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Western Wheelers Bicycle Club
 

HillsRUs

HillsRUs rolls weekly on Wednesdays

Route often includes Hwy 9, Page Mill, Old La Honda, Kings Mountain, West Alpine or Tunitas Creek. Always be prepared for variable weather on Skyline. Foul weather in the hills keeps the ride in the valley.

Start location and route announced Monday prior, via wwbc-rides email list and this page (scroll down to the blog).

Meet at 8:45 AM and roll at 9:00 AM departure. DE riders will depart first, C+ will follow.

Ride Leaders rotate weekly - Don Johann, Shawnery Hardin, Jack Jones and Steve Rempel, with guest appearances by Michael Khaw, Gary Virshup, Cathy Switzer, and others.

A selection of routes can be found in the WW Ride with GPS Route Catalog > use tag "HRU".

Last update: 20-Jul-2023 CBS

  • Wed, April 19, 2023 9:00 AM | Anonymous member

    Let's go do a variation on an HRU Classic  - the clockwise Lexington loop... but with a twist.   We'll trim off 2 miles by going up Redwood Estates in lieu of Mountain Charlie.  Spring is the best time to do this climb.  There are some steep bits, but also quite a bit of shade.  If you want to avoid the steep bits on Redwood, continue up Old Santa Cruz and take Mountain Charlie to Summit, which will take you to the park.

    There are a lot of zigs and zags on the Redwood Estates climb, so I highly recommend downloading the route to your GPS device.  There is 1.6 miles of packed dirt and gravel on the Los Gatos Creek trail, but it's slow and uphill, so it's pretty safe.

    This is a social-paced D ride with regroups; faster riders are encouraged to form a D+/E group. Rain cancels.

    There are a couple of ways to trim mileage/climbing off this ride.  If you live in the Cupertino area, you can meet us at the old Cupertino Bike Shop to start (end of McClellan at Foothill) - dropping down Highway 9 on the way back.  Another trim is to skip the jog up to Montalvo on the way out to Lexington (water and bathrooms).  

    Start: Shoup Park, rolling at 9 AM

    Lunch: At mile 26.5, We'll buy food and drink at the Redwood Estates store to eat up top at the park near Summit.   I recollect that there is a $10 minimum for a credit card, so bring cash if you plan to buy just a few things.  Across the street is Nonno's, which makes sandwiches to order, and salads to go. 

    From the store there is no water until the Castle Rock parking area.  

    Ride Leader: Steve Rempel

    Route >
    Cue Sheet >
    Weather >



  • Wed, April 12, 2023 11:48 AM | Anonymous member

    Our favorite roads to Skyline are still crowded with cars so let's stay 'safe' in the valley again with another "Blast from the Past" ride that we haven't done for ages.

    Start Time and Location:  9:00 AM at Shoup Park

    Distance: 54 miles

    Elevation: 4700 feet

    Lunch: at the Safeway on Polhemus near mile 28

    Routehttps://ridewithgps.com/routes/13505716

    Cue Sheethttps://ridewithgps.com/routes/13505716/cue_sheet

    Weatherhttps://bit.ly/3o62q4X


    Ride Leader: Don Johann

    CoLeader: Steve Rempel

  • Wed, April 05, 2023 9:00 AM | Anonymous member

    With the string of rainouts, you've all likely forgotten how to even spell HRU, but this week the forecast is for a very temperate day, with a high of 61, so let's go do one of my favorite rides - the Los Gatos zig-zag, Shennedy, and a little Hicks (the fun part).  It's an extended version of my first HRU ride, but this time with a little Gary V. inspired twist on the way home (Montewood instead of Sobey - a new road for me).  The goal of this route was to barely touch highway 9 (just a tad on the way back).

    If you've thought about HRU, but aren't sure if HRU is your tribe (strong C+), consider trying this ride.   I chose something similar to this as my first HRU ride because I knew there were lots of options to shorten the ride along the way.  As well, feel free to join us as we pass by Monta Vista Park on Foothill, which trims a good ten miles off the ride.  

    There are a lot of zigs and zags - particularly on the way out, so I highly recommend downloading the route to your GPS device.

    This is a social-paced D ride with regroups; faster riders are encouraged to form a D+/E group. Rain cancels.

    Start: Shoup Park, rolling at 9 AM

    Lunch: At mile 40, bring food to enjoy at the Town Plaza Park in Los Gatos, or go do a little hunting and gathering along Main Street.  

    Ride Leader: Steve Rempel

    Route >
    Cue Sheet >
    Weather >



  • Wed, March 29, 2023 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    Forecast says 100% showers.  We'll travel (overly) familiar roads.  Rain or soaked roads cancels.

    Assemble at 9:45 for a 10:00 AM start from Shoup Park, as a hedge for less moisture.

    43 miles, 4,400' gain

    No lunch planned, bring waterproof snacks.

    Route>

    Cue Sheet>

    Weather>

    Ride leader - Jack Jones

  • Thu, March 23, 2023 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    Cancelled due to weather, road, and power conditions.

    NOTE the start at Castle Rock State Park, 9:45 for a 10:00 AM start.  As well, Wednesday looks like rain, so the ride will take place on Thursday the 23rd, which so far is looking good, although it's going to be a chilly day in paradise, and likely a bit wet to start, so caution is advised.  Rain will cancel.  

    Parking is $10 in the main lot, but there is free parking just a little ways up the road.  Meet at the main lot for the ride start.

    This is a special edition of HRU, with Shawnery taking the helm.  It's always the dealer's choice, and Shawnery has a special treat for you - Alba.  It's a big ride, but as you can see, the numbers aren't really that scary.

    61 miles, 7000' of climbing

    Lunch - At the Covered Bridge in Felton.  There is a shopping center with some food options, including a Safeway, just across Graham Hill Road.

    Route>

    Cue Sheet>

    Weather from Randoplan

    Ride leader - Shawnery Hardin for Steve Rempel


  • Wed, March 15, 2023 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    Let's get in the Way-Back Time Machine to do a route that we last did when Mike was leading HRU and that few of us have ever done....Mad Mikes Monster Mash (originally known as Crestview Three Ways). Start Time is moved to 10:00 to allow time for roads to dry after the atmospheric river moves through.

    START TIME and Location: 10:00 AM at Shoup Park

    Distance: 42 mi

    Elevation: 4100 ft.

    Lunch: No official lunch, bring snacks to eat along the way

    Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42215601

    Cue Sheethttps://ridewithgps.com/routes/42215601/cue_sheet

    Weather: https://bit.ly/3YP7E1w

    Note: Rain or Excessively Wet Roads will cause the ride to be canceled

    Ride Leader: Don Johann

  • Wed, March 08, 2023 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    TIME Change

    Meeting at Shoup Park, 9:45 for a 10:00 AM start

    Noaa is predicting this ride will be wet and chilly to start, which is why we're once again staying on this side of the hill and somewhat circling the drain.  We'll continue with the later start - to once again allow things to warm up a tad, and to hopefully dry out a bit. 

    On days like this we've often done one of Mike Khaw's crazy and convoluted local hills routes, which are always fun and full of surprises.  But this time we're going to be channeling David Fitch, another long time HRU leader, doing a modified version of a Steve Prothero ride.

    42 miles, 4,200' of climbing

    Lunch - bring snacks and/or lunch to eat along the way.  It promises to be chilly once again pretty much all day.

    Route>

    Cue Sheet>

    Weather from Randoplan

    Ride leader - Steve Rempel


  • Wed, March 01, 2023 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    TIME Change

    Meeting at Shoup Park, 9:45 for a 10:00 AM start

    We'll get five steeps before the final Montebello climb.  Rain cancels.

    39.4 miles, 4,400' of climbing

    Lunch - bring snacks or lunch for a brief stop at the top of Montebello.  It promises to be chilly.

    Route>

    Cue Sheet>

    Weather from Randoplan

    Ride leader - Jack Jones

  • Wed, February 22, 2023 10:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Eternal Optimist! 

    We will meet at Shoup Park at 9:45 AM, roll at 10 AM.


    Short and sweet, with easy bailouts (pun intended) if necessary. No lunch stop planned, just get in before the rain (!!). Dress in layers, it’ll be a trifle chilly at the start, the climbing will keep us warm.

    NOTE: if it’s raining in Los Altos by 9 AM, ride will be canceled, an email will be sent.

    Distance: 31 miles
    Elevation Gain: 3,250'
    Route >
    Cue Sheet >
    Weather from Randoplan >
    Ride leader > Cathy Switzer (contact info via Member Directory)

    Load the route to your navigation device or print the cue sheet. Ride aware, and point or /call out debris or hazards. 



  • Wed, February 15, 2023 9:00 AM | Anonymous member

    It's been a long time since we visited Zayante on HillsRUs.  Let's go and check it out now that the floods are over. It will be interesting to see the area after all this rain

    It is forecast to be really cold at the start so wear your warmest winter clothing.

    Starting Location: Parking Lot .3 mi past the dam at Lexington Reservoir. There is now 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: 56 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)

    Routehttps://ridewithgps.com/routes/36675620

    Cue Sheethttps://ridewithgps.com/routes/36675620/cue_sheet

    Weatherhttps://bit.ly/3xjYXRD

    Ride Leader: Don Johann


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