Date: Saturday, December 3Meet time: 9:30 a.m.
Ride-out time: 10:00 a.m.
Meeting place: New location! Parking lot at Villa and Franklin streets, Mountain View (across from the Tied House) (map)
City: Mountain View
Rain policy: Rain cancels
Category: 2 - medium pace (10-12 mph)
Terrain: 2 - rolling hills
Miles: 28
Description:
For our second ride, we'll travel along Foothill Expressway and go past Stanford University to cycle around the popular Portola Valley loop, one of the nation's most popular recreational cycling routes. (We'll have plenty of company with riders of all paces and skill levels, just like on ALC.) We'll do the climb up Alpine Road, which is 3.4 miles long but very gentle most of the way, topping out at an elevation of less than 600 feet. And our rest stop of the day is right at the top of the hill, so you'll have a good opportunity to rest and refuel. Then, since we went uphill, we get to enjoy going downhill on Portola Road. A couple of short hills will get your attention along the way, but they're not stupidly big. After returning to Stanford and Foothill, we'll return via the bike bridge between Palo Alto and Mountain View.
Total climbing on this ride is about 1,080 feet, according to Strava.
If you're planning to do our Distance Training rides beginning in mid-January, the early-bird rides are perfect for getting you back up to speed and distance. If you're a new ALCer, these rides are a great introduction to the people and ways of AIDS/LifeCycle.
This ride is Caltrain- and VTA-friendly. The first southbound train of the day leaves SF at 8:15 and arrives in Mountain View at 9:29. We're about four blocks from the station. If you're a veteran of the Mountain View rides, note our new meeting location this year! It's just one block away from our old spot.
RSVPs are requested but not required. 
