[GRRiders] Davis 400K Info

[Dan Brekke]

I think Bill's words re: the wind are most wise. Be happy with what
you get, and remember, it's fresh air.

On the other hand, if you're like me and like to torture yourself by
contemplating long-range forecasts, you can get a little glimpse of
the future, as mathematically muscular computers see it, by checking
out the weather computer models page at
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sto/models.php.

One of the models, the GFS, sees a damp Saturday in the Sacramento
Valley, with westerly winds up to 10 knots (about 12 mph) in the
morning, dropping in intensity during the day as they shift to
northwesterly, then northerly. Mind you, that's one of a half-dozen or
more  models the National Weather Service uses to come up with its
forecast/guesstimate.

Ah, fresh air.

On 5/2/05, Bill Bryant <bill_bryant at prodigy.net> wrote:
>  
> I'm curious if anyone has received the route sheet for this coming weekends
> 400K in Davis?  I think it's only about 100 miles by bike from Davis to
> Oroville and I'm curious where the additional mileage will come from.  Also,
> anyone know what direction the wind typically blows through the valley this
> time of year?  I'm hoping for nice calm sunny weather but it may be good to
> be prepared.
>   
>  Tim 
>  
>  
>  Hi Tim--
>  This went out last night on the DBC list. Holler back if you have questions
> after reading your rider packet.
>  
>  Um, er... Anyone hoping for a calm winds in May in the Central Valley is
> bound to be disappointed, Tim. I don't which way it will blow, but I'd bet a
> LOT of money it will blow in some direction... And given the perversity of
> such things, don't be entirely surprised if a headwind from the north shifts
> to a south wind about the time you make the big turn toward home late in the
> afternoon. I've seen it happen. 
>  So, as stated, what this ride lacks in elevation change will likely be made
> up in fighting the wind. Smart riders will bunch up, and nice riders will
> ease up for stragglers to latch on. With 70+ riders, I hope there will be
> lots of little groups of 4+ riders going at various speeds.
>  
>  Bill
>  
>  
>  
>  Hello DBC Randonneurs and Randonneuses--
>  Rider packets are in the mail for the upcoming 400 km brevet this Saturday,
>  May 7th at 7 AM. [Sign-in starts at 6 AM.] The packet contains the usual
>  info sheet, route sheet, and route map.
>  
>  One note about the map-- The section at the north end of the route from
>  Oroville to Chico to Hamilton City to Willows has been highlighted to
> better
>  show you the way in that region. [There are a few twists and turns on
> little
>  farm roads between Durham and Hamilton City, but this keeps you off Chico's
>  busiest streets.]
>  
>  The other side of the map is not similarly marked with highlighter. The
>  [GRR] route from Davis to Oroville will have arrows on the road to show you
>  the way Saturday morning, and on the return, once you get on Road 99-W
>  alongside Interstate 5 from Willows south, there are no turns until
> Woodland
>  and Road 99, and then you're nearly home.
>  
>  So far we have about 68 riders signed up, so it should be a good day to
> ride
>  in packs with folks of similar ability-- hopefully the winds will treat you
>  well. And if they don't, it will be essential to ride in packs!   ;-)
>  
>  One final note: I couldn't recall any other DBC Brevets that didn't go
>  west/left from the Boy Scout Parking lot onto 1st Street to start the ride.
>  This one will be different! On Saturday we will go north/straight on F
>  Street out of the parking lot, so no collisions from force of habit,
> please!
>  
>  Bonne Route,
>  Bill Bryant
>  The Guy With the Clipboard
>  
>  
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> 
> 
> 


-- 
Dan Brekke
Writer, editor
Home: 510 525 4543/cell: 510 684 7653