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03-07-09, 07:28 PM
Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the numbers "34" and "27".
I found myself thinking about those numbers quite regularly today. What a fantastic day for a ride - perfect weather and great company. A nice low key ride accompanied by Marco and Ruth on their tandem, Jim (BenRidin) and we were graced with Professor Ferguson's presence for our first two climbs. Great to catch you again, Pete.
We set off just after midday and headed north to the first climb, Wildcat Canyon. A nice warm up climb, with great views over San Pablo Reservoir. Then off to South Park. After negotiating the gate, it was down to business. We passed several folks with dogs -- all well behaved and practically had the road to ourselves for 2/3rd of the climb. I was thinking about 34 and 27 several times from the mid point on.
We got a bottle refill at the little trains, bid adios to Pete (who braved the descent of Lomas Cantadas). We then headed along Grizzly Peak to Skyline and descended Tunnel and made our way to Claremont. Every time I climb that road, it always surprises me how much effort it takes.
34.
27.
There are those numbers are again. Jim was clearly in his zone today, and I was happy just to be able to keep him in my sights, but he's a great climber. We passed a guy riding up on a pretty nice looking Pinarello (anyone out there?) who was grinding his way up. I think he lost his momentum before the steep pitch up at the first right hand bend - man, it's always tough to get going again after that happens. Gotta give kudos to Marco and Ruth, hauling that Tandem up these climbs is mighty impressive.
We then looped back again to Skyline and turned left this time - the views across the bay were spectacular today. We paced along to the intersection with Pinehurst, but took a right and zoomed down Shepherd Canyon. The top is fairly steep and twisty, but the fairly long, straight descent into Montclair is a blast. I think I got a bit of a tow off a Sienna for most of the way.
We stopped of at Peets for a refill and to soak up the sun before heading back up Shepherd Canyone (not too steep, but that top twisty section made me think about 27 again. 34 was already well and truly in play). We then had the nice descent of Pinehurst, and that great drag down through Canyon.
At Moraga we parted ways with Jim, then I bid fairwell to Marco and Ruth a mile or so before BART. All in all, a beautiful day to be out on the bike, and I must have got the most climbing done in a day since I headed up to Diablo back in January. Thanks for keeping me company today, guys. :thumb:
http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/Wildcat_SoutPark_Claremont_Shepherd.jpg
38.5miles from my cyclocomputer, 13.2mph average (go figure), 2h 54m riding time, with a max of 45.1mph on Shepherd Canyon. Jim will provide some Garmin based numbers to refute or confirm the Bikely estimate
I found myself thinking about those numbers quite regularly today. What a fantastic day for a ride - perfect weather and great company. A nice low key ride accompanied by Marco and Ruth on their tandem, Jim (BenRidin) and we were graced with Professor Ferguson's presence for our first two climbs. Great to catch you again, Pete.
We set off just after midday and headed north to the first climb, Wildcat Canyon. A nice warm up climb, with great views over San Pablo Reservoir. Then off to South Park. After negotiating the gate, it was down to business. We passed several folks with dogs -- all well behaved and practically had the road to ourselves for 2/3rd of the climb. I was thinking about 34 and 27 several times from the mid point on.
We got a bottle refill at the little trains, bid adios to Pete (who braved the descent of Lomas Cantadas). We then headed along Grizzly Peak to Skyline and descended Tunnel and made our way to Claremont. Every time I climb that road, it always surprises me how much effort it takes.
34.
27.
There are those numbers are again. Jim was clearly in his zone today, and I was happy just to be able to keep him in my sights, but he's a great climber. We passed a guy riding up on a pretty nice looking Pinarello (anyone out there?) who was grinding his way up. I think he lost his momentum before the steep pitch up at the first right hand bend - man, it's always tough to get going again after that happens. Gotta give kudos to Marco and Ruth, hauling that Tandem up these climbs is mighty impressive.
We then looped back again to Skyline and turned left this time - the views across the bay were spectacular today. We paced along to the intersection with Pinehurst, but took a right and zoomed down Shepherd Canyon. The top is fairly steep and twisty, but the fairly long, straight descent into Montclair is a blast. I think I got a bit of a tow off a Sienna for most of the way.
We stopped of at Peets for a refill and to soak up the sun before heading back up Shepherd Canyone (not too steep, but that top twisty section made me think about 27 again. 34 was already well and truly in play). We then had the nice descent of Pinehurst, and that great drag down through Canyon.
At Moraga we parted ways with Jim, then I bid fairwell to Marco and Ruth a mile or so before BART. All in all, a beautiful day to be out on the bike, and I must have got the most climbing done in a day since I headed up to Diablo back in January. Thanks for keeping me company today, guys. :thumb:
http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/Wildcat_SoutPark_Claremont_Shepherd.jpg
38.5miles from my cyclocomputer, 13.2mph average (go figure), 2h 54m riding time, with a max of 45.1mph on Shepherd Canyon. Jim will provide some Garmin based numbers to refute or confirm the Bikely estimate