Here's what I've currently got planned for this season's Cat-3 Distance Training rides. The popular routes from last season are back, some with a few changes, and I've got a couple of new routes planned as well. I'm busy rounding up ride leaders to help me; once I do, you'll start seeing these rides in the calendar, and you'll be able to RSVP for them. (As always, everything is subject to change.)
Ride 1, Jan. 10: 40 miles, 900 feet climbing
Get-Acquainted Ride
A new ride this season! We start with an easy confidence-builder that goes down Central Expwy. to Santa Clara, then back up city streets to Sunnyvale, then up to Cupertino, along the entire length of Foothill Expwy. past Stanford to Menlo Park, then back on the Bryant Street bike boulevard through Palo Alto.
Ride 2, Jan. 24: 45 miles, 1500 feet climbing
Pulgas Water Temple
This was Ride 1 last season. Around part of the Stanford Loop, up to Woodside, along Cañada Road to the water temple, down Edgewood, back through Menlo Park and on Foothill Expwy.
Ride 3, Feb. 7: 50 miles, 1700 feet climbing
Foothills tour
This is the same ride as last season, but the second half of this ride got rained out. The first half of the ride is flat, so all the climbing is concentrated in the second half of the ride. (A good lesson on pacing oneself!) Santa Clara, Moffett Field, Shoreline Park, Palo Alto, then up Sand Hill and Whiskey Hill to Roberts Market; return through Portola Valley and the nature preserve.
Ride 4, Feb. 21: 60 miles, 700 feet climbing
Sunol
A new ride this season! I've offered this ride as a Cat-2 before, but it's new to the Cat-3 world this season. Across the Dumbarton Bridge, up Niles Canyon Road to Sunol, and then back mostly the way we came.
Ride 5, March 7: 70 miles, 2200 feet climbing
Coyote Valley
Same as last season. This very popular ride goes through Saratoga and Los Gatos and then traverses south San Jose before heading around Calero Reservoir and down the Bailey Avenue hill. Return along Santa Teresa Blvd. then back through Los Gatos and Saratoga. Wide variety of conditions and traffic.
Ride 6, March 21: 80 miles, 5700 feet climbing (ouch)
San Gregorio and Pescadero
Major change this season! Even with all this climbing, y'all seem to like this ride a lot, and many of you specifically asked for it to be repeated since its first running got rained out last season. I've added a new -- and perhaps dastardly -- twist this season: After reaching San Gregorio, we will head south along the coast on Hwy. 1 and go to Pescadero, returning up Stage Road back to San Gregorio before heading back up the long Hwy. 84 climb. (In return, we'll head back directly from Woodside and not do the Stanford Loop on the return.) Astute riders will notice that they can omit the Pescadero loop to cut several miles off this ride, making it doable for riders who aren't up to 80 miles at this point in the season.
Ride 7, April 4: 90 miles, 3700 feet climbing
San Francisco
Change this season. Last time around, we did this ride as a century, with the last 10 miles being a loop to Sunnyvale and back. I've ditched that do-nothing loop this year, and I've moved this ride up one position in the series. The ride is plenty challenging as it is. We go up Cañada and Skyline, then along the Great Highway to the Safeway-by-the-Sea. This ride is significant because we ride freeways at two points: I-280 near Skyline, and the Hwy. 35/Hwy. 1 interchange (just like on Day 1).
Ride 8: April 18: 100 miles, approx. 2000 feet climbing
Century loop around the South Bay
A new ride this season! This is the traditional South Bay loop on super-duper steroids, plumped up and ready for action. We throw in a bit of Peninsula action, then cross the Dumbarton Bridge and head out to Mission Blvd., where we climb to Mission San Jose. From there, we head down the east side of San Jose and pick up some of our routes from the past to return through Los Gatos and Saratoga. (Parts of the route are still under development, but there will probably be light-rail bailouts to cut the ride to 60 and 80 miles.)
Ride 9, May 2: 110 miles, 2900 feet climbing
Gilroy
Same as last season. The biggest challenge on this ride is the possibility of strong headwinds on the second half of the ride, making the flat terrain much more challenging. Last season, we were fortunate to have relatively light winds, but anything could happen. (Bailout option at 88 miles is available by taking the very slow VTA light rail -- not much faster than cycling.)
Ride 10, May 16: 125 miles, approx. 2600 feet climbing
Double metric
Possible change this season. OK, I'll admit it: I don't have this ride fully planned yet. The route will be mostly the same as last season, but I'm considering skipping Livermore and Altamont Pass and heading to Walnut Creek and Concord instead. This would offer many more BART bail-out points for those who need it. Again, winds are a possible major factor in this ride. I might also remove the Norris Canyon climb and replace it with the easier climb along Diablo Canyon Blvd. and Castro Valley Road. Last season, I changed the route of this ride just a few weeks before the ride date (after gauging the skill level of the riders who had been participating in the earlier rides), so there might be more surprises here. But no matter what, we'll be doing a double metric again! And the ride-out time will be earlier this season to provide maximum daylight for those (like me) who need it.
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