It’s that time of the year again, that time when the weather in Northern California remains so nice you almost feel guilty about it, almost as guilty as you’ll feel about over-stuffing yourself at Thanksgiving Dinner. Except that you won’t feel guilty because you went on a great bike ride in the morning and got back in time to help prepare the dinner!

Our usual Tuesday/Thursday-morning bike ride leaves from Olive Hill & Canada Road at 7:45am. Since Thanksgiving’s a Thursday, that’s where we’ll be, and that’s when we’ll be there. 7:45am. We’ll be doing the “Coastal Classic”, about 55 miles round trip with about 5500 feet of climbing. Up Old LaHonda, down 84, detour past the “secret” Duck Pond in LaHonda, over Haskins Grade to Pescadero. We’ve confirmed the regular Pescadero Bakery will be closed but believe it or not there’s food & cokes at the old gas station at the corner of Pescadero & Stage Road. We’ll quickly refuel and head north on Stage Road, take Tunitas Creek up to Skyline, then down Kings back into Woodside.

This is a challenging ride; you need to be capable of riding up Old LaHonda at a 26 minute (or better) pace, and keep that pace up for two more significant climbs (Haskins and Tunitas). We’ll regroup at the top of Old LaHonda, possibly at the top of Haskins, definitely in Pescadero and one last time at the top of Stage Road. Once we hit Tunitas, you’re on your own. You will be back at the start between 12 & 1pm.

Could be just a few of us, could be more. Past rides have had anywhere from 3 to 20. This will be a social, not training ride. No sag/support, water available in Pescadero, possibly food too but be prepared just in case. No rain, temps in the low-60s on the coast, but expect upper-40s on the way there.

You’ll be back between 12-1pm so you can help cook, watch the games, drink beer, whatever. The day is yours!  –Mike Jacoubowsky