Northern California - Moving to Cupertino - any links to epic local rides?

Hey all. I'm moving from LA to Cupertino soon and will be living very close to Montebello road, which looks like an awesome climb. I've also climbed Boehler/On Orbit further south - which came dangerously close forcing me to dismount - but I ended up making it.

If anyone knows of any websites/links that outline some great local rides in that area, would greatly appreciate it.

Of course, if you'd like to take the time to describe some in your own words, that's fantastic too!

Thx

The Stanford cycling club web site has a good summary of the local hills: http://cycling.stanford.edu/
I've seen other similar sites. I'm sure you can Google them.

http://actc.org/profiles/
http://www.usacyclingclimbing.com/3.html

If you let us know what you're looking for, I can give you new rides each week for months on end.

From Cupertino, you can climb up Redwood Gulch, then right on HWY 9. From there you can descent out to Big Basin, into Saratoga, or turn right up Skyline. If you head north first you can climb up Moody or Altamount to PageMill. At the top of PM, you can turn right or left on 35, or head west down W. Alpine and head out to the coast/Pescadero. Further north, yet, you can go to the local benchmark climb of Old La Honda. OLH is 3.3m at 7%, very steady. That brings you up to Skyline again. Turn right, descend 84 west to the coast, or more climbs before the coast. North of OLH, in Woodside, you have Kings Mtn. Road. Again, up to Skyline.

All are great climbs, mostly cyclist friendly, and you'll see hundreds of other cyclists out on nice days on those corridors. If you want to go South of your area, Bohlman is in Saratoga, Hicks is down there too. Hicks is like Bohlman -2 or 3%. So, hard enough for anyone to get a challenge, but not so gut wrenching as Bohlman.

Anyway, PM if you want me to link for you a route. Or, if Garmin Connect is working for you, search for routes under Ygduf starting near 94043 and pick a profile you like.

Welcome to the area!

Thanks everyone, especially Ygduf. I'm not due to be there until June, but I will be in the area intermittently (every 2-3 weeks) until then. I have to say, cycling in Norcal is incredible - I think it's the best year-round riding in the country. I usually go through Portola Valley and do Old LaHonda to get to Skyline or go up Page Mill, but I'm looking forward to climbing up those routes.

Is Montebello road not as bike-friendly or nice? Just wondering since that will be right down the street from me and thus I suspect I'll be riding it more often than not when time is scarce.

Montebello is bike-friendly and nice, but the pavement ends at the top. If you want, you can continue across the top on dirt and gravel trails through the Open Space Preserve and come out on Page Mill Rd in Palo Alto. I've done that a few times, but usually I turn around and go back down.

How long is that gravel section? Just wondering since if it's not too long, I'd definitely use that as a shortcut to Page Mill.

Dunno, but you could probably estimate it on Google maps if nobody chimes in with a definitive answer.

Also, Western Wheelers has a lot of information on different rides under the "Routes" bullet here: http://www.westernwheelers.org/main/club_info/leader_resources.htm

Montebello is bike-friendly and nice, but the pavement ends at the top. If you want, you can continue across the top on dirt and gravel trails through the Open Space Preserve and come out on Page Mill Rd in Palo Alto. I've done that a few times, but usually I turn around and go back down.

Montebello is great, but I always stop at the dirt section. I'm not an off-road on a road-bike type of guy.

And you're right, NorCal cycling is so good I'm excited for you.

How long is that gravel section? Just wondering since if it's not too long, I'd definitely use that as a shortcut to Page Mill.

The gravel section is only a couple of miles. The last half mile or so before Page Mill is paved.

The gravel section is only a couple of miles. The last half mile or so before Page Mill is paved.

i've always stopped there. 23c tires ok?

@OP
I get all my routes from here: http://www.klimb.org/w_install.html Install the sfbay one and you'll be able to map all the major routes with their profiles.

If you have good bike handling skills, 23mm tires are OK. If you're a sloppy rider, then maybe not.

http://www.westernwheelers.org

we tend to start our rides in palo alto area, mostly, but we go all over the peninsula and down into where actc rides go.