Saturday’s annual Climb To Kaiser was a success. A success mostly due to the fact that nobody in our group needed a ride to the finish or any kind of medical attention. Nary a flay tire or tummy ache in the group.

I’m really proud of you guys!

Don, you did awesome for your first time up wildcat hill. That hill has killed me everytime I’ve ever climbed it. This year was better but you did great your very first time out. Way to be awesome. Thanks for keeping the morale up during the whole ride and getting my lazy butt to get going again at the rest stops. And last of all, thanks for pulling us all in at the end. I wanted to quit at Armstrong and International.

Isaac, You and I have done a similar ride to this one before and I remember how much fun it was. I also remember finishing at a similar speed and time as you did. Its nice to see that we are still close in climbing abilities. Thanks for wearing your Fresno State Cycling jersey, that was awesome. Mine are WAY too big for me so they have been relegated to being used in layers when its colder out.

Justin, Thanks for sticking to it. You did really well for your first really long, really hard road ride. And you did it in RUNNING SHOES! Amazing. I hope you decide to ride with us again. I know we kind of lost you at the end but you made it back and thats what counts.

Sarah, Thanks for being the best bride to be, ride support driver a guy could ask for. You were always there at the rest stops with water, camera and fruit ready. Thanks for bringing my truck back in one piece!

Candice, Thanks for being there for us, for having oil free sunscreen, for bringing the awesomely great bananas, nectarines, tylenol, and photographic abilities. Oh yeah and the “Jimmy Eat World” soundtrack up the big hills was a nice addition too. You rock.

Last but not least, thank you California wildfires for making the foothills so damn smoky.

Here are some pictures from the day.

5:30 am group shot…. Before we started.

Sarah applying sunscreen to her little bike racer:
Mile 0.0 313′ feet

Handoff of early morning blinky lights:
Mile 13.0 410′ Feet

RIDE SINGLE FILE! Not really, read the laws people.
Mile 17.0 500′ Feet

Base of Wildcat Grade rest-stop.
Mile 19.0 650′ Feet

Top of Wildcat. Isaac in his FRESNO STATE Jersey!
Mile 24 1720′ Feet

Don at the summit.

The peloton on the way to the next climb.

Top of Bourrough Valley Grade. Don is having a great time!
Mile 32 1430′ Feet

I stopped right before the Sierra Elementary Rest-Stop for a
great photo opportunity. Isaac and Justin were close behind.

Don was chatting with other riders as usual.

Sierra Elementary Rest Stop
Mile 39 1925′ Feet

“I was just riding and then WHAM!!!!!!!! there was this snake!!!!”
something like that.

Prather California more elevation than population.
Mile 45 1,642′ Feet

End Clovis High School. Mile 70 Elevation 313′ Feet
Observe the cyclists dumping water into mouths and onto heads.

Pondering the day.

Shortly after this picture was taken, I lost my cell phone. If you look closely at my portside jersey pocket, there is a cell phone in there sticking out causing a telltale cellphone bulge.
This piece of evidence is intriguing to me because I cant find my dang cell phone! GRRRR!

Fun day though, thanks everybody.