3 November 2012

Solo ride

It was sunny and cool, with damp patches on the road in the shade. I headed up Hwy 9 and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek. There were lots of election season signs. I turned left and took Hwy 236 and started up Jamison Creek at 12:40. Apparently, the rim of my rear wheel had a crack in it, which caused my brake to start rubbing. At the steep part, the brake rub got more severe. I used the brake release, but it was still rubbing strongly, so the climb was very difficult. I got to the top at 1:06, for a time of about 26:03, which was better than I thought it would be. Then, I headed down Empire Grade, with the brake continuing to rub. On the descent to Smith Grade, my rear tire popped with a bang, so I started walking home, theorizing that the brake rub caused my rims to heat, which caused the tire pressure to rise and blow the tire. A couple miles later, I got a ride the rest of the way to town.

20 October 2012

Solo ride

It was overcast when I started, but became sunny as I went up into the mountains and it was sunny when I got back. I don't know why, but there was heavy car traffic in town. I was delayed by traffic at King and Mission, after making through downtown, I headed up Branciforte and Glen Canyon to Scotts Valley, then up the much quieter Bean Creek Rd and Mountain Charlie. I took Summit Rd over Hwy 17, then down Soquel-San Jose, over Laurel Glen and down Mountain View and Branciforte back to town, where there was heavy traffic again, but it didn't directly hold me up this time.

6 October 2012

Solo ride

It was mostly sunny with scattered clouds and comfortably cool and slightly breezy. There was a slight headwind as I headed up Hwy 9, which had the usual relatively heavy traffic, and Glen Arbor to Boulder Creek, and some more slight headwinds on Hwy 236. Parts of Hwy 236 had newly repaved strips of 2-3 feet wide and about 10=15 feet long. I started up Jamison Creek at 12:49. A pack of motorcycles went by between the 1.66 and 1.60 markers. I got to the top at 1:13, for an estimated time of 23:43, which would be tied for my 2nd best time ever with a time from July 2008. I turned left at Empire Grade and headed home.