Probably the last opportunity for a while to “ride naked” and enjoy the sun on arms & legs and not have to wear long-fingered gloves. For me, the latter in particular is unusual for this time of year; my Raynauds is dramatically worse lately, triggering at 66 degrees or so (Raynauds causes loss of circulation to my fingers if the temperature drops below a certain level). Too bad I can’t say it made me faster!

Going up Old LaHonda was a real slog, making me wonder how the rest of the ride was going to go. I was solo today, so I wasn’t trying to keep up with Kevin, just imaginary rabbits ahead of me. Time was 26-something up the hill, which is pretty terrible. Fortunately I started to feel better on the run out to the coast. I’d originally thought about getting something to drink at the San Gregorio store, but decided it would be better to just head straight up Stage Road. It seems that it takes longer and longer for me to get going again after stopping for food. Hate that. But it’s only a 45 mile ride, so there really isn’t a reason to stop.

I did tack on some extra mileage though; at the Stage/Highway 1 intersection, I noticed one side of a convertible jacket/vest arm lying by the side of the road. Should have picked it up then, maybe catching up to someone who had lost it. Should have. Instead, I noted its location and moved on. About a mile further I came across the other side. Darn. So I snagged it, rode back to get the other, then headed again down the hill to Tunitas. There had been a number of riders I passed, and I really didn’t think there was much chance I’d catch up to them after a mile+ head start, but surprisingly, I did. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for any of them. I later looked at Strava FlyBys and sent a few messages to others who’d ridden the same segment, but again, it wasn’t one of theirs.

Tunitas. Actually not as bad as I thought it would be. I was definitely feeling stronger as the ride went, and never felt like I was going to fall apart, like I did on Old LaHonda. Of course, I didn’t pass anyone either!

The weather folk say the super-warm-weather will be behind us starting tomorrow. I’ll miss it, for sure.

It’s been a tough, slow week. Two “easy” rides up Kings (“easy” = slow, but not actually easy), combined with eating too much at night, left me with a fat & sluggish feeling as I approached today’s ride. I thought about doing a flatter route, maybe looping down around Los Altos & back, but really, what I need to do, is confront my fears, do the ride I’d wonder why I was doing. And something different than the usual. Not Kings, not Old LaHonda, not Redwood Gulch/Highway 9. What’s left?

Page Mill. And of my gosh it was bad. Kevin had been having knee issues the past couple of weeks, but of course, not today. He wanted to move, and I wanted to find the tow rope. This was the first time I’d felt a real need for my lowest gear in… like forever? Well, at least since Redwood Gulch. And I’m thinking, a 28 on the back isn’t going to cut it much longer. Things got a little better as the climb went on; the steepest section (between Gates 3 & 4) felt a lot better than what came before. I was surprised finishing under 55 mintues; I figured I’d be lucky to break an hour.

Nice weather at least; 55 to 66 degrees. We overdressed a bit, with heavier leg warmers, and Kevin definitely could have used regular gloves. Me? No choice but to stay with long-fingered gloves, as my Raynauds has worsened considerably this past year. I even have a new secret weapon- electrically-heated gloves. They actually work. I don’t think I could have done the last couple Tuesday/Thursday rides without them.