start time is 9 am. The ride heads south on Mountain Blvd turns right onto La Salle avenue and then Left on Monterey Blvd. From this point the riders work their way up Lincoln ave to Butter dr and climb the gentle turns to the top at Skyline Blvd. The group then heads south on Skyline and turns left on Redwood road, from there the group climbs over Pinehurst Road and finally turn right a Canyon road and enter the town of Moraga. The group generally has coffee at Si Si’s before returning to Montclair via Canyon road, Pinehurst and Shepard Canyon Road.