HillsRUs

Something New, Something Old

C+/4.7(5216)/44

D/5(6461)/51

September 17th, meet at 8:45am for a 9am start.

Assemble at Little Peoples Park/Portola Valley Town center in Woodside.

There will be two groups with two routes, including a single lunch stop. Lunch will be in La Honda at the Turtle pond. The anti-social group will add in Portola Redwoods State Park after lunch.

C+ 44 miles, 5216’ of climbing.

D 51 miles, 6461’ of climbing

Route: C+ https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52673685

Route: D https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52674613

Weather by Randoplan: 

C+ https://bit.ly/41SRDw0

D https://bit.ly/46Cak9T

Leader: Shawnery Hardin 

In light of my cold, wet luck leading rides on Skyline/Summit when there's a decent chance of rain, I thought we could try Mt Umunhum this week, front loading some short climbs in case we need to cut the ride short because of inclement weather.

Bailouts include turning around in Los Gatos, at Shannon & Kennedy, or anywhere along Hicks anywhere you please. Social climbers can also skip the climb up Mt Umunhum and continue straight on Hicks and around Almaden Quicksilver Park- that cuts out 11 miles of riding and 2200 feet of climbing.

Bring lunch for a stop at the Mt Umunhum summit, at the bottom of Mt Um Rd if it's too cold up there, or at Blossom Hill/Shannon Park if you skip Mt Um or turn around early.

Start Time: be there by 8:45 for a 9 am departure. D/E riders will get a bit of a head start on the Social Climbers so that fewer people are trying to pass each other on Stevens Creek while quarry trucks are also trying to pass

Location: Monta Vista Park 

Distance: 69 miles

Elevation: 7000 feet

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52587110

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52587110/cue_sheet

Weather, courtesy of Randoplan: https://bit.ly/45TRtXG. Moderate rain greater than a sprinkle cancels. Some foolhardy leader will probably be at the start regardless.

Ride leader: Mark Huie

The Dirtless & The Dirty

C+/4.4(5817)/52.5

D//4.6(6797)/59.8

September 3rd, meet at 8:45am for a 9am start.

Assemble at Little Peoples Park/Portola Valley Town center in Woodside.

There will be two groups with two routes, including a single lunch stop. The social ride climbs OLH and Tunitas. The anti-social group will climb Dirt Alpine, cruise Old Haul Road, and then climb Lobitos Cut-off, stopping at the Buke Hut for water and ascending Tunitas.

For those who want to do the bigger ride but are concerned about the dirt parts, don't be. Many riders, who are not dirt riders, have done this ride with me, and found it very easy. Dirt Alpine is beautiful, all up hill and has zero cars that can hit you. Old Haul Road is hard packed dirt and is no harder to ride than most of the crappy roads in Santa Cruz county.

C+ 52.5 miles, 5817’ of climbing.

D 59.8 miles, 6797’ of climbing

Route: C+ https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52444542

Route: D https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52444530

Weather by Randoplan: 

C+ https://bit.ly/45HY8En

D https://bit.ly/47Qsaab

Leader: Shawnery Hardin 

The weather looks excellent on the coast so it's time to do Devil's Slide again. After a fly-by of the SF City Prison and Skyline College (with some great views from the college) we head along the coast by Pacifica and to more great views from Devils Slide. We then head down the coast, mostly on the Calif Coastal Trail to Half Moon Bay with lunch at the San Benito House Deli. After that it's back up Tunitas and down to Woodside

As usual there will be two groups with the fastest riders leaving first followed by the Social Climbers(C+D)

Starting Location: Public Parking Lot near the Pioneer Saloon in Woodside

Start Time: be there by 8:45 for a 9 am departure.

Distance: 62 miles

Elevation: 4700 feet

Lunch: Bring or Buy to eat at the San Benito House Deli (1 Block left on Main from where Kelly Ave runs into Main Street)

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52398734

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52398734/cue_sheet

Weather:  https://bit.ly/421JwNA

Ride Leader:  Don Johann

It's going to be warm enough that I'm going to take us on another coastal classic we have not done in a while - Kings to Purisima to HMB - back Lobitas and Tunitas Creek.   

Assemble at the Woodside public parking, down near the Pioneer Saloon) at 8:45 for a 9:00 departure, with D/E riders launching a bit before the Social Climbers.

51 miles, with 5700' of climbing (likely closer to 6,000).  It's a shorter ride, but with plenty of vertical. 

Bring or buy lunch at the San Benito House on Main, one intersection past Kelly and Mac Dutra Park.  

Route

Weather from Randoplan (looks cool but not cold, warming up at the end)

Ride leader - Steve Rempel

Let's do another ride we have not done in a while - the classic OLH to West Alpine to Skyline, and down 9 to the Saratoga maze.   

In racking my brain trying to come up with a ride, I was inspired by William Mueller's route.  Note the 30 minute later departure, to coincide with William's ride.  Their route to OLH is a tad longer than this classic HRU route, but I suspect/hope the social climbers will overlap with William's group at Little People's Park in Portola.

Assemble at the Shoup Park (park up above or at the church) at 9:15 for a 9:30 departure, with D/E riders launching a bit before the Social Climbers.

54 miles, with 5600' of climbing.  

Bring Lunch to enjoy at the pond at the top of Alpine road.  

Route

Weather from Randoplan (looks darn nice once again)

Ride leader - Steve Rempel for Mark Huie 

Big Basin by way of Felton Empire C+/D 4.7(6899)/58.7

Wednesday Aug 6th, meet at 8:45 for a 9am for a start.

Assemble at the Castle Rock Park on Skyline. You can park at Skyline and 9, then ride a couple miles south to the start. You can park a block south of Castle Rock at the trailhead on the right if going south on 9. You could also park in the Castle Rock parking lot for a fee, but the credit card machines are not working. Meet at 8:45am for a 9am start, be there or be square.

People seem to have an avoidance to Castle Rock, but it's closer than Lexington for most and is safe for parking, from my experience.

Another concern is ascending Felton Empire, but during this time traffic should be light and it's honestly not much different than Page Mill.

Bring lunch or buy across the street to enjoy at the Covered Bridge Park. 

Plan for a warm day!!

58.7 miles, 6899’ of climbing.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52047332

Weather by Randoplan: https://bit.ly/4m35WGp

Le

ader: Shawnery Hardin 

It's forecast to be wet on the coast Wednesday and Zayante is always calling to me so let's do Zayante. Since Redwood Gulch and Mt Eden are newly chip sealed let's avoid them this time and get to Zayante by starting at Lexington Dam

As usual there will be two groups with the fastest riders leaving first followed by the Social Climbers(C+D)

Starting Location: Parking Lot .3 mi past the dam at Lexington Reservoir. There is a $6 fee to park there (Credit/Debit Card). There is also a free dirt area across the street from the parking lot that can handle about 8 cars.

Directions: take the Bear Creek Rd exit off of Hwy 17, go across Hwy 17 and turn left like you were getting on 17. Take Alma Bridge Rd and go .6 mi to the parking lot just past the dam

Start Time: be there by 8:45 for a 9 am departure.

Distance: 57 miles

Elevation: 5500 feet

Lunch: Bring or Buy to eat at the Covered Bridge County Park in Felton (at the intersection of Mt Hermon Rd and Graham Hill Rd)

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36675620

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36675620/cue_sheet

Weather: https://bit.ly/4lT7yCz

Ride Leader: Don Johann

Let's do a ride we have not done in a while - an extended Shennedy Loop.  A shorter version of this was my first HRU ride, back when dinosaurs roamed Silicon Valley.  I was a little intimidated back then by the previous D/E label, but the nice thing about this ride is that there are innumerable ways to shorten it, so if you've been thinking about trying HRU, this is a good one.  I feel like there are a lot of C/C+ riders out there who should be joining us social climbers, but who have an exaggerated notion of our abilities. 

This route has lots of short, punchy climbs, but no big hills, although I would encourage any of the speedier riders to continue on up to the top of Hicks before joining the Social Climbers at lunch.  

In a funny twist, I noticed that William Mueller is leading a C ride on the same day that will overlap with us through the Los Gatos Hills.  I thought about changing to a different route when I saw this, but decided it would actually be fun if we happened to overlap.  Both of us owe a debt to Michael Khaw for showing us the final pass-through that allows one to avoid H9 all the way to Los Gatos.

Assemble at the Shoup Park (park up above or at the church) at 8:45 for a 9:00 departure, with D/E riders launching a bit before the Social Climbers.  We should roll by Monta Vista Park about 35-40 min later for those that want to trim off 10 miles or so.

61 miles, with 4600' of climbing.  

Bring Lunch to enjoy at Blossom HIll Park, off Shannon, around mile 40, although anyone who wants can continue on into Los Gatos proper for fancier fare.  

Route

Weather from Randoplan (looks darn nice)

Ride leader - Steve Rempel

Have you already attempted the Bike Hut Challenge but think you could do better? Or would you like to try it for the first time? Consider starting with a 27 mile warmup and 2700 feet of climbing.

We'll start at Shoup Park, and climb Kings Mtn Rd by way of Portola Valley. After descending Tunitas to the Bike Hut, we'll have a quick lunch -because there's nothing like climbing on a full stomach- then back up Tunitas. If you're out of energy but you've consumed every last calorie you brought, you'll still have to climb Skyline another few hundred feet then descend to Skylonda where you can buy food and drink at the store there. With people so spread out after the climb, and many anxious to keep riding, don't expect others to hang out for very long, if at all. From there we'll return to Shoup via Hwy 84 and Portola Valley.

Those who would prefer not to ride on Hwy 84 can backtrack straight from Tunitas down Kings and back through Portola Valley and save a couple of miles.

57 miles and 5600 feet of elevation gain.

Start time and location: meet at Shoup Park at 8:45 for a 9:00 departure. Social climbers can bolt out of the gate with the faster riders or be more leisurely.

Lunch: At the Bike Hut. Bring your own food or buy their snacks and coffee. Optional stop at Skylonda.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51718824

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51718824/cue_sheet

Weather from Randoplan: https://bit.ly/4nPa7a6

Ride leader: Mark Huie