Northern California - Easy Century - Hwy1 to Santa Cruz - Sunday 4/5

There's a group of us interested in a Coastal Century this Sunday, 4/5/09. We'd meet in Half Moon Bay and ride down Hwy1 until we hit Santa Cruz. Then we turn around. 98 miles, 4,400 ft or so. (You can circle around the parking lot for the extra two miles if you're that type.)

No turns, 2 traffic lights the whole way down. Scenic views. Doesn't get any easier than that. (Shhh, don't anyone mention the wind on the way back, OK?)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/sesamecrunch/Pootle%20Pics/IMG_3565.jpg

Anyone else want to join us?

Meeting Point: Half Moon Bay Fire Station, corner of Main St. and Higgins Canyon Rd., Half Moon Bay
Start Time: 9:00am

In:
SesameCrunch
Alex136
MsIncredible
Mellum76

Dang it ... I'll be in LA ... I don't suppose you can postpone it for a week?

I'm in! I was hoping you'd schedule something soon, Alan, I was getting amped-up when we were discussing last Saturday. :)

I'm in! I was hoping you'd schedule something soon, Alan, I was getting amped-up when we were discussing last Saturday. :)

Great!

Darn. A week later would have worked for me too. Enjoy guys.

You're doing it backwards. I did the same ride, but in reverse, and lemme tell you -- those coastal winds start blasting southwards around noon.

I got started around 11AM, and it took me well over four hours of on-bike time to make Half Moon Bay. On the way there, I found myself hammering down low-grade downhills just to make 15mph. On one downhill, when the wind was gusting over 30mph, a mountain biker going the other way coasted by, uphill...without pedaling. Getting back took just under two hours, and when I stopped my back was dry but the front of my jacket was soaked.

If you want easy, you're probably better off starting from Santa Cruz early in the morning, fighting the 5-7mph headwind to HMB, and sailing back home when the wind gets up to 15-20mph.

LOL, I'll be in Santa Cruz by 7am for a race. Maybe I'll drive home via Highway 1 and wave to the group.

You're doing it backwards. I did the same ride, but in reverse, and lemme tell you -- those coastal winds start blasting southwards around noon.

I got started around 11AM, and it took me well over four hours of on-bike time to make Half Moon Bay. On the way there, I found myself hammering down low-grade downhills just to make 15mph. On one downhill, when the wind was gusting over 30mph, a mountain biker going the other way coasted by, uphill...without pedaling. Getting back took just under two hours, and when I stopped my back was dry but the front of my jacket was soaked.

If you want easy, you're probably better off starting from Santa Cruz early in the morning, fighting the 5-7mph headwind to HMB, and sailing back home when the wind gets up to 15-20mph.

Yeah, I'm aware of the benefits of doing it in reverse. Problem is that we'd have to drive 100 miles to ride 100 miles. Seems to defeat the purpose. Winds last week were unusually strong. If it's still that bad on Sunday, I have a backup plan in mind :thumb:.

By the way, it suuure is fun riding with the wind at your back for miles on end, isn't it? Feel like Superman!

LOL, I'll be in Santa Cruz by 7am for a race. Maybe I'll drive home via Highway 1 and wave to the group.

Do drive back on Hwy1, but don't just wave. Stop and make sure we don't need a SAG ride home!

Alan is a pretty big dude, so worst case scenario I'll just tuck-in behind him. That or we can form an echelon to protect us from the winds. ;)

If it's still that bad on Sunday, I have a backup plan in mind :thumb:.
!


Do drive back on Hwy1, but don't just wave. Stop and make sure we don't need a SAG ride home!

AKA backup plan!

JB

AKA backup plan!

JB

Errr, it would not be the unanimous backup plan...:eek:

It was extremely windy this afternoon on Hwy 1, more so than normal...hope it calms down before Sunday.

If I make it out of bed early enough, I may ride up Stage to join you guys in HMB, ride down to Santa Cruz with you, and then on the way back, turn off onto Gazos Creek to head home. :)

By the way, it suuure is fun riding with the wind at your back for miles on end, isn't it? Feel like Superman!

Damn right. Cruising down Highway 1 at a constant 27mph even uphill was a blast. I felt like a way better cyclist than I actually am.

Errr, it would not be the unanimous backup plan...:eek:Depends on the seating capacity of his vehicle...

http://cdn-www.greencar.com/images/news/CNG_Limo.jpg

:P

If I make it out of bed early enough, I may ride up Stage to join you guys in HMB, ride down to Santa Cruz with you, and then on the way back, turn off onto Gazos Creek to head home. :)Gonna get in the double metric?

Potential good news on the weather front.....Weatherunderground shows winds from the South on Sunday 15mph. That would be fantastic!!!!

Of course, we'll see what reallly happens...

Gonna get in the double metric?

I mapped it as about 110 miles total.

Course, if I don't get out the door early enough then I'll meet you guys farther south and do a shorter ride. ;)

Alan, about your pic in the first thread...

Remember on the first HWY 1 and back roads ride we did with you, Pete took a shot like that of those cliffs, and did it riding with one hand with full 20+ mph cross-winds. :lol:

On the same ride he took your sig picture.

Alan, about your pic in the first thread...

Remember on the first HWY 1 and back roads ride we did with you, Pete took a shot like that of those cliffs, and did it riding with one hand with full 20+ mph cross-winds. :lol:

On the same ride he took your sig picture.

I'll never forget that. I was hanging on for dear life going down that stretch. I looked up and Pete's taking pictures on his bike, bombing downhill at 40+ mph! :eek:

Course, if I don't get out the door early enough then I'll meet you guys farther south and do a shorter ride. ;)An out-the-door century, and you don't even have to be on time! :thumb:

Oooooooh. Weather looks veeeerrrry promising for tomorrow. Complete with Southerly winds. http://deephousepage.com/smilies/jackson.gif

Bring layers...at my house it was 33F at 8 am, and 70F at 2 pm.

It was about the same out here, actually. Frost on the house roofs when we started, riding in shorts and shirtsleeves by early afternoon. What a beautiful day for a bike ride! Hope you get the same tomorrow (I get to watch a bunch of 8 and 10 year olds take apart my house).

JB

Bring layers...at my house it was 33F at 8 am, and 70F at 2 pm.

:eek:

It was in the 40s at my house this am. That's what you get for being in the trees :D.

If we don't see you at the start, we'll go down Hwy1 and stop in the town of Pescadero. Hope to meet you along the way or at Pescadero. I have your cell phone number, do you still have mine?

Alan

Sorry to hijack your thread, but are you allowed to park at the Fire Station? As much as I would love to join you for the century, my body is not quite ready for that. However, I was planning to do a ride similar to this http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/half-moon-bay/457448377703 but starting at fire station. I live in SF so I was planning to drive to the start, but not sure where I could park for a couple hours. I have never been to Half Moon Bay before. Any help is appreciated.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but are you allowed to park at the Fire Station? As much as I would love to join you for the century, my body is not quite ready for that. However, I was planning to do a ride similar to this http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/half-moon-bay/457448377703 but starting at fire station. I live in SF so I was planning to drive to the start, but not sure where I could park for a couple hours. I have never been to Half Moon Bay before. Any help is appreciated.

I can't say for sure but looking at Google maps street view, there seems to be plenty of parking areas near the fire station.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if it open to the public.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but are you allowed to park at the Fire Station? As much as I would love to join you for the century, my body is not quite ready for that. However, I was planning to do a ride similar to this http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/half-moon-bay/457448377703 but starting at fire station. I live in SF so I was planning to drive to the start, but not sure where I could park for a couple hours. I have never been to Half Moon Bay before. Any help is appreciated.

Yes, plenty of street parking. No meters, no problems... Go for it.

The route you selected is a very nice one. Very nice roads, no cars, plenty of scenery. A little on the hilly side.

When are you coming? I'd be happy to join you if timing works out..

Don't really have a schedule. It probably will not be until 10 or 11 since I like to sleep in and google maps says its a 40 minute drive. I am also just getting back into riding, so if you don't mind going kinda slow. BTW, I hate hills. Send me PM with what time you are starting.

:eek:

It was in the 40s at my house this am. That's what you get for being in the trees :D.

If we don't see you at the start, we'll go down Hwy1 and stop in the town of Pescadero. Hope to meet you along the way or at Pescadero. I have your cell phone number, do you still have mine?

Alan

Yep, got it, see you in the morning!

p

You guys have a great time! I've had too much going on in the last couple of weeks and I'm not really feeling confident on that kind of mileage right now...be safe and have fun, yes of course pictures!

Come on Pete! It's an out-and-back, you can turn around whenever you want, if you need to.

*peer pressure*

:P

Alan, did you guys do this ride? I am planning to do this route on the 26th. Where would be a good lunch stop in Sta Cruz?

-jack

Alan, did you guys do this ride? I am planning to do this route on the 26th. Where would be a good lunch stop in Sta Cruz?

-jack

Yes, we did. Ride report here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=527992

There are lots of good places in Santa Cruz to eat. A lot of cyclists stop at Upper Crust Pizza, for no reason other than habit. It's at the first light when you hit Santa Cruz.

Thanks Alan. Upper Crust Pizza it is for lunch then.