27 November 2007

Weekday morning UCSC loop

It wasn't as cold as it had been the last few mornings, and, despite lots of clouds, it was sunny. Still, I put on leg warmers, but didn't feel any need to wear gloves, though I would have gotten them had it been cold as I went out the door. It had been six days since the last time I did this loop, and it was windy then, but this time the air was pretty still.

Just after the right-hander on the descent on the first time down, there was a sign in the bike lane saying that it was closed ahead. A little farther along, cones marked off a stretch of the bike lane as off limits. The next time around, there were more cones and a truck sitting on the side of the road. The third time around, the truck was slowing going down the bike lane, laying cones as it went. By then, the cones stretched from just before the right-hander down a ways. The last time around, there were just the cones and the sign.

24 November 2007

San Juan Bautista

It was very cold in the morning. I had leg warmers on, but wished I had gloves, which I hadn't brought from home to Soquel, where I was starting from this time. At least it was slightly warmer in the sun. At the sunny parts of San Andreas, it warmed up a little so that my hands weren't freezing. I made my way to Elkhorn Rd and Kirby Park, the start of the ride.

The ride leaders arrived late, having camped out at Sunset Beach and were carrying loads of stuff on their touring bikes. I got signed in and got a route sheet. It was sunny and cool, but quite comfortable. We set out on Elkhorn, then up and over Hidden Valley, down Strawberry. I enjoyed a nice tailwind heading north on San Miguel Canyon, then it was gone on Tarpey and San Juan Rd. Then there was the climb up, then descent down Carpenteria for a regroup at Aromas.

After a break, we headed out on Carr and Anzar. Instead of following the route sheet to take San Juan Rd into San Juan Bautista, I took San Justo and then doubled back on Hwy 156 to San Juan Bautista for lunch. It was warm in the sun, and it was nice and sunny at midday.

After lunch, a few riders headed up Fremont Peak. I felt I had to get back, so I skipped that climb and headed back to Aromas, then towards Watsonville on San Juan, Murphy Crossing, and Hwy 129. Then, I took Carlton, Casserly, Mt Madonna, Hazel Dell, and Browns Valley to Corralitos. By then, it was overcast and getting chilly. I then took Hames, Day Valley, Valencia, Trout Gulch, and Soquel back to Soquel.

22 November 2007

Thanksgiving day ride

Top of Pine Flat It was sunny and clear, but cool. I headed down to Natural Bridges and Delaware to join a group of 7 others. On the way up the coast, there were two flat tires, that eventually caused 2 riders to ride ahead due to time constraints. After the second tire was replaced, the rest of use continued on to Bonny Doon Rd and then up.

I had climbed Bonny Doon to Smith Grade 3 or so times before, but never beyond that and had never climbed Pine Flat before. I've done the descent a number of times, though. After regrouping at the top, we headed down Empire Grade, regrouping at the UCSC west entrance.

I had never ridden through the western part of the campus before. It was pretty much uphill on Heller from Empire Grade. It flattened out, then descended on McLaughlin, curving into Glen Coolidge. We stopped at the overlook to Pogonip. The view of the bay was somewhat clear, but Moss Landing to Monterey was obscured by fog. Then we coasted down to High St and I broke off to go home.