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.

24 August 2013

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then up Felton-Empire. Felton-Empire had recently been resurfaced, and the right side of the road below Crazy Acres Lane had lots of gravel. Above Crazy Acres Lane, the road was newly paved and smooth. At the top, I turned left and headed down Empire Grade.

17 August 2013

Solo ride

It was mostly cloudy and comfortably cool as I headed up Hwy 9. I passed the Roaring Camp train that was also heading towards Felton, and got the where the tracks crosses the road about a minute before the train would get there, so I crossed the tracks and heard the train ringing bells and blowing horns behind me. At Felton, there was a lot of traffic, perhaps due to a flea market. I continued on Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond, then back on Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, where I turned left onto Hwy 236. A little ways along Hwy 236, it became mostly sunny and warm, though it was mostly shaded under the trees. I started up Jamison Creek at 1:56 and felt a lot better than I did on this climb two weeks earlier. I overtook another rider climbing at about 3/4 mile from the top. I got to the top at 2:20 for a time of about 24:20, more than 2 minutes faster than two weeks earlier. I headed back down Empire Grade.

10 August 2013

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm. I headed up Hwy 1 into a headwind. The headwind was strong enough that I decided not to do the Swanton loop and headed up Bonny Doon Rd. At the top, I turned right and headed down Empire Grade.

3 August 2013

Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge

It was cool, overcast, and drizzly in places when I started. I headed up Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then headed out on Hwy 236 to help out at the rest stop by the golf course. It got warmer, and the sun came out later in the morning. At noon, I headed out and started up Jamison Creek at 12:04. I didn't feel that well after standing for three hours without having had enough to drink, which I only realized on the climb. Also, I was using my bike that was 3 or 4 pounds heavier than my usual bike. One rider went by me at around 1 mile from the top. I got to the top at around 12:31, for a time of about 26:47. After taking a couple of minutes to catch my breath, I headed out on Empire Grade and stopped for another break and something to drink at the next rest stop. After that, I headed down Empire Grade all the way back home.