Bill Strahm's Weblog

Monday March 07, 2005

You see the funniest things
So my first century of the season is in Solvang on Saturday. That means that I got my final training ride in before I go last Saturday. It was a awesome (if not cold to start) day, so I headed off to Woodside to start my ride.

There are a few classic climbs in the Bay area, but the one that people measure themselves on is called Old La Honda - a wonderful climb from Woodside up to Skyline - took me 42 minutes (first time I did the climb, I was more concerned with surviving rather than seeing what my time was). A quick decent follows, down to Highway 84, and a left turn on Pescadero. I had never been on this road, but it is another wonderful climb with a nice view of a creek meandering beside the road. The best part was the house with 200 pink flamingos in the yard (And here I thought I had left hicktown back in Texas - oh well) I'll attach a picture as soon as I get it off my camera.

Right turn in Pescadero onto stage road leads to two short climbs and decents into the best little deli on Stage Road and 84. After an egg salad sandwich and a cup of coffee, we headed to the last little climb up stage road to Highway 1. You have to love these quick climbs and decents, but that leads to the worst of the climbs, Tunitas Creek Road - the road that goes on Forever. About 75 minutes and 1700 feet up later I was at the top for a wonderful winding decent on Kings road and back to where I started.

All in all about 65 miles, a little short for a training ride for a century (I have all ready done an 80 mile ride a month back though) but a lot more climbing - so all in all a good day.

(2005-03-07 06:36:04.0) Permalink Comments [3]