Meet time: 8:30 a.m.
Ride-out time: 9:00 a.m.
Meeting place: Three blocks west of the Mountain View Caltrain and VTA station, in the overflow parking lot at the corner of Evelyn Avenue and Franklin Street. (map)
City: Mountain View
Rain policy: Rain cancels
Category: 2 - medium pace (10-12 mph)
Terrain: 4 - steep hills, long climbs
Miles: 48 or 53
Description:
Today is my birthday. When I proposed this ride to the other ride leaders, I quickly learned that today is also David Goldsmith's birthday. So we're going to mark the occasion together with a challenging climb to the top of the coastal mountains.
From our usual starting point in downtown Mountain View, we'll take a gentle route (i.e., no Mount Eden) into Saratoga. But from there, get ready: We'll climb more than 7 miles up Highway 9 to the summit at Saratoga Gap, elevation 2,650 feet. Once we're there, we'll ride north along Skyline Drive for some great views and great hills.
You then have a choice. The 48-mile riders, led by me (why would that be?), will descend Old La Honda Road. The 53-mile riders, led by David (why would that be?), will descend Highway 84 via Woodside. At the bottom of the hill, both groups will meet up again and continue into Menlo Park for an easy ride back to Mountain View.
There's more than 4,000 feet of climbing in this ride, but it's not very steep, mostly in the 5% to 6% range. And your leaders will be taking the climbs nice and slow. After all, it's a ride of 48 or 53 miles -- not that those numbers are significant to me and David in any way whatsoever.
Route sheets for this ride are here: 48-mile route, 53-mile route.
Be sure to check the Training section of the ALC website for information on how to prepare for a training ride and what you must and should bring.
Leaders: Chris Thomas, David Goldsmith, TJ Zmucki
RSVPs are requested but not required. 
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