HillsRUs

The AQI forecast was looking promising earlier today, but no longer. Tuesday afternoon it rather quickly went from acceptable (<100) to not acceptable (>150), so I'm cancelling Wednesday's HRU. Even the coast is awful this time. My plan/hope is that we can ride Thursday - same time, same place, same route, but I'm seeing conflicting forecasts right now. I'll post another update later tomorrow once the forecasts get updated.

-- Steve

Let's do some old friends, but in a different directions than we have in recent times.

This time we'll do Redwood Gulch to 9 to Skyline to Alpine, followed by 84, West Old La Honda, and for something really new, we'll come down 84 and take the loop back to Shoup.  I really wanted to take 9 all the way to Skyline in lieu of Redwood, but there are currently a number of one way controls to Redwood Gulch from Tollgate while they clear old slides.

Meet at Shoup at 8:45 for a 9:00 AM departure.  We'll have two groups, with the D/E speedsters launching first, followed by the Social Climbers.

Lunch:  Buy food/drink at the La Honda Market, to take up to the duck pond for shade and nature's own web foot entertainment.

Route>

Weather from Randoplan

Ride leader - Steve Rempel  (yeah - again, but this time it's really my ride)

We haven't done this ride yet this year and the weather forecast looks good for it

65 miles with 6500 feet of elevation gain.

Meet at Shoup Park at 8:45 for at 9:00 departure. The DE group will depart first followed by the C+D group

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30106987

Weather: https://bit.ly/3sM6FFh

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30106987/cue_sheet

Lunch will be at Arcangeli's Deli in Pescadero. Bring or Buy

Ride Leader is Steve Rempel (for Don Johann)

After playing on Tunitas for most of the month (to beat the heat), it feels like it's time to head south and play in the Lexington and Scotts Valley area.

This time we'll do the classic Zayante from Lexington, taking in Old Santa Cruz, Laurel Glen, Granite Creek, and East Zayante.  

Meet at Lexington Reservoir at 8:45 for a 9:00 AM departure.  We'll have two groups, with the D/E speedsters launching first, followed by the Social Climbers.

Lunch:  The Covered Bridge Park in Felton (Safeway and other food across the street)

Route>

Weather from Randoplan

Ride leader - Steve Rempel for Cathy Switzer, who looks to be heading for Pennsylvania... and beyond, as I write this.

This route is similar to the Coastal Classic but starts from Woodside to avoid the 10 miles back to Shoup in 90+ degree heat. Even though it is hot inland it should be pleasant at the coast.

51 miles 5900 feet of elevation gain.

Meet by the Pioneer Saloon in Woodside at 8:45 for a 9:00am departure. The DE group will launch first followed by the C+D group.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34855986

Weather: https://bit.ly/483hYZV

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34855986/cue_sheet

Lunch: Bring or Buy to eat at Acrangelis Market in Pescadero

Ride leader is Don Johann

The forecast is for another very hot Wednesday, so let's continue our search for cool times on the coast, with a stop in Half Moon Bay this week for lunch, and another shady climb back up Tunitas.   The weather forecast for the coast looks Goldilocks, with clear skies and a classic tailwind.

This time we'll come at Tunitas from the north, taking a new bypass to the top of Sharp Park (thanks Chris), as well as a west side bypass around the HMB airport (thanks Shawnery).  We tested both last Friday with big smiles all around.

Meet at the vicinity of Pioneer Saloon in Woodside at 8:45 for a 9:00 AM departure.  We'll have two groups, with the D/E speedsters launching first, followed by the Social Climbers.

Lunch:  Buy at San Benito House Garden Deli Cafe in HMB (no outside food), or bring/buy for Mac Dutra Park.  Order ahead at the Garden Deli, if possible.

Route>

Weather from Randoplan

Ride leader - Steve Rempel

Let's try to stay cool with a trip to Pescadero and a return on Tunitas Creek Rd.  This route avoids the closed section of Stage going to San Gregorio.

Meet in the vicinity of Pioneer Hotel in Woodside at 8:45 for a 9:00 AM departure.  The D/E group will push off slightly before the Social Climbers.

57 miles, 5,975' elevation gain.

Lunch - Bring or buy at Archengeli's Grocery in Pescadero

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Cue Sheet>

Weather from Randoplan>

Ride leader - Jack Jones

More great times on our favorite roads, with a stop in Half Moon Bay for lunch.

Meet at the vicinity of Pioneer Saloon in Woodside at 8:45 for a 9:00 AM departure.  We'll have two groups, with the DE rockets launching first, followed by the Social Climbers.

Lunch:  Buy at San Benito House Garden Deli Cafe in HMB (no outside food), or bring/buy for Mac Dutra Park.  Order ahead at the Garden Deli, if possible.

Route>

Cue Sheet>

Weather from Randoplan

Ride leader - Jack Jones, subbing for PAC Tour Northern Transcon Cathy Switzer

Now that 84 is open, OLH and Tunitas should be usable again for us and I am really pumped to try them for the first time this year. The weather will be a bit cool by the ocean so bring jackets to wear.

56 miles, 5200 feet elevation gain

Start Time and Location: both groups meet at Shoup Park at 8:45 for a 9:00 departure. Fast riders will depart first.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33031168

Weather: https://bit.ly/479cA6V

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33031168/cue_sheet

Lunch: Bring Lunch to eat at the Bike Hut

Ride Leader is Don Johann

For HRU this week, let's go do one of my favorites, the Flintstone House and the Carolands Mansion.  There are a few crazy steep, but also quite short hills in this route, however, all the crazy stuff can be easily bypassed, should one be so inclined.

This is a social-paced C+/D ride (we are after all the Wednesday Social Climbers) with regroups, although faster riders are encouraged to form a D+/E group.

Note that we are moving back to a unified start.  Both the D/E HRU Speedsters and the C+/D Social Climbers will be leaving at 9AM, although the faster group is encouraged to ride off the front, should they be so inclined.   

Start: Shoup Park.  Meet at 8:45, rolling at 9 AM

60 miles and 5100' of elevation gain.

Lunch: Around mile 35, we'll hit the Safeway at the Crystal Springs shopping center on Polhemus.   There is also a Starbucks and a Bakery.  The next water and bathrooms will be about 5 miles away at Crestview Park.

Ride Leader: Steve Rempel

Route>

Weather>

Meet at Lexington dam parking lot with a 9:00 AM start for DE and 9:15 for the Social Climbers.  We'll climb Old Santa Cruz Hwy, down San Jose Soquel to Soquel, up Rodeo Gulch to Scotts Valley and up Mountain Charlie Road.

53 miles, 4,900' elevation gain

Bring lunch for Siltanen Community Park in Scotts Valley

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Cue Sheet>

Weather from Randoplan>

Ride leader - Jack Jones