Northern California - Easy Century(ish) ride report

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/rides/Easy%20Century%202009/img_16672.jpg

What an amazing day for a ride. Perfect weather, perfect temperature, and get this: Tailwinds the whole way!

The hundred-mile route called for an out-and-back between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Due to some juggling of the route, we headed back after lunch (Coincidentally, right after the wind had turned around. ;)). I ended up with about 77.5 miles with 3800 feet of climbing.

Did I mention what a beautiful day it was?


Rolling out:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/rides/Easy%20Century%202009/img_1613.jpg

The (un)usual suspects stop to take in the view:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/rides/Easy%20Century%202009/img_1651.jpg
(Not pictured: Some other jerk)

...And then it's back on the road, for lunch awaits:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/rides/Easy%20Century%202009/img_1654.jpg

Fearless Leader And The Unfathomable Spiderbike:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/rides/Easy%20Century%202009/img_1671.jpg

Finally, the back of a random roadside sign offers sage advice:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/rides/Easy%20Century%202009/img_1663.jpg

Thanks for coming out everyone. :beer:

Great Picts! Glad you guys had a great ride.

It was a fantastic day to be out. 4 of us and not a Gladiator in sight. Mellow ride down the coast.

No one's going to believe this, but we had the wind at our backs - both ways. I kid you not! It was incredible, once in a blue moon experience!

Sounds like a fantastic day guys.

This is jaw dropping:


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/rides/Easy%20Century%202009/img_16672.jpg

That looks GREAT!

It was incredible, once in a blue moon experience!I'd be willing to bet that it's the only time in the history of creation that that has ever happened or will ever happen again.


This is jaw dropping:It was a mildly scenic ride. ;)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/rides/Easy%20Century%202009/img_1654.jpg


http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Wideload_edited-1.jpg

So, who carries more stuff on these rides, Ms. Incredible or Spingineer?

JB

So, who carries more stuff on these rides, Ms. Incredible or Spingineer?

I needed a way to carry layers! The temps on my ride varied from 33 to 81. :twitchy:

Thanks for a great ride guys, and thanks for your patience when I ran out of steam. I blame that on combination of not enough rides yet this year, and having ridden an extra 25 miles on my way to the start. Good thing you weren't with me for the last 7 miles, they were extremely slow. :o

My totals for the day were 92 miles and 4500'.

Looks like a successful ride. Anyone up for another one?

I had a great time, although at the end the crazy traffic was getting to me. On the way back Alan led us through side roads, which was just what the doctor ordered...plus we were able to get some climbing in.

Thanks for a great, lazy, Sunday. :D

Alright, who used this ride to make a bid at the April Challenge (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=527362)? This stretch of Hwy 1 seems like an ideal place for it.

Alright, who used this ride to make a bid at the April Challenge (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=527362)? This stretch of Hwy 1 seems like an ideal place for it.

Great idea! Picky an afternoon with 15-20 mph gusts from the North. Start at Pescadero. Hammer for an hour. I'll be you could get 25, 26 miles in... heh, heh.

Then it'd take you 2 hours to get back :)

Looks like a successful ride. Anyone up for another one?

Ron, I'm planning to do this on the 26th. You wanna join us?
-jack

Ron, I'm planning to do this on the 26th. You wanna join us?
-jack

I saw that, but unfortunately, I am on-call that weekend.

I saw that, but unfortunately, I am on-call that weekend.

Ron,

The 26th doesn't work for me either. But we definitely should make this ride happen again some other time.

This weekend? Anyone?

Ron,

The 26th doesn't work for me either. But we definitely should make this ride happen again some other time.

This weekend? Anyone?

I think most of the guys are doing the Primavera on Sunday.

If you want to do a shorter version of this route, on Saturday, I'd be game.

Otherwise we can go the full monty and do a century - that way I'd get my 100 mile ride for April & wouldn't have to wake up so early on Sunday.

Lemme know. :D

Is this the best route, really just stick to 1 the whole way?

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Half-Moon-Bay-to-Santa-Cruz244417

I could do this Saturday. Looks like the weather is going to be nice.
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Is this the best route, really just stick to 1 the whole way?

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Half-Moon-Bay-to-Santa-Cruz244417


That's the simplest way.

If you want a break from the traffic and wind, you can take some of the side roads, will add slightly to your distance and elevation.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/HMB-SC-with-side-roads

That's the simplest way.

If you want a break from the traffic and wind, you can take some of the side roads, will add slightly to your distance and elevation.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/HMB-SC-with-side-roads

Thanks Paula. I also remember the side roads that we took, on the way back from Davenport, for even more climbing.

Chris,

You can upload the map in to your fancy Garmin and lead the way on Saturday. :thumb: