25 June 2011

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

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

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.