Back to it - Alameda Ride

It's been six weeks since I've had a decent ride. Am feeling much better now, leg and back almost mended. Did a short ride last Sunday - it was decent, but I wasn't quite there yet. I am incredibly grateful to be riding again.

Did a flat ride today, in Alameda. Rode through the former Alameda Naval Air Station - what a place for incredible views of the San Francisco Bay and the city of San Francisco. I pinch myself when I see views like this - do I really live here? Incredibly beautiful ride, weather was perfect, albeit a bit cool, gentle breeze, mid-50's, crystal clear. See the ride here.

I rode by the Hornet ship which is now a museum. Have never been aboard, but have been by it many times, both on land and on the water. Pretty amazing ship to see. The picture actually shows some of the ships next to the Hornet. If you look closely, you can see San Francisco in the distance, between the ships.

From there, rode along the Alameda Beach, then across the island and back to my starting point. Nothing amazing, but a great short ride to get back into my training routine. Well, now that I think of it - yes, there was something amazing - being able to ride again. Sweet and wonderful!

Ride Statistics

• Distance: 13 miles
• Time riding: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Physical Feeling: WONDERFUL! Some tiredness in leg, but not bad. Leg felt almost like it used to before the injury.

San Bruno Mountain Ride

Felt so good to get back in the saddle and ride, ride, ride. Did this ride with the Different Spokes group, a gay cycling group in San Francisco. Great group of people. This ride was a food experience, disguised as a ride. The route is here. We did this route with a minor change, did not do the short jog to the airport.

We started the ride at food stop #1: Destination Bakery on Chenery Street. What a perfect place to start the ride. On the road at 10, the leg warmers were off instantly - it was truly balmy, felt so good after all the cold we have had. Nice ride out Alemany Blvd to Daly City. Only fell once - ugh, another fall while standing still - feels so stupid. Luckily, neither me nor bike hurt.

Soon enough, we are climbing the mountain. Pretty easy climb for the first 2 miles, then, it's significant. Really felt it in my legs, but focused on steady, deep breathing and steady, strong pedaling. No real discomfort, other than a bit of soreness in my left rear hip area, typical. Slowed down to 4-5 mph on the steepest parts, but that was fine. Making it to the top was friggen fantastic - amazing panoramic views of the Bay Area and it was super clear! What a sight and what an accomplishment!


Pictures show a view out over the Pacific, looking West. One of me, and one of my coworker David and of the man who married my husband and me, Evan. Small world it is!

The jacket came off at the top of the mountain, still learning just how much warm clothing I need to bring. Ride down the mountain was superb - rough pavement for the first mile or so, but smooth after that and got up to 35 mph, fast enough for me!

Rode by the Colma cemeteries - very beautiful area. Another first for me, I have never driven or ridden on Hillside Ave. Another new experience on my bike - gotta love it!! Another food stop - a Brazilian lunch hut, that's the best way to describe it. Truly hut-like. Great savory pies, cheese rolls, coffee. I had a pig in the blanket - very yummy. Felt good to rest a bit.

Return trip to SF was through Oyster Point, another area I have never really been in. Sort of like a Silicon Valley north - all Biotech. Wiggled by the lagoon off Hwy 101, then up into the City on San Bruno Ave., eventually to Bayshore and to our end point for the trip - yes, another food joint, a very neighborhoody, wonderful ice cream joint (Humphrey Slocomb) at 24th and Harrison. What a fine way to end the trip, eating ice cream and catching up with friends.


Statistics

• Total Distance: 24 miles
• Time riding: 2h, 15m
• Average speed: 11.5 mph
• Average cadence: 66
• Total Elevation climb: 2000'
• Physical feeling
• Felt in legs, minor ache in left rear hip. Definitely felt winded by the time I got to the top of the mountain. Did see max heart rate around 168, but screwed up the monitor, so I did not get overall statistics. Was tired by the end of the ride, mostly in legs. 
• Drank 3 bottles of water, used electrolyte tabs in 2 bottles.

Alameda Ride

I took advantage of a break in the rain (I've seen more rain here in 10 days than I saw in 21 days in New Zealand, where it is supposed to rain all the time) to take my first ride since getting back from New Zealand. Decided to do a flat ride in Alameda (ride is here) - 20 miles total, good chance to practice good form on the bike. Rode around the old Naval Air Station a bit, discovered the Hanger 1 Distillery and Rosenblum Cellars - hell, have to go back and sample the goods next time. If you haven't been to Alameda, specifically the area that was the old Naval Air Station, you really should go. It's an amazing area - rather in disrepair now, but amazing views of the Oakland Estuary, SF Bay and of course, San Francisco. It's really quite desolate and that has a charm and allure in itself.

I rode along the beach, then over the bridge to Bay Farm Island. Dummy me - I kinda knew that this was a drawbridge and you do NOT want to ride a bike over the grate of a drawbridge. Luckily, there was a walkway on the right so I could stop, just before the grate and gracefully lift my bike over to the walkway and less than gracefully, get my bod over there. Unfortunately, caught my brand new leg warmers on a piece of metal fence, but such is life. The good news is that only the bike warmers and not my leg, got a hole in them. Got over to where it was safe and continued my ride. Alameda is a really cool place to ride if you want a flat ride - not many cars nor traffic lights. Nice riding, nice scenery too.

On Bay Farm Island, I rode just up to the airport, then looped west to the Bay, then back to the bridge to Alameda. Little did I know there is a separate bridge, next to the car bridge, just for pedestrians and bikes - imagine that! I was delighted! Much safer and no more holes in my leg warmers.

Got back to the car, just before the rain. Good ride, definitely felt it in my legs. Kept my pace where I could breathe normally (a goal for my endurance training) and kept the cadence around 90 for much of the ride.

Ride Stats

• Distance: 20.5 miles
• Time: 90 minutes
• Average Speed: approx 14 mph
• Average Cadence: 80

Holiday Post

I wish you all a warm holiday season filled with love, friends and family! Enjoy the time. A big wish for a happy and healthy new year - live it to the fullest.

I've been on a vacation for a few weeks, back now and ready to dig into more dedicated training for the ride. Fundraising is kicking up too, so let your friends know about a great opportunity to help out by sponsoring me on the Ride.

More fun accounts of my rides to come soon. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying the holidays too.

Be well.

Sunol Ride

Saturday ride with my hubby, Ross. We decided to try southern Alameda county - Sunol area. First thought was to ride Niles-Canyon Road, which I've always heard is a beautiful ride. My question was traffic, so decided to drive it first, over to Sunol. If it looked good, we'd ride it, if not, planned an alternate ride from the Sunol area. Good thing we planned an alternate ride. Niles Canyon Road is a gorgeous drive, but the traffic is heavy and, the shoulders are minimal. Not a good biking road.

The alternate route is here. My thought was to park at the Sunol Wilderness Area parking lot and bike from there. Almost a good idea - it was already 2:30 and the park gate closes at 5. Ross correctly pointed out if we get a flat or any other problem, we would be hosed. So, out we drove to a nice parking spot on Calaveras Road.

The area is behind the Fremont hills and south of Pleasanton.  Gorgeous area, pretty undeveloped, few houses, lots of cows. Angle of the sun in late afternoon made it especially beautiful. There was a headwind, but it wasn't too bad. Road North, under I-680, to Pleasanton-Sunol Road. Noticed that much of the land on the East was San Francisco Dept. of Water land - did not register what that significance was. At least, not until the end of the ride.

Turned right on Pleasanton-Sunol Rd. and rode parallel to the freeway - really pretty ride, albeit a bit of noise from the freeway. Lots of cottonwood trees, a surprise. Cottonwoods like water and they frequently mark a creek - which they did in this case. Made it up to Castlewood Drive, where we turned, drove by the country club and then turned right onto Foothill Road. Very tony suburb, southern end of Pleasanton. Pretty, but a bit scary if you ask me - many gated communities - not my taste. Turned around at Bernal Road to head back. Nice midway point. Sun getting even lower and the angle, and shadows, were especially nice. Soon we hear the rumble of motor cycles and a troop of perhaps 30 cycles came roaring by us on the other side of the road - man were we happy to be going the opposite direction.




The ride back to Hwy 84 was uneventful, except when I asked Ross how he felt. He said his left hand was getting numb - as was my right hand - and I said it might be due to our riding slowly. Well, that's not the way to encourage your riding partner to go on more rides - he thought he was hoofing it and here I come along and say we were riding slowly. OOPS.


At Hwy 84, we noticed a gate across the street. Curious as we normally are, we rode across and discovered that it was the gate to the Sunol water temple, part of the Hetch Hetchy Water project from San Francisco. WOW! Great find. There is another water temple on the Peninsula, near San Mateo, called the Pulgas Water Temple. There is also a third I believe somewhere in the Bay Area. These structures are really cool - shaped like a small Greek Temple and if you look into it, or down it I should say (like a well), you see the water flowing. This is the fresh water system that supplies much of the Peninsula and the city of San Francisco. What a find. We could not go in, but the picture shows the temple in the distance and the plaque is on the gate into the property.

Statistics

• Distance: 18 miles
• Time: 1.5 hours
• Average Speed: 12.5 mph
• Wind: 10-15 mph. Headwind, for perhaps 50% of the ride.

Physical Feelings

• Definitely kept breathing almost normal, so pace was for endurance
• No hip achiness. Riding a bit slower than I would normally ride and no significant hills.
• Some hand numbness, not sure why.
• No arm, shoulder or neck achiness
• Legs a bit tired, no burning.
• Good energy during and after ride - no feeling of being wiped out.
• Split a Cliff Bar with Ross at halfway point and again, at end. Drank one bottle of water.

Moraga Ride - St. Mary's College

My Saturday ride to beat the Sunday rain was in Orinda and Moraga, on some fairly flat roads. Flat to start to build more endurance - goal was to ride with faster cadence for an extended period of time. I was frequently able to keep my cadence above  90 - very good pace for me and I really felt it in my hamstrings.

The ride started at Orinda BART. You can see the route here. The ride was made up of 4 five mile blocks: Moraga Way to St. Mary's Rd. to Moraga Rd. and then back on Moraga Way to the Orinda BART station. Much of the ride is relatively flat, which allowed me to really start working on pedaling technique. I focused on faster pedaling as well as effective pedaling - practiced some drills I've been reading about. The roads were in great condition - my only complaint is that there is much traffic and the shoulders are small to non-existent. I'd recommend this ride early in the morning, before traffic gets bad. Nice country feeling though.

The early highlight was a quick visit to St. Mary's college. Here's another example of a place I have known about for the 30 years I have lived here, but have never seen and it was biking that got me to see it. Gotta love this sport!

St. Mary's is a very small college in Moraga. Nice mission style architecture, gorgeous setting too. The church dates from the mid-1800's if I remember correctly. Here's a shot of the church. I did not get a chance to go inside.














To the side of the church is Galileo Hall. I had to get a picture of that - how ironic that a Catholic institution of learning would name a hall after Galileo - who the Church excommunicated. Nice to know that however things are at any one time, they will change. Anyone see gay marriage in the air?











From St. Mary's college, I rode the remaining 5 miles up St. Mary's road to Lafayette. Pretty, but non-spectacular ride. The thin to non-existent shoulder on the road was a bit hairy. I'll do this ride, in the future, earlier in the day, before traffic gets too thick. In Lafayette, turned onto Moraga Road. Funny, I totally forgot the climb on Moraga Road - 400 feet over 3 miles, not too bad, just a surprise. No problem doing it though. 5 miles on Moraga Rd., past a place that I have swum at, Campolindo High School (Soda Aquatic Center) - great memories and great pool there! Turned onto Moraga Way to do the last 5 miles back to the Orinda BART station - really started to feel my hamstrings at this point - the faster pedaling and pedaling drills were doing their thing - obviously works the hamstrings more than I was used to. Nice to know I was building up some new fitness!


Statistics

• Distance: 21 miles
• Time: 1.5 hours
• Average Speed: 14 mph
• Average Cadence: 75 (not certain)
• Wind: 10-15 mph. Some headwind, for perhaps 15-20% of the ride.

Physical Feelings

• Definitely kept breathing almost normal, so pace was for endurance
• Some achiness in left hip again
• Soreness in hamstrings from new work, nothing bad, just new
• No arm, shoulder or neck achiness
• Good energy during and after ride - no feeling of being wiped out.
• Ate big pasta meal the night before, may have been a good meal pre-ride.
• Ate single bar afterwards, drank one bottle of water.

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.