HillsRUs

There's a slight cooling trend for this week -certainly much better than last week- so, I'd like to do the Pescadero Classic counter clockwise. The climbs up Haskins Hill and Alpine shouldn't be too sweltering.

There will be plentiful regroups along the way. At the top of OLH, at the La Honda store, in San Gregorio, lunch behind Arcangeli's in Pescadero, at Sam McDonald Park (with restrooms and water), just a bit farther down the road at the bottom of Alpine, at the top of Alpine (again, with restrooms), and at the beginning of Altamont. Given the quantity and proximity of some, some of these regroups may be very short or fleeting, bordering on nonexistent, depending on who gets/leaves there first.

The two easiest bail outs/shortcuts are cutting across Skyline from the top of OLH to Page Mill or along Pescadero Road from La Honda to West Alpine.

Starting Location: Shoup Park (park along University or Lincoln Avenues)

Start Time: 8:45 for a 9 am departure. Moderate rain cancels.

Distance: 65 miles

Elevation: 6500 feet

Lunch: Bring or buy in Pescadero

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

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

Weather: https://go.randoplan.com/JRgCBL

Ride Leader: Mark Huie

Kings of The Devilish Tunitas 

March 18th, 2026

A trip to the ocean, in a frivolous attempt, to beat the heat.

C+/D/3.6(6205)/68

Meet at 8:45am for a 9:00am start at Pioneer Saloon in Woodside.

Lunch: Will be in Half Moon Bay.

69 miles, 6205’ of climbing.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54268720

Weather by Randoplan: https://go.randoplan.com/uKAeKj

Leade

r: Shawnery Hardin 

The weather is finally nice and I'm posting a route I've been meaning to test out for a while. It's on the shorter side but hopefully still quality. Adds an out and back that few of us have done before. Lunch at the Summit Store after coming back from Old Spanish Trail.

Starting Location and Time: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.at 8:45 for a 9:00 departure, with D/E riders launching a bit before the Social Climbers. Rain cancels.

42 miles, with 5600 feet of climbing.

Ride leader: Brian Feinberg

Route

Weather

Let's do one that I feel is an HRU classic, with a twist.  I think I made up this version based on a suggestion by Gary to take Montewood off Quito.  

Assemble at the Shoup parking lot by 8:45 for a 9:00 departure (park up top), with D/E riders launching a bit before the Social Climbers.    

58.5 miles, with 5200 feet of climbing.  

Lunch at the top of Redwood Estates (Cuesta de Los Gatos Park), which has water, but no food, so BYO.  

Weather from Randoplan

Ride leader - Steve Rempel

In the fine -possibly made up- tradition of recycling the previous week's rained-out ride, we will again attempt Shawnery's ride that climbs Los Trancos and King's Mountain Roads, goes along Skyline, and descends Hwy 9 and Redwood Gulch.

There are a few easy bail out points- after Los Trancos, down 84 or Page Mill, or turn around and backtrack wherever. Note that Skyline will likely be wet, so either turn around after Kings, or expect a dirty bike.

Tentative regroups at the top of Joaquin Road, top of Kings, and Skyline & Hwy 9. The route does not take the usual detour through Huddart Park, but people are welcome to Rempelize it and go that way anyway. If they stop at the Sequoia rest stop for too long, the regroup at the top of Kings might not wait for them.

Starting Location: Shoup Park (park along University or Lincoln Avenues)

Start Time: 8:45 for a 9 am departure. Moderate rain cancels.

Distance: 59 miles

Elevation: 6200 feet

Lunch: Bring or buy at Skylonda

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53969157

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53969157/cue_sheet

Weather: https://go.randoplan.com/UYS5sP

Ride Leader: Mark Huie

Don't Worry, You Won't Melt 

Feb. 18th 2025 

C+/D/4.2(6189)/59

Meet at 8:45am for a 9:00am start at Shoup Park.

I know there's rain in the forecast, ohhhh nooo, but there are many bailout options for this ride. You can cut out in Portola Valley, down 84, Page Mill, but after that you're basically locked in. I will post up on the email list around 6am to let everyone know if I'll be there, it's 90% that I will be. Sprinkles be damned, I'm no fairweather rider!! If there's real rain, even I don’t like to suffer that much!!

Lunch: Will be at Skywood Trading Post.

59 miles, 6189’ of climbing.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53969157

Weather by Randoplan: https://go.randoplan.com/Uqr5rn

Lead

er: Shawnery Hardin 

In the very unlikely case that we aren't rained out, I am proposing this short route. Just in case it's clear enough to start and then dumps, bailing out will be easy. This isn't the route I was expecting to list, but I am not doing that one when it's dodgy.

Route

Weather

Meet at 8:45 at Shoup, roll at 9. Rain cancels, so I'll decide that by 7am.

With apologies to Debra, I need to do a shorter ride this Wednesday, so we've going to do a climb I don't do often enough - Highway 9 from bottom to top, followed by a ride down Skyline all the way to 84, and then back on the Portola loop.    

Assemble at the Shoup parking lot by 8:45 for a 9:00 departure (park up top), with D/E riders launching a bit before the Social Climbers.    

46.2 miles, with 4400 feet of climbing (which really means 5,000).  

Lunch at Skylonda.  

Route

Weather from Randoplan

Ride leader - Steve Rempel

Playing with fire rain again — because that's just my luck when leading — this week's HRU takes us to the Bike Hut via Page Mill and Alpine, then returning up Tunitas, skipping the descent on Kings Mountain Road and instead going along Skyline, down 84, and through Portola Valley. D/E riders can take the shortcut on Star Hill and Swett to get from Tunitas to Skyline.

In case I forget to mention it at the start, regroups will be at the bathrooms at the top of Alpine; at the other end of Alpine where it's coldest; at the top of Tunitas, which D/E riders will miss if they take Star Hill/Swett; at Skylonda, which TBH, people haven't usually waited long at; and optionally at Portola Valley Town Hall/Library for those who prefer the nicer bathrooms.

Starting Location: Shoup Park (park along University or Lincoln Avenues)

Start Time: 8:45 for a 9 am departure. Moderate rain cancels.

Distance: 59 miles

Elevation: 6300 feet

Lunch: Bring lunch to eat at the Bike Hut

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53825016

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53825016/cue_sheet

Weather:  https://go.randoplan.com/3AUtFC

Rider Leader: Mark Huie

Huckleberries Criss Cross Applesauce 

Jan. 21st 2025 

C+/D/4.5(7078)/63

Meet at 8:45am for a 9:00am start at Shoup Park.

Looks to be a nice day with temps not getting too low or too high, The Perfect California Winter!!!

Lunch: Will be at the David C. Daniels Nature Center at the corner of Skyline and West Alpine. Either pick something up at the Skywood Trading Post, La Honda store, or bring something from home.

Regroups will be at, the top of Page Mill, Skywood Trading Post, La Honda Store, David C. Daniels Nature Center, 9 and Skyline, Lakeshore camping spot, and ending at Shoup.

63 miles, 7078’ of climbing.

Route >

Weather by Randoplan >

Leader: Shawnery Hardin