Killer Climb in Redwood City

This was my first mid-day ride from work. A fine Tuesday afternoon it was! My coworker, who is also riding the AIDS Lifecycle ride in June, David, led the way. Goal was to ride for about 1.5 hours, up into the hills, possibly down Canada Rd and then back. Stop along the way to eat our lunch. As usual, forgot my phone, so no camera. Oh well.

Our ride route is here. We left Oracle headquarters around 12:30, gorgeous sunshine, light breeze, about 65 degrees outside, perfect riding weather. I still had a cold, but was feeling good enough to ride. The climb was much steeper than either of us figured - David was embarrassed because he didn't warn me of the degree of climb - he didn't know himself. No problem - this is what I love about my bike - I just slow down and peddle, it gets me where I need to go and I am not bushed doing it. The climb was hard for sure, 12-15% grade, but I did it with a small rest and no pain. Practiced some standing pedaling and some focused pedaling drills and relaxed arms and shoulders. Certainly some heavy breathing after the climb - maybe it's a good thing I did not have my phone.

The killer part was 42nd Ave. Once we made it to the top, some fairly level riding. All this through the residential areas of Belmont. We found a great overlook (would have been spectacular pictures), rested, drank lots of water and ate our lunches. Great views over the Bay, towards San Francisco and Coyote Point. Nice to see how high we had climbed.

Return trip was downhill much of the way. A few miles on Ralston, then off to side residential roads, then back to Ralston, via a wrong turn I made. Back to Oracle office by 2, just in time for a decent shower. No pain after the ride, felt great and the cold seemed to be better too.

Statistics

• Distance: 9.5 miles
• Time Riding : 1 hour
• Average Speed: 10.5 mph
• Max Speed: 30 mph
• Temperature: Mid 60's
• Wind: Approx 10mpg, mild breeze

Physical Feeling

• Good going into the ride, some burning thigh feeling on the steepest climb, but not too bad
• A bit of left hip achiness, probably from the climb
• No other aches or pains
• Not wiped out after the ride, but very tired later in the day. Thinking I need to eat more after the ride.
• Ate a turkey sandwich during the ride and a bar afterwards and a bar a few hours later. Still doesn't seem like enough.

Tiburon Loop

Ahh, the pleasure of a ride with my husband, Ross and friend Pete from Sacramento. We decided to ride the Larkspur peninsula on Saturday the 16th. The ride is here. And, again, I forgot to take pictures - ugh, the mind of a 50-something.

Given the fact that my stomach comes in only second to my gonads to totally controlling me, I decided to start the ride in Larkspur at Emporio Rulli, a fine Italian bakery. The goal was to have a nice food joint to end the ride at. And guess what, it worked!

We got on the road around 10:00, nice ride through downtown Larkspur. In the 30 years Ross and I have been in the Bay Area, have never been to Larkspur. Go figure! It's a charming town, lots of old Victorian buildings, great tiny park with huge redwoods and, you can actually park your car and not have to pay. Nice option when you cart your bikes on the car. The ride took us over to Hwy 101, over the highway and then, to the peninsula. It's hilarious how many bikers there are in Marin county - no kidding, more bikers on this road than cars. And, not just bikers, but fully garbed, color coordinated bikers - packs wearing the same colorful clothing. Damn I wish I had taken some pictures.

We don't get too far onto Paradise Drive before I get a flat. No big deal, small puncture and we are right by a Country Day school, so I get to change my flat on a nice wooden deck fully equipped with a picnic table. Made the job easier. I also got to test out my worthless bike pump - hey, it's stylish and fits into my saddle bag, but it only has 4" of play, so it would have taken me all day to pump up the tire. Luckily, other pumps on Ross' and Pete's bikes did the trick. Off we go, about 20 minutes lost.

Paradise Drive is gorgeous - many trees and terrific views of the San Francisco Bay. We passed by a marina filled with boats of all kinds, then past many homes built into the hill, with spectacular views of the bay. It was pretty cool - actually, I was freezing in my light jersey and shorts. Another lesson learned - as the weather cools I need to bring along some warmer clothes. Hey, it's all a learning process. After about 10 miles, we pull into downtown Tiburon and stop for a bio break and some coffee/hot chocolate. Great rest stop! And, I got to put on Pete's long sleeved shirt - what a god send. Just a bit more clothing made so much difference.

Spent about 30 minutes relaxing and sipping the hot drinks, then off we went to ride back to Larkspur and a potentially terrific lunch. Easy ride back, except that Pete forgot his backpack by the chair. I was leading the pack and at some point, no longer saw Ross and Pete in my mirror (ah, love the clip on mirror, makes it so much easier to see behind me!). I stopped, waited a few minutes, still no Ross or Pete. Hmm, the bad thoughts come - did they go down? I backtrack and as expected, soon find them. Pete had high-tailed it back to the cafe to get his backpack and was just catching up to Ross when I got to them. Nice to have remembered the pack!  Uneventful ride back to Larkspur.

Lunch was well, friggen fantastic. Great panini and cookies for dessert. So nice to sit inside, where it was warm and look outside to see the throngs of bikers passing by. Relaxing way to end the ride.

Statistics

• Time: 2 hours riding
• Distance: 22 miles
• Avg Speed: 13.5 mph
• Max Speed: did not record
• Temperature: low 60's
• Wind: bit of a breeze in places, 10-15 mph

Physical Feelings

• easy ride, no aches or pains, barely felt tired. No tired legs afterwards. Ate well afterwards, Cliff Bar with hot chocolate in Tiburon. Not a great night sleep prior night.

Riding the 3 Bears

Today's ride - do the 3 Bears. A ride I have been thinking about for a while, but have patiently waited until I had built up some fitness. So what the heck are the 3 Bears? Here's a picture, and I'll tell you - riding them was so much fun.

The 3 Bears

Actually, it's a great ride around 2 reservoirs east of here - the San Pablo Reservoir and the Briones Reservoir. See details here. Part of the ride is on Bear Creek Road, beautiful countryside and 3 large hills - thus the 3 bears name.

My favorite rest stop

San Pablo Reservoir

I started at the Orinda BART station, right at 10:00. All fired up to go and a bit unsure if I'd be able to do the ride. I've driven Bear Creek Road many times and gotta say, since I've started riding, feel very sorry for the bikers slogging up the hills - they are long and moderate grade, but there are 3 of them. I was willing to try it - overall fitness has been good, so definitely time to try. The ride starts pretty flat for 8 miles, good way to warm up. Nice views of the San Pablo Reservoir. Road is a bit hairy - areas with minimal shoulder to ride on, but overall, not bad, especially with my new rear-view mirror, which Ross says makes me look like a BORG alien. Once I got to the north end of the reservoir, turned right at Castro Ranch Road. Ahh, found a nice rest stop - how thoughtful of these people to build a special rest stop for bikers. 

Vineyards in Contra Costa County!

Soon, I get out into the countryside, rolling hills covered in the orange dried grass of the California autumn. Beautiful contrast with the green live oak. Ahh, love this countryside! Nice ride up Alhambra Valley Road to the junction with Bear Creek Road. Very different to see a vineyard here, had no idea there were vineyards in Contra Costa County! Wonder what the wine is like? Time for a break - nature stop, water and the lifeline of a biker, a Cliff Bar. This is the first point where I feel any tiredness, 1 hour in. Not sure if it is because of the stop and rest or really the tiredness. But, I push on and it is fine. Still trying to keep the pace to the point where my breathing is not too fast and I can talk (talk with myself that is!).

Top of the First Bear

Not long until I get to the first bear - long hill for sure, but not so bad. I got to the top, and, not too winded nor tired. Very happy, very surprised. Took a short stop to take a photo and drink more water. Tried hard to keep hydrated, fed and rested. Trying to build endurance and some reading has clued me into riding slow to get the body used to burning more fat than carbs and building the ability to ride for a long time - definitely worth a try. Will need endurance to ride 6 days, 80-100 miles a day.

Nice downhill, not too steep. Ride past the entrance to Briones Park, one of our favorite places to hike. Always amazes me how great this park is and how few people hike there. Second bear is just past the park entrance. This is a long, steady hill. Steep enough to be in the highest gear, but not too steep. Kept a pretty steady 5-6 mph as I did on the first bear. Reach the top soon enough, another water stop and take a picture. Then, off to the next and last bear.

The last bear was not bad - mostly because the downhill from the second one is not much, so not too much new hill to climb. Up, over the top and down, down, down. The downhill from this last hill is awesome, long and steep. Just about at my limit for an enjoyable downhill. Some gentle pumping of the brakes to keep me from going too fast. I make it to about 35 mph, fast enough. I'm really glad I have my rear-view mirror - I can easily spot any traffic behind me - when the coast is clear, I can ride in the middle of the lane and take the downhill nicely.

I finish the ride with the short trip down Camino Pablo back to the BART station. Great ride, happy to be finished earlier than I thought.

Statistics

• Time: 2 hours
• Distance: 24 miles
• Max Speed: 35 mph
• Heart Rate at 1 hour reststop: 120
• Average Speed: 13 mph
• Wind: Gentle
• Temperature: Low 80's

Physical Feelings

• No aches, not even in right side of waist. Legs a bit tired, but no burning feeling. Breathing steady but not out of breath. Kept well hydrated (2 bottles), ate 2 Cliff Bars (one after 1 hour, one at end). Ate big lunch right afterwards. Focused on relaxed arms and shoulders and good pumping action with legs while pedaling.

Bay Trail to Inner Richmond Harbor

A cool grey Saturday morning. Ross and I got started by 9:30 and rode from the house to the University Ave portion of the Bay Trail. Non-descript ride along various Berkeley bike boulevard streets to the pedestrian/bike overpass for I-80, then onto our path. See the route here.

It was a dead flat ride. Interesting point when you ride through Golden Gate fields - we could have stopped to bet on a few ponies, but alas, we elected to keep riding. Amazing that people still go to horse races. Golden Gate fields was busy! The ride from there was along I-580, past Costco and the Point Isabel Dog park. Pt. Isabel was a riot, have never seen so many dogs in one place and they all seem to get along. Definitely one of the more popular pooch spots in the East Bay.

Great straightaway past the dog park,  to the Richmond Harbor. Cranked up to 20 mph, felt VERY good. Amazing site to see a guy, in his wheelchair, taking a leisurely stroll along the path. Man, that makes me feel so lucky to be able to pedal a bicycle. Yet, this guy, in his wheelchair, seemed every bit as happy as I was just to be out enjoying the day! Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures, again.

Exploring the Richmond Harbor was great fun. Nice paved path around the entire harbor. Nice for us to see the spot where we had kayaked 2 weeks earlier in a beginning REI Kayak class (good class btw). We rode past endless marinas, filled with sailboats - my type of marina. Past Rosie the Riviter park and the former Ford Factory (where there was some sort of city affair going on with a really amateur band playing - could not get out of the quick enough!). Turned around past the factory to head back.

By this time, the sun was out, fog burned off, gentle winds off the bay. Gorgeous ride back. Really great to be riding with my hubby, Ross, who seemed to enjoy the ride every bit as much as me.

Statistics

• Total Distance: 25 miles
• Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Average Speed: 11 mph
• Wind: Gentle

Physical Feelings

• Exertiion: Easy to carry on a conversation. Did some moderate sprints on the straightaways.
• No aches or pains, hands fine - no numbness
• Tired later that day, but not too awful
• Bad night's sleep that night (did have a latte that morning)
• Ate Cliff bar at midway point, drank 1.5 bottles of water

Tunnel Road to Skyline Blvd. - Redux

Have to get on the bike to finish out my Thursday workday. The weather has cooled a bit, so looks like perfect biking weather. Tunnel Road is it for this afternoon.

Goal is to get up to the top of the hill with no stops, at a decent pace - this is a build endurance ride. Other than realizing that I MUST get a rearview mirror to clip on my glasses, so I can see behind me (oh, the ravages of being over 50 - hard to turn my neck back to see cars behind me), nothing major to report. I made it up the hill, from the house, to Sibley Park, in 45 minutes - no stops. Damn it felt great. I was able to keep a pretty stable speed of 7-8 mph. Saw a few other bikers and just a few cars - this is a wonderful road to ride on - feels like you are way out in the country yet, you are in the heart of metropolitan Oakland. Just look over my right shoulder and the reminder is the backed-up traffic trying to wind its way through the Caldecott Tunnel at rush hour. Oh, how nice a bicycle is!!  Thought about stopping at Mike and Kenny's to say hi (they live right near the top of Broadway Terrace, where it intersects Skyline).

The 5 mile downhill is truly awesome! Getting better at feeling control of the bike coming downhill - it's a pretty incredible experience - the bike is light and the feeling is almost like you are flying - but, the sobering realization is that you have two thin tires holding you up - a little sand, a blowout, and you are hosed at 30 mph.

Stats:

• Total distance: 11.5 miles
• Time to get up hill: 45 minutes, no stops
• Avg speed: 10.5 mph
• Total time riding: 1 hour 20 minutes

Physical Feelings

• Not out of breath, could have held a conversation, albeit, short sentences
• Same slight pain in left hip, but it eased up as I rode more. Perhaps it's a warmup thing since I start climbing immediately on this ride. No other pains or aches.
• Stayed hydrated - drank a bit over 1 bottle of water, some of it while riding
• Ate CliffBar at turn around point
• No hand numbness
• Slight tiredness afterwards, legs a bit tired, but not bad. Slept well, feel fine next day.
• Ate a bit more day of the ride