Parking it

So Saturday, in search of novel places for pain, we headed to the end of Prospect to seek a route over the hill to Comer, and another way to connect to Pierce. I guess because Pierce isn't painful enough? Hmm.

Anyhow, we ended up climbing Parker Ranch from Prospect, which wasn't bad, and then turning onto Prospect again when Parker Ranch connected with a 'Not a Through Street' road. However, this took us into Freemont Older, which, while looking like a fine park for hiking and such, really did us no good whatsoever in terms of progressing more than a few feet forward, as our bikes couldn't morph into hiking boots.

Thus we turned around and went back to Parker Ranch, where I figured we might as well examine the 'Not a Through Street' more closely. Dead end 16+% streets can be a little unnerving, and after a bit I stopped (yes, that was lame of me) because I wasn't sure if we could get anywhere. Along came a nice family strolling down the road, (which actually seemed surprisingly full of walkers and joggers) and they thought it went through.

Having thus boosted our confidence, we crawled up Parker Ranch to the top, where there was a fine view across the valley.

Then we got confused again, because it looked like a dead end with driveways coming off it. But there were even more joggers, and they helpfully told us that the seeming driveway was in fact a road. Thus we continued on from this apparent lovers lane, finding that of course we had not in fact been at the top, and there was even more climbing to do. Fortunately, someone had thoughtfully left out a big leather easy chair and divan in next to their driveway, to let passing cyclist take a breather on their way.

Anyhow, we did indeed find the connection down to Pierce, and clearly had taken the easier direction on this route, because the way down was steep.

Our next exercise in pain was the experiment of turning off Pierce towards downtown Saratoga via Sarahills. Last week I explored a little of the other side, which went rather up, so naturally I figured that this side must go...down. Seems logical to me. Nope. Wrong. No way. It also went...up. Not fair at all, one thinks. For some reason it definitely felt rougher than Parker Ranch. Nice view on the downhill, though, and a good view across the valley to Comer, which looked impressive from afar.
And, yes, Eric, I think it was Comer, because there's nuttin' else on the map over there.

Anyhow, from Saratoga we went down as far as Los Gatos, paused to chat with the nice friendly park attendant at Vasona, trying to figure out directions, and then took the safe route and headed circuitously back north. But no more climbing at that point, just semi-random direction choices that eventually took us back to my house.

Next time we figure out some useful ways to get back from the Los Gatos Creek Trail, I think.

Nick and I go a-wandering

Today Nick said that he'd like go riding with me, so naturally I arranged to do this. Went to spin class first, then came back and set off with him.
I thought we'd head into Saratoga and do the Maze in reverse, more or less.

On the way there Nick kept mentioning how he didn't want to do any hills, which seemed a little silly to me...:)
I had a hard time convincing him of the value of hill-climbing though, so I figured I'd ease him into it instead. So, first when we got to Comer, I figured I'd see what some of it was like, and so my surprise he followed me. Just a block or so, but it was a start. Then a little ways up Sarahills, 'just to the speed limit sign' and this time he found he didn't mind it so much.

But where he really surprised me was going up Canyon View, a street that I guess I must only have done in the other direction before. It seems to be about 19% in the direction we were headed. Not for long, but still. I suggested he try it, but only maybe as far as the hydrant, because it seemed to top out there.
To my surprise, while loudly telling me that I was wrong, and that it didn't end there, he headed up, starting right on the hill, and disappeared out of sight.
Me, I had to head to the bottom to get a good start on it, because it was steeper than I'd expected. And sure enough, it didn't end at the hydrant, but Nick was past there at the top, having sped up that thing in no time.
He has the sixteen-year old power going for him, that's for sure.

Also there was the older Asian guy we saw when we mistakenly went past the turn into Saratoga and started climbing up Canyon View further on. 'Strong men don't turn around' he said. I felt like I was in an old episode of Kung Fu.

After that we stopped in downtown Saratoga, where I got Nick a drink and a something tasty to eat after his hard labors, and chatted with some other cyclists (and a fellow Edge owner) while he ate. Quite a nice morning in all.

Oh, and no pics at all of the nice fall scenery, because the camera got left at home, alas. Nick suggests that the garage needs some kind of wireless connection to slurp the photos out of the camera when I pull out. I wonder how to arrange that...hmm...

The staple of our discontent

Today I did another Western Wheelers ride, led by Joel Vano.
It went pretty well, despite my numerous acts of foolishness.

1. Forgetting my water bottles at home
2. Drinking enough coffee to get my heartrate way above what was comfortable climbing Old La Honda
3. Leaving the camera set on ISO 1000 (OK, so not so crucial, but it did make my pictures look like Matisse had painted them). A certain friend who shall remain nameless did something much the same on a certain vacation, I believe.

Fortunately, I realized where my bottles were in time to stop by a gas station and buy some Gatorade with what turned out to be my last cash. I really need to get better at keeping some on hand.

Anyhow, the four of us went up OLH, did the five mile slog south on Skyline to Page Mill, and then down Page Mill. Weather was perfect, and views were pretty good along the Skyline stretch. Less haze would have improved them, but hey, the way my camera was set I wouldn't have gotten any good photos of the view anyhow.

Also, despite the coffee I managed to come ever closer to my previous personal best on Old La Honda, so that's a good thing. OK, so I was last in the group. Ppppht.

And as an indicator as to how wacky I can get on rides sometimes, I have a definite memory that on the early steeper part of the descent down Page Mill, I was talking myself through the turns, saying 'Don't brake here, don't brake in the turn, countersteer *now*' and stuff like that. Not sure why I was doing that, but I felt pretty confident going down, so it worked out.

I should also mention that we stopped at the John Peckham memorial on Old Page Mill, which was a rather sobering experience.

Oh, right, the title. On the way back along Alameda, zooming along with a nice tailwind, suddenly I felt my rear wheel lurch to the right. Instant flat.
It turned out to be a big staple embedded in my rear tire. Annoying, but got it changed quickly and with the help of Mike (Fast Mike, I believe, as opposed to the Mustache Mike I rode with last week) got the wheel back on without my usual fumblings.

And here's the ride profile and stuff:

Sometimes it really is as hard as it looks

Well, so I'll see how keeping a ride blog goes.

Sunday was a Western Wheelers ride that was not too long, but had possibly the toughest bit of hill I've done yet. It was scary going down because I knew I'd have to go back up...actually considered stopping midway to avoid that, not that I could have on a 20+% grade...
Fortunately there were only two of those, but that wasn't obvious on the downhill, which made me a bix anxious anticipating the return trip up.

Anyhow, the curious thing about Portola State Park road is that it made West Alpine seem like...well...a walk in the park. Oddly enough.



Also I've been playing with RoboGeo , since it dawned on me that I always had a GPS track for my photos now. It nicely geocoded all my shots with my new Sony T10, and here they are:

Now if only the MotionBased guys could grab that stuff, things would be perfect.

Except for the 23% grades, that is. Those are not perfect.

Same thing as the old joke about the guy who liked to beat himself on the head.