30 July 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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.