Jason Sage is THE MAN

This time last year, Van Der Sage headbutted a SUV. He swears he won, but the plastic surgeons may think otherwise. Anyway's, while he was down and out, a few good buds stepped up and made sure the man was taken care of.
And this last weekend, The man repaid our minuscule efforts with a ton of love, vis a vie a training camp based in the Sonoma mountains at the top of Trinity Grade.
Dr. Brockie, Eugene Beyer, Larry Nolan plus his missus (Debbie), Carl Anderson, Boner and his eldest daughter Audrey and the missus and me all made Glen Ellen our home for the weekend, and Jason, we are all really really grateful.
Day one (Saturday).
Drove up early on the morning. Rain started to come down before we hit the bridge. Arrived at the Jack London Lodge in Glen Ellen in plenty of time. Got the key to the room and got changed in to my combat gear. First wet weather ride for the new Trek, boohoo. But wait , what's this. Not starting from Glen Ellen. All bikes pile in to Jason's dad's (Phil Sage) truck and Boners mobile massage palour (MMP) and we head north to Windsor. What joy, we pick up some beer from our Lagunitas brewery sponsor's. Oh yes, it maybe raining but we don't care. Strike out from Windsor and head south, zig zagging across the Sonoma Valley. Small rolly hills appear thru the murk, but it's all good, we are on new roads and the chat is fun. Boner and Audrey follow in the van, taking care of business and protecting our asses. Boners good at covering ass. Going thru some town I get a flat so i dive in to the warmth of the MMP and replace the tube while the others slog on in the rain.I guess i missed about 5 miles, but they say it was at least twenty. I do know that it was not nice going back out into the wet.
We eventually get back to Glen Ellen and hit Trinity Grade. The weather is so murky that we can't see a damned thing, which is just as well. Then a couple of mighty steep switchbacks whack us over the head, and Trinity Grade says hello with a smarmy grin all over its face. Freaking hell, it's steep.
Eugene makes full use of his compact chainset and scurries off the front. Brockie is following, looking strong and Nolan is marking him. Half way up Nolan increases revolutions and uses his 27 cog (he tells me he had no idea the grades would be that steep, but you know he would never need a 27 for the Dumbo, so I think he had a clue). Carl, Jason and I are following on. Boner is still covering. I'm in the 23 cog. I have a 25 but it was rubbing on the spokes so I decided to be better safe than sorry and tough it out. Finally make the top, Lar is in Polka dots. He looks good in red spot's, even for a big bald man that he is. We wash the bikes down and then hit the hot tub. Oh yes. And then Jason brings over the beer.....can it get any better. Boner lets us now that he is now available to give massages, so yes it can. We warm up in the tub and after showering we sit for a traditional French dinner, made by our most gracious hosts Claude and Betty of the Above the Clouds bed and breakfast ( http://www.abovethecloudsbb.com/). It's a wonderful convivial atmosphere. Wine flows and it's good times. Eventually 6 of us pile in to our Honda passport (Debbie Nolan sits on Hubbies lap. He smiles a lot) and we descend the mountain to our rooms at the Jack London Lodge for a good nights rest.

Day Two (Sunday)
Rain as stopped and the sun is shining down. We take our cars back up the mountain. I see a sign, steep grade 12% average. Dang.
We meet for breakfast, Jason's super duper french toast. Fresh fruit, coffee, and then we ride out.
This time we head east and descend the mountain in to Napa Valley. What a feast for the eyes, the vineyards are golden and the hills are green. It does not get any better than this. We ride over to the Silverado Train and then go south, a nice rotating paceline. With about 15 miles to go of the scheduled 40 Jason climbs in to the MMP with a mechanical. His Power Crank (tm) set up as come loose and he does not want to stress out the Bottom bracket. His riding is done. and then we start climbing again. Not too steep and we are gruppo compacto at the ridge. On the descent to the valley my bike starts making a noice like a pregnant whale giving birth. REALLY LOUD wailing noise. It was so bad I thought it was the siren of the local CDF station going off. Stop the bike and check out the brakes, and the usual points of interest, all looks good. So we set off again. 4 mile slater, same again. It only occurs when I am descending, going about 30 mph or more. Still cant figure out the source so keep going. Eventually we get to the base of the final climb. So i thought Saturday was a tough ascent. This was just a frickin nightmare. Brockie and Nolan ride off the front. Carl and I are dropped real quick. (Eugene went home Saturday night). Jason and Boner pass and give encouragement. It's so steep I pop a small wheely and i have to use the 25 cog. As we cross the county line back in to Sonoma Co. it levels off and I can start rolling. Carl follows me back in to the B n' B shortly after. I grab a shower and massage and then we all sit down to a lovely lunch. Home made wine and other beverages are consumed. The ladies come back rom their own personal Stage 2 exploits and i learn I am the proud owner of two new chairs. Lucky I packed the bike rack.
We finally bid adieu to our hosts and head home. (via Sonoma to pick up chairs), getting home at 6:30.

So once again, I want to say thanks to Jason and Kathleen. Your the best, And to Phil Sage and Colleen, Claude and Betty, Brian and Audrey, thanks for making it a fabulous weekend.

Gaz

photos and video to follow