Northern California - Birthday Ride - 3/8

Seeing the pics from the 3/1 ride made me so bummed that I couldn't join everyone. So I'm going to lead one 3/8, which happens to be one day before my birthday. So this is going to be my birthday present to myself ... a birthday ride.

There's also the Triflow Grand Prix races being held in Menlo Park, and there will be an option to ride there to see it too, if anybody wanted. So I plotted three possible routes:

Option A: Ride to the races, then climb King's Mountain - 57 miles, 3983 feet climbing
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-over-Kings-Mtn

Option B: Climb King's Mountain, then ride to the races - 62 miles, 4663 feet climbing
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-Plan-B

Option C: Climb King's Mountain, not going to the races - 53 miles, 4957 feet climbing
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-Plan-C

Start: Chain Reaction Parking Lot on corner of Homestead and Foothill Expy in Los Altos
Time: 9 am

We'd ride with you, but we'll be riding the Solvang Century instead. So we'll hoist a glass of an adult beverage in your honor, post-ride.

Hope you have terrific weather and great company for your ride. Birthday rides are the best!

Seeing the pics from the 3/1 ride made me so bummed that I couldn't join everyone. So I'm going to lead one 3/8, which happens to be one day before my birthday. So this is going to be my birthday present to myself ... a birthday ride.

Haven't decided yet where, but I figured on "scenic" routes like Moody, King's Mountain, Emerald Hills, Swett Rd., Old La Honda ... or if anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them.

:) In! :bday:

Me likem Kings Mtn! up/down

:bday::bday::bday: Ron!

I guess I'll have to tell everyone ... it's not my birthday yet ... but will be next sunday. Anyhow, thanks guys.

I was on my OLH / Skyline / Kings ride today, and its plainly obvious I am in "winter" shape. Even my decent down kings was sluggish and goofy. Props to all of you who stayed in shape during the cold season.

happy happy birthday, it's your special day....

I am so in, i think. let's see some routes and starting time. I'm going to Kooza the night before. And it'd be great to start near CalTrain.

Can't wait to put some real miles on the new roadie.

I should be available that day! I'd love to join you.

Here is the route I was thinking of.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-over-Kings-Mtn

Replace Westridge with Golden Oak. It's much shorter.

Replace Westridge with Golden Oak. It's much shorter.

Ya don't like Westridge??? I can't remember the Golden Oak climb. I choose Westridge, only because I'm familiar with that climb.

:D

http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/ringmap/Ring-of-fire-profile.jpg

I always wondered what the grade on walkin' Joaquin is.

http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/ringmap/Ring-of-fire-profile.jpg

That ride'll get anybody's climbing legs in shape!

:D

http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/ringmap/Ring-of-fire-profile.jpg

That's a great graph!! :eek:

If you start in the morning, I think I'm in.

:D

http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/ringmap/Ring-of-fire-profile.jpg

:eek::eek:

Ron: Are you getting ready for a birthday or a funeral :eek: :)?

That's one intimidating ride!!!

Hey that's not my ride. I guess Ramon wants to do that ride!

Yo, Yo, Yo, Let's ride already! details? Logistics?

The route Ron has mapped out climbs Westridge on the 11.5% side. My silly sense of humor immediately thought of swapping that with a nice little ascent up Golden Oak then back to Alpine, Portola Road. I actually have not gone up Westridge from that side before so it will be a first for me next weekend.

That graph is from the Palo Alto Bicycles website. It's the Ring of Fire on their list of local ride maps.

Here is the route I was thinking of.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-over-Kings-MtnIt's a long drive to Cupertino, and that rather large bump in the middle of the elevation graph looks... daunting. I could be a maybe, though. Is that climb as bad as/worse than it looks?

The primary climb is King's Mountain. As long as pace yourself comfortably it never gets too steep but it is a longer climb. Westridge is not as bad as that blasted hill McEwen but it's steeper than that hill section from Saturday where the pictures were taken by mtnwalker. HW 35 has some climbing to it as well before a nice decent to Sky Londa. On the way back there is a gradual hill on Sand Hill up to 280.

It's a long drive to Cupertino, and that rather large bump in the middle of the elevation graph looks... daunting. I could be a maybe, though. Is that climb as bad as/worse than it looks?

you'll be so distracted by the scenery that you won't even notice the hills :rolleyes:

It's a long drive to Cupertino, and that rather large bump in the middle of the elevation graph looks... daunting. I could be a maybe, though. Is that climb as bad as/worse than it looks?

The bump is Kings Mountain, one of my favorite climbs.

It's not as steep as the "Hill of Death" from this weekend. ;)

I think the average gradient is about 10%. It does go on for about 4 miles though.

I might be in depending on what time you'll be starting the ride. Oh and how far from a Bart station it will be.:D

Here is the route I was thinking of.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-over-Kings-Mtn

That last stretch on Foothill Expressway should be a screamer :D

I'm embarrassed to post this, but I just caught a virus yesterday. I'm hoping that it will pass by week's end. But for now, the ride is still on. Of all days to catch a cold, it's on a really nice and sunny day.

Start time ... 9 am

I might be in depending on what time you'll be starting the ride. Oh and how far from a Bart station it will be.:D

Caltrain for this ride. It would be quite a ride from any BART station.

I'm embarrassed to post this, but I just caught a virus yesterday. I'm hoping that it will pass by week's end. But for now, the ride is still on. Of all days to catch a cold, it's on a really nice and sunny day.

Cathy had that, and it's the Flu. She was down for the count. Don't push yourself if you can't do it we can always come up with an alternative and do your's when your feeling better.
Pete

9am, ouch. I'll have to be up at the far side of the ass-crack of dawn for that'n.

Four miles of ten percent... Practice makes perfect, maybe? :o

Even so: Tentative in.

*looks around for a 105 triple*

I'm already out for this ride. The wife just reminded me of some promises I made yesterday involving this Saturday. DOH! Something about family togetherness-thing. :D

Anyways, have a great birthday Ron!

:bday::beer::bday:

:D

http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/ringmap/Ring-of-fire-profile.jpg

http://www.propsunlimited.com/pics/Wizard%20of%20Oz%20Mural.jpg
You'll definitely "See the Wizard" all right... :eek:

Hey that's not my ride. I guess Ramon wants to do that ride!

Whew! OK, I'm still in....

So Velogirls is sponsoring the Grand Prix races in Menlo Park the same day as this ride. Going to make a slight change in the route, and it will make a detour out to the races, either before or after the King's Mountain climb. Still haven't decided which way yet. It may actually be a start of ride decision. I'll post both routes a little later.

oh well, I'm out. I just checked ups tracking and my clamp won't arrive til friday and the old lady is dragging me out friday night.

early happy birthday to you! enjoy the ride.

So Velogirls is sponsoring the Grand Prix races in Menlo Park the same day as this ride. Going to make a slight change in the route, and it will make a detour out to the races, either before or after the King's Mountain climb. Still haven't decided which way yet. It may actually be a start of ride decision. I'll post both routes a little later.

Hey what time Sat. morning? I need do get some stuff done Sat so the earlier the better. Post the start spot. I'm old and confused:(
Pete

The original plan was for 9 am start, from the Chain Reaction parking lot, corner of Homestead and Foothill Expy. However, we can change the starting location, but would like to keep the same time.

oh well, I'm out. I just checked ups tracking and my clamp won't arrive til friday and the old lady is dragging me out friday night.

early happy birthday to you! enjoy the ride.

Dang ... oh well. Thanks for the early birthday greeting. We'll catch up another time.

I'll be there (9am @ Chain Reaction parking lot).. Thanks !
:bday:

:D
Angel.

Ergh, this turned into a 60 miler?

Ergh, this turned into a 60 miler?

Hey we'll have none of that:) Make sure you have an extra bowl of wheaties!
You'll be fine

I don't think I can stay for the races. So I most likely continue up to Kings and do the rest.

Anyone not watching the races, is welcome to join me over to and up Kings :)

Hey we'll have none of that:) Make sure you have an extra bowl of wheaties!Is that street slang for "a moped" by any chance? :p

I don't think I can stay for the races. So I most likely continue up to Kings and do the rest.

Anyone not watching the races, is welcome to join me over to and up Kings :)
I'm with ya!
I think Ramon was up for a couple of extra miles too!

Cool. I'm thinking of even riding to the start... maybe..

Ok, so I plotted out 3 different routes. I'll bring printouts at the start.

Option A: Ride to the races, then climb King's Mountain - 57 miles, 3983 feet climbing
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-over-Kings-Mtn

Option B: Climb King's Mountain, then ride to the races - 62 miles, 4663 feet climbing
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-Plan-B

Option C: Climb King's Mountain, not going to the races - 53 miles, 4957 feet climbing
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Birthday-Ride-Plan-C

I'll also put this in the original post.

Ron I was thinking, so we could stay together longer, that The Option C ride could be done in the same order as Option A, except continuing straight on FH Expy to Woodside. Then do Kings and the rest of the ride.

I hate to leave you, on your B-day ride, right after the first tiny stretch of FH.

I'll be there (9am @ Chain Reaction parking lot).. Thanks !
:bday:

:D
Angel.

Que bueno!!!

Do we have a final list of suspects for the birthday ride tomorrow?