Northern California - South Bay folks, please suggest a ride

I'm driving my wife down to Santa Clara for a knitting show at the end of next week and, fortunately, she's not making me go to the show. So, I've got 3-4 hours to get a ride in.

I was hoping that you could suggest something in the 30-35 mile range with some hills. I rode up Stevens Canyon Road at last year's Sequoia Century and that was doable (just barely), but I'd rather try something different. I've also done Hamilton.

I'll have the car so I can get to any starting place. I'd appreciate it if you could be as specific as possible so that I can figure out the route on MapMyRide.

thanks for your help,

Cliff

if you're in the los gatos area, how about hwy9 / skyline / summit / old santa cruz? most of the climbing is getting up hwy9, and the trip down summit / old santa cruz is real nice.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/32808

you could also add some miles by looping around the reservoir (around mile 28)

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/32810

Park at "Park and Ride" near woodside then you can go up Kings, left on Skyline, down 35, up West Old La Honda, and down 84.

Here is my favorite short loop in the Stanford University area. Start somewhere near the west edge of campus
South on Junipero Serra Blvd
Right on Page Mill Road (look for the bike lane along the median at the I-280 interchange)
After I-280, Page Mill climbs up to Skyline (long climb, steep in a couple of places, but mostly not bad)
Right on Skyline (excellent views on both sides of the road)
Right on Highway 84 (downhill)
Near the bottom of the hill, sharp right turn right on Portola Road
Left on Sand Hill Road (over I-280)
Right on Santa Cruz Ave.
Quick left onto Junipero Serra and back to where you started

27 miles with 2700 feet of climbing

if you're in the los gatos area, how about hwy9 / skyline / summit / old santa cruz? most of the climbing is getting up hwy9, and the trip down summit / old santa cruz is real nice.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/32802

you could also add some miles by looping around the reservoir (around mile 28)

Thanks, Bam. One question. At mile 28.8, it looks like you're right on Highway 17, which sounds kind of dangerous. Is there some frontage road that you're actually on?

Thanks, Bam. One question. At mile 28.8, it looks like you're right on Highway 17, which sounds kind of dangerous. Is there some frontage road that you're actually on?

yeah, i messed up a bit on that route but there is a road that goes right next to 17, then you either have to ride the shoulder for a few hundred feet or take the small dirt trail off to the right.. i prefer just going around the reservoir (added a second route above)

yeah, i messed up a bit on that route but there is a road that goes right next to 17, then you either have to ride the shoulder for a few hundred feet or take the small dirt trail off to the right.. i prefer just going around the reservoir (added a second route above)

The shoulder here is very minimal. You're mostly riding on the highway exit lane and off-ramp. The dirt trail is narrow and rocky and probably not realistic for road bikes.

There are tons of 30-40 mile rides south of San Jose in and about Morgan Hill if you're interested in going that far south. The reservoir loop or versions thereof is very popular and you can do an out/back up Croy and find a few other small goats to add to the ride. I think if you punch Morgan Hill into Mapmyride a bunch of stuff will come up. You can also go to www.actc.org and you'll find a link to a good number of rides throughout the bay area. Probably also can be found at www.westernwheelers.com.

Keep in mind that rain is being forecast for next weekend.

The Morgan hill suggestion is great. In addition to ACTC also checkout the Western Wheelers site www.westernwheelers.org and look at the rides information.
This was a very nice ride that i did a few weeks back, nothing too strenuous.
http://www.westernwheelers.org/main/pdf/ldt/morgan_hill_d.pdf Great scenery and everything is nice and green right now.

Thanks, everyone. I think that I'll try this route ( a variation of Johnny99's suggestion).

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/33229#


How is the riding on Portola Road and Alpine road (near Stanford)?

Portola Rd. and Alpine Rd. are fairly boring. Be careful about stop signs, since the cops around there can be pretty strict.

I personally don't like riding on Alpine all the way to Junipero Serra. It is pretty boring. Instead, I prefer going on Alpine, and turning right on Arastradero, and then hang a left on Page Mill, back to Stanford on Foothill Expy.

I personally don't like riding on Alpine all the way to Junipero Serra. It is pretty boring. Instead, I prefer going on Alpine, and turning right on Arastradero, and then hang a left on Page Mill, back to Stanford on Foothill Expy.

+1

Here is my favorite short loop in the Stanford University area. Start somewhere near the west edge of campus
South on Junipero Serra Blvd
Right on Page Mill Road (look for the bike lane along the median at the I-280 interchange)
After I-280, Page Mill climbs up to Skyline (long climb, steep in a couple of places, but mostly not bad)
Right on Skyline (excellent views on both sides of the road)
Right on Highway 84 (downhill)
Near the bottom of the hill, sharp right turn right on Portola Road
Left on Sand Hill Road (over I-280)
Right on Santa Cruz Ave.
Quick left onto Junipero Serra and back to where you started

27 miles with 2700 feet of climbing

I still prefer the above route to the Portola/Alpine/Arastradero extensions that people are suggesting. If you want to do a few more miles, continue north on Skyline and turn right on Kings Mountain Road to descend back to Stanford.

The shoulder here is very minimal. You're mostly riding on the highway exit lane and off-ramp. The dirt trail is narrow and rocky and probably not realistic for road bikes.


I've ridden on the dirt path plenty of times with my road bike. The shoulder also works fine too since it's such a rarely used exit.

i haven't had any issues with the dirt path either. i do like going around lexington since it gives you the option to go up soda springs if you feel like climbing some more.