Northern California - August 30 tour of Santa Cruz mountains

Alan (SesameCrunch) suggested a reprise of my prior failed ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=540282). Anybody else care to join us?

Sunday August 30 looks like the day, here's the proposed route (after failing at getting bikely to work and struggling with mapmyride):

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/CA/Loma%20Mar/845124995760222793

Pescadero - Alpine -35 - 9 - 236 - Jamison Creek - Empire Grade - Pine Flat - Bonnie Doon - 1 - Swanton - 1 - Gazos Creek - Cloverdale - Pescadero

85 miles, a bit under 7000' climbing, the flat part at the end will of course be facing headwinds heading north.

I'm open to suggestions for modifying the route, as drawn it starts and ends at my house but of course people could start in Pescadero or meet up on Skyline.

It will be a moderate pace - too much climbing to be newbie friendly, but I'm not up for Marco-style hammering. ;)

Maybe stop for a late lunch in Davenport?

Approximate schedule:
Before 9 AM - arrive at Paula's house
9 AM leave Loma Mar
10:30 AM at Alpine/35
11:00 AM at 35/9

DEFINITELY IN:
msincredible
SesameCrunch
x136
silentben (joining at Saratoga Gap/4 corners)
uspspro (joining at 35/Alpine)
mtnwalker
JourneyLightly (joining at Saratoga Gap/4 corners)
UmneyDurak
BlastRadius

ON THE FENCE:
mellum76
jonathanb715
qpliu (joining someplace between Loma Mar and Skyline, leaving at Pine Flat)
dl33 (joining at 35/Alpine)

Looks good to me. It'll be good to ride with you guys again. :)

EDIT: Oops, looks like the Berkeley Hills Death Ride is the day before. Let's see if I have the legs to do both days...

Looks good to me. It'll be good to ride with you guys again. :)

Great! :thumb: It's been quite a while.

I guess I'm in, since I suggested it... :)

Sounds good to me!

Ah, man ... why does work always get in the way? I'm on call that day :( And I really wanted to ride this.

Sounds good to me!

Finally!!!


(keeping fingers crossed)...

That's a great route! One of my kids has a soccer tournament that weekend, and if they win through they'll be playing on Sunday, so probably not but I might be a last minute participant.

JB

Finally!!!


(keeping fingers crossed)...What's that s'posed to mean? :P

What's that s'posed to mean? :P

This is our third try at doing a hilly coastal ride, as I recall.

This is our third try at doing a hilly coastal ride, as I recall.At least at the same time. I think we've all done it solo with varying levels of failure. :P

Ah, man ... why does work always get in the way? I'm on call that day :( And I really wanted to ride this.

Sorry Ron, we'll miss you. :(

I've updated the first post with the participant list.

Sorry Ron, we'll miss you. :(



Looks like a ride that I would love ... I'll be with you guys in spirit :)

The elevation profile is making my knees cry.

Looks good to me. It'll be good to ride with you guys again. :)

EDIT: Oops, looks like the Berkeley Hills Death Ride is the day before. Let's see if I have the legs to do both days...

C'mon Michael. I will ride with you to the start from San Mateo.

We can go down Alameda/Junipero to Page Mill, Climb Page Mill and descend Alpine before the start :eek:

It will be a moderate pace - too much climbing to be newbie friendly, but I'm not up for Marco-style hammering. ;)





C'mon Michael. I will ride with you to the start from San Mateo.

We can go down Alameda/Junipero to Page Mill, Climb Page Mill and descend Alpine before the start :eek:

Yeah, Michael. Join us. It'll be a mellow ride. No gladiating allowed....:)

I think Ruth has clinicals that day, but I might be in :)

I think Ruth has clinicals that day, but I might be in :)

Cool, please do at least two Page Mill repeats as a warm up. :p

where & when fro the start?

I'm tentatively in. Its a dirty job but someone has to accompany Alex at the rear. ;)

I'm tentatively in. Its a dirty job but someone has to accompany Alex at the rear. ;)

Hope you can make it! :)


where & when fro the start?

My start will be at my house, which is at the base of Haskins Hill (west side). I will PM address and directions to people who need it. There is plenty of room for car parking. Note that there is only about 1 minute of warm-up before the climbing starts. :innocent:

We can also set a time to meet people at the Skyline / Alpine / Page Mill junction if anyone wants to do that.

I can be flexible on start time, but don't want to make it too late if it is hot out, as Jamison Creek is fairly exposed. I'd suggest no later than 9 AM, earlier is ok too. What do you guys think?

If anyone is interested, I can pick up some food for a little BBQ at my place after the ride.

I think you're crazy to plan a route with known headwinds but regardless I'm probably in for this one. I'd ride from my house and join at the Saratoga gap. Any decisions on a start time yet? I'd prefer on the earlier side.

Hopefully the Lockheed fire is contained by then and there's not too much smoke

I think you're crazy to plan a route with known headwinds but regardless I'm probably in for this one. I'd ride from my house and join at the Saratoga gap. Any decisions on a start time yet? I'd prefer on the earlier side.

Hehe, at least I admit I'm crazy. ;)

Glad you can join us! Nobody else has given me any input on start times yet.


Hopefully the Lockheed fire is contained by then and there's not too much smoke

If I have time between my two business trips I will try to scout the route by moto sometime next weekend.

Who's crazier, the crazy person or the people who willingly follow the crazy person? :innocent:

Hehe, at least I admit I'm crazy. ;)

Glad you can join us! Nobody else has given me any input on start times yet.


Paula:

Is there a case to be made for doing the route in the counter-clockwise direction?

As for start time, your suggestion of 9am sounds good to me.

Is there a case to be made for doing the route in the counter-clockwise direction?

I'm willing to do it either way. I guess it depends on whether (other) people (besides me) think the awesome descent on Bonny Doon is worth the headwinds or not. Also it's a bit less convenient for most people to meet up with us along the way.


As for start time, your suggestion of 9am sounds good to me.

Great, thanks. :)

So Paula what's the ETA for meeting up at the top of Alpine?

Also it's a bit less convenient for most people to meet up with us along the way.


This is a good point. Let's just do it the way you proposed. The headwinds haven't been bad. Plus, we'll just get a line going if/when it gets windy.

I'm willing to do it either way. I guess it depends on whether (other) people (besides me) think the awesome descent on Bonny Doon is worth the headwinds or not. Also it's a bit less convenient for most people to meet up with us along the way.

Clockwise is fine for me. That way you also get the descent on Hwy 236 from China Grade into Big Basin :) It's not a very long one but the road is smooth and it's not ride-the-brakes-all-the-way-down steep.

If you leave Pescadero at 9am what time do you expect to reach the gap? 10:45-11:00? It's a shorter distance from my house to that point so I'll probably leave home around 9:30 or so.

This is a good point. Let's just do it the way you proposed. The headwinds haven't been bad. Plus, we'll just get a line going if/when it gets windy.

The good thing about the head wind is that it will keep you cooler. I noticed this advantage 2 years ago when we did the Santa Cruz to HMB century. The trip back to SC was much warmer compared to the trip up.

So Paula what's the ETA for meeting up at the top of Alpine?

Let's plan on "KSU" (motorcycle group ride terminology - kickstands up) at 9 AM, so anyone coming to my place should get there a little bit beforehand to park, get ready, chitchat, whatever.

I'm guessing the group will be up at the top of Alpine somewhere around 10:30 or so.


Clockwise is fine for me. That way you also get the descent on Hwy 236 from China Grade into Big Basin :) It's not a very long one but the road is smooth and it's not ride-the-brakes-all-the-way-down steep.

Yeah, that part is nice. :thumb: Makes up for the rough patch on 236 before there, thankfully most of that is up and not down.


If you leave Pescadero at 9am what time do you expect to reach the gap? 10:45-11:00? It's a shorter distance from my house to that point so I'll probably leave home around 9:30 or so.

Probably around 11:00? Did you want to meet at the 4 corners parking lot or at the fire station on 35? We'll probably stop there for water.

Probably around 11:00? Did you want to meet at the 4 corners parking lot or at the fire station on 35? We'll probably stop there for water.

If I don't see anyone at the parking lot I'll ride up to the fire station and wait there :)

Hmm looks like fun. I might be in if I can find a ride.

P.S. Is it sad that I can descent Kings Mountain faster on my bicycle then on my motorcycle?
UD

Hmm looks like fun. I might be in if I can find a ride.

P.S. Is it sad that I can descent Kings Mountain faster on my bicycle then on my motorcycle?

Great, hope you can make it! :)


I scouted out the route today on my Duc.

236 - hint of smoke in a few places but nothing excessive, just like a few campfires (which it might have been). Traffic seemed a bit low for a typical summer weekend. :thumb:
Jamison Creek - yup, just as steep as I remembered it. :eek: :innocent:
Empire Grade - there was a significant amount of smoke here (along with a lot of touching "thank you" signs), but since we will be descending through it I don't think it's too bad (plus it will probably be better next weekend).
Pine Flat - No smoke, but it looks like there is a repaving project in progress, some gravel on the road along with 25 mph signs (which I promptly ignored :p), signs say the road will be closed Aug 25-27. Hopefully it will be all clear by the time we go through...if it looks bad we could always continue down on Empire Grade to Ice Cream Grade -> Martin Rd -> Bonny Doon.
Bonny Doon - excellent :D
1 - no problems
Swanton - There was a "Road Closed" sign at the south entrance so I didn't take it, not sure if that's still in effect or not. No signs at the north entrance. Hopefully we can take it but otherwise we will just stay on 1
Gazos Creek - There was a "Road Closed 5 miles ahead" sign but it was all open. No problems otherwise.
Cloverdale / Pescadero - all good

I guess I'm a bit spoiled, riding through these beautiful twisty roads on my Ducati I kept thinking "wish I were on my bicycle". :lol:

I'm in! I'll meet up with everyone at the gap. Looking forward to doing many of those roads on the bike for the first time.

I'm in! I'll meet up with everyone at the gap. Looking forward to doing many of those roads on the bike for the first time.

Glad you can join us! :thumb:

Just curious that whole stopping for lunch thing, how many people want to do it?

Thanks
UD

Just curious that whole stopping for lunch thing, how many people want to do it?

Thanks
UD

I think I'll be pretty hungry by that time....

P.S. Is it sad that I can descent Kings Mountain faster on my bicycle then on my motorcycle?
UD

This is probably true for me too. I gave up trying to ride fast on my motorcycle a while ago. It is more satisfying to me to go fast on a bike :)

Hmm looks like fun. I might be in if I can find a ride.

P.S. Is it sad that I can descent Kings Mountain faster on my bicycle then on my motorcycle?
UD

I'm in Cupertino, just south of you, I think. I'm planning to ride from my house to Saratoga and up 9 to the gap to meet up with folks there. You're welcome to join me.

I'm thinking of joining. I'd have to start pretty early to get to Loma Mar by 9am, so if I don't start early enough, I'll try catch up somewhere before the top of Alpine.

I'd cut off at Pine Flat, continuing on Empire Grade.

I'm thinking of joining. I'd have to start pretty early to get to Loma Mar by 9am, so if I don't start early enough, I'll try catch up somewhere before the top of Alpine.

I'd cut off at Pine Flat, continuing on Empire Grade.

Nice, I hope you do! I will PM you my info.

Still on the fence depending on how the Saturday ride goes. To save on some driving, I will probably start at Gunn HS and climb Page Mill to meet the group. How much distance and climbing would this add?

Still on the fence depending on how the Saturday ride goes. To save on some driving, I will probably start at Gunn HS and climb Page Mill to meet the group. How much distance and climbing would this add?

Nothing at the beginning, Page Mill is comparable to Alpine minus Haskins.

However you would have to add the climb up Haskins/Alpine and descent down Page Mill at the end. So I guess it might add about 2500' and ~20 miles because of that.

I'm going to beg for special permission to join this event!

I'm going to beg for special permission to join this event!

Permission granted...:)

I'm going to beg for special permission to join this event!

:thumb:

Well I got access to a car, so I am in. :thumb: Although I will not be stopping for lunch and just continuing on back to start/finish. My legs just don't deal well with stopping for prolonged periods of time during a ride.

P.S. what kind of weather should I expect. Is wind vest needed near the coast? I am wussie when it comes to cold now days, which is kind of ironic.

UD

Yes, everyone should plan on bringing some sort of layer for the coast, it was pretty chilly last weekend.

I'm in. I'll see you guys in a little bit.