DBD3 ride #3: Woodside Plus (8/11/2013)

Date: Sunday, August 11
Meet time: 8:00 a.m.Note earlier time!
Ride-out time: 8:30 a.m.
Meeting place: Parking lot at Villa and Franklin streets, Mountain View (across from the Tied House) (map)
City: Mountain View
Rain policy: Rain cancels
Category: 2 - moderate pace (10-12 mph)
Terrain: 3 - rolling hills with some steep hills
Miles: 50

Description:
It's another "plus" ride, where the "plus" stands for extra fun! Why just ride to Woodside when you can ride to Woodside Plus?

This ride has a lot of turns and drives home the notion that DBD is as much about navigation as it is about pedaling. We begin with fun on the quiet side streets of Los Altos Hills, where we quickly go to the top and then spend some time going around the Loyola golf course in not one, but two directions. Then it's over to the quarry area and Foothill College for a bit more climbing, followed by a descent into downtown Los Altos -- with an interesting all-new little hilly surprise along the way -- for our first rest stop.

After that, things get a lot simpler as we take the standard route up to the Arastradero nature preserve and then back along Alameda de las Pulgas to Redwood City, where we'll do the Woodside Drive climb in the reverse (longer but not as steep) direction to what we did last week. After a rest stop at the Roberts Market in Woodside, it's an easy ride back to Mountain View.

No giant climbs on this ride, but the little ones add up: Strava reports about 3,250 feet of climbing for this ride, and RideWithGPS says about 3,960 feet.

Sorry, but due to our earlier meeting time, this week's ride is not Caltrain-friendly.

Click here to RSVP now
RSVPs are recommended but not required.

DBD3 ride #2: Redwood City Plus (8/4/2013)

Date: Sunday, August 4
Meet time: 9:30 a.m.
Ride-out time: 10:00 a.m.
Meeting place: Parking lot at Villa and Franklin streets, Mountain View (across from the Tied House) (map)
City: Mountain View
Rain policy: Rain cancels
Category: 2 - moderate pace (10-12 mph)
Terrain: 3 - rolling hills with some steep hills
Miles: 46

Description:
It's just a ride to Redwood City and back! What could be simpler? Well ... that's the "plus."

We will visit a lot of the quiet side streets and backroads between here and there. None of the climbs are especially long -- the longest is only about a mile -- but there are a lot of them, which is a good way to help prepare for DBD. And there are a lot of turns -- which is also a good way to practice your navigational skills for the event. (Remember, the DBD event route is not visibly marked!)

The rewards are plenty on this ride. Even the most well-traveled cyclist likely will go somewhere they've never been. And even the most jaded cyclist likely will find something that makes them go "Oooooh, wow."

Strava reports about 2,750 feet of climbing for this ride, and RideWithGPS says about 3,240 feet.

This ride is Caltrain-friendly; the first southbound train from San Francisco arrives in Mountain View at 9:29 a.m.

Click here to RSVP now
RSVPs are recommended but not required.