All posts by Mike

Santa Cruz would have been nice, but needed to get into Bike Friday mode for France

Tues/Thurs 7:45am ride

Today was the shake-down cruise for the Bike Fridays. Originally it was hoped the weather would get nicer and we could finally get in a killer (and it would kill me) ride to Santa Cruz. And of course I’m determined to ride in weather a bit closer (as in, warmer) to what we’ll experience in France. Trust me, there will be no fog in France. Rain, yes, that’s a given. But it’s going to be warm and muggy.

Trying to avoid Old LaHonda as much as possible, we rode up Kings, as we usually would on a Tuesday morning. Not much fun later in the day when it’s busier; getting behind slower cyclists (what, slower than me?) and having cars back up gets tiring, and they won’t pass, even where it’s safe to do so. The crackdown on drivers dangerously crossing into the other lane has definitely been effective, but maybe went just a bit overboard.

Curiously I was about the same speed on the Bike Friday as I would have been on my regular bike. I took that as a good sign for the trip ahead. We stopped a number of times to address small issue; the bikes have been used for 10 or 11 trips so far, so it’s surprising there aren’t any large issues showing up.

Once up top we headed south to 84, then down to LaHonda for refueling. Kevin and I split a roast beef sandwich, and ate a Snickers Peanut Butter something. Not terribly impressed with it. The Mtn Dew was top notch, though.

Heat was definitely getting to me on the way up West Alpine, but that’s a good thing, that’s what I need to get used to. Most of the time Kevin was stronger, but we did trade a few punches on the way up.

Then down Page Mill, looped back up into Portola Valley & Woodside, and ended up with just barely over 50 miles. Most disappointing thing on the ride? No lemonade stands! A nice 4th of July day and no lemonade stands? What’s the world coming to?

Has it really been 3 months since last in Pescadero?

Ride reports (not Tu/Th), Tdf trip planning

Hard to believe it’s been three months since Kevin and I last visited Pescadero, but trying to avoid Old LaHonda due to car traffic, plus the unusually cool Spring we had, has rerouted us away from the coast. Back in the day, we’d be doing the Pescadero/Tunitas loop twice a month, regularly updating the world with photos of extra-large cookies that can cover your entire face.

The original plan for today was to finally get back to Santa Cruz, a full century (actually 113 miles, and I’m counting every single one), but Kevin had dog duty and couldn’t leave his place early enough.

Warm? Yes. Hot? Only the last couple miles to home, when it got to the low-90s. Nevertheless a good test day for a new sweatband thingee that might do a better job keeping my eyes happy. Mid-80s climbing Old LaHonda gave it a workout, as well as the upper part of Tunitas.

Cars. Not too bad on Old LaHonda, but Tunitas, wow, have never seen so many. Usually in packs of 3 to 10 cars, caught up behind someone a bit slower (no place to pass on Tunitas… anywhere).

Speed? Not for me. Hoping I can ride myself into shape in France! I’ve already arranged the rides so the big climbs are front-loaded, with the rides back, after seeing the race go by, pretty easy. Hauling all the gear up the big climbs though… that’s going to be interesting. Might have to transfer some of it to Kevin.