26 July 2008

Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge

Rest stop #2 I had to be at the 2nd rest stop at 8am, so I had to start riding early. I planned on 6:30, but I was a few minutes late getting started. It was chilly and sunny in the morning, and the sun glared low on the horizon, which was an annoyance when heading eastward. When I hit Hwy 9, the construction at the Salz Tannery seemed well underway for the artist colony. I made pretty good time up Hwy 9 and Hwy 236, and got to the rest stop just after 8.

The rest stop was a little west of where it had been the previous 2 years, due to a wedding there. I helped set up and stock the rest stop. The first rider arrived around 8:45 on a red Cannondale, stopping briefly for water. The next, a group of 4, came through about 5 minutes later. Then riders started trickling in, and then coming in greater volumes and staying longer than the earlier riders. It was becoming a pretty hot day. Eventually, the volume ebbed and at 11:30, I was free to take off and ride the rest of the course.


bikeforums.net rider Ramon I had to stop at the bottom of Jamison to wait for the GPS to regain its signal, which it did at 11:40. I declined to participate in the time trial. I didn't have a rider number anyhow, not being an official ride participant. It was hot and painful. I overtook a bunch of riders that were weaving back and forth due to the grade. I stayed to their left. There were a few walking up in their cleats. There was still the US flag on the 1.33 sign, but I didn't look at it long enough to notice if anything else had changed. Approaching the top, I hammered it, giving a burst of speed and then collapsed on my bars at the water stop. It was 12:06, and the GPS had lost signal. After 15-20 seconds, the GPS regained the signal and it was 12:07. So my records will have a time of 26:31, though it's 15-20 seconds less.


Lunch stop After resting for a few minutes, I continued on, soon catching up to a guy and sucking his wheel all the way to the lunch stop. I got a coke, made a half sandwich, and had some boiled potatoes. I headed out alone and rode alone for the next hour. I headed down Empire Grade. Then Pine Flat, Bonny Doon, Martin, and Ice Cream Grade without seeing another cyclist on the ride until near the end of Ice Cream Grade. There were also a few getting water at the fire station. I headed down Felton-Empire alone. There was a white truck a little ways behind me, but I soon left it behind due to the twists in the road. At the bottom, I caught up to a group stopped at the red light.

I followed the group to Zayante, and then sucked the wheels of a group of 3 that were going faster than the rest. They set a pretty good, though still relaxed, pace through the flatter lower part of the climb. When it got steeper, one went ahead, another dropped back, and I stayed on the wheel of the 3rd. Eventually, as we were passing knots of riders, I got ahead of him, and he must have dropped off at some point. The upper parts were a grind, punctuated with a few steep pitches. The parts in the sun were hot. There was even one guy walking his bike on the upper part, even though he was already beyond all the steep sections. The right turn onto Summit led to more grinding climbing for a few miles before the 4th rest stop.

My bladder had been complaining since the middle of Zayante, and I had to wait even more for a port-a-potty to free up. It was in the sun, so it was like an oven inside. I got a coke, some potatoes and some strawberries. After dallying for too long, I headed out alone. The only riders I saw on Summit were headed the opposite direction, and I didn't see any on the undulating, bumpy Old Summit Rd. Heading down Soquel-San Jose, I only saw one other rider, whom I overtook during the fast part of the descent.

On Laurel Glen, I took it easy, spinning a low gear. Eventually, I came up to a group of 3 and sucked their wheels. When the climbing started, one, then a 2nd dropped back, so I followed the 3rd guy to the water stop at the top. Since my bottle was 3/4 full, I continued alone down Mountain View and Branciforte. On Granite Creek, I again took it easy in a low gear. About halfway in, my left inner thigh cramped and I had to stop. Two guys in different green jerseys went by, the 2nd one huffing and puffing very exaggeratedly. I started off again, and soon the 2 green jerseys disappeared ahead. After the Scotts Valley city limits, there was the climb in the sun that I was dreading. It wasn't that bad, though. There was one guy walking his bike and I passed another guy, and I could see one of the green jerseys off in the distance briefly. After stopping at the stop sign at South Navarra, I caught up to the 2 green jerseys on the 17 overpass due to the red light. I took it easy on Glenwood, and they got way ahead of me. Just as I was about to climb up to the high school, my left thigh cramped again, so I stopped again. Finally, I made it up to the high school.


Finish at Scotts Valley High School I was really thirsty, but not hungry. It took almost an hour to eat a small portion of burrito filling. The tortilla just looked too big to me. I didn't have any ice cream or cake that were available either. Finally, I headed home, slowly.

On Branciforte, just outside of Santa Cruz city limits, at about 5 minutes to 6, 2 riders who were way off course were headed the other direction, and asked how far to Granite Creek. I guessed about 3-4 miles, but it was actually about 2 miles. They asked what the easiest way back to the high school was, so I suggested taking Glen Canyon and then Scotts Valley Dr. It felt good when I finally got home.

19 July 2008

Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge Workers Ride

Just before starting, I checked to see where the ride would start, and it started from Scotts Valley High. I had been anticipating starting at the Scotts Valley Transit Center, which would be 5-10 minutes less to ride to, so I was starting late and had to hurry or skip my final preparations. It was foggy and chilly in the morning, but it would be warm in the mountains, so I didn't wear anything over my jersey. I headed up Glen Canyon, then Green Hills to Granite Creek, and Glenwood to the high school.

Oddly, there was no sign in. I took a look at the route sheet. A route emailed to the club list the previous evening had two changes from last year's route. Most significantly, instead of taking Riva Ridge and Summit to Skyline, it continued on Mtn Charlie to Old Santa Cruz Hwy, then over Hwy 17 at Bear Creek and Black up to Skyline. The other change was to go around the Bonny Doon loop to Martin instead of going straight down Pine Flat. I was relieved to see that the change to include the Black climb wasn't there. The Bonny Doon loop change was there and that was a nice minor change, because it has long straight descents that are fun.

We headed out going up Glenwood, then up Mtn Charlie, which sorted out the riders into groups. The front group didn't go too hard, but appropriately pacing for the long hard ride. Riva Ridge provided a nasty steep little climb after Mtn Charlie, and then it was Summit Rd. One guy was a fearless descender and off in front out of sight. When we caught up to him at Bear Creek Rd, his rear wheel was way out of true and his saddle was bent backwards. What had happened was that there was suddenly an oncoming car in the middle of the one-lane road near the Zayante intersection, and he got on the brakes so hard, his rear wheel lifted. I guess when the wheel came back down, a spoke and the saddle got messed up. He got the saddle fixed when we got to the rest stop, but would ride the out of true rear wheel the rest of the day, and continue doing his rocket descents.

We continued up Bear Creek and Skyline to the rest stop at Castle Rock. We stopped for about 35 minutes, and, for tracking purposes, I moved that stop to Saratoga Gap rather than create a new location. Food and drink for the long ride. Then we continued down Skyline to Hwy 9. There was no hot dog stand at the intersection yet at 10am. Then down Hwy 9 and up Hwy 236. Just before the China Grade intersection, there was a camel perhaps outfitted for riding with a bunch of cloth coverings on it off the left side of the road. Then down to the park HQ for a little break. Then it was up Hwy 236 to Little Basin and down Hwy 236 to Jamison Creek.

We turned right onto Jamison at 11:19. Some of the group had never done this climb before and one guy announced that he wouldn't go too hard, not knowing this climb. He would do the climb in 26-27 minutes, which I think is really good. Since, I've done this climb lots of times and had a good sense of the pacing, I went ahead by myself. The US flag, trace of skunk tail, and strip of paper that were on the 1.33 sign 2 weeks earlier were still there. A number of cars, trucks and motorcycles went by in both directions. It was 11:43 when I got to the top and it turned out to be a new personal best of 23:44 for the climb. Most of the rest of the group did the climb in 25-30 minutes, which was better than I could do most of last year. I sucked down most of the water in my bottle. After regrouping, we headed up Empire Grade to the next rest stop, which was only a little ways up the road.

We stopped about 35 minutes at the rest stop. For tracking, I moved the stop to the CDF station. More food and drink. Then we continued on Empire Grade. Some riders doing the 100km route continued on Empire Grade, while the rest of us doing the 100mi route turned right at Pine Flat, then right on Bonny Doon for the fast descents. At the other intersection with Pine Flat, we headed back up to Martin, then by the areas devastated by the Martin fire, then Ice Cream Grade. After that was the fast descent down Felton-Empire.

From Felton, we headed up Zayante. I was in a group of 3. We were joined by an Alto Velo rider for the upper part of the climb. It was long hard grind up. Then, it was Summit Rd over Hwy 17. We took Old Summit Rd, avoiding the Summit Rd traffic for a stretch. The bumpiness of Old Summit Rd and Summit Rd rattled my bottle cage loose. I wound up holding my bottle for a few hundred meters before stopping at the Summit Market. I hand tightened the bolts, which would be good enough for the time being. We got water and gatorade. After a while, a 4th rider, who had stopped at Zayante Market earlier joined us. The rest of the group had stopped to fix a flat. We waited for them for a while, then bombed down Soquel-San Jose.

Stopped at Casalegnos was a SAG truck, so we stopped, got more food and water. Not long afterwards, the rest of the group arrived, so we headed up Laurel Glen in a group of 8. Down Mountain View and Branciforte. At Granite Creek, 5 turned right to head back to the high school. The remaining 3 of us continued on Branciforte to ride back to town and home. One turned off at Goss. On Market St, I thought to myself, "Another ride safely completed." Ironically, my front wheel got caught in the uneven concrete at Market and Washburn. Fortunately, I didn't go down, but that was kind of a scare. The other guy turned off at Ocean, and I continued through downtown and then up High. Now, I need to get an allen wrench and tighten the bottle holder bolts.

12 July 2008

Solo ride

In the morning, there was thick fog and the roads were wet, so I decided to ride later. Around midday, the roads had dried, and it was sunny and warm. It was also a bit humid. Fortunately, it wasn't hot.

I started off going up Hwy 9. At one point, there were 4 horses crossing the road from right to left. By the time I got there, they were all on the left. I continued through Felton, then took Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond, then headed up Alba. It was 12:34 at the bottom. After 4 miles of steepness, it was 1:09 when I got to the top. About 35 minutes has to be faster than my previous best. I continued on Empire Grade to Pine Flat, headed down Pine Flat and around the Bonny Doon loop, then down Bonny Doon Rd to the coast. After the bridge, where the road got narrower, I started catching up to the car ahead of me and then had to ride the brakes most of the rest of the way down to stay behind it. I took Hwy 1 back without much of a tailwind if any, then hammered up Western.

6 July 2008

NorCal Tandem Rally and Wheelsucker Ride

Gazos Creek Beach I started out a little before 8, which was probably way too early. On the other hand, the later I start, the more the headwind kicks in. I was going to join the group at Gazos Creek Rd, which would be about 25mi upwind for me, and about 25mi downwind for the group from Half Moon Bay, and they were starting about 9:15. I figured that if there were a strong wind, it could take me up to 2 hours, and the fastest of the group could take about an hour. I forgot to consider that the climbs after Tunitas Creek, San Gregorio Creek, and Pomponio Creek would slow them down.

I started in dense fog. Drops of water started gathering on my glasses. About halfway to Davenport, the fog had lifted, but it was still overcast, and I could still see clumps of fog covering bits of the hills to the right. Around Fambrini's, I saw a cyclist way ahead of me. When descending to the bridge over San Vicente Creek just before Davenport, I could see the cyclist near the top of the climb to Davenport. I was gaining while nearing Swanton Rd. The cyclist turned right at Swanton, and I could see for the first time that it was a tandem. How appropriate.

The green wind sock was varying between 45 and 60 degrees, so the headwind was not terribly strong. However, at Waddell, the wind strengthened noticeably. Also, after crossing the bridge over Waddell Creek, it was suddenly sunny. Soon, though, the hills to the right shaded out the sun, and it was still windy, and then I had to climb to the county line. After Año Nuevo, it started getting cloudy again, and, by Costanoa, it was completely overcast.

When I got to Gazos Creek, I had been riding an hour and a half, so it wasn't even 9:30 yet. I was way early, so I occupied myself by listening. There was only one moment of maybe 10 seconds or so in which I could not hear a motor vehicle coming or going. Birds were chirping and there was the sound of the waves in the distance. It was also windy and chilly.

At around 10:10, I decided to slowly head up the highway and turn around when I saw the group coming. I passed Pigeon Point without seeing anyone. About a mile and half past Pigeon Point, I saw some dark forms in the opposite shoulder coming over a rise in the distance. I turned around and started heading back. A minute later, a tandem and a wheelsucker came by, and then another tandem and a couple of wheelsuckers. This was the vanguard of the group. I latched on and sucked wheel back to Gazos Creek. This wheelsucking was going to be fun.

Regroup at Gazos Creek. Moments later, a third tandem with a couple of riders in tow went screaming by and missed the turn. They couldn't hear our shouts and the cell phone reception was almost nonexistent, so we couldn't call them. As it turned out, they went all the way to Año Nuevo before turning around, and rejoined us at Pescadero. After everyone had arrived and still not seeing the errant tandem returning, we headed inland on Gazos Creek and up and down the roller coaster part of Cloverdale. The smooth part of Cloverdale featured more fast tandem wheel sucking, leading to the stop at Pescadero.


Semirecumbent tandem at Pescadero At Pescadero, a larger group doing the shorter, more relaxed-paced, version of the ride was already there. That group also had a bunch of tandems, including a semi-recumbent with the stoker in front. Since I hadn't started from Half Moon Bay, I didn't get to ride with any of them. Eventually, that group headed up Stage.

The rest of us headed up Pescadero Rd. As we headed inland, it became sunny and warm. There was more tandem wheel sucking for the first part, going by Loma Mar and Memorial Park. Then Haskins Hill split the group apart. The upper part of the climb was in the sun and I felt overdressed. Then came the descent. I soon came upon a slow moving truck towing a big horse trailer. Rather than risking trying to pass it, another guy and I followed it all the way down to the intersection with Alpine.


Hwy 84 and Pescadero Rd
Regroup at Hwy 84 and Pescadero Rd. After that, more wheelsucking down Hwy 84. Approaching San Gregorio, it started getting cloudier and there was a damp, chilly headwind. At San Gregorio, I stopped while most of the group continued. Sorry about checking up without warning, which is a lesson for me. After a little break, I headed back south on Hwy 1, where it was overcast and chilly. Supposedly, I had a tailwind, but I didn't really have much strength. By Costanoa, I was feeling the onset of a bonk. By Año Nuevo, it was partly sunny. On the little rise running up to the descent at the county line, I was crawling. I stopped at Waddell to eat some. There were lots and lots of kite surfers at Waddell and the sky was filled with kites.

There was a sandy tailwind, but I still crawled up the climb after the bridge. I finally started feeling better a little after the northern intersection with Swanton. The tailwind started kicking in too, and I hit 45mph heading down to Scott Creek. That was one of the rare times I found my 11t cog useful, but I still wouldn't miss it if it were gone. The tailwind was fabulous pushing me by Swanton Berry Farms. In the distance, the top of the structure at Davenport was wreathed with fog, but it cleared as I neared.

After Davenport, it was sunny and the tailwind was marvelous back to Santa Cruz. There was the final grind up Western Dr that I was almost too tired for, and then I was home.

5 July 2008

Jamison Creek

Hwy 236 and Jamison Creek Rd I just wanted to do a relatively quick ride, so I headed up Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then up Hwy 236 to Jamison Creek. It was 10 when started at the bottom of Jamison Creek. At the 1.33 sign, there was still the US flag and the skunk tail remnant. There was also a strip of paper that had something printed on it stuck to the top of the sign. I was thinking that this could be the first time I did this climb without encountering any traffic, but then 2 descending motorcycles went by, and a few minutes later an ascending CDF fire pickup truck went by. From about .8 miles to the top, I was paranoid that my rear tire was going flat, as I had 2 rear flats in the last 2 months. At times, it felt fine, as when I got out of the saddle, but other times, over the bumps in the road, it seemed soft. I felt the benefit of fresh legs, especially approaching the top when I could push harder than usual. I was still breathing very hard, though. It was 10:24 when I got to the top. My tire was not flat; I was just paranoid. My time of 24:02 was a new personal best.

It was sunny on the way back down Empire Grade. At the fire station at Felton-Empire and Ice Cream Grade, there were fire trucks were out. Probably still finishing up with the Martin fire.

3 July 2008

Swanton time trial

It was windy going out again. I had eaten lunch really late, so my stomach was a little unsettled, and I think I didn't go as hard as I could have going out. On the way out, a guy on a time trial bike whizzed by about a third of the way into the valley. He must have started at least 3 minutes after me. I caught the guy who started a minute before me on the return just before coming out of the valley. My time was probably close to 36 minutes, my worst time yet. On the way home, my stomach reminded me again that I ate lunch way too late.