It never ceases to amaze me how many more cyclists I see on “this” side of the hill (the bay side) compared to the “other” side (ocean side). Today was no exception; a picture-postcard sort of day with perfect temperatures (mid-70s), light breeze (yeah, ok, would have been nicer if we didn’t have the typical headwind on the way out to the coast) and… once we got to the top of Old LaHonda… almost no more cyclists. have made it to the other side. We even saw a few more on Tunitas, including the guy shown here in the photo.
The original plan was to do the Pescadero/Tunitas loop, but Kevin, on his first ride back after his gnarly knee injury three weeks ago, hit a big pothole descending the west side of Old LaHonda, breaking a spoke and calling into question the wisdom of high-speed twisty descents like the one down Haskins Grade towards Pescadero. So we shortened it up to a simple San Gregorio/Tunitas loop, just over 40 miles and probably not unreasonable for his first ride. We did actually come across quite a few cyclists at the San Gregorio General Store, including a number riding bikes we’d sold. That always makes me feel good, knowing that our bikes
I’m planning to produce a sort of “how to” guide for cyclists who don’t think they’re ready for the other side. Start them out easy, at first just by continuing down the other side of Old LaHonda and back via 84. Next step would be an out & back to LaHonda, and then all the way to San Gregorio. After that would be the San Gregorio/Tunitas loop, and then finally the classic Pescadero/San Gregorio/Tunitas ride. From Woodside, the most-challenging of these is still under 60 miles.
My theory on “the other side” is pretty much that if you climb Page Mill and when you reach the stop sign, and BEFORE RESTING, you decide that it would be a good idea to continue, then you’ll probably make it back just fine. Page Mill as the approach because I find it to be more mentally challenging than OLH or Kings. [Also, I live near Arastradero!]
My first ride to the other side was in spring 2008. At the Alpine parking lot, I was looking at fog. Well, I’m here, I have lights, how bad could it be? After descending a bit, I started wishing to turn around, but visibility was so bad that I figured I’d be more likely to get run down going uphill! Alpine under the trees was freezing and so drippy that it was like rain. Merely freezing and overcast across Stage, then climbing Tunitas got me back into the dripping trees. I’ll probably remember that ride FAR longer than any of the sunny coastal loops since then!