Iron Horse with more mileage and hills

Sunday, after many days of relentless rain - I got to sneak out and ride. Much needed since I was rained out the previous weekend.

My goal today was to ride the Iron Horse again, a bit further and, to add some hills by riding a few miles to the East. Noble goal! My ride is here.

I started my ride earlier in the day, got on the trail around 11 AM. Weather was cloudy with a stiff breeze out of the South. Pretty much a headwind for much of the early part of the ride, which was a nice challenge. Riding felt good, no pain nor numbness, just felt good. Got to a waterfalls that I recognized and WOW, much more water flowing over it now. Check out the picture from my earlier ride on the Iron Horse - quite a difference.

Cherry Trees at Happ McGee Park

Continued the ride at a moderate pace, about 12 mph. Got to the Happ McGee park where I turned around last time. Took a nice rest there this time. Water, rest, carb goo and bio break. Took a picture of the cherry trees which were just coming into full bloom. Very nice!

Continued the ride on Danville Blvd. Wow, why wasn't I riding this from Walnut Creek - great bike path on the side, few lights, few dogs and people and not many cars. Parallels the Iron Horse, but many less stops and cross streets. Great ride into Danville.

In Danville, I texted my friend David, who was riding with Different Spokes. They were riding Morgan Territory Road behind Mt. Diablo - a bit too hilly for me right now. They were about 30 minutes out, so I decided to get my missed hills in by riding up Camino Tassajara. Nice, slow, steady incline - just perfect. Did 5 more miles round trip and back to Danville, where I texted David again and I met up with the group at a nice deli a few blocks from where I stopped. Good to catch up with everyone. Nice leisurely 45 minute lunch.

Took about an hour to ride back on Danville Blvd and the Iron Horse to North Concord, my start/end point. I put a few extra miles in at the end, to bring my total to 38 miles. Great ride and overall felt great - no pain, no strain, no problems that night or next day. YES!!

Ride Statistics

• Total mileage: 38
• Time riding: 3:00
• Elevation gain: 600'
• Average speed: 12.8 mph
• Average cadence: 68
• Wind: Headwind of 10-15 mph. Heaviest wind I have ridden in, could feel it move the bike as I rode.
• Practiced fast pedaling as well as high gear riding on the flat parts
• Overall, felt great. No pains at all, no numbness, cramping. Slight pain in the left hip as usual. Was careful to rest every hour or so.

First Hills - Monday March 21

Took an afternoon break while working at home. Wanted desperately to catch some decent weather after getting washed out over the weekend. Decided to ride into the Crocker Highlands area of Oakland, where there are some mild hills.

Total ride was just shy of 9 miles, with some mild hills. I was careful to stop at the top of some hills, walk it out. Stopped a few other times just to be sure to take it easy. Took the hills slowly, and they were fine. No bad feelings or soreness afterwards, altho sure did get warm. Did not keep any real statistics on this ride.

Ride route is here.

Building Up - Riding the Iron Horse Trail

Beat the rain again! Rode the Iron Horse trail, which runs from North Concord all the way south to Pleasanton. It runs along the right away of a petroleum pipeline. Great easy ride, which was a perfect next step for me. Slight elevation gain - 300 feet over the 13 miles I rode south.  You can read some about the Iron Horse trail here and see my ride here.

I was aiming for 30 miles round trip - got to 28 easily. The trail starts near Hwy 4 in North Concord, very non-descript beginning, to the east of Buchanan Field. It follows the Walnut Creek (the namesake of the town for sure) to downtown Walnut Creek. Took a picture of a small water falls on the creek, somewhere in Concord. There was a significant amount of water flowing, no surprise.

Danville Park - Turnaround point

Riding through downtown Walnut Creek is a bit hairy, many streets to cross, but only for a few miles. Once I reached Rudgear Rd., the trail crossed under I-680 and follows Danville Blvd. south. Very easy to ride, no big streets any longer, just short side streets coming off Danville Blvd. Very green and peaceful. I felt a little tingling in my leg and promised myself I would not push too hard, so decided to turn around a few miles early. Good turn around point at a Danville city park - bio-break, rest, water and some Goo (yum!). Figured if I still wanted a bit more riding, could add a few more miles at the north end. 

Ride back seemed easier - once I saw the ride profile, I realized why. Slight downhill the whole way. Ride went quickly. Just into Concord, I passed this garage and turned back to get a picture. The bright colors drew me in at first - then I notice the saying on the upper right side - wow, blew me away. "If you want to see a miracle, be the miracle." Really touched my heart.

If you want to see a miracle, be the miracle!

Continued the ride north, did an extra 2 miles at the north end by the airfield and then, back to the car, loaded up the bike and drove home. Stopped in Orinda for a Casper's hotdog and some chocolate milk - my riding friend David would appreciate the food ending! I sure did.

My wheels

North end of the Iron Horse Trail

Ride Statistics

• Distance: 28.5 miles
• Time riding: 2:15
• Elevation Gain: 300'
• Wind: Minimal
• Physical Feeling: Some tiredness in legs by 12 miles or so. Some tingling in left leg too. Decided to turn around at 13 miles, instead of 15. Ride back was easier, did some higher gear riding - did all low gear, high cadence on way down. Felt fine, but tired, by end. No pain afterwards nor next day. Rolled out and stretched both before and after the ride.

Alameda Redux - Building up the Miles

Snuck a ride in on Saturday, before the predicted rains of Sunday. Started the day by hosting the Different Spokes ride from our house - a bunch of wonderful bikers, mostly from San Francisco, took off for a great ride over the hills to Contra Costa County, to do the 3-Bears ride. Not able to do that ride yet, so my hubby and I did a 20-miler in Alameda. Ride is here.

Did much of the same ride as last week, and added on Bay Farm Island. Great, easy ride. Definitely felt decently tired by the end, but no bad feeling nor pain. Very happy about that.

Look forward to a ride of 25-30 miles next week.

Ride Statistics

• Total Distance: 20.5 miles
• Total Ride time: 1:45
• Average Speed: 11.5 mph
• Average Cadence: 66
• Physical Feeling: Good overall. Definitely tired by end of the ride, legs (quads) also somewhat tired, but no pain, no discomfort. No additional numbness either.