Northern California - Recovery Sunday - Sawyer's Camp

Since we have a Saturday ride already, I thought I'd put this out there ... I'm doing a recovery Sunday ride. This will be roughly 40 miles, with the only real climb at Polhemus. I'm putting in extra mileage by riding to the start which will be in Palo Alto at Gunn HS.

Meet at the corner of Arastradero and Foothill Expy at 10 am. The route will be basically Arastradero - Page Mill - Arastradero - Alpine - Portola Valley - Mountain Home - Canada - Crystal Springs - Polhemus - over bridge - Canada, then back.

This will be slower than a Gladiator's pace, faster than a Slowpoke pace ... i.e. a spinning ride.

When: Sunday, 5/10/2009
Time: 10 am
Where: Foothill Expy and Arastradero
Route Map: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Recovery-Ride-to-Sawyer-s-Camp

When you say "Sawyers Camp", you don't mean the trail, right - more like 92W to 35N, 35N to Crystal Springs at the Dam, down Crystal Springs to Polhemus?

Sounds like fun! It's like a normal Sunday ride for me, only backwards. And 'recovery pace' is about all I can manage these days...

Remember that the Sawyer Camp MUP gets very crowded with pedestrians on weekends. Be careful and courteous out there.

Remember that the Sawyer Camp MUP gets very crowded with pedestrians on weekends. Be careful and courteous out there.

I second that and urge you to consider this input, Ron. There are too many people there, you won't be able to ride with any continuity.

You may be much better off continuing on Skyline to Trousdale and turning around.
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On second thought, if you just want to people watch and check out fit bodies in short shorts jogging, Sawyer Camp Trail would be just the ticket.:innocent:

When you say "Sawyers Camp", you don't mean the trail, right - more like 92W to 35N, 35N to Crystal Springs at the Dam, down Crystal Springs to Polhemus?

Sounds like fun! It's like a normal Sunday ride for me, only backwards. And 'recovery pace' is about all I can manage these days...

Yeah, thanks for correcting me.

It's my attempt to attract more riders.

I second that and urge you to consider this input, Ron. There are too many people there, you won't be able to ride with any continuity.

You may be much better off continuing on Skyline to Trousdale and turning around.



I was thinking of Trousdale, but couldn't remember a good way back. Original plan was to take Trousdale to California, then into downtown, but couldn't remember the route back we normally take.

BTW, I didn't mean the trail, but just continue on Canada, then hang a right on Crystal Springs Rd.

I decided just to make the loop at Crystal Springs. Maybe I'll venture up to Trousdale another time, unless others may want to opt for that. I updated the original post with a bikely link.

That looks like a good ride, Ron. I'm in!

Mind you, it will be weird to ride down Crystal Springs and NOT just keep going the 4 miles to my house!

Anyone else planning on joining?

sounds like a great ride.. except for the m-day plans i've got... have fun guys.

Anyone else planning on joining?

It's Mothers Day "weekend" for Big Mig. This is right in my backyard, too. :(

Ron, I'm out also. Have fun!

Gonna take a pass today Ron - shoulder's a little sore so I figure it's a good excuse to do some non-cycling-related stuff. Enjoy the weather. :)

I think I'm going to have to back out. It IS Mothers Day, as others have noted. I have to get my ungrateful, unruly sons to do something nice for their Mom!

Wait... I might be in. You might see me there at 10AM the corner. Breakfast in bed may have paid off.

I would have loved to join you guys but I'm at work in Burlingame. I was just out at Sawyer trail a few hours ago checking on our reservoir and as usual, if you can hit the mup early enough, there isn't really anyone around that'd slow you down much. But the afternoons are a zoo.

I joined for part of "recovery" Sunday.

I met up with Ron (who was solo) on Crystal Springs. We climbed Polhemus went over the path/bridge to Canada, rode up Canada and stopped at Robert's for water.

At that point Ron continued south on his ride and my recovery ride became more of a solo fast ride. I climbed up King's Mtn at a good pace, then turned right to head north on Skyline towards 92.

Skyline north of Kings is a road less traveled for many BF'ers but it is a lot of fun! Some 50x11 100+ rpm sections for sure, and a few rollers to mix things up.

Then I descended 92 EB from Skyline to the left turn to continue on 35. The descent down 92 was fun. You have to keep the speed up in order to stake you claim to the lane, but it was easy to do. I was right on the tail of a line of cars but not on my brakes. In other words, they were going just my speed. On that section I hit 46.5 mph.

Continued left on to the quick "power climb" up Skyline to the Crystal Springs trailhead. I decended Crystal Springs, and headed back home.

I got:
35.21 miles
3641 feet of climbing
bikely -> http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/home-kings-35-92

Ride time: 2:05
Avg Speed: 16.8 mph

Nice quick ride on a beautiful Sunday. Thanks Ron for getting me out there.

Just as well I begged off - my legs were like jello today. I'd have slowed down even a recovery pace! I must be recovering from not riding since last Sunday!

Happy Mother's Day ... I figured everyone was spending quality time with dear ole mom. I didn't see anyone there at 10 am, so I continued on my ride. Got in 65 miles ... flat miles, roughly 2800 feet climbing. Marco joined me at Polhemus, so it wasn't completely solo all the way. Thanks Marco for keeping me company for a little bit at least.

D'oh. I got to the corner of foothill and atastradero at 10:05 and waited until 10:20. Shoulda kept going. Plus side I think I talked two people into some Bike Friday action. I told them to learn to love the small wheels.

50 miles something something elevation and no Nuun tablets.

D'oh. I got to the corner of foothill and atastradero at 10:05 and waited until 10:20. Shoulda kept going. Plus side I think I talked two people into some Bike Friday action. I told them to learn to love the small wheels.

50 miles something something elevation and no Nuun tablets.

I saw a guy on a folder climbing Kings today.

I told him he needed to take 2x as many Nuun tablets to get up the hill on those small wheels. :rolleyes:

I probably should have gotten something at Roberts. By the time I got to Los Altos, I was struggling. The stubbornness in me didn't want to stop. Two sammies at Quiznos revived me. :)

I saw a guy on a folder climbing Kings today.

I told him he needed to take 2x as many Nuun tablets to get up the hill on those small wheels. :rolleyes:

LOL. did you ask him if he has to "spin more on dem little wheels?"

Some pics:

This one's for my boy 1JackT. He likes my Rapha model poses.

http://www.zaftig.net/files/images/gallery/05_10_2009-10_51_08.jpg

Somewhere in Los Altos Hills I spot Bessie:

http://www.zaftig.net/files/images/gallery/05_10_2009-13_44_28.jpg

Suddenly she's VERRRY excited? What's the dealio?

http://www.zaftig.net/files/images/gallery/05_10_2009-13_44_31.jpg

OF COURSE, it's the Bike Friday! Who can resist?

http://www.zaftig.net/files/images/gallery/05_10_2009-13_44_41.jpg

Salt-replacement facility after the ride:

http://www.zaftig.net/files/images/gallery/05_10_2009-13_54_22.jpg

Some pics:

This one's for my boy 1JackT. He likes my Rapha model poses.

http://www.zaftig.net/files/images/gallery/05_10_2009-10_51_08.jpg

You're killing me. :love: You need this one in b&w, for sure. Maybe add some more pensiveness!

Oh, what's with the bovine obsession?

Some pics:

OF COURSE, it's the Bike Friday! Who can resist?

http://www.zaftig.net/files/images/gallery/05_10_2009-13_44_41.jpg


:love::love::love:

Skyline north of Kings is a road less traveled for many BF'ers but it is a lot of fun! Some 50x11 100+ rpm sections for sure, and a few rollers to mix things up.

Then I descended 92 EB from Skyline to the left turn to continue on 35. The descent down 92 was fun. You have to keep the speed up in order to stake you claim to the lane, but it was easy to do. I was right on the tail of a line of cars but not on my brakes. In other words, they were going just my speed. On that section I hit 46.5 mph.

I love this route :love:


I spent my Sunday as a family day (mother's day plus my bro's birthday is today). The most physical activity I got was throwing a nerf football around :)