Northern California - Sunday 5/17 Pescadero RR Pre-ride Plus Extra Fun Ride!

So I want to preview the Pescadero RR course.

I know most of these roads very well except for going up 84 from San Gregorio (I always am headed the other direction, and climbing back via Tunitas).

So I thought it would be good to have the roads fresh in my mind. I cannot ride out there any other weekend other than maybe the 30th/31st) between now and the race due to a nice full schedule :)

5/23 - Calaveras TT
6/6 - Eastern Sierra Double
6/13 - Pescadero RR

I might be open for a Friday, but I thought I would try to organize this Sunday ride.

PLUS - They are saying temps might be well into the 80s on the Peninsula. That makes it a perfect time to ride closer to the coast.

So Here is my planned route, called Pescadero RR Pre Ride Plus Plus ;)

Start : Woodside at Roberts or Pioneer
- Up Kings
- Skyline SB
- Down W84
- Pescadero/Pescadero Creek
- Up Haskins/ Down Haskins to the town of Pescadero
- Lunch in Pescadero
- Stage Road to 84
- Up 84 from San Gregorio
- Pescadero Rd to Alpine
- Up Alpine
- Down Page Mill
- Arastradero to Alpine
- Golden Oak
- Los Trancos / Ramona / Vista Verde (aka Tres Hombres of Pain)
- Down back to Portola
- Mountain Home back to Roberts
End: Coffee and baked goods at Woodside Bakery

Stats:
78 miles
8294 feet vert
Bikely -> http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Pescadero-RR-pre-ride-plus-plus

Who's in?

DATE: 5/17
TIME: 9:30 AM

List So far:
Marco & Ruth
Chris (ygduf)
Michael
Ben [maybe]
Paula [maybe for part of the route]

Oh FYI:

The Golden Oak and Tres Hombres loop is totally optional, being at the end of the ride and all.

That section adds 6.8 miles and 1260 feet compared to the direct route.

So without it you would be looking at:
71 miles with 7000 feet

I may be able to go on 5/17 if I can get out of a Church activity.

I could do it the 17th. I need to do Sunday this weekend anyway.

It looks like a fun route. I will be most likely be occupied on that weekend (5/30 - 5/31) though but will try and make this ride if my plans change.

5/17 looks OK for us, as long as we can start no earlier than 9:30.

I have to run an early morning errand.

interested but too early to commit. Will know later in the week.

Any rides on Saturday?

5/17 looks OK for us, as long as we can start no earlier than 9:30.

I have to run an early morning errand.

Is it you and Ruth?

I'm good to meet at 9:30. I'll ride with you on the ascents if you wait for me at the bottom of the descents!

Is it you and Ruth?

I'm good to meet at 9:30. I'll ride with you on the ascents if you wait for me at the bottom of the descents!

you wait at the tops we'll wait at the bottoms!

I'll go. If we stick to the original route that might be enough mileage, for me, to get a century-in for May. :)

Hmm, not sure of my schedule but if it works out maybe I will join you guys for part of this.

I'll go. If we stick to the original route that might be enough mileage, for me, to get a century-in for May. :)

Should be close. Normally we would do the same, but due to the errand in the morning. We will probably driving to the start. :(

I'm out. I'm going to head to the valley for the Modesto Road Race.

I'll go. If we stick to the original route that might be enough mileage, for me, to get a century-in for May. :)

For once, I can say I already got my monthly century in. :P

I'm worried that this is going to be a hard ride for me. I am running again as of this week and I feel like my legs have been clubbed over and over.

What's the best way to get over sore calves besides stretching/easy spinning? Any tips?

Oh, I just now noticed that it says 5/17 in the title of the thread. For some reason I fixated on "30th-31st" that had been in the first post. Anyway I am still a maybe.

For once, I can say I already got my monthly century in. :P

I'm worried that this is going to be a hard ride for me. I am running again as of this week and I feel like my legs have been clubbed over and over.

What's the best way to get over sore calves besides stretching/easy spinning? Any tips?

Use your foam roller? I have the Stick and it works for me on calves...

http://s7ondemand1.scene7.com/is/image/roadrunnersports/HSP001?wid=438&hei=432&fmt=jpeg&qlt=75,0&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=1.1,1.0,5,0&iccEmbed=0

Should be close. Normally we would do the same, but due to the errand in the morning. We will probably driving to the start. :(

Which means major suckage on kings, due to no warmup :eek:

Which means major suckage on kings, due to no warmup :eek:

I may ride to the start as well. If I do, I'll probably peel off after the Pagemill descent and head home from there. We'll see.

I may ride to the start as well. If I do, I'll probably peel off after the Pagemill descent and head home from there. We'll see.

Cool, but you would be missing out on the grand finale. :lol:

Cool, but you would be missing out on the grand finale. :lol:

I need constructive miles. I'm thinking that steep climbs at mile 70 are probably a little bit of an exercise of futility and cartilage-grinding. ;)

I need constructive miles. I'm thinking that steep climbs at mile 70 are probably a little bit of an exercise of futility and cartilage-grinding. ;)

WHAT!?

Wait....
I thought you had to break an egg to make an omelet... or something like that??? :injured:

I need constructive miles. I'm thinking that steep climbs at mile 70 are probably a little bit of an exercise of futility and cartilage-grinding. ;)

The miles are supposed to be destructive. It's the rest in between that is (re)constructive :lol:

The miles are supposed to be destructive. It's the rest in between that is (re)constructive :lol:

I feel like there's a saturation point after which I'm kind of just limping along and not progressing. There's research to support this, I'm just too lazy to find it. Also, too lazy to do extra hills. :thumb:

Oh FYI:

The Golden Oak and Tres Hombres loop is totally optional, being at the end of the ride and all.
I was gonna' say that that would hurt toward the end of a long ride!

- Steve

I have Sunday free so count me in.

I somewhat dread the part up 84 but I've never done it before, and may not have a chance to do it again. I'll just tuck in behind someone and all will be good.

I have Sunday free so count me in.

I somewhat dread the part up 84 but I've never done it before, and may not have a chance to do it again. I'll just tuck in behind someone and all will be good.

At least it should be direction with the wind. I don't think the cars will be a big deal.

At least it should be direction with the wind. I don't think the cars will be a big deal.

Yeah, not too worried about it. That time of day traffic heading east should be light.

This is on for tomorrow right? 9:30am at Roberts?

Yup, see everyone tomorrow at 9:30. Looks like it's going to be a hot one.

It was 88 in Loma Mar this afternoon, probably similar tomorrow.

don't wait for me. Went up Hamilton today, not feeling to good now.

It was 88 in Loma Mar this afternoon, probably similar tomorrow.

That's hot to me. I only have 2 bottle cages. Need to stop every 90 minutes or so...

That's hot to me. I only have 2 bottle cages. Need to stop every 90 minutes or so...

If you guys want to stop by and refill at my place let me know, I could ride with you to Pescadero after.

Too dead and lifeless to climb Kings. I might see everyone at the start ... we'll see.

Too dead and lifeless to climb Kings. I might see everyone at the start ... we'll see.

Man. Do not kill yourself. 135 miles in the sun yesterday is nothing to scoff at. :eek:

I decided to meet everyone at the start. Sorry Chris, but Michael's head got in the way ... :lol:

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/538821028_jYMom-L.jpg

I volunteered my SAG services for the first climb up King's Mountain. It was already getting hot, and these guys were attacking this like it was a flat sprint!

The look!

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/538821665_DjPpg-L.jpg

Sprinting up for the KOM points!
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/538821488_CSHpC-L.jpg

Effortless sprinting on a tandem
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/538821925_aZpX2-L.jpg

Chris descending
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/538821528_zvHWq-L.jpg

Michael descending
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/538821583_JiLui-L.jpg

Pushing the climb on switchback
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/538822002_Qa2Se-L.jpg

Precarious place to put a tandem
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/538822251_imLWJ-L.jpg

More pics at http://spingineer.smugmug.com/gallery/8240164_HXA7S#538821665_DjPpg

I rode from home to La Honda to wait for the gang, was about ready to give up when the tandem came screaming by. Rode with everyone up and down Haskins, then ate everyone's dust on the rollers into Pescadero. ;) Did my shopping and headed home for a light 28-mile ride (I needed to get home as we are doing work on the house today).

Here's Chris, Michael, Ruth and Marco enjoying lunch in Pescadero. Great seeing you guys, hope Alpine wasn't too hot!

http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/2009-05-17_lunch.JPG

Looks like fun!

Any info on the road race course?

I rode from home to La Honda to wait for the gang, was about ready to give up when the tandem came screaming by.

They were probably late because I gave them a SAG stop ... bananas, gatorade, water. It's the least I could do, since it's a non-riding day for me (although I did ride the fixie around the block, just to loosen the legs).

They were probably late because I gave them a SAG stop ... bananas, gatorade, water. It's the least I could do, since it's a non-riding day for me (although I did ride the fixie around the block, just to loosen the legs).

Yeah, your name was mentioned. ;) Nice of you. :thumb:

Here's Chris, Michael, Ruth and Marco enjoying lunch in Pescadero. Great seeing you guys, hope Alpine wasn't too hot!

http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/2009-05-17_lunch.JPG

It was nice to meet you, Paula!

We are all home alive, I hope. Michael and I split and headed to Mountain View at the bottom of PageMill and Marco/Ruth turned at Arastradero to head back to their car in Woodside.

Alpine was... an experience. I don't think I've ever been that hot in my life. About 70% of the way up I stripped off my jersey and rode that way to the top.

Michael shortly joined me at the top and we waited and talked about how unpleasant Alpine was. I was completely dry, out of water, out of saliva to eat anything. Michael was similarly toasted. I'll post a pic later. Thankfully a foreign (french, maybe?) tourist stopped to ask directions to Half-Moon Bay. I bartered directions for water, and they (blessedly) produced a full gallon from a cooler. Bottles refilled, hair/head wetter with ice water, I was energized. Michael was still a bit bonky, hence the decision to head to my place for a ride rather than adding another 10 miles to get to Woodside.

We soft-pedaled it home, with one additional stop on PageMill to use the spigot after the open space preserve.

It was crazy HOT!

We had to skip the tres hombres...

Alpine was just a killer today. We ran out of water 3/4 of the way up. That spigot on the upper section of Page Mill saved my life... haha.

Lots of good fun on this ride. Some interesting conversation, good route.. just really really HOT.

We rode to and from our car parked at Edgewood and Canada. I rode a little of the ways up Golden Oak and Los Trancos, just to show Ruthie what she was missing out on. ;)

We ended up with:
80 miles
7359 ft climbing
(with heat multiplier that equals 450 miles and 1 million feet of climbing) ;)

Ruth & I
Ride time: 5:45
Avg spd: 13.8 mph
Max spd 47 mph (Haskins descent, among other places where the speeds were close to that)
Avg HR: 156

Pics to come. Thanks again to all who joined, and thanks to Ron.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6DQj7sK5vY8/ShDH-I4GcXI/AAAAAAAABa0/xcEZt9qQYlc/s800/Picture%201.pngMy day. My, long, hot day. I felt better than usual. Endurolyte capsules are either amazing, or I have really improved since last week. Had lots of fun, won my stage race. Celebrated by riding no-hands.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6DQj7sK5vY8/ShDIHC8eUkI/AAAAAAAABa4/oDFz6SvWWeg/s800/IMG_0171.jpg
Michael at the top of Alpine. I think his face says best demonstrates how we all felt after that climb.

Again, I should have said it earlier: THANKS RON!

I think Marco has an interesting interpretation of what fun is :)

Alpine was just unfair in the heat & I was toast, as the above picture can attest. :cry:

Chris babysat me all the way back to his place & was gracious enough to give me a ride home. There was no way I was going to make it back under my own power. At that point I was cursing the sun and didn't want to be on my bike anymore.

I've been spending the entire evening recovering with lots of water & fruit.

Thanks Marco, Ruth, Chris, Ron & Paula for a fun but painful day.

You guys are sadistic...but entertaining! :lol:

Good job, folks, for staying out in the sun. You probably heat-trained yourself for Tour de Sahara!

80 miles! 90 miles! 7000+ ft of climbing! You guys rock.

I think you guys suffered exactly what we went through on Cobb and on Resurrection in Davis. Bravo ... :thumb:

I think you guys suffered exactly what we went through on Cobb and on Resurrection in Davis. Bravo ... :thumb:

Eh, probably not as bad. If I ever do Davis, I'm bringing an entire bottles of enduralytes and aleve.

looked like I missed a good one. Typically, I like riding in the heat but this weekend got to hot to fast.