12 September 2009

Half Moon Bay

It was foggy and, in places, drizzly. I woke up at around 6:45 and had to hurry to eat breakfast and get out on the road at around 7:15. Fortunately, there was no headwind until after Ano Nuevo. It got a little stronger by around Costanoa. Turning off as Gazos Creek got me out of the wind. I made it to Pescadero a little after 9, and got signed into the ride.

First it was up Stage Rd to a stop at San Gregorio. There was a Team In Training stop at San Gregorio, and I saw numerous Team In Training packs on the road. Since I had to hurry in the morning, I brought a banana from home and ate it there. Then it was on to a short stop at the Bike Hut. Then it was up part of Tunitas Creek, Lobitos Creek to Verde, then Purisima Creek and Higgins to Half Moon Bay, stopping at the New Leaf on Hwy 92 for lunch. It was overcast and chilly.

After lunch, I headed back on Hwy 1. At first, it was foggy and a little drizzly. After Davenport, it was sunny the rest of the way. There was a recumbent tandem headed the other way somewhere near Tunitas Creek. I sucked the wheels of a couple of fixed-gear riders up the climb after Tunitas Creek, then went by them on the descent. They came by again somewhere near Pigeon Point, so I sucked their wheels again up to the descent to Waddell, when I went by them again. I thought I might see them again, but I didn't. There wasn't any noticeable tailwind until I started approaching Pigeon Point. Just after Pigeon Point, there was a slight headwind, but, after that, it was mostly a mild tailwind.

I was kind of tired at the end, so I headed up Western pretty slowly.

5 September 2009

Alba

It was sunny and comfortable, with a light breeze. The traffic light at Encinal and Hwy 9 doesn't change for cyclists, so, after waiting through a light cycle, I waited for a break in the cross traffic, and then ran the light. As I started, a voice behind me yelled, "You fucking moron." I didn't look to see if it was directed at me.

I started up Alba at 11:53. There seemed to be a little more car traffic than usual. I even encountered a cyclist, also climbing, around the early part of the middle steep section. There two large packs of Miatas descending, with a a few strays trailing each pack. Sweat was constantly dripping into my eyes. I got to the top at 12:26.

30 August 2009

Tour of the Santa Cruz Mountains

I got up at 6:30 and had to hurry, and didn't eat enough breakfast and forgot to put on sunscreen, and headed out just before 7. It was very foggy and damp. I headed north on Hwy 1 and the road was damp. The fog was thick and damp. After Davenport, the fog cleared a bit. It even became sunny briefly around Ano Neuvo, but it soon became overcast. There was very little wind until around Waddell, when a headwind started picking up. The wind got stronger approaching Costanoa. There was a relief from the wind on Gazos Creek, but it picked up again on Cloverdale. I turned right on Butano Cutoff, which I had never done before, and then headed up Pescadero Rd. I met up at the start at 9:10, even though the ride was scheduled for 9.

We headed over Haskins, then up Alpine. On the way up Alpine, I felt the onset of a bonk due to my abbreviated breakfast, so I ate a bar. At the top, I ate another. We met up with 4 others who were planning on joining us, but then decided on shorter route. Then it was up Skyline to Saratoga Gap. I stopped at the fire station, refilled my bottle, and got a Sprite, which helped in avoiding the bonk. Then, it was a quick descent down Hwy 9 and a slower climb up 236, then down to the park headquarters. I got a coke at the store and refilled my bottle. Then, we continued on 236 to Jamison Creek. I topped off my bottle at the fire station, and then came the climb up the road. It was starting to get warm, and sweat was dripping in my eyes. Various parts of the road had been repatched, and there was loose gravel. My rear wheel slipped on some gravel on the inside of the turn leading up to the 1.33 sign, which still had the skunk tail stuck on top of it. I made it to the top in about 27 minutes, which was not very good, but not very bad, considering that I already had over 75 miles and 5500 feet of climbing when I started the climb.

I then headed home on Empire Grade. It was getting pretty warm, and it was getting uncomfortable in the sunny parts, though it would have felt good on a chilly day.