21 June 2014

Solo ride

It was overcast and about 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the forecast of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I headed north on Hwy 9 to Felton, on one point of which there was a table and signs warning of runners on the road, but I didn't really see any runners. At Felton, I turned left and headed up Felton-Empire, then returned down Empire Grade.

7 Jun 2014

Solo ride

It was warming and clouds were clearing. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond, continuing up Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then taking Hwy 236 and starting up Jamison Creek at 1:19, getting to the top at 1:45 for a time of 25:59. I then headed back on Empire Grade.

31 May 2014

Solo ride

It was cool with clearing skies at first, giving way to warm and sunny conditions. I started up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor and Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then headed out on Hwy 236 and up Jamison Creek, doing the climb in about 25:34, then returning down Empire Grade.

26 May 2014

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then took Graham Hill, East Zayante, Quail Hollow, and Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond, then climbed Alba Rd. It wasn't too warm, but sweat was still dripping painfully into my eyes by the time I was on the steep part after Alba School. At Empire Grade, I turned left and headed back.

24 May 2014

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm, with wisps of clouds gathering at the horizons. There was lots of traffic at King and Mission, so it took three light cycles for me to get through the intersection. I went through downtown, then continued on Water to Market and Branciforte. I headed up Granite Creek to Scotts Valley, then out on Glenwood and up Mountain Charlie. There were lots of flying bugs in the air for a while in the lower third. At another point, there were sounds dogs howling and children screaming in the valley to the right. At the top, I crossed Hwy 17 and continued on Summit, then headed down Soquel-San Jose, then up Laurel Glen and down Mountain View to return on Branciforte. As I came back to Granite Creek, a bunch of cars, maybe about 8, turned right from Granite Creek onto Branciforte, and a little later, some of them held up traffic turning into the Mystery Spot.

17 May 2014

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then up Felton-Empire and returned down Empire Grade.

3 May 2014

Solo ride

It was sunny and nice. The gates at the tracks at Encinal were down and the lights were flashing and the bells were ringing, but there was no train in sight, and cars were filtering through, crossing the tracks between the gates, so I eventually walked over the tracks. Then I went up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor and Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, and out on Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:31. There was some headwind at the bottom and at the top, but no wind for most of it. I got to the top at 12:57 for a time of 25:33, then took Empire Grade back. As usual, I had to stop for a red light at Heller.

26 April 2014

Solo ride

It was cool and windy. I started up Hwy 1 into the wind, then headed up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat, returning down Empire Grade. The light at Heller was green, and turned yellow just as I went through the intersection.

19 March 2014

Solo ride

It was sunny and nice. There was lots of traffic stopping lower High St and Hwy 9 approaching Hwy 1. Once free of the traffic, I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then up Felton-Empire. There were a few bunches of cyclists headed down, as well as a few climbing slowly enough for me to catch. At Empire Grade, I turned left and headed down.

12 April 2014

Solo ride

It was partly cloudy and chilly in the shade, but nice in the sun. I headed north on Hwy 1 to Bonny Doon Rd, then headed up, continuing up Pine Flat, then headed back on Empire Grade. Just before the twisty lower part starting with the sign that used to say 14% grade, a car passed me, and then rode its brakes cause me to have to brake until the bridge and slight uphill after it. On the other hand, the light at Heller was red when I first saw it, but turned green before I got to the intersection, so I didn't have to even slow down.

5 April 2014

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool, and the roads were damp in the shade. I headed north on Hwy 9 through Felton, where, unusually, the light at Graham Hill turned green as I arrived. I took Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond, then continued up Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, where I headed out on Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 1:01 and got to the top at 1:27 for a time of approximately 25:58. At Empire Grade, I turned left and headed down. The light at Heller was green when I first saw it and, as usual, it turned red before I arrived at the intersection and I had to stop for 10-15 seconds.

22 March 2014

Solo ride

It was clear and cool. There was lots of car traffic clogging up the bottom part of High St that I had to stop for for about 2 minutes. After getting through that, the light at Encinal and Hwy 9 cycled through without turning green, so I had to run that. Then, on Hwy 9, somewhere between the south boundary of Henry Cowell and Felton, a motorist in a car behind me blasted its horn for something like 10 seconds, then, I suspect, deliberately passed me with about a half foot of clearance (which is illegal in California as of 2014). I believe that such motorists that deliberately use their vehicles as instruments of intimidation towards people such as bicyclists and pedestrians should have their licenses suspended, and, with repeated offenses, should have their licenses revoked. At Felton, I turned left and headed up Felton-Empire. At Empire Grade, I turned left and headed back down. The light at Heller was red when I first saw it, but it turned green, so I started sprinting for the intersection, but then it turned yellow so I had to stop as it turned red, which feels so typically annoying for that traffic light that wasn't there a few years ago.

15 March 2014

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny. I started up Hwy 1 with very little onshore wind. At Bonny Doon Rd, I turned right and headed up, continuing up Pine Flat. At Empire Grade, I turned right and headed back down. Unusually, the light at Heller was green and stayed green as I went through the intersection.

8 March 2014

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm, though the roads were still wet in places in the shade. I headed up Hwy 9, Glen Arbor, and Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then out on Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:59, and I though the clock said 1:25 when I got to the top, but my downloaded GPS track says I got to the top at 1:27, for a time of 27:59. I turned left and headed down Empire Grade. Unusually, the light at Heller was red when I first saw it, and it turned green before I got to it.

22 February 2014

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool. I started north on Hwy 1, going past Davenport to the Swanton loop, then returning on Hwy 1 to Bonny Doon Rd, where I headed up, continuing up Pine Flat to Empire Grade, where I turned right and headed back down.

15 February 2014

Solo ride

It was overcast and somewhat chilly, and the roads had wet patches. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor and Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then out on Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 1:14 and got to the top at 1:41 for an approximate time of 26:39. There were a number of pickup trucks hauling mountain bikes. At the top, I turned left and headed back on Empire Grade. As usual, the light at Heller turned red as I approached and I had to stop.

25 January 2014

Solo ride

It was sunny and clear. I started north on Hwy 1, then headed up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat, and returned down Empire Grade. The light at Heller was green when I first saw it, but by the time I arrived at the intersection, it was red, so I had to stop and wait for half a minute.

18 January 2014

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny, though a bit cool in the shade at first. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then up Felton-Empire, before returning down Empire Grade for a short ride.

11 January 2014

Solo ride

It was cloudy and somewhat cold. I headed up Hwy 1 where there was some wind from the northwest. At Bonny Doon, I turned right and headed up and continued up Pine Flat. At the intersection with Empire Grade at the top, there was some very light drizzle. There were a few more spots with light drizzle on the way down Empire Grade. At Heller, the light was green when I first saw it, and it stayed green for a while, then it turned yellow and red as I approached, so I had to stop.

4 January 2014

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool, and a bit chilly in the shade. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, then out on Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 1:16 and got to the top at 1:42, for a time of about 25:24. At the top, I turned left and headed down Empire Grade. The light at Heller turned red before I arrived, so I had to stop there.