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I got up very, very early yesterday to join some friends for the 2007 Solvang Prelude, an organized ride up in Solvang, California, billed as one of the state's best. Beautiful views of rolling hills, picturesque vinyards and wineries, and quiet roads were all promised and delivered, and the organization and support was first-rate. Everyone had a fantastic time.

(Map: "Solvang Prelude 11/03/2007")

Unfortunately, being in Solvang by 8am meant meeting D and J in Moorpark by 5:45am, which meant being awake and dressed by 5:15. But everyone was awake and cheerful and excited to be meeting friends for a day in the saddle.

Talking about road biking is boring unless you're talking about race, or about scenery. In fact, road biking is boring unless you bring friends to talk to, race with, or enjoy beautiful scenery with. We did no racing, but the conversation and the scenery were great, and I can't think of many way's I'd rather spend a day.

As always, my photoblogging skills are horrid. I'm getting better. I need ot remember to just start the GPS, and start snapping pics every ten seconds from the time I leave in the morning. As it stands, I have maybe 12 photos in all, mostly of people's rear ends riding away from me, and none of the great little bike expo at the ride start/finish site, or of most of the people I rode with. Oh well. I can't really feel too bad about having too much fun to remember to take photos.

The tune-up my bike received from Valley Bikes in Chatsworth, CA was first-rate. Smooth shifting and responsive breaking kept me happily chatting with neighbors without a second thought for my bike. Couldn't be happier.

Anyway, I'm completely exhausted. I got about 4 hours of real sleep on Friday night, got up at 4:45 on Saturday, drove 4 hours total and rode 50 miles on my bike. Then I got up this morning to meet a friend for breakfast, and generally had a great weekend. Time to turn in and take advantage of the time change to grab a little extra shut-eye.