qpliu ride log

10 December 2011

2011-12-10T13:20:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It was clear and cold, but getting warmer in the sun. There was a decent tailwind as I headed up Hwy 1. I climbed up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat, then headed down Empire Grade. There were a couple of cars with trees on top of them, but there was not as much traffic as there had been a week earlier. I had to stop at the red light at the UCSC west entrance yet again before the final stretch of Empire Grade/High St.

3 December 2011

2011-12-03T14:49:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It was clear and cool and somewhat windy. There was more traffic than usual on Hwy 9 and Empire Grade. Some of the extra traffic was from trucks maintaining power lines after the strong winds of the last few days. On Empire Grade, most of the extra traffic were cars hauling cut down trees, though south of Smith Grade, there were plenty of the usual trucks hauling mountain bikes. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:37. There was short windy sections, but mostly there was no wind. There were also sections with debris on the road, and my rear wheel lost traction at least 4 times. I got to the top at 1:02 for an estimated time of 25:25 on the 14th time up this road in 2011. I headed down Empire Grade amid the extra traffic.

Tracking my times up Jamison Creek since 2005:

Year	Count	Fastest	Average	Slowest
2005	6	35:05	36:36	38:43
2006	14	28:48	33:36	42:16
2007	14	27:08	31:29	38:15
2008	14	23:16	25:16	27:51
2009	4	25:54	27:14	30:13
2010	14	24:00	25:26	27:40
2011	14	23:52	25:07	26:15

26 November 2011

2011-11-26T12:13:00.001-08:00

Saturday harbor ride

It sunny and slightly chilly when I started out. Some of the roads were wet. There was a headwind on San Andreas, so the pack wasn't too fast. Leading up to Sunset, the pack accelerated, and I couldn't, so I started slipping back. After Sunset, I kept slipping back and then was off the back, and had to face the headwind. I was still able to see the tail end of the pack making the turn onto Beach, so I wasn't that far behind. On Beach, I joined with a few other riders to get back to the pack. There was decent sized group on Casserly, but a big bunch turned left instead of continuing on Mt Madonna, so I was at the tail end of a group of 6 at the bottom of the steep part, and promptly fell behind with one other, as the other 4 raced ahead. A lot of Hazel Dell and Browns Valley was wet. From Corralitos, I headed over Hames, Day Valley, Valencia, Trout Gulch, and then Soquel back. It was turning into a relatively warm day.

19 November 2011

2011-11-19T13:00:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It was partly sunny, and partly overcast, and chilly. Most of the roads were still wet from the previous day's rain, particularly in the shade. I headed up Hwy 1, then up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat. Then, it was a chilly return down Empire Grade.

5 November 2011

2011-11-05T13:24:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was cold and overcast when I started. I started earlier than I otherwise would have because it was supposed to rain in the afternoon, and it did not rain during my ride. I headed up Hwy 9, Glen Arbor, and Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then up Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 11:13. There was some traffic, though no motorcycles, including at least one truck carrying mountain bikes up and down the mountain. It was 11:37 when I got to the top, and 11:38 just after I turned left onto Empire Grade. My estimated time for the climb was 24:56. After the effort of the climb, it got cold on the descent of Empire Grade.

29 October 2011

2011-10-29T14:53:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

I headed out on Soquel to Aptos, then took Trout Gulch, Valencia , Day Valley, and Hames to Corralitos, and started up Eureka Canyon. On the lower parts, it was slightly chilly in the shade-- a reminder that Eureka Canyon is chilly in the winter, but very nice on a hot day. On the upper parts, it was warm in the sunny parts, and very nice in the shade. On parts of Highland, there was piles of dirt on the side of the road from slides earlier in the year. The road was cleared, though narrow in places. The slides were why I hadn't ridden this way in quite a while. I headed down Soquel-San Jose. There was a stink from roadkill in the middle of the road a little before Olive Springs. I turned right and headed up Laurel Glen and down Mountain View, and returned on Branciforte. It was a sunny and warm afternoon when I got back.

22 October 2011

2011-10-22T14:20:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm. I headed up Hwy 1 with a little tailwind past Davenport to Swanton. There were many bunches of motorcycles, including on Swanton, Bonny Doon, and Pine Flat. At the north end of Swanton, I headed back on Hwy 1. There wasn't really any noticeable wind. At Bonny Doon, I turned left and headed up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat, then back down Empire Grade.

15 October 2011

2011-10-15T11:54:00.001-07:00

Saturday harbor ride

It was overcast pretty much throughout, with hints of drizzle when I started out. There was a tailwind for the outbound part, especially on Soquel and San Andreas. On San Andreas, a cop car blipped its siren a few times before going by the pack. At one part, the pack slowed to go by a slow tractor on the road. A little before Sunset, I couldn't keep up and fell off the back. After Watsonville, a decent size group of at least 20 went on to Casserly, where pack was held up by another slow tractor on the road. On the steep bit of Mt Madonna just before Hazel Dell, I was at the back of the pack and was further behind by Hazel Dell. On the Hazel Dell climb, I was in a small group for before falling behind at the part where the right side of the road had collapsed in a slide, and went into Corralitos by myself. It was briefly sunny on Browns Valley going towards Corralitos. I continued over Hames and Day Valley and Valencia to Aptos. There was a headwind for the rest of the way back, and it remained overcast.

8 October 2011

2011-10-08T13:27:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool when I started. As I headed north on Hwy 1, dark clouds loomed and there was a slight headwind, and it seemed to get colder. At Bonny Doon Rd, I turned right and headed up. It became sunnier and warmer. In the shaded parts, the road was still wet from the week's rain. I continued up Pine Flat to Empire Grade, then turned right and headed back down.

1 October 2011

2011-10-01T14:22:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool. There was heavier traffic on Hwy 9 than there had been over the summer. I took Glen Arbor into Ben Lomond. Around the Boulder Creek city limits, an old Honda came by, spewing massive amounts of toxic smelling air pollution. When I got to the Hwy 236 intersection, the Honda was being pushed down the road. I continued on Hwy 236, and started up Jamison Creek at 12:27. Although it was cool, I had to deal with sweat running into my eyes throughout the climb. I got to the top at 12:51, for an estimated time of 24:52. I remember encountering only one car and no motorcycles on the climb, which would be less traffic than usual. I headed back down Empire Grade. I had to stop at the red light at the new traffic light at the UCSC west entrance which turned red as I approached, which was an annoyingly common occurrence.

24 September 2011

2011-09-24T15:07:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was cool and overcast when I started out. I headed up Hwy 9, where there was a lot more traffic than there had been the last few months. The sun came out, but it remained cool under the tree cover. At Felton, I turned left and headed up Felton-Empire. At Empire Grade, I turned left and headed back for a short ride.

17 September 2011

2011-09-17T12:23:00.001-07:00

Saturday harbor ride

I woke up a half hour before starting off and it was overcast. There seemed to be a bigger group this time at first. At the start of San Andreas, I was trailing the pack, about to fall behind, when two other riders came up from behind and pulled me back. After Buena Vista, though, I couldn't keep up and immediately joined up with three others for the rest of San Andreas and Beach, getting back to the main group before Watsonville. On Mt Madonna, I fell behind the main group well before the steep part. The clouds had cleared, but it was still cool, and it would remain so for the rest of the ride. I caught a few on the steep part, and a couple more on the Hazel Dell climb. On the Hazel Dell descent, a group of four came by me, so I jumped on and followed them to Corralitos. From there, I took the usual route of Hames, Day Valley, Valencia, and Trout Gulch to Aptos, and Soquel back to town.

10 September 2011

2011-09-10T14:03:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was overcast as I started north on Hwy 1, and it became quite foggy in places. At one spot, a red car, going over 60 mph, passed uncomfortably closely. The car was partly in the shoulder, as it was in the process of passing another car by passing on the right, and it merged in front of the car with less than a foot between them, this was just before the slight uphill before the curve and the downhill by Laguna, probably about half way from Dimeo to Laguna. I had a tailwind and the radar sign at the bottom of the San Vicente Creek gulch just before Davenport said I was going 36 mph. I continued past Davenport and turned onto Swanton, and it shortly became clear and sunny. Down the back side of Swanton, a fallen tree had blocked the left lane at one point. When I got back down to the coast, it was cloudy again, and there was a definite headwind as I headed south. I turned left and headed up Bonny Doon, and it was sunny again, and I continued up Pine Flat and headed down Empire Grade. It was overcast again as I headed down by UCSC. The light by the west entrance was red as I approached, then it turned green, and I started to accelerate, but then it turned red again before I got there and had to brake hard.

3 September 2011

2011-09-03T15:06:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It remained cold and overcast. I headed north on Hwy 9 with a tailwind. It was sunny before I got to Felton. I took Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond and it was warm in Boulder Creek. It was 1:09 when I started up Jamison Creek. It was warm all the way up, and there were a few bug hovering around my face part of the way. I got to the top at 1:34 for an estimated time of 24:41. It was still warm and sunny on most of Empire Grade. Between Felton-Empire and Smith Grade, the air suddenly became a lot cooler. Somewhere around the upper UCSC campus, it became overcast.

6 August 2011

2011-08-06T15:59:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was overcast all morning, and the streets were wet, so I waited until the afternoon. It was still overcast when I started. I headed up Hwy 9. There were signs warning of a horse crossing that was also staffed by some people, so something was going on. By the time I got to Felton, the sun was shining. I continued up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, then headed up Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 1:49. There were a few small bunches of motorcyclists headed up and down, and I had to breathe their fumes. After the last bunch of motorcyclists, the only car went by. I got to the top at 2:13, for an estimated time of 23:52, my 3rd best time ever, and the first time under 24 minutes since 2008. I headed back on Empire Grade, and the skies had cleared by the time I got home. There was also a staffed horse crossing on Empire Grade between upper UCSC and Wilder Ranch.

30 July 2011

2011-07-30T15:34:00.001-07:00

Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge

I headed up Hwy 9 and Hwy 236 to the second rest stop. It was foggy and there was drizzle and some of the roads were wet. It was foggy for most of the morning. A little before noon, the sun came out and it was warm. A little after noon, I headed back for home, joining the mountains challenge route for a while. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:24. My bike was about 5 pounds heavier than my usual bike, and I was wearing regular shoes in toe clips rather than clipped-in cycling shoes. I got to the top at 12:49, for an estimated time of 25:37. After catching my breath at the top, I continued to the third rest stop for some food and rest, then continued on Empire Grade to Pine Flat, Bonny Doon, then up Martin and Ice Cream Grade, following the course of the ride. At Empire Grade, I turned right, leaving the course, and headed home.

23 July 2011

2011-07-23T14:46:00.001-07:00

Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge Workers Ride

It was foggy with drizzle in the air and some damp roads when I started super early in the morning. As I headed up Branciforte and Glen Canyon, there was a stop sign on Branciforte just after the Delaveaga for where half the road was closed due to a slide, and another similar spot on Glen Canyon. They weren't there the last time I rode that way. In Scotts Valley, I took Green Hills and Granite Creek to Glenwood and Scotts Valley High to get the route and sign in. After an extended period of waiting around, we headed up Glenwood and Mountain Charlie. A little before Riva Ridge, we were finally above the clouds. A left turn at Riva Ridge and a right on Hutchinson took us to Summit. The views on the left from Summit showed the clouds covering the lower lands. Summit ended at Bear Creek, which led to the start of Skyline. Then, it was down Hwy 9, back into the chill under the cloud cover, and Hwy 236, which was wet until it climbed out of the clouds at China Grade, then down into Big Basin, and a stop at the park headquarters. Onward on Hwy 236 led to the bottom of Jamison Creek. We started up at 11:11. I got to the top at 11:35, for a time of about 24:29, my best since last October. After regrouping and a lunch stop a little ways along Empire Grade, I went with two others back into town down Empire Grade. The fog was gone and it was sunny.

9 July 2011

2011-07-09T15:08:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was overcast and seemed cold all morning, so I waited and waited. Finally, I started off under the clouds and headed north on Hwy 1 into the wind. I headed up Bonny Doon, and it eventually became sunny high enough in the mountains. I continued up Pine Flat and turned right at Empire Grade and headed back down. By the time I got back, it was sunny.

7 July 2011

2011-07-07T20:23:00.001-07:00

Swanton Time Trial

It was partly cloudy, with a little wind. I headed north on Hwy 1. When a few cyclists overtook me, I took advantage of their slipstream into Davenport. I started second in the time trial. One rider overtook me about a third of the way up the climb. A second rider blew by me on the return leg, in the valley a little after the descent. I finished in 35:38, which, coincidentally, matched the estimate from my GPS to the second. After catching my breath for a few minutes, I headed for home.

4 July 2011

2011-07-04T13:00:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm. By the coast, it was cool in the wind and shade. In the mountains, it was hot in the sun. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, then took Graham Hill and East Zayante, over Quail Hollow and down Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond. I started up Alba Rd at 11:17, and got to the top a little under 35 minutes later. There was something going on at Alba School. There were cars parked around there, chairs set up, and some people already there. There was a fire truck there too. Just as I was going by, the firemen were getting into the truck. After I had gone by, the fire truck started off, with its siren wailing. Fortunately for me, it headed downhill. Further up, the graffiti rock appeared to have been removed. Some graffiti was painted on the right side of the road instead. I headed down Empire Grade. The traffic light at the UCSC west entrance was green when I went by. Further down, to the right of the road, was a ghost bike memorializing the cyclist who had been killed there earlier.

2 July 2011

2011-07-02T14:30:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny by the coast, and hot in the mountains. Most of the ride was in the shade. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek and Hwy 236 out of Boulder Creek. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:12. It was hot in the sun; I stayed in the shade as much as I could. I overtook a pair of gabbing cyclists a little before the steep part. A couple of trucks hauling mountain bikes up the road went by. I got to the top at 12:37, for an estimated time of 24:49. Turning left, I headed down Empire Grade. I overtook four more cyclists early on Empire Grade. Unusually, the new traffic light at the UCSC west entrance stayed green when I got there.

25 June 2011

2011-06-25T15:10:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

I waited until the sun came out and then a little longer before getting started. I headed north on Hwy 1 into a headwind, then headed up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat. At the top, I turned right and headed down Empire Grade.

18 June 2011

2011-06-18T12:19:00.001-07:00

Saturday harbor ride

It was overcast and cool. There was a slight mist in the air when I started. On San Andreas, the pack split up. I think there were at least two groups ahead of the group I was in, so it wasn't difficult for me to stay in the group, as the really strong riders wouldn't be in this group. In fact, a Bissell rider who was sitting in this third group launched himself ahead a bit after Manresa. It was odd not to be out of breath at the end of San Andreas. It was a smaller group of around a dozen going up Hazel Dell. I fell behind a group of 5 or 6 going up the last part of Mount Madonna, but managed to catch up when they took the initial flatter part of Hazel Dell relatively slowly. When the climbing started, I fell behind again. I caught up with another rider on Browns Valley and worked together almost to Corralitos. From Corralitos, I went over Hames, latching onto a group of 4 to 6, turning onto Day Valley and Valencia and Trout Gulch to Aptos Village, and Soquel back to Santa Cruz. It remained overcast as I got back home.

11 June 2011

2011-06-11T14:22:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was cool and partly cloudy. There was a tailwind going down the hill to Hwy 9, but there was somewhat of a headwind going up Hwy 9. I took my usual detour on Glen Arbor. There was more of a headwind on Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:31. There were a number of trucks hauling mountain bikes both up and down. On the left turn where the difficult climbing starts, a couple of mountain bikers emerged from the trail to the right as I went by. Further up, a road cyclist was descending, riding her brakes. At around a mile from the top, a group of motorcyclists went by going up. Near the top and on the top part of Empire Grade, the road was wet. I got to the top at 12:55, and it the clock soon changed to 12:56 after I started up Empire Grade. It was somewhat windy on Empire Grade. From around upper UCSC on down, it was a tailwind.

30 May 2011

2011-05-30T14:50:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and windy, even though it had been partly cloudy earlier. I started off with a tailwind, and headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, took a right onto Graham Hill, then headed up Zayante and Quail Hollow, then descended to Ben Lomond. Then I headed up Alba. Around a third of the way up, a descending cyclist zipped by. A little later, another descending cyclist went by. Around Alba School, I overtook another climbing cyclist. After 35 minutes of climbing, I turned left on Empire Grade and headed back. There was a headwind for much of the descent. And, as usual, the new light at Heller was green when I first saw it, but turned yellow and red as I started accelerating to try to make the light, so, as usual, I had to stop for the light.

28 May 2011

2011-05-28T14:59:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and windy. The wind was mostly a tailwind at first. I headed up Hwy 9 to Felton, where there was suddenly a lot of traffic and a lot of people walking around. I don't know what was going on. I turned right at Graham Hill, then left at Zayante. There was still quite a bit of traffic, which thinned out above Lompico Rd. After East Zayante became Upper Zayante, it got a little cloudy. It was partly cloudy as I took Summit Rd over Hwy 17 then down Soquel-San Jose. I headed over Laurel Glen and Mtn View, then took Branciforte back. From Branciforte all the way home, there was a headwind. When I got home, it was sunny again.

21 May 2011

2011-05-21T15:36:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

I started off north on Hwy 1 into a tough headwind. At the bottom of the dip for San Vicente Creek just south of Davenport, the speed detector said I was going 24mph. It usually says that I go well over 30mph there. There were relief from the wind in the valley and the climb of Swanton Rd. At the end of Swanton, it was back to Hwy 1, but now with a tailwind, as I headed back towards Davenport. The speed detector just north of Davenport mostly said 56-61mph as I approached it due to motorized traffic, but it flickered to 28 and 29mph a few times, so it was a good tailwind on this flat, if not very slightly uphill section. I turned left at Bonny Doon Rd and headed up, continuing on Pine Flat, then down Empire Grade. This was only the second time I had ridden since being sick all last weekend and so I was kind of weak on the finish down High St.

7 May 2011

2011-05-07T14:09:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and breezy, with the wind mostly from the north. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, then took Hwy 236. On 236, a white van waited behind me for a while, then, passed me, sounding its horn, and moved towards me while passing. As it went by me, it was at least 2 feet right of the center line, and there was no oncoming traffic to attribute its moving towards me while passing, so I think the motorist was deliberately trying to intimidate me. I think motorists that use their vehicles to deliberately intimidate people should have their licenses suspended, and repeat offenders should have their licenses revoked. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:14. There may have been a slight tailwind for the climb, but I didn't notice any wind. There were 3 cyclists descending about a quarter mile from the top; one of them was wearing a Radio Shack jersey. There was a group of mountain bikers at the top -- they had passed me in a number of trucks on the way up. It was 12:38 when I got to the top. I turned left and headed down Empire Grade. For the fast part of the descent by upper UCSC marked by the 8-14% grade sign, I was behind a couple of cars that were going relatively slowly and had to ride the brakes down to the bridge.

5 May 2011

2011-05-05T20:11:00.001-07:00

Swanton time trial

I headed north on Hwy 1 into the wind. It had been a very warm day, but it was cooling on the coast. The wind seemed to ease a bit north of Davenport. There was a headwind for the start of the time trial, but didn't seem to be a factor once I got into the valley. One rider overtook me before the climb, and three others on the return leg. Near the end, my left calf repeatedly threatened to cramp, but, just after finishing, my right calf briefly seized up. Based on my GPS data, my time was around 36 minutes.

23 April 2011

2011-04-23T15:00:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

I headed up Hwy 1. It was overcast, with a little tailwind. I turned off onto Swanton, taking the loop back to Hwy 1, and into the headwind. Looking at the GPS data, I barely got up to 30 mph on the descent to Scott Creek. At the sign just outside of Davenport, I was going 18-20mph according to the GPS data. It briefly flashed 21mph between all the car traffic making it register around 50mph. A week earlier, with a tailwind, it showed that I was going 27mph. At Bonny Doon Rd, I turned left and headed uphill. From Smith Grade up, there were traces of drizzle. At Empire Grade, I turned right and headed down, and it was wet and chilly, though the road remained dry. The drizzle became more than a trace, and my face got completely wet. It was like being in an invisible fog.

16 April 2011

2011-04-17T10:55:00.001-07:00

Pescadero and Half Moon Bay

There was thick fog as I started north on Hwy 1. It became mostly sunny around Bonny Doon Rd. After Año Neuvo, there was a headwind, which slowed me down. I turned right at Gazos Creek for somewhat of a break from the wind, which returned on Cloverdale. At the northern part of Cloverdale, it became foggy again, and it was foggy in Pescadero. I signed into the ride and waited around for a while. Then, it was up Stage Rd for a stop in San Gregorio. Then, it was up the remainder of Stage Rd and down Hwy 1 to Tunitas Creek Rd, Lobitos Creek Rd, Verde Rd, Purissima Creek Rd, Higgins Creek Rd, and into Half Moon Bay for lunch at a sandwich place just before the lunch crowd showed up.

After lunch, I headed south on Hwy 1. Just south of Pescadero Rd, I stopped for about 5 minutes at red light that controlled a brief section where only one lane was open. By the county line, it became sunny. There were a handful of kite surfers at Waddell. There was a nice tailwind, and a speed sign said I was going around 27 mph just north of Davenport, even though I had ridden 40 miles more than I had in months so far, with more than 10 more miles to go. I was considerably slower over the last 5 miles or so of Hwy 1, and then turned left to head up the steep climb up Western.

9 April 2011

2011-04-09T12:11:00.001-07:00

Saturday harbor ride

It was cold and sunny. My hands were really cold at first and I wished I had put on gloves, but after an hour or so, it was fine. The sun glared on the eastern horizon. It was cold and windy on San Andreas, and the pack split up. I was in the trailing group, so it wasn't hard to stay in that pack. I wound up near a big guy on a Calfee that kept moving laterally, including one abrupt move of about three feet to the right, so I was trying to get away from him while staying in the draft and wishing that he had made the front group. A bunch of the lead pack had turned right at Thurwachter, which, I guess, would be the long route today. As usual, I went up Casserly. On Mt Madonna, just after Casserly Market, the group started splitting up, long before the steep part where it usually splits up. I went up Hazel Dell with one, then two other riders for a while, before dropping back, and then descended to Corralitos alone. I got into a group of 7 or 8 going over Hames, Day Valley, and Valencia, so that part when faster than usual, and then headed back on Soquel.

2 April 2011

2011-04-02T14:25:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was cool and overcast when I headed up Hwy 9. From around Ben Lomond, it was mostly sunny until I reached Empire Grade. A little before Brookdale, a group of cyclists overtook me, so I leeched off of them until they stopped at Boulder Creek. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:18. There was a slight breeze at times, but it made me feel like I was going slightly faster rather than a headwind for some reason. My clock changed from 12:43 to 12:44 when I got to the top. I turned left and headed down Empire Grade, where it became overcast around the prison camp. It got sunnier after Smith Grade.

12 March 2011

2011-03-12T12:15:00.001-08:00

Saturday harbor ride

It was slightly chilly in the morning with the sun glaring on the eastern horizon. Heading down 7th, there was a sign with a tsunami warning saying that coastal roads were closed, but the roads all turned out to be normal. On San Andreas, I found myself at the back of the pack, and then, around Renaissance School, the tail end of the pack fell apart. After the little climb after Buena Vista, I got into a rotation of 4 riders for the rest of San Andreas and Beach until we got back to the pack. I didn't notice anybody heading south from Watsonville. The group going up Hazel Dell, or at least the back half of the group, broke up on the climb up the last part of Mt Madonna. I was in another rotation of 4 riders for the part of Hazel Dell before the bridge where the climbing started, then dropped off. I overtook one of them before the summit. On the descent, a couple of riders blew by me and I couldn't stay with them. From Corralitos, I took Hames, Day Valley, Valencia, Trout Gulch, and Soquel back.

5 March 2011

2011-03-05T14:17:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It was cool and partly cloudy. Parts of the roads in the shade were wet. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, then Hwy 236 and up Jamison Creek. I started up Jamison at 12:26 and got to the top at 12:53, which was slightly disappointing, as I felt pretty good during the climb. I headed back on Empire Grade. A little north of Alba, a squirrel was doing something in the middle of the road. As I approached, it darted towards my path. Just as it was about to cross my path, it paused, and just as I was going by, it jumped into my path, and I felt both wheels go over it. When I looked back, it was gone, so it couldn't have been hurt too badly.

12 February 2011

2011-02-12T13:25:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It was warm in the sun, but cool in the wind and shade, though it was not chilly. I headed up Hwy 1. Initially, it seemed like there was a tailwind. By Dimeo, the wind was gone, but there was a sharp stench of manure and fertilizer from Dimeo to Bonny Doon Rd. By Laguna, there was a headwind all the way to Bonny Doon Rd. I turned right and headed up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat. At the top of Pine Flat, I turned right and headed down Empire Grade.

5 February 2011

2011-02-05T15:05:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It was a sunny, breezy day, with the wind from the north. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, then Hwy 236 and Jamison Creek. I started up Jamison Creek at 1:09. Most of the climb was shielded from the wind, though there was a section with a headwind less than a half a mile from the top, which twisted into a section with a tailwind for a short while. At the very top, it was windy again. I got to the top just before 1:35 for a climb time of about 25:20 and headed back down Empire Grade.

22 January 2011

2011-01-22T15:19:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It was a warm and sunny day. I headed up the coast by Davenport to Swanton Rd. For a long stretch somewhere between Dimeo Ln and Fambrini's, there was the smell of fertilizer. I rode the Swanton loop, then returned through Davenport and headed up Bonny Doon Rd. I took Martin Rd and Ice Cream Grade, then headed back down Empire Grade.

15 January 2011

2011-01-15T11:59:00.001-08:00

Saturday harbor ride

It was cool and damp, and the roads were damp. On San Andreas, the pace was not very hard at first, but got harder after Buena Vista. At Sunset, the pack slowed, then accelerated, and I couldn't match the acceleration, so I fell off the back. The pack hung tantalizingly about 50 ft ahead of me for about 15-20 seconds, then accelerated away. There was a little wind, too. A small group of 10 went up Mt Madonna and Hazel Dell, and I fell off the back on that climb too. On the ride back home, it was sunny and nice.

8 January 2011

2011-01-08T14:22:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It was cold and overcast. I headed up Hwy 9, where it was sunny, but still cold. I took the Glen Arbor to Ben Lomond, and headed up Hwy 236 from Boulder Creek. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:31. The road was wet at the bottom. It became overcast for part of the climb, but it was sunny at the top. I got to the top at 12:57, and headed down Empire Grade. It was sunny, but still cold through Bonny Doon. There was sand on parts of the road, a thick layer at some places, and parts of the road were wet. It became overcast as I went by UCSC.

11 December 2010

2010-12-11T14:51:00.001-08:00

Solo ride

It had been 4 weeks since I last really rode, due to holiday travel and rain, so I wasn't feeling in very good shape. The roads were mostly wet, though drying out where there was sun. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, then turned left at Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:38, and figured that I probably could get to the top at around 1:05, but not really any faster than that. About a mile in, before the serious climbing, there were flares on the road, with a police car blocking the right half of the road. There were some branches down. The policeman said it was okay to go through, so I continued. I got to the top just before 1:05, so my initial guess turned out to be pretty good. I headed back on Empire Grade, where there were a number of cars and trucks with trees strapped on top of them.

13 November 2010

2010-11-13T12:02:00.001-08:00

Chasing Loki

I headed up Hwy 1 to the Low-Key Hill Climb up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat. It was a mass start with a large pack of riders, which got thinned out when the climbing started. The "HURT YET?" and "HOW 'BOUT NOW?" that I first saw last month were still painted on the road. Riders kept overtaking me throughout the climb. I finished the climb with 2 other riders. Based on my GPS, I estimate my time to be around 42 minutes. After recovering somewhat, I headed back down Empire Grade.

6 November 2010

2010-11-06T14:16:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was partly cloudy, and the undersides of the clouds were dark. And, when I started up Hwy 9, a few drops of rain fell even though the sun was out. Fortunately, even though the sun came and went, it didn't rain for real.

I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, then up Hwy 236. I started up Jamison Creek Rd at 12:40. The initial few hundred feet were wet, but the rest of the road was dry. A few cars were headed down near the bottom, and one of the polluted the air with smelly diesel exhaust. As I arrived at the top, my clock changed from 12:44 to 12:45, for a time of 24:34. I turned left at Empire Grade and headed back.

16 October 2010

2010-10-16T14:21:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was overcast and cool. I headed north on Hwy 1 into the wind. There were bunches of cyclists, a lot of them wearing some green and black jersey, headed south. I turned up Bonny Doon Rd and headed up. Less than half a mile into the climbing, "HURT YET?" was painted on the road. Shortly after that, "HOW ABOUT NOW?" About a mile later, "AIN'T NO CORN HERE, RUSS", and shortly after that, "OUCH!" Then, at the start of the extended 10% grade after the bridge, "THERE'S MORE?", and about 3/4 of the way up the extended 10% grade, "NOW THIS IS FUN!" There were also a bunch of faded stuff from 5 months earlier, when the Tour of California came through. By the time I got to Smith Grade, I had gotten above the fog, and it was sunny.

At Pine Flat and Empire Grade, a tree had fallen and was blocking the road. The way south was cordoned off, so turned around and headed down to Ice Cream Grade, and then to Empire Grade and back down.

9 October 2010

2010-10-09T11:59:00.001-07:00

Saturday harbor ride

It was sunny, but a bit chilly early on. The sun was fairly low on the eastern horizon, making it hard to see through the glare. Near the end of Soquel, just before Freedom, I was at the back of the pack when some mishap happened in the middle of the pack. Three bikes were on the ground, but I think everyone was okay. On Bonita and San Andreas, the pace was pushed hard early on, but then, a little before Buena Vista, around Renaissance school, it slowed drastically. On Casserly and Mt Madonna, the pace was hard for me, so I went up the steep part of Mt Madonna with the 3rd or 4th group, and then fell off the back after the bridge on Hazel Dell, and rode alone to Corralitos and back home.

2 October 2010

2010-10-02T14:00:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was a very nice day, neither cold nor hot. I headed up Graham Hill to Felton. The Hwy 9 detour signs were gone, so Hwy 9 was back open. Then I took Hwy 9, Glen Arbor, and Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek. At the intersection with Hwy 236, a fire truck, siren blaring, came up Hwy 9 from Ben Lomond and then headed up Hwy 236. After it went by, I headed up Hwy 236.

I started up Jamison Creek at 12:04. Soon, another fire truck came heading down from Empire Grade, and turned its siren on. During the climb, three more fire trucks headed down Jamison to Hwy 236. About 3/4 of a mile from the top, I went by 2 climbing cyclists who apparently were taking it easy. They certainly weren't breathing hard like I was. I got to the top at 12:28, and it took just about 24 minutes for the climb, for my best time in almost 2 years. I turned left and headed home down Empire Grade.

25 September 2010

2010-09-25T15:33:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and hot, but I figured I'd be riding about 40 miles and just took 1 bottle and no money. I also figured it would be cool in the shade of Eureka Canyon, which it was. The heat was more than I expected, and I topped off my bottle at Corralitos. Signs warned of a road closure about 5 miles into Eureka Canyon, and half the road was closed, with metal plates covering the other half. There was a traffic light guarding the area, and it never changed from red, so I proceeded through.

It was cool in the shade, but it was hot in the sun. By the time I got to Soquel-San Jose, my bottle was 3/4 empty, and the remaining water was very warm. I headed down the hill and then back home.

18 September 2010

2010-09-18T12:04:00.001-07:00

Saturday harbor ride

It was overcast, and drizzly in places. Some of the roads were wet, including most of San Andreas. I managed to stay with the pack on San Andreas, but had to work for it at times. On Casserly, from my viewpoint at the back of the pack, I saw some riders off the front, and then a couple more that successfully bridged up. Fortunately for me, the pack didn't chase, so I was able stay with the group up Mt Madonna and the initial part of the Hazel Dell climb before falling off the back. When I got back home, it was still overcast, but the sun was supposed to come out some time in the middle of the day.

11 September 2010

2010-09-11T14:17:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and quite warm. I headed up the coast, then up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat, and returned down Empire Grade.

6 September 2010

2010-09-06T13:05:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny on this day off. I headed up Graham Hill then over Quail Hollow to Ben Lomond, then up Alba Rd and down Empire Grade.

4 September 2010

2010-09-04T14:09:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was warm and sunny, with a slight breeze from the south. I headed up Graham Hill to Felton, then Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek and Hwy 236 to Jamison Creek Rd. Jamison Creek Rd had been repaved since the last time I was there, and there was gravel dusting the road. Due to the gravel, my rear wheel slipped around the 1.60 mile mark, and on the steep right curve around the 1 mile mark. I started at the bottom at 12:13 and got to the top just before 12:39. Empire Grade was also repaved from Jamison to the top of Alba Rd.

28 August 2010

2010-08-28T12:06:00.001-07:00

Saturday harbor ride

It was cool and partly cloudy. My hip was sufficiently recovered for a hard ride. The pace on San Andreas was pretty relaxed, and I had no problem sitting in. I saw someone off the front at the little climbs after Manresa and Buena Vista. After Watsonville, a pretty large group of 30 or so went up Hazel Dell. At the start of Hazel Dell, after the steep part of lower Mount Madonna, I dropped off the lead group and also couldn't stay with the 2nd group of about 5, so I went over the top of Hazel Dell alone. On the descent, I latched onto a pair of riders that came speeding by all the way to Corralitos. I headed over Hames solo, then over Day Valley, where I latched onto a group of 8 or so, which then dispersed along Soquel.

22 August 2010

2010-08-22T14:44:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and nice, so I went out even though I still had a cough and headed up the coast into the wind, then headed up Bonny Doon and Pine Flat. Since I hadn't recharged my GPS batteries, I found out after I got home that the GPS shut off while I was on Pine Flat, a little before Empire Grade. At Empire Grade, I turned right and headed back.

21 August 2010

2010-08-21T13:47:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was overcast and breezy and I hadn't ridden all week due to a mild fever and cough, so I headed out for a short ride. I went up Graham Hill, where there was heavy car traffic. The sun came out just a little ways up the hill. Then down to Felton, and up Felton-Empire and returning down Empire Grade.

14 August 2010

2010-08-14T13:48:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was cool and overcast when I started up the coast. I headed up Bonny Doon Rd, and the sun started coming out when I got to Smith Grade. I continued up Pine Flat to Empire Grade and headed down. It was sunny, but cool, the rest of the way.

8 August 2010

2010-08-08T15:19:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was overcast and cool, and my hip was flaring up. The roads were damp yesterday, so I didn't ride yesterday, so I rode today. It was drizzly and the road had damp patches as I headed up Graham Hill. My hip also threatened pain at times. I had hoped it would be sunny in Felton or at least Boulder Creek, but it remained overcast.

It was sunny when I got to the bottom of Jamison Creek at 1:24, which was nice. I felt pretty good going up Jamison, and my hip felt fine. At the left turn where the steep part begins, a red car took the turn too wide coming down, completely crossing over into the outside lane, but that was a ways ahead of me. However, I think that car was a diesel, since the air got stunk up with its fumes. There was another truck with diesel fumes further up too. I got to the top at 1:48, for a time of 24:37 for the climb.

It remained sunny for the upper part of Empire Grade, but then it got cool and overcast below Bonny Doon. The road was damp and it was drizzly from around upper UCSC.

31 July 2010

2010-07-31T14:21:00.001-07:00

Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge

My hip hasn't fully recovered, but I was scheduled to help out at the second rest stop, so I started out early. It was very foggy and drizzly. I headed up Graham Hill to Felton, then Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, and Hwy 236 to the second rest stop. The first riders came through a bit before half past 8. Most of the riders were through by 11. I headed back at 11:30.

I started up Jamison Creek at 11:36. At first, I didn't see many riders. However, once I got to the last mile, there were some riders and a bunch walking their bikes. As I reached the top, my clock changed from 12:01 to 12:02. The climb took about 25:30. I continued without stopping to the lunch stop, where it was warm and sunny, and stopped for a little while.

I continued down Empire Grade, Pine Flat, and the Bonny Doon loop, where it was slightly chilly in the shade. The route would continue down to the coast and back up Bonny Doon, but I turned left at Smith Grade and headed back to Empire Grade and back home.

10 July 2010

2010-07-10T21:40:00.001-07:00

Club ride

It was very foggy in the morning when I started off. I headed up Graham Hill to Felton, then headed up Hwy 9. On Hwy 9, my right hip flared up, especially when standing, and I considered heading back home, but decided to keep going and take it relatively easy on this relatively tough route. The fog cleared around Boulder Creek, where I got signed in.

First was going up Bear Creek. I sat for the entire climb, which wasn't too bad, since it wasn't steep. At the top, there was a guy with a flat and a busted valve stem, so someone gave him a tube, which sprung a leak. Someone else gave him another tube, and that worked out. One rider missed the stop/turnaround and continued to either Summit Rd or maybe went all the way down to Hwy 17. On the descent back the same way to Boulder Creek, I got stuck behind a slow car for the twisty upper part and had to ride the brakes.

Next was going up Hwy 9. Again, I sat for the entire climb, since there weren't any really steep parts. At the top, I got a hot dog and a soda. Then, it was back down to Boulder Creek.

The remainder of the club route headed up 236 and China Grade, then down 236 through the park headquarters, up and down Jamison Creek, and then back to Boulder Creek. I skipped that and headed up Jamison Creek. The clock said it was 1:46 when I started the climb, but the GPS track said it was 1:43. I sat more than usual for the climb, but it's too steep a climb to sit the whole way, so I stood carefully to avoid tweaking my hip. It was also pretty hot in the sun and it seemed like there was a 3mph tailwind, but at least most of the climb was in the shade. I got to the top at 2:11. Then, I headed down Empire Grade, taking it very easy, but still set off a few twinges in my hip, due to bumps in the road. Around upper UCSC, there were patches of cold air, and it was cool and overcast in town.

3 July 2010

2010-07-03T13:58:00.001-07:00

Solo ride

It was sunny and warm. I headed up Graham Hill to Felton, then up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek. I started up Jamison Creek at 11:56. There was one other cyclist slowly headed up near the bottom, and another pair of slow cyclists just after the bridge. They would have a long way to go to get to the top. It was warm enough to be uncomfortable. I got to the top at 12:20 and headed down Empire Grade. There was a headwind all the way back.