DBD3 ride #7: Pacifica (9/8/2013)

Date: Sunday, September 8
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 - some steep climbs
Miles: 74

Description:
It's our last training ride before DBD3! And we're going to a destination that you've consistently noted as one of the best: the coast at Pacifica. What's different, though, is that we're using a considerably shorter route than on previous rides ... and, of course, that means a new hill or two along the way.

We begin with a simple ride up to Roberts Market in Woodside, then along the entire length of Cañada Road, including through car-free Bicycle Sunday land. After we climb the Ralston bike path and descend Polhemus, though, we'll tackle the Tartan Trail ("of tears") in Hillsborough and then ride a couple of short bicycle-legal segments on I-280 before getting on Skyline Blvd.

Our descent into Pacifica is steep and scenic, and our climb back from the coast on Sharp Park Drive is moderately steep but not stupidly so. Then we take the Sawyer Camp Trail and Crystal Springs Road back to the top of Polhemus, at which point we head down Ralston over to Alameda de las Pulgas for the straight shot back home.

RideWithGPS reports about 5,600 feet of climbing on this ride.

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

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RSVPs are recommended but not required.

DBD3 ride #6: Kings Mountain Plus (9/1/2013)

Date: Sunday, September 1
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: 4 - long climbs
Miles: 68

Description:
As we get closer to the event, it's time to add some serious climbing into the mix. Today, we tackle Kings Mountain, one of the Peninsula's signature climbs, which rises above 2,000 feet in a climb of about 4 miles that is a little steep in places but not stupidly so.

But there's that "Plus" in the ride title again, so you know there's more! After reaching the top of Kings Mountain, we'll enjoy the glorious 9-mile descent on secluded and scenic Tunitas Creek Road, which takes us all the way to Highway 1 at the coast. (Depending on the fickle weather, temps could be as much as 30 to 40 degrees cooler coastside, with fog and drizzle possible -- just like on the event -- so bring appropriate clothing!)

Then, we'll do the gradual 14-mile climb up Highway 84 back to the summit and then take an easy return on familiar roads back to Mountain View.

RideWithGPS reports about 6,000 feet of climbing on this ride.

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.

DBD3 ride #5: Gone With the Wind (8/25/2013)

Date: Sunday, August 25
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: 3 - moderate-fast pace (12-15 mph)
Terrain: 2 - some rolling hills
Miles: 61

Description:
This week's ride has very little climbing, but it also has the potential for some strong headwinds ... especially if this summer's unusual weather pattern persists. This is an important part of our training because Day 2 of DBD can have similarly strong headwinds (although we've been very lucky the past two years).

Our route is fairly simple: We're doing a big loop around the bottom of San Francisco Bay, but in the counterclockwise direction (which is the opposite to how this ride usually is done). This means that we'll be returning westbound across the Dumbarton Bridge in the afternoon; if the onshore flow picks up, you might wish that we were climbing Old La Honda instead!

There's only one significant but short climb on this ride; RideWithGPS says about 1,260 feet total.

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.

DBD3 ride #4: Los Gatos Plus (8/18/2013)

Date: Sunday, August 18
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: 56

Description:
We're heading to Los Gatos to do the climbs up Kennedy and Shannon (in the slightly more difficult directions), but we'll also have a little "plus" fun on the way there and back.

We start with some more time in Los Altos Hills, including our first climb up the interesting La Cresta Drive and the very steep descent on eastbound Viscaino Road. After an easy spin down Foothill Expressway to our first rest stop in Cupertino, we'll head toward Saratoga and climb the full length of Pierce Road before descending into Saratoga. For a new experience, we'll wind through some back streets and up to the Villa Montalvo area before we arrive in Los Gatos for our main climbs. On the way back, we'll take the secret Laurel/Oak hill back to Quito Road for an easy return to Mountain View.

A couple of steep climbs on this ride, but they're not very long. Strava reports about 3,300 feet of climbing; RideWithGPS says about 3,720 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.