Northern California - weekend ride reports - where'd ya ride?

Club ride, going up both sides of Old La Honda. 32 miles.

Three times around Curtis Park with my 3 year old son. The old guys talk about riding their age but how many toddlers can do it?

My bike has been in the shop all week :( Hopefully getting it back tomorrow.

struggled up Iowa Hill Rd this afternoon....

Sat. I did the club ride with Scott Morrison99. Sun. I rode with two friends who were up for more than I was -- I set high goals for myself but my rides Fri. & Sat. really pushed me; I should have taken Sun. off but noooo, the ego was talking. Still, I finished in a decent time, despite feeling like I was pedaling thru molasses.

Today I woke up feeling truly refreshed. New puppy let me sleep through the night (yesssss!) and I had plenty of energy. After fulfilling my domestic diva-ness (read: cleaned house) I climbed Cantelow & hammered down Pleasant's Valley & all the way around the Winter's Loop. My goal was to keep my HR above 75%. Thanks to wind I was able to keep it above 85% for 70% of the ride. I rode 31 mi. in 1:40 & I'm happy with that.

My reward was cherry pie a la mode. My regret is that I did not bake said pie myself.

It was my birthday; I rode up north gate road in diablo while listening to my favorite prokofiev and shostakovich piano concertos :D Then I met my family for a bbq lunch at rock city. On the way up some nice cyclist passed me and was like, "nice spin." I think thats about the best compliment you can get for spinning away at 5-6mph in 24/26, hehe.

Was in LA for the weekend. Did the "Not going to Eastern Sierra pity ride", going up GMR to Baldy Village. Original intention was to go up to the ski lifts, but the combination of heat and hill climbs exhausted me, and I chickened out of the ski lift climb (which would have been an additional 5 miles and 1500 feet of climbing). Lots of pics ... check out the SoCal forum for pics, and hilarious postings.

Saturday I went over Palomares, Crow Canyon & Norris Canyon Rds., then down San Ramon Blvd and Foothill Rd to Sunol and Niles Canyon to home.

Today my husband & some friends & I went over Calaveras. We saw a bald eagle (I kids you not!) and my husband and one of our friends saw a bobcat. Oh, and I saw a family of quail crossing the road. Baby quail are incredibly tiny! but I suppose the size of quail eggs kind of tips you off on that. All in all, an excellent ride, and we finished it off with appetizers and beers at Bosco's Bones & Brew in Sunol.

Three times around Curtis Park with my 3 year old son. The old guys talk about riding their age but how many toddlers can do it?

Is he riding without training wheels? My 3 year old complains the bike without training wheels is "too tippy" and won't get on it.

We saw a bald eagle (I kids you not!) and my husband and one of our friends saw a bobcat. Oh, and I saw a family of quail crossing the road. Baby quail are incredibly tiny! but I suppose the size of quail eggs kind of tips you off on that. All in all, an excellent ride, and we finished it off with appetizers and beers at Bosco's Bones & Brew in Sunol.
... and no pics? :(

Sorry, no. While we could see the eagle clearly enough, it would have been too far away to get a good shot with a standard small digicam. Plus, if we brought cameras, that would have guaranteed we wouldn't have seen it! :rolleyes:

But here's a photo someone else took of it recently: http://www.pbase.com/tgrey/image/77988640

Is he riding without training wheels? My 3 year old complains the bike without training wheels is "too tippy" and won't get on it.

Yup. We just took off the training wheels last week. There was a thread either in the Road or Family and Rec. Forum about training wheels where I got the idea to keep jacking up his training wheels higher and higher, to the point where I actually bent them. Lucas was riding pretty much on the main wheels for a month or so and I could see that he didn't need them but he just needed the push.

So one day I offered to put his bike on the workstand to put some oil on the chain but I told him I'd have to take the training wheels off to do it. And then I asked him if he wanted to try riding without. He made me run behind him and hold the saddle. Of course he took off and didn't need my help at all. But the funny thing is that he wouldn't believe he could do it until my wife showed him the video tape of him riding down the sidewalk with me running behind trying to catch up.

Sunday, Walnut Creek to Danville, up Southgate to the junction, back on Northgate. Thought I was going to die. :( Nothing wrong that more miles and less weight won't cure, though. And thank goodness for the slight breeze all day.

Sunday, Walnut Creek to Danville, up Southgate to the junction, back on Northgate. Thought I was going to die. :( Nothing wrong that more miles and less weight won't cure, though. And thank goodness for the slight breeze all day.

You make me sad - :(

Tooling through my 'hood and not even a wave........ >SNIFF<

I did the 111 mile Sequoia Century. Now Im really tired.:o

Went up to Windsor to ride with some friends. Went up Chalk Hill Rd, through Alexander Valley. Then Back into Healdsburg for a loop around Dry Creek, and looped south along the Russian River and back to Windsor. The hills were killer on my 'bent, but I made it up everything but two hills. Would have made the first, but my chain feel off. Getting an "N Gear Jump Stop".

You make me sad - :(

Tooling through my 'hood and not even a wave........ >SNIFF<
I wuz too durn pooped to wave. If I'd'a tried, I'd've fallen over, barfed up a lung, or both. :( And if you'd'a been there, then I woulda had both Carl and you laughing at me and my distress . . . .

.... And if you'd'a been there, then I woulda had both Carl and you laughing at me and my distress . . . .

Well - that's kind of the point, eh? :D

I prefer Kings Mtn to Old La Honda but I like to take Greer Rd. to the service entrance to the park and climb Kings to the top from the main park entrance.

On Sunday, I went out with my family and did the John Peckham Memorial Ride. It was very poignant seeing about 400 other cyclists on the ride. The stop on Old Page Mill was a very moving experience. We cut the ride a bit short, cutting out the Woodside maze and turning around on Canada just north of the Pulgas Water Temple.


Thank you, Steve E. and family for doing the ride for my son. I was there too and I rode the entire route. It was so moving that so many people who did not even know John came to pay tribute to a fallen fellow cyclist.
M.A.Parker

Thank you, Steve E. and family for doing the ride for my son. I was there too and I rode the entire route. It was so moving that so many people who did not even know John came to pay tribute to a fallen fellow cyclist.
M.A.Parker
MaryAnn -

I sure you don't remember it, but we spoke briefly during the memorial ride and also rode with your group at the end of the ride south from Los Altos on Foothill. I didn't know John all that well, although we rode together on some clubs rides a few times. He would sometimes come out of the B-Ride when recovering from the odd injury. I remember John complaining that my rides were too hilly - even though he could rip my legs off if he wanted to! I try to make it a point to acknowledge your son every time I ride my bike down Old Page Mill Rd. He is still very much missed in the club.

- SteveE

I got to ride w/Spingineer today :D what a cool guy :p We did what is a pretty easy loop for most around here... down foothill/sand hill/olh/84/portola/arastradero/page mill/foothill... but it was the first time I have gone up OLH on my compact... AND I DIDN'T DIE!!!!!! :p :p :p

Thank you Ron for your infinite patience and wonderful company!!!!

Tracy

I got to ride w/Spingineer today :D what a cool guy :p We did what is a pretty easy loop for most around here... down foothill/sand hill/olh/84/portola/arastradero/page mill/foothill... but it was the first time I have gone up OLH on my compact... AND I DIDN'T DIE!!!!!! :p :p :p

Thank you Ron for your infinite patience and wonderful company!!!!

Tracy

You didnt die?:eek: Oh my, how did that happen?:p :p :p Woohooo, great to hear your confidence continues to grow.:D

You didnt die?:eek: Oh my, how did that happen?:p :p :p Woohooo, great to hear your confidence continues to grow.:D

Hee Hee Hee!!!! :p I LOVE :love: my bike though!!!!! OLH really took it out of me but I can see that its just a matter of time before I get used to it.... at one point as we were going under 280, I was thinking to myself that I was having a hard time getting going and then looked down at my garmin and I was going 19mph... big difference from the roubaix!! I was pretty pooped on the last part though, I couldn't lasso Spingineer w/the tow rope and was having trouble going the 15 mph he was going (trying to go slow to stay w/me) Regardless, it was a great ride... and the ice cream afterwards was pretty good too! :p

Where'd you ride today Sean?

Went on the Saturday River Ride. It was fast, very fast, but I'm pleased that I made the front group both ways.

Hee Hee Hee!!!! :p I LOVE :love: my bike though!!!!! OLH really took it out of me but I can see that its just a matter of time before I get used to it.... at one point as we were going under 280, I was thinking to myself that I was having a hard time getting going and then looked down at my garmin and I was going 19mph... big difference from the roubaix!! I was pretty pooped on the last part though, I couldn't lasso Spingineer w/the tow rope and was having trouble going the 15 mph he was going (trying to go slow to stay w/me) Regardless, it was a great ride... and the ice cream afterwards was pretty good too! :p

Where'd you ride today Sean?


I just cruised down to morgan hill and back, my recovery ride route. Made a few adjustments to the Look and rode home. Tomorrow will be a climbing ride, but not too many miles. The Look has no saddle bag or computer.:D

Hee Hee Hee!!!! :p I LOVE :love: my bike though!!!!! OLH really took it out of me but I can see that its just a matter of time before I get used to it.... at one point as we were going under 280, I was thinking to myself that I was having a hard time getting going and then looked down at my garmin and I was going 19mph... big difference from the roubaix!! I was pretty pooped on the last part though, I couldn't lasso Spingineer w/the tow rope and was having trouble going the 15 mph he was going (trying to go slow to stay w/me) Regardless, it was a great ride... and the ice cream afterwards was pretty good too! :p

Where'd you ride today Sean?
Tracy, you did great! I didn't find myself having to slow down too much, but the more hill climbs you do, the more confident you will be in doing climbs like this. Sierra was a tough ride, and to do OLH the week after takes lots of guts. Pat yourself on the back.

BTW, how's the lower back? I usually get that after continuous climbing, and usually an indication that I was pushing too hard. It's ok to tell me on the hill you have to slow the pace down a little bit. I do that when I ride with my friends Steve and Cheryl, who glide up the hill.

Going back via Portola is a lot tougher than it looks. It is deceiving because it is a very gradual incline, and you think you shouldn't have that much a problem, but you do. Again, kudos to you, Trac.

Tracy, you did great! I didn't find myself having to slow down too much, but the more hill climbs you do, the more confident you will be in doing climbs like this. Sierra was a tough ride, and to do OLH the week after takes lots of guts. Pat yourself on the back.

BTW, how's the lower back? I usually get that after continuous climbing, and usually an indication that I was pushing too hard. It's ok to tell me on the hill you have to slow the pace down a little bit. I do that when I ride with my friends Steve and Cheryl, who glide up the hill.

Going back via Portola is a lot tougher than it looks. It is deceiving because it is a very gradual incline, and you think you shouldn't have that much a problem, but you do. Again, kudos to you, Trac.


Awww... thank you Ron :D My back actually feels fine now... although tomorrow may be a different story... :rolleyes: I'm really happy w/my ride today, thank you again for riding w/me!!! I'm looking forward to seeing how Monday's ride goes :eek:

I rode for the first time since last Sundays AMBBR ride. My #19 molar/crown started hurting last Sunday and by Wednesday I was having it extracted and an implant installed. At least I got my first titanium upgrade :D
I took the MTB out for the first time in a over a year, just a 21 mile out-and-back on the Sawyer Camp Trail at 7pm Saturday. One thing I hate about riding so late is that the winds really start blowing hard around San Briuno.

rode the paradise loop starting from SF....it was lovely as usual..have a great weekend all!..anybody riding woodside starting at 92 on sunday?

rode about 20 miles through Kahala, Kaimuki and around Diamond Head crater. Nice change of scenery! :D

rode about 20 miles through Kahala, Kaimuki and around Diamond Head crater. Nice change of scenery! :D

Nice. Did you bring your own bike?
I'm sure you'll have lots of pics too :)

Rode a Winters Loop Saturday with my club, including Red Rider and Cgallagh. Nice social ride instead of a hammerfest No strong winds for a change.

FFBC Getting To Know Us ride. Newark Java to Mission Coffee and back. Out via Thornton, Central, Farwell, Grimmer, and Mission. Back via Washington, Paseo Padre, Ardenwood.

Did the Old La Honda Alpine loop with LostinSanJose(Jeremy). It was a nice day for a great ride. Also my first real ride on the new bike.:D

Rode/ran the Muddy Buddy (http://muddybuddy.com) ride/race. It was pretty entertaining.

Rode Tour de Cure ride. Good turnout. Ride basically went out Kings Mountain, then south on 84, over Haskins Hill down to Pescadero. N on Stage, the climb Tunitas. 78 miles, 7557 feet climbing.

I did a ride with the Luna Chix today. We started from Woodside , went via Mtn. Home Road to Sand Hill, Portola, & down Alpine & Arastradero to Page Mill. We then climbed Page Mill to Skyline - that's a tough climb, gah! From there we headed north on Skyline to Sky Londa, which was really nice, long swoopy downhills with beautiful views of the East Bay & Mt. Diablo. Then we descended 84 towards Woodside, hung a right at the bottom onto Portola, then up Old La Honda Road. Back along Skyline, down 84 again (whee), and back into Woodside. About 40 miles and 4500 ft.

We were up in Markleeville, riding some of the passes from the Death Ride (more info is in a seperate thread).

JB

I rode in Irvine. After dialing it to 400 watts I crushed the souls of some kids on tricycles! Damn I am good. :D

I have no report. Didn't get to ride this weekend. Sniff, sniff...

I have no report. Didn't get to ride this weekend. Sniff, sniff...
Don't worry, that'll be me next weekend.

After the Saturday morning hammerfest I had a really wonderful recovery ride on Sunday: I rode the fixed gear alongside my 3-year old as he rode up and down the block on his newly de-training-wheeled bike. We did just about a mile.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Rode a Winters Loop Saturday with my club, including Red Rider and Cgallagh. Nice social ride instead of a hammerfest No strong winds for a change.

Wasn't that a nice ride? We agreed it was one of the better ones we've had, both in terms of pace & socialbility as well as lack of wind. Glad you could join us!

Sunday we took the tank -- er, tandem -- out for a Gordon Valley Loop. Our friend was riding a loaner Orbea Diva, over which I lusted. On the way home we switched bikes. She rode the tandem for the first time & I rode a $4K bike for the first time. Sweet!

In the pics that follow the vineyards are in the Gordon Valley, Napa Co. Very pretty country, very nice ride to go with it.

For my first ride in two and half months, I rode up to Felton, climbed Felton-Empire in a blistering 45 minutes, then rolled back down Empire Grade today.

I found out that it's not really possible to push the heart and lungs much at all when recovering from a broken leg.

I sat on "Spectrum" ride today. Key finding from today's ride: don't do the hard ride (65+ mi commute) the day before another hard ride ("Spectrum"). My knees are in flames now :(

I sat on "Spectrum" ride today. Key finding from today's ride: don't do the hard ride (65+ mi commute) the day before another hard ride ("Spectrum"). My knees are in flames now :(
Just out of curiosity, what is the typical route for "Spectrum"? When do they usually head out?

Just out of curiosity, what is the typical route for "Spectrum"? When do they usually head out?Spectrum leaves Starbucks at Homestead & Hollenbeck (Stelling) around 0900.

The route is invariable: Homestead, Foothill, Page Mill, Old Page Mill, Page Mill, Arastradero, Alpine, Portola, 84E, Tripp, Kings Mountain, Manuella, Albion, Olive Hill, Canada to 92, Canada back to Woodside, 84E, Whiskey Hill, Sand Hill, Santa Cruz, Serra, Foothill.

Once the ride gets to 92, it fragments with people going lots of different ways.

Spectrum leaves Starbucks at Homestead & Hollenbeck (Stelling) around 0900.

The route is invariable: Homestead, Foothill, Page Mill, Old Page Mill, Page Mill, Arastradero, Alpine, Portola, 84E, Tripp, Kings Mountain, Manuella, Albion, Olive Hill, Canada to 92, Canada back to Woodside, 84E, Whiskey Hill, Sand Hill, Santa Cruz, Serra, Foothill.

Once the ride gets to 92, it fragments with people going lots of different ways.
... not that I'll be able to hang with the group ... another photo opp, as the pack screams by!!!

"Spectrum" is also more like an A-ride: there are few sprints (I think 3 or 4) at various points along the route. A friend of mine who usually participates on the ride says that sometimes there are only 8-9 sprinters on the group. Today it felt like half of the pack were good sprinters. Brutal.