Did LKHC on Saturday, Hwy 9, from Boulder Creek to top of Skyline, Saratoga Gap. This was a time trial up Hwy 9, and got a PB by 23 minutes ... WTF? Must be the adrenaline of the LKHC ... I'm loving these LKHC, even if I do seem to be out of my league.

Ride report here ... https://sevencyclist.wordpress.com/2...-saratoga-gap/

Did the Portola Valley loop - its starting to look a bit like Fall. Nice ride out on Foothill as I tucked in behind a couple of youngsters who pulled me all the way to Page Mill.

Re-discovered how slippery the roads are early in the morning with fog. I should take that turn eas, ouch. :lol:

On unrelated note with weather turning colder and wetter, less creepy people jumping on my wheel un-unounced. :lol:

Last Sunday was some of the nicest weather I've ever had riding in Marin. Rode from Richardson Bay across the GG bridge (so few tourists this time of year!), then back and up Conzleman to the headlands, back around through Sausalito to Tibruon, did the Paradise loop then up to Larkspur, and back to the start. 42 miles of cycling heaven. Zero clouds, zero wind, mid 70's with the typical cool air. Could riding get any better than that?

Drove up to Napa with Midland. Heck, it is only about 45 minutes from my house in Concord.

Rode: 73 Miles w/5660 ft. climb. http://app.strava.com/activities/26856932
UP Mt. Veeder, picked up the Knoxville Double route on on Oakville Cross Rd and Silverado Trail
UP Howell Mountain and down around to the Pope Valley, still on Knoxville route, for a return to re-trace Silverado and Oakville Cross
UP !! Oakville Grade (1.1 miles at an unrelenting 14-20%) and back to our car via Dry Creek Road back into the city Napa.

Fall color was near peak in the vineyards and the trees so with the weather it was very close to a perfect day.
November with bare arms and legs in the Napa Valley. You gotta love California, so does this pro we saw

As the late legend-in-his-own-mind Herb Caen would have said: That is a self-canceling phrase.


"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana

A lovely if somewhat chilly ride yesterday with a long-time friend. We did an out-and-back starting from his house in Martinez, went to Walnut Creek via the Canal path and the Iron Horse, then on the Boulevard to San Ramon and to the end of Bollinger Canyon.

I invited bigbossman to tag along on all or part of the day's doings, but he decided he'd rather shoot at pheasants than ride with turkeys.

51 miles, not a lot of elevation, but a fun, fast (by my standards) ride.

SF Bike Expo at the COW Palace via bike and Caltrain. Sadly, the panniers I picked up, as nice as they are, already have busted hardware. So I will be getting out the spare pannier clips and riveter and going at it soon.

Not quite the weekend, but the sky was beautiful early this morning on my loop through Pebble Beach...

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...pressinAM1.jpg


It was one of those magical mornings on the bike... :D

...until I broke two spokes. :notamused:

^^^ I was prepared to really hate you until I read about the spokes.

Climbed a hill and toured the flats today with a friend who crashed 3 wks. ago -- it's her first ride since then -- another friend and c_gallagh. Crisp and clear at the start, with dry roads. Really fun to catch up with friends.

Took out the steel bikes with a friend to preview the route for the Dec 8 Heavy Metal ride. We had a grand time. 66 mi and right about 2600 ft of climbing. With a couple of options to cut it shorter depending on time.

bikingshearer:"We did an out-and-back starting from his house in Martinez,"
I'm from CC County from many years ago. I visited there recently and scouted in my car for an old backroad I remember that went along the coast from Martinez to Crockett. I found what looked like the right road, but a mile up from Martinez it was blocked off! I figure it's some super-secret government installation and civilians are not allowed in. Too bad, that would be a great ride on a bike.

7.7 miles starting from home and ending at the bike shop, where the mechanic agreed that my 3 week old bottom bracket is screwed up... order a replacement (different model, with supposedly tighter tolerances), but it probably won't be in till after the holiday - so now I get to either ride the stationary bike or live with clickity click (its rather loud) till then... not a very satisfying ride.

I assume you are talking about Carquinez Scenic Dr., if so, you haven't been around for a long time, I'm pretty sure that has been closed since at least sometime in the 90's. I haven't been there for a couple of years, so I don't know for sure the current status is the same, but last I knew, bicycles could still use the road where it is closed, I think about a 2 mile stretch.

The closed section wasn't ideal, the road was in crappy shape, lots of cracks, holes, with plenty of vegitation growing in it, all requiring some caution to navigate around, plus hikers, runners, and dog walkers to watch for. There was one section about 30 feet long where the road was completely gone, with a 2-3 foot wide dirt portion left -- if I recall correctly, it was a slide that occurred after the road was closed that caused that 30 foot stretch of road.

Maybe someone else can give a more recent report, as of 2 years ago, it was still reasonable to use that stretch of closed road as part of a nice ride, even if that 2 mile stretch wasn't ideal for cruising at 18-20 mph.

Since it would be clear skies, I went ahead and did a climb up Mt. Umunhum ... one of these days, we'll make it all the way to the top.

http://distilleryimage10.instagram.c...3810584f_7.jpg

Carquinez scenic is still open and in about the same condition. It's ridable and scenic...

The Carquinez scenic "drive" is open to bikes and is a delight, even though parts of the road are terrible.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3373/3...81272a8d57.jpg
Matt BF ride 4.11.09 by ccorlew, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5317/5...672e4c14e5.jpg
two bridge loop flowers by ccorlew, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5234/5...0681caf619.jpg
moon face on road by ccorlew, on Flickr

Spent my Thanksgiving afternoon climbing up Page Mill Road.
Managed to get up to Skyline with one rest stop (previous best was two stops). Gotta keep training so that I can make it up in one go one of these days...

The afternoon deep yellow fall sunlight made the view of the Peninsula and South Bay quite pretty. I think I like how it looks in the autumn more than the summer hues. :)

We spent yesterday cooking turkey breast & assorted sides so we could ride today. Actually, c_gallagh went to the gym, I rode solo and relished every minute of the crisp air and colored scenery.

And then I ate twice what I burned, I think, at our son's place, which means we'll ride tomorrow, too.:lol:

68 mile Morgan Territory and Collier Canyon loop. With Midland, Mililpony, and Cccorlew. http://app.strava.com/activities/29401667
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8...c9bd7bd0a2.jpg
I got on the rivet and set a PR on the "to the windmill" climb on Collier Canyon.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8487/8...c76a5d0f_m.jpg

Why am I not surprised? :rolleyes:

WTG, all y'all!

To minimize what LanceOldstrong posted, and because it was done tandem-style -- We're old, out-of-shape, and slow, but as game as the day is long. Thankful that any day we can wake up, let alone ride, is a gift. Celebrate yourselves and your abilities.

That's a very cool loop. How do you guys get down Marsh Creek Rd without fearing for your lives? I guess the key is to get out there early on a weekend? During the week, there are tons of crazy commuters on that road.

Bob

Your typical double-dead-end-ranch-road ride. Ride was great; roads not so great.
Lone Tree & Quien Sabe