Eureka on Corralitos

 

Me:  I had a cool sensation

The BF:  I feel a whopper coming on

Me:  a sweet vibration as I came down the quite bumpy Eureka Canyon....

The BF:  I refuse to listen to anymore.

Me:  Ah, sweet mystery of life, at last I found ....

The BF:  Sigh, why do I go on bike rides with you.

Lookey, a Venn diagram!  But I digress.  It was quite cold starting off from the school near Lexington Dam and in parts of Eureka Canyon in the Santa Cruz Mountains for Donny's ride to Corralitos and Mt Madonna. 

I spent an hour in Corralitos, thawing myself in the sun, drinking milk, taking photos, and fondly recalling the two mountain bikers who appeared from nowhere to offer "assistance" the moment I stopped to check directions somewhere on Eureka Canyon.  I wasn't the only one who opted out to not do Mt. Madonna.  The Boyfriend, stud that he is, did the entire 68 mile route.  The ride, with a lot of climbing and descending, proved challenging on a cold day.  I began fantasizing, no not about those mountain bikers, but about a hot steaming cup of coffee the last 4 miles back to the start.  Glad we did it.  I had a good time.  Pretty scenery.

Just the Stats:

48 miles
28 mph descent
10.6 mph avg
4 hr 32 min

Cows on Calaveras

 Check out these two cows.  The brown one was ever so attentive to the white one.  He rubbed himself against her, gave her a good licking, and fawned over her.  Hmm, the things I could say, am thinking ....

The BF generously offered to pick up my bike after its very first tune up for which I am most appreciative.  Apparently the guys at the bike shop remembered me, which got The BF wondering why ....  Today was a solo test drive (the BF is stuck at an airport) to make sure all was well with the bike and it was.  A jaunt around Felter, Calaveras and down Sierra.  I noticed some side roads to explore next time, like Sweigart.   Looking at some previous stats, I actually am improving in speed and I wasn't even giving it my best shot. 

Just the Stats:

9.1 avg mph
29 mph descent
17.25 miles
1 hr 52 min.

Cycling with the Social Climbers

What a blast joining the Social Climbers ride today, and with a start time of 10:00am.  We started on Quimby Road and over to Mt Pleasant, a new hill for me to climb.  Next we found ourselves in Alum Rock Park.  Another first for me and pleasing.  A young girl had a snake wrapped around her arm.  Too social for me.  Off we went to climb Sierra Road.  First time for me doing Sierra on what I still refer to as my new bike (Specialized Ruby Elite with the amazing SRAM gears) even though I bought it back in August 2010.  Where does the time go!  Wow, first time (I seem to be using first alot in this blog) I got up Sierra without struggle.  Thank you amazing gears.  I was able to have a conversation with a new club member while doing the climb.  That's a first.  Some youngish boys on mountain bikes gave me a thumbs up.  I felt like a Cougar.   

Alas, I didn't stay with the group because I never felt warm the entire ride; so, I went back down Sierra while they continued to descend Felter.   I banged it all the way back to the start over in the Evergreen area and I didn't get lost.  Another first.  I did stop once and surprise (not), a male cyclist appeared from nowhere to see if I needed assistance.  Hmm, I ignored (barely) his ripe masculinity.  Another first.  His presence, though, did light my fire, and finally I was warm....

Just the Stats:

28 miles
3 hrs
9.5 mph avg
27.5 mph on descent

Hot on Ham

After weeks of cold days, we finally hit the jackpot for a most wonderfully warm day to climb Mt Hamilton on New Year's Day.  Most cyclists didn't bother with the usual garments but I'm a weenie -- though I didn't need the ski mask nor the green jacket for most of the ride.

I zipped up the mountain hoping to shatter my previous Low Key Hillclimb time back in 2009, only to lose a lot of time the last 5 miles, beginning at the intersection with Kincaid.  I scored the same time as then -- 2 hr 45 min.  I don't see vast improvement unless I'm willing to train ... not going to happen.  And thus, the realization that I will probably volunteer for next year's LKHC Mt Ham ride -- wouldn't want anyone to miss their dinner.

It was a treat biking with Miss P.  It was also a treat taking in the studly unshaven leather clad motorcyclist at the top.  I might have noticed The Boyfriend but he finished in 2 hrs and didn't stick around.  His loss, eh.  There were lots of cyclists on the climb but not the numbers I expected.  I wonder if they were off doing the other annual tradition -- the San Bruno climb.  And a parade of Porches and one Lamborghini.  Here's to another year of cycling adventures!  Happy New Year Miss P, Miss A (doing the San Bruno climb), and to the rest of you.