Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Hey, hey, my blog is back
Ack!! I haven't blogged in ages. How very lame.
With that said, I must blog-ify. First about my ride on Saturday, which was definitely the longest and most difficult that I've ever done.
To back up a bit, I should explain that the week before was the Western Wheeler's Sequoia Century, and being a member and all, I (and Buffy) decided to volunteer to help with the ride. We ended up doing support for the rest stop at the CDF fire station up near Highway 9 and Skyline, and it was kind of an adventure in itself, though of a different kind. I had to rent a big cargo-type van, no wimpy minivans here, to hold the supplies. We helped with the loading the day before, then on ride day I drove it up 9 to the fire station. Driving a big rattly thing like that up a twisty road like 9 was a bit disturbing.
Also, every time I passed a cyclist, I had the urge to turn around and yell 'Rider up!' ...
Anyhow, the key thing I learned at the rest stop is how not to fill up a five gallon jug of Gatorade. Not how to do it, but you have to leave some things for later, or else what is life about?
Anyhow, the next week there was a supported ride for the people who worked in the Sequoia, following the same routes. Except for a detour to not collide with the Alto Velo race that was going on around Pescadero. Which was cool to see, by the way. I had no idea how individuals were doing, but watching those packs of riders blast by was quite impressive.
So anyway, I had signed up for the 100k route, which had an impressive amount of climb, and seemed like a reasonable thing to try, considering that I hadn't been able to do a long ride the last two weeks. And then along comes an email on the club list from Rao, who has led many many of the rides I've been on, inviting people who wanted to do the longer route to
go with him and leave earlier.
A little, irrational voice in my head kept saying "Wouldn't it be awesome to have done that (112 miles, 9000 feet)" while my more rational side screamed in terror.
However, I was unable to quiet the little crazy voice, and found myself at the VA (starting point) at 6:30 am on Saturday. Only three of us were game to start that early, so off we went. My hardest time was actually climbing Elena, because Rao and Alex (the other rider) started off at what was for me a brisk pace, and two weekends off really took their toll.
I was almost ready to give up at the top of Page Mill, but the nice volunteer there with water and tasty fig newtons boosted my morale considerably, and down the hill I went.
So, beautiful weather, tons of climbing, and a house that is part submarine.
Herewith pics and profile:
With that said, I must blog-ify. First about my ride on Saturday, which was definitely the longest and most difficult that I've ever done.
To back up a bit, I should explain that the week before was the Western Wheeler's Sequoia Century, and being a member and all, I (and Buffy) decided to volunteer to help with the ride. We ended up doing support for the rest stop at the CDF fire station up near Highway 9 and Skyline, and it was kind of an adventure in itself, though of a different kind. I had to rent a big cargo-type van, no wimpy minivans here, to hold the supplies. We helped with the loading the day before, then on ride day I drove it up 9 to the fire station. Driving a big rattly thing like that up a twisty road like 9 was a bit disturbing.
Also, every time I passed a cyclist, I had the urge to turn around and yell 'Rider up!' ...
Anyhow, the key thing I learned at the rest stop is how not to fill up a five gallon jug of Gatorade. Not how to do it, but you have to leave some things for later, or else what is life about?
Anyhow, the next week there was a supported ride for the people who worked in the Sequoia, following the same routes. Except for a detour to not collide with the Alto Velo race that was going on around Pescadero. Which was cool to see, by the way. I had no idea how individuals were doing, but watching those packs of riders blast by was quite impressive.
So anyway, I had signed up for the 100k route, which had an impressive amount of climb, and seemed like a reasonable thing to try, considering that I hadn't been able to do a long ride the last two weeks. And then along comes an email on the club list from Rao, who has led many many of the rides I've been on, inviting people who wanted to do the longer route to
go with him and leave earlier.
A little, irrational voice in my head kept saying "Wouldn't it be awesome to have done that (112 miles, 9000 feet)" while my more rational side screamed in terror.
However, I was unable to quiet the little crazy voice, and found myself at the VA (starting point) at 6:30 am on Saturday. Only three of us were game to start that early, so off we went. My hardest time was actually climbing Elena, because Rao and Alex (the other rider) started off at what was for me a brisk pace, and two weekends off really took their toll.
I was almost ready to give up at the top of Page Mill, but the nice volunteer there with water and tasty fig newtons boosted my morale considerably, and down the hill I went.
So, beautiful weather, tons of climbing, and a house that is part submarine.
Herewith pics and profile:
Monday, April 9, 2007
A threefer
Herewith I multiblog. Or lazily blog. But multiblog sounds a whole lot better. Anyhow -
First there was the ride up Tartan Trail. Actually, it went to a variety of other places too, but attacking the Torture Trail again grabbed my imagination. The last time I tried it I was left a quivering wreck, or suchlike, and I was hoping that I'd improved.
I think that I did, or at least the evil thing didn't feel nearly as long as the only other time I'd tried it. And since I've been afraid to tackle it again, that's good. I did get snookered by the relatively easy part in the middle, thinking that I was done with it, but nooooo....
The next day Eric and I thought we'd check out the south part of Skyline, so we headed out from his place bright and fairly early and climbed Page. Nice thing about doing that early is that you avoid the main problem of climbing Page Mill which is that the steepest parts have no shade, hence are hot. We had a nice trip south on Skyline and then climbed up as far as Castle Rock, which is as high as you can go anyhow. The best thing was that the downhill from Castle Rock to Saratoga Gap was fast and fun, and our downhill on 9 as far as Redwood Gulch was certainly the best we've had there. Not at all annoying as it has been the other times we've done it. The Gulch is much too steep to be convenient shortcut, though, even in the downhill direction. Makes you feel like you're going to flip over.
Anyhow, if you've read this far, I can tell you about my adventures in Saratoga and Los Gatos, and the quest for the secret passage therein. Actually, it was two hitherto unfound-by-me connections that I set out to explore on Sunday. The first one was a bit I was pretty sure was there, even though I'd never noticed it before. That was the connection I surmised between the top of Mt. Eden and Pierce, ending up across the road from Sarahills. It's a road you'd never notice unless you were looking for it, especially as normally you'd be already into a fast descent by then.
What you have to do is take the first left as you descend, even though it's got a big Not a Through Street sign, and even though you go right from a fast downhill to a steep uphill.
Then the reward is plummeting right down after that, and hoping that there really is a way through down below, else you have to climb a really really steep hill back up.
Fortunately, there is a gate at the bottom, which leads into a very short stretch of road ending up on Quarry Drive, I think it is, connecting to Pierce.
and the other end looks like this:
Once past that, you can see this across the street:
which is both evil and something that I didn't climb. Instead I went through the Maze to get through Saratoga, though I did feel obliged to climb this - 
as atonement. Seems unfair. Before I knew about Sarahills, I couldn't feel like a lamer for avoiding climbing it. Alas for my lost innocence.
Now it was time for my big exploration, the route I believed I'd found from Saratoga to Los Gatos without needing to ride along 9. I'd been part of the way, but no one that I've talked to believed that it was possible to go further without heading back onto 9. The map seemed clearly to prove them wrong, and I'd scribbled enough street names and turns to hopefully find my way.
The first turnoff was here, one of many streets marked as Not a Through Street.
Soon after this, climbing begins, and continues for some time. At some point you come to the first sign that tells you not to use this road, and then a few miles later (and even more climbing) this one: 
I was in an irrational enough mood that I felt
determined to continue nevertheless, as I'd gone to the trouble to plan the route, and I kept on climbing, expecting to be shot (or chastised) (or something, anyway) at any moment. I actually turned around a couple times, but each time I saw a jogger, and that kind of deflated the whole menace thing. Soon after
this, though, the road got even narrower, right at its apex, and went alarmingly close to a
residence that seemed to contain an extremely upset and large dog. At this point I became uncertain as to whether the road ahead went through or turned into a driveway, and the dog reduced my enthusiasm for finding out. No joggers came by this time, so I chickened out and turned back.
First there was the ride up Tartan Trail. Actually, it went to a variety of other places too, but attacking the Torture Trail again grabbed my imagination. The last time I tried it I was left a quivering wreck, or suchlike, and I was hoping that I'd improved.
I think that I did, or at least the evil thing didn't feel nearly as long as the only other time I'd tried it. And since I've been afraid to tackle it again, that's good. I did get snookered by the relatively easy part in the middle, thinking that I was done with it, but nooooo....
The next day Eric and I thought we'd check out the south part of Skyline, so we headed out from his place bright and fairly early and climbed Page. Nice thing about doing that early is that you avoid the main problem of climbing Page Mill which is that the steepest parts have no shade, hence are hot. We had a nice trip south on Skyline and then climbed up as far as Castle Rock, which is as high as you can go anyhow. The best thing was that the downhill from Castle Rock to Saratoga Gap was fast and fun, and our downhill on 9 as far as Redwood Gulch was certainly the best we've had there. Not at all annoying as it has been the other times we've done it. The Gulch is much too steep to be convenient shortcut, though, even in the downhill direction. Makes you feel like you're going to flip over.
Anyhow, if you've read this far, I can tell you about my adventures in Saratoga and Los Gatos, and the quest for the secret passage therein. Actually, it was two hitherto unfound-by-me connections that I set out to explore on Sunday. The first one was a bit I was pretty sure was there, even though I'd never noticed it before. That was the connection I surmised between the top of Mt. Eden and Pierce, ending up across the road from Sarahills. It's a road you'd never notice unless you were looking for it, especially as normally you'd be already into a fast descent by then.
What you have to do is take the first left as you descend, even though it's got a big Not a Through Street sign, and even though you go right from a fast downhill to a steep uphill.
Then the reward is plummeting right down after that, and hoping that there really is a way through down below, else you have to climb a really really steep hill back up.
Fortunately, there is a gate at the bottom, which leads into a very short stretch of road ending up on Quarry Drive, I think it is, connecting to Pierce.and the other end looks like this:
Once past that, you can see this across the street: which is both evil and something that I didn't climb. Instead I went through the Maze to get through Saratoga, though I did feel obliged to climb this - as atonement. Seems unfair. Before I knew about Sarahills, I couldn't feel like a lamer for avoiding climbing it. Alas for my lost innocence.Now it was time for my big exploration, the route I believed I'd found from Saratoga to Los Gatos without needing to ride along 9. I'd been part of the way, but no one that I've talked to believed that it was possible to go further without heading back onto 9. The map seemed clearly to prove them wrong, and I'd scribbled enough street names and turns to hopefully find my way.
The first turnoff was here, one of many streets marked as Not a Through Street.
Soon after this, climbing begins, and continues for some time. At some point you come to the first sign that tells you not to use this road, and then a few miles later (and even more climbing) this one: I was in an irrational enough mood that I felt
determined to continue nevertheless, as I'd gone to the trouble to plan the route, and I kept on climbing, expecting to be shot (or chastised) (or something, anyway) at any moment. I actually turned around a couple times, but each time I saw a jogger, and that kind of deflated the whole menace thing. Soon after
this, though, the road got even narrower, right at its apex, and went alarmingly close to a
residence that seemed to contain an extremely upset and large dog. At this point I became uncertain as to whether the road ahead went through or turned into a driveway, and the dog reduced my enthusiasm for finding out. No joggers came by this time, so I chickened out and turned back.When I got to Los Gatos, I decided to recon my route from the other end to see if I could determine the limits of the private section. I saw such mysterious sights as this 
bridge, but ultimately made a wrong turn and ended up on a section of road that legitimately dead-ended at a cluster of houses. However, turning around I did get this nice view - so it wasn't all in vain. I came back via a little cruise around download Los Gatos and then via a flat route to
home, having done more than enough of my share of climbing for the day. So I guess there is a route where I thought, but it's pretty obvious why nobody goes that way. Such is life.
bridge, but ultimately made a wrong turn and ended up on a section of road that legitimately dead-ended at a cluster of houses. However, turning around I did get this nice view - so it wasn't all in vain. I came back via a little cruise around download Los Gatos and then via a flat route to home, having done more than enough of my share of climbing for the day. So I guess there is a route where I thought, but it's pretty obvious why nobody goes that way. Such is life.Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Lost in...
See, it's disturbing that this could be the title of any number of our recent rides. Lost in Belmont wasn't alliterative, anyhow.
One may note that there were two places where avoidance of being lost could have happened, and in fact we actually turned the correct way before turning back at my insistence and going to some trouble to go the wrong way. Quite silly.
One may note that there were two places where avoidance of being lost could have happened, and in fact we actually turned the correct way before turning back at my insistence and going to some trouble to go the wrong way. Quite silly.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Windmills with wooly llamas
OK, there was one llama. And also a bison, I'm pretty sure. I'll post the pic, and you can decide.
Not sure what to say about last week's ride, except that it was a very pleasant surprise. The only thing I know about Livermore is that it's usually where I get stuck in traffic when heading up towards Sacramento on a weekend.
It also didn't bode well that first I had to turn back after one block when I forgot my bike computer, and then that I couldn't find the actual meeting place and had to circle back halfway around the Livermore airport.
However, after I managed to get there, 'twas a fine fine day. Within minutes after crossing over the highway we were in rolling green hills (this is after all the time of year for that) and with a few excursions into the ever-expanding suburbia we stayed in that kind of terrain.
In short order we saw a llama and, I believe, a buffalo. Nobody else seemed to notice it, though. Perhaps it was invisible to everyone else but me.
The climb over Patterson Pass road was a lot of work, but well worth it for the fine panoramic view, and the long downhill. I guess the Tour of California went the other way on this road, which is clearly a lot harder climb than what we did, so I have no complaints.
After we came down, we circled around and got lunch. I unfortunately ignored my first choice of the tacqueria and got food from what I thought was the more practical choice.
However, The World's Slowest Quizno's was in fact the wrong answer. Who knew a sandwich could take so long? Of course, it also had the world's dumbest customers. 'What does this salad have in it?' The counter guy then read her the ingredients off the same sign she could see. 'Oh, OK, I'll have one then.' Bah. Well, enough silly rantings. The park we ate in was nice, and filled with kids much younger than mine.
A few people turned back after lunch, the rest of us did another loop over a different part of the hills, and got back to the cars around 4:00. The tailwind for much of the way back was a nice treat, and helped me to be doing in the mid-twenties the whole way back.
Anyhow, mucho fun.
Not sure what to say about last week's ride, except that it was a very pleasant surprise. The only thing I know about Livermore is that it's usually where I get stuck in traffic when heading up towards Sacramento on a weekend.
It also didn't bode well that first I had to turn back after one block when I forgot my bike computer, and then that I couldn't find the actual meeting place and had to circle back halfway around the Livermore airport.
However, after I managed to get there, 'twas a fine fine day. Within minutes after crossing over the highway we were in rolling green hills (this is after all the time of year for that) and with a few excursions into the ever-expanding suburbia we stayed in that kind of terrain.
In short order we saw a llama and, I believe, a buffalo. Nobody else seemed to notice it, though. Perhaps it was invisible to everyone else but me.
The climb over Patterson Pass road was a lot of work, but well worth it for the fine panoramic view, and the long downhill. I guess the Tour of California went the other way on this road, which is clearly a lot harder climb than what we did, so I have no complaints.
After we came down, we circled around and got lunch. I unfortunately ignored my first choice of the tacqueria and got food from what I thought was the more practical choice.
However, The World's Slowest Quizno's was in fact the wrong answer. Who knew a sandwich could take so long? Of course, it also had the world's dumbest customers. 'What does this salad have in it?' The counter guy then read her the ingredients off the same sign she could see. 'Oh, OK, I'll have one then.' Bah. Well, enough silly rantings. The park we ate in was nice, and filled with kids much younger than mine.
A few people turned back after lunch, the rest of us did another loop over a different part of the hills, and got back to the cars around 4:00. The tailwind for much of the way back was a nice treat, and helped me to be doing in the mid-twenties the whole way back.
Anyhow, mucho fun.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Lost in Lakeview
Well, it was certainly a nice day today, a very nice day to be out riding, but if I had planned our route, it's possible that I might not have planned a route than involved circling endlessly past Lakeview, in Emerald Hills.
My plan for the morning involved simply heading up from Woodside to perhaps Hillsborough or San Mateo, with judicious helpings of whatever hillage might seem interesting to attack. And yes, I know that 'hillage' is not a word. The very first digression I took off Canada Road was our undoing. We turned on Godetia, just before Jefferson, and climbed up that. After that, instead of turning back down Jefferson, it seemed like it would be interesting to go the other way for a bit.
This 'bit', of course, involved more and more climbing, but that was OK, because the weather was fine and nice views were everywhere. It's not exactly clear to me where things began to get weird, but it might well be somewhere around where we decided to turn left on West Summit Drive. This took us in a loop back to where we'd been a few minutes before, near what sounded like a quite annoyed dog. As we circled round to where we'd made our left, we passed some people playing outside with a dog, who looked a bit puzzled to see us go by for the second time in a few minutes. Little did we know that we had entered a gravitational vortex.
For despite our determination to now leave this area and cross Edgewood, we were tempted by the demon curiousity and turned left (at the very last point that we could have, it turns out) on Sylvan.
After a stretch of non-city maintained road and some steep climbing, we somehow ended up..at the corner with the barking dog once again. Rather than face the certain derision of the playing-with-dog people, we turned around and went down the unknown (to us) descent of Woodland Place, ending up going around Emerald Lake. Once again, foolish curiousity got the better of us and we soon turned off to climb up Summit. In short order we found ourselves in familiar territory again - too familiar. There was the intersection with West Summit again. Aargh.
We begged directions to Edgewood from a couple strolling by. The directions of course involved riding on some ground we'd already traversed (though how could we not, considering how we kept encountering the same roads) and this time avoiding the dread turnoff onto Sylvan. Finally we made it to Edgewood and out of the Lakeview Maze of Doom.
Other things of note were the climb up Melendy, which was at least as steep as I remembered it (and I remembered that it was steep) and even more false tops than I remembered. Nice views from there too, though.
Also I can report several sightings of pro teams getting ready for the Tour next week. The CSC team went by us heading towards Crystal Springs, with their team car close behind. We also saw some other smaller groups that must have been pros, especially the group with the carbon disk wheels (presumably time trial bikes).
Anyhow, it was just nice to be riding in warm weather. I'd forgotten how much fun that is. You just find yourself smiling for no real reason. A good thing.
My plan for the morning involved simply heading up from Woodside to perhaps Hillsborough or San Mateo, with judicious helpings of whatever hillage might seem interesting to attack. And yes, I know that 'hillage' is not a word. The very first digression I took off Canada Road was our undoing. We turned on Godetia, just before Jefferson, and climbed up that. After that, instead of turning back down Jefferson, it seemed like it would be interesting to go the other way for a bit.
This 'bit', of course, involved more and more climbing, but that was OK, because the weather was fine and nice views were everywhere. It's not exactly clear to me where things began to get weird, but it might well be somewhere around where we decided to turn left on West Summit Drive. This took us in a loop back to where we'd been a few minutes before, near what sounded like a quite annoyed dog. As we circled round to where we'd made our left, we passed some people playing outside with a dog, who looked a bit puzzled to see us go by for the second time in a few minutes. Little did we know that we had entered a gravitational vortex.
For despite our determination to now leave this area and cross Edgewood, we were tempted by the demon curiousity and turned left (at the very last point that we could have, it turns out) on Sylvan.
After a stretch of non-city maintained road and some steep climbing, we somehow ended up..at the corner with the barking dog once again. Rather than face the certain derision of the playing-with-dog people, we turned around and went down the unknown (to us) descent of Woodland Place, ending up going around Emerald Lake. Once again, foolish curiousity got the better of us and we soon turned off to climb up Summit. In short order we found ourselves in familiar territory again - too familiar. There was the intersection with West Summit again. Aargh.
We begged directions to Edgewood from a couple strolling by. The directions of course involved riding on some ground we'd already traversed (though how could we not, considering how we kept encountering the same roads) and this time avoiding the dread turnoff onto Sylvan. Finally we made it to Edgewood and out of the Lakeview Maze of Doom.
Other things of note were the climb up Melendy, which was at least as steep as I remembered it (and I remembered that it was steep) and even more false tops than I remembered. Nice views from there too, though.
Also I can report several sightings of pro teams getting ready for the Tour next week. The CSC team went by us heading towards Crystal Springs, with their team car close behind. We also saw some other smaller groups that must have been pros, especially the group with the carbon disk wheels (presumably time trial bikes).
Anyhow, it was just nice to be riding in warm weather. I'd forgotten how much fun that is. You just find yourself smiling for no real reason. A good thing.
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