September 29, 2007--The eight edition of the Knoxville Fall Classic double century featured some of the best weather ever for this ride, which has in past years been very hot. Temps were low in the morning (Napa plunged to 37 degrees overnight), but rose into the low 80s during the day.  Knoxville this year came just a month after Paris-Brest-Paris, and many of us PBP veterans showed up in our commemorative jerseys.  Riding only 200 miles seemed like a vacation ... (No, we did not do this ride on fixed gears--them temptation to coast down then 45mph descent off Cobb Mountain was just too great).

Kudos once again to the Quack Cyclists, who did a great job supporting the ride. Their workers ride, by the way, happened the weekend before in an all-day rain.   

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Turning onto Hwy 121. The ride starts in the dark (and ended in the dark for us as well)
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Karen and Mark start the Mt George climb
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Balloons over the Napa Valley.
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Balloons were flying very low this morning.
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First rest stop, near Yountville
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Randy Roten arrives as RS 1
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Cooking up coffee and hot chocolate.
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Vineyard shadow
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Rest Stop 2, at Lake Berryessa
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Smile for the camera!
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Time to start shedding cold weather gear--it was already warming up
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On Knoxville Berryessa Road
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Peter Burnett in his PBP jersey
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Lots of PBP jerseys in our group
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Arriving at the Knoxville water stop
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Checking in the riders
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One of the climbs before lunch
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Arriving at lunch in Lower Lake
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Lower Lake Lunch
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Campy Only's Eric Norris arrives at the Guenoc rest stop. 
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Our Campy equipped Rivendell
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Mark fixes a flat while four others look on
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Old roadhouse in Pope Valley
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Pope Valley store
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Pope Valley vineyards
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Lake Hennessey rest stop
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Last rest stop near Lake Solano
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Karen B
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Finish! End-of-the-ride food included pasta, chicken, and salad.
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