28 December 2013

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool, and somewhat chilly in the wind and shade. I headed up Hwy 1, Bonny Doon, and Pine Flat, then returned down Empire Grade.

21 December 2013

Solo ride

It clear and cold in the shade, though the sun was somewhat warm. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, then up Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 2:15 and got to the top at 2:42 for a time of about 26:56. On the way up, there was a pickup truck parked on the left just before the 1.66 marker, a van on its way down, and an SUV on its way up, all three carrying mountain bikes. There was also a station wagon going up that didn't. When I got to the top, there was another van carrying mountain bikes parked on the right side. At Empire Grade, I turned left and headed back home.

14 December 2013

Solo ride

It was clear, somewhat warm in the sun, but pretty cold in the shade. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then up Felton-Empire before returning down Empire Grade.

30 November 2013

Club ride

It was chilly and partly cloudy when I started earlier than usual to join the club ride. I headed to the Gateway Center to get signed in. Then, it was cold in the shade, going up Hwy 9 to Felton for a break. Then, it was up Hwy 9 to Ben Lomond for another break. Then it was up Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek for another break. For the first time in 21 years, I fell because I couldn't get started and couldn't unclip in time. Then, it was up Park and Hwy 236 for another break at the bottom of Jamison Creek. The climb started at 10:45, and I got to the top at 11:11, for a time of about 25:39. There was another long break at the top, then it was down Empire Grade, and another break at Pine Flat. Then, it was down Pine Flat and Bonny Doon, and then another break at the winery. After that, it was up Martin Rd, where I decided to just go on ahead by myself, then Ice Cream Grade to Empire Grade, and back down.

28 November 2013

Solo ride

It was cool and mostly clear. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, the n up East Zayante and Quail Hollow and down Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond. I started up Alba at 12:25 and got to the top at 1:02. The graffiti rock had "B.T.L." painted on it, whatever that is supposed to mean. At Empire Grade, I turned left and headed down.

23 November 2013

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool, and chilly in the shade. There was a dead raccoon on the side of Coral St. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then up Felton-Empire and then down Empire Grade. On the descent, the light at Heller was red, so I had to stop for it.

16 November 2013

Solo ride

It was clear and cool, and a little chilly in the shade, and most of the route was in the shade. I headed up Hwy 9. There was some new graffiti at a turnout overlooking the valley reading "Get a life, loser stalker" or something like that with some more stuff that was in a different color paint, presumably from the "loser stalker" that I didn't get to by the time I had gone by. At Felton, I turned left and headed up Felton-Empire, and then turned left again at the top and headed down Empire Grade.

9 November 2013

Solo ride

It was partly cloudy and cool. I headed up Hwy 1, then headed up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat, then down Empire Grade. The light at Heller turned red as I approached, to I had to stop. It was overcast when I returned.

2 November 2013

Solo ride

It was clear and cool in the shade. I headed up Hwy 9 through Felton, took Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond, and continued to Boulder Creek, then headed out on Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:38 and got to the top at 1:04, for a time of 25:07. With about 1.2 miles to go on the climb, which was just after the left curve following the steep right-hander at 1.33 miles to go, it opened up to a headwind that persisted until about .8 miles to go, when the mountains again were a shield from the wind. At the top, I turned left and headed down Empire Grade.

26 October 2013

Solo ride

It was cold and mostly cloudy as I started up Hwy 1. Going by a pumpkin patch, there was the stink of manure. At Bonny Doon Rd, I turned right and headed up and out of the clouds. On two occasions, the air was fouled by the stench of diesel exhaust. At Empire Grade, I turned right and headed down.

19 October 2013

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then climbed Felton-Empire to Empire Grade, then returned down Empire Grade. The light was green as I approached Heller, but a car on Heller was approaching the intersection, so I sprinted for it, and the light didn't change until after I was past the intersection.

12 October 2013

Solo ride

It was cloudy and chilly as I started north on Hwy 1. At Bonny Doon Rd, I turned right and headed up and was soon out of the clouds, but it was still cold in the shade. I continued up Pine Flat to Empire Grade, then turned right and headed back down.

5 October 2013

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm, and very nice in the shade. I headed up Hwy 9. At Felton, there was a lot of traffic due to something going on. There were lots of Open Studios Art Tour signs along Hwy 9 and Empire Grade. I continued up Hwy 9, Glen Arbor, and Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then took Hwy 236. Just as I got to Jamison Creek, oncoming motorcycles appeared from around the bend, spread out just enough that just as one came by, the next would appear from around the bend, so I had to wait a while for a break to make the left turn. I thought I started up at 11:45, but the GPS track says I started up at 11:55, and I thought I got to the top at 12:09, but the GPS track says I got to the top at 12:20, so my time was about 25:13. I turned left at Empire Grade and headed back.

28 September 2013

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny. I had to stop at lots of red lights before heading up Branciforte, where I had to stop at yet another red light because a lane was out from a slide. I headed up Glen Canyon to Scotts Valley, then out on Bean Creek and Glenwood before climbing Mountain Charlie. I took Summit Road across, then down Soquel-San Jose, over Laurel Glen and down Mountain View, then returning on Branciforte.

14 September 2013

Solo ride

It was a sunny and breezy day. I started north on Hwy 1. At first there was somewhat of a tailwind until after Dimeo Lane, where it started becoming a headwind. By Bonny Doon Rd, it was a pretty strong headwind, past Davenport on onto Swanton Rd. The sign just south of Davenport showed my speed to be 26mph at the bottom of the gulch. In the Swanton Road valley, it was shielded from the wind. When I got to the summit of the climb, it was windy again as I headed back down to the coast where I had a tailwind heading south on Hwy 1. The sign just north of Davenport showed my speed to be 32mph going slightly uphill. At Bonny Doon Rd, I turned left and headed uphill, continuing up Pine Flat to Empire Grade, where I turned right and headed down.

7 September 2013

Solo ride

It was sunny and very warm out of the shade. When I got to Hwy 9, I realized that I forgot to bring my water bottle, so went without water. I headed up Hwy 9, then took Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond, then Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then headed out on Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:20 and got to the top at 12:45 for a time of about 24:47, then headed down Empire Grade.

2 September 2013

Solo ride

It was partly cloudy and cool without being chilly at times and warm without being hot. I started north on Hwy 9 to Felton, then took Graham Hill to Zayante and then over Quail Hollow and down Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond. I started up Alba at 11:29. There was a sign saying that a lane would be closed until September 18, but since this was a holiday, no road work was being done and both lanes were open. I got to the top at 12:03 for a time of about 33:55. I turned left on Empire Grade and headed down.

31 August 2013

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm. I headed north on Hwy 1. It was very comfortable and there was almost no wind at first. By the time I got to Bonny Doon Rd, there was a headwind. By Davenport, there was a pretty strong headwind. I turned off onto Swanton and there was more headwind until I dropped down into the valley. Once I got over the summit, there was more wind on the descent from the ocean. Back on Hwy 1, I headed south with a strong tailwind. At Bonny Doon, I turned left and headed up. It was very warm in the sun, but the road was mostly in the shade. At Empire Grade, I turned right and headed down.