AV A - 2025-02-02 - Race Sims

Hi all,

This Sunday 2/2 we will be using the A ride to run through some race scenarios and simulations. While you don’t need to be an active racer to join (the first half of the ride in particular will provide some good practice navigating a fast peloton), you should expect a race-pace ride. It will be wet; bring rain gear/fenders, let some air out of your tires, and ride safe.

We’ll meet at Summit Bicycles at 9am and roll easy along the Spectrum route to Cañada Rd. Then we’ll do a couple laps back and forth between Jefferson Rd and the Bike Path, practicing pacelining, leadouts, and general group riding skills.

Once we’ve had our fill of Cañada, we’ll roll through Woodside for a quick stop to fill up bottles. We’ll then begin some practice races using the AV Pop Up Crit course (Mt Home/Whiskey Hill loops followed by the Firehouse or Alpine sprints).

Route (or a rough idea of it): https://www.strava.com/routes/3320905909635036294

Summary: Portola, Cañada reps, Pop Up Crit reps.

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Cameron O’Reilly

AV A Endurance - 2025-01-25 - Haskins - Higgins - HMB - Tunitas - SHAKE SHACK

Hi everyone!

This Saturday will the first Shack Track & Field Ride of the year. We will take OLH to Haskins and go up Stage through the coastal foothills to HMB. We will enjoy a ~10min coffee stop in HMB before climbing the combo Lobitos - Tunitas. Arriving on Skyline, we go down Kings regrouping briefly at the top and then bottom, after a safe descent, to travel as a group to Shake Shack.

I will enforce a relatively strict 3-3.5 W/kg pace on flatter sections and strive for pacelining. I will personally keep a similar pace when climbing but people should feel free to go at the their own pace on OLH, Haskins and Tunitas. There will be quick regroups at the tops of these climbs. Apart from the coffee break in HMB, we will attempt to minimize our stops and keep a steady pace all around, likely adding a water stop (if needed) in Pescadero.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3316893613510467556

Summary: 83 miles / 8,030 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > OLH > 84 > Haskins > Pescadero > Stage > HW1 > Verde > Purisima > Higgins > HMB > HW1 > Lobitos > Tunitas > Kings > Whiskey Hill > Sand Hill > Shake Shack (180 El Camino Real Suite #950, Palo Alto, CA 94304)

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Michael Matthews

AV A Ride - 1/19 - Coastal Classic

Hey Folks,

This Sunday we’ll be doing the Coastal Classic. The pace will be endurance and we’ll regroup at the top of OLH and Tunitas with a stop at the bike hut.

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet at 9:00, Roll at 9:10

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40102681

Ride Leader: Grant

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

AV A Endurance - 2025-01-18 - Pacifica - HMB - Lobitos - Tunitas

Hi everyone!

This Saturday we will embark on an adventure to the coast, first making our way north Pacifica through Cañada - Skyline and then down Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay. We will enjoy a ~20min coffee stop there before climbing the combo Lobitos - Tunitas. Arriving on Skyline, we will either go down 84 or Kings depending on how much more cycling our legs can tolerate at this point.

I will enforce a relatively strict 3-3.5 W/kg pace on flatter sections (especially on HW1 where we will make an attempt at pacelining). I will personally keep a similar pace when climbing but people should feel free to go at the their own pace on Tunitas, and we will regroup at the top. Apart from the coffee break in HMB, we will attempt to minimize our stops and keep a steady pace all around.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3314813407463172068

Summary: 77 miles / 6,300 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Manzanita > Cañada > Skyline > Sharp Park Road > HW1 > HMB > HW1 > Lobitos > Tunitas > Skyline > 84 > Summit Bicyles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Maxime Cauchois

Sunday A-Ride – 1/12/25 – Big Basin

This week’s Sunday A-Ride will be a classic Big Basin loop. As always, feel free to have fun on the climbs—I'll be riding at an endurance pace, so come join us even if you’re not going for PRs. We’ll regroup at the top of each climb (and any descents if we get separated) to make sure everyone stays together.

We’ll stop for water at the following locations: just before climbing RWG/9 (mile 13), at the Jamison Creek Rd. fire station (mile 40), and at Castle Rock (mile 60). This is a long ride, so we’ll keep stops quick, and please bring all the food you need.

Hope to see you out there!

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3313353395705371632

Summary: 82 mi / 8400 feet: Summit Bicycles > Foothill > Redwood Gulch > Congress Spring Road > Big Basin Way > Boulder Creek > Bear Creek Road > Skyline > Page Mill > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Henry Mallon

Saturday A-Ride 1/11 - Kings, Pigeon Point, West Alpine

Hello friends, this week we’re going to take advantage of some southerly winds on the coast by going up Kings, down Tunitas to Lobitos to Hwy 1, and pacelining it together all the way down to Pigeon Point Lighthouse. From there we’ll come back on Cloverdale and do a quick detour into downtown Pescadero for water, and if people feel like it, a longer lunch stop with a sandwich, some pastries, maybe some freshly baked artichoke bread 🤤🤤… and then climbing back up Pescadero Creek Rd to West Alpine.

Tunitas should be pretty dry, but it’s still not an easy descent and there may still be debris so take care. I will strictly be doing like 3 w/kg on the climbs so you can send it if you want, but you will have to wait and regroup at the top. It should be a beautiful, sunny day on the coast and I hope you will join us!

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3312852097101661486

Summary: 81 miles / 7,800 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Kings Mountain > Tunitas/Lobitos Creek > Hwy 1 to Pigeon Point > Cloverdale > Pescadero Creek Rd > West Alpine > Page Mill > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Richard Red

Sunday A-Ride – 1/05/25 – To the coast

Welcome to 2025! For our first Sunday A ride of the year, we’ll be doing a classic loop, hitting some of our favorite roads. It should be pretty nice out, so come join us for a good time. As always, have some fun on the climbs, cause we’ll be regrouping at the top of each (except Haskins, we’ll regroup after the descent at Wright Drive, just after the YMCA sign because the group often breaks up again on that twisty descent). Pace everywhere else will be steady, if you’re feeling extra good feel free to spend some time on the front to give others a break :)

We’ll plan to have two stops, one quick 5 minute stop at mile 20 Sky Londa just before we descend 84 to top off bottles, and second slightly longer 5-10 min stop in Pescadero at mile 54 to refill bottles. This is a long ride and my goal is not to stop for a full coffee or anything in Pesky, please bring all the calories you need! If you don’t mind the extra weight, pack an extra gel or two for people who forget :) If you need water after King’s to get home, there is a nice fountain at the Woodside Store park at the intersection with Tripp Rd. after we descend

If people are feeling extra good on the ride, we can add on Lobitos Creek Rd before Tunitas, one of my favorite little climbs. It adds roughly 4 miles and 750 feet of climbing to the total.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3310820426123560182

Summary: 88 mi / 8000 feet: Summit Bicycles > King’s > STOP IN SKY LONDA > 84 > Haskins > Bean Hollow > Cloverdale > STOP IN PESKY > Stage > (OPTIONAL LOBITOS CREEK IF UP FOR IT) > Tunitas > King’s > Summit

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Nathan Martin

Saturday A-Ride 1/4 - Big Basin + Bear Creek

Hello friends and happy new year! What better way to kick off 2025 than with a nice chill ride to Big Basin? We’ll go up Redwood Gulch and come back on Skyline/Page Mill. I plan on doing a quick stop for a snack at Jenna Sue’s Cafe before we go up Bear Creek, and then we can get water at Castle Rock on the way home if necessary. We are strictly going at an ENDURANCE pace - I will be doing no more than 3 w/kg on the climbs. I understand spirits are high with the festive holidays but it is still the middle of winter and we don’t want to hammer it and risk burning out before the racing season even begins. Also in general please descend Hwy 9 and Page Mill with care as there has been a lot of dirt and gravel in the road from all the rain.

If it is exceedingly damp up on Skyline and it seems unwise to descend into Big Basin we can play it by ear and improvise another route, but I’m really looking forward to riding down there and getting some solid climbing in with you all. Hope to see you there!

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3109228900816175550

Summary: 83 miles / 8,300 feet: Summit Bicycles > Foothill/Stevens Canyon > Redwood Gulch/Hwy 9 > Big Basin > Bear Creek > Skyline to Page Mill > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Richard Red

Sunday A-Ride – 12/29/24 – Pescadero In-N-Out

For this week’s edition of the Sunday A-Ride, we’ll do an out ‘n back route to Pescadero. While we’re there we will have the opportunity to take in views and maintain power during the 84 descent, before filling up in town and going back up and over the mountains. Please dress appropriately as there is a good chance it will be a bit wet, and pack in the nutrition you will need for the duration of the ride. I would like to keep stops to a minimum, so I would also like to emphasize this ride is an excellent opportunity to practice eating/drinking as needed within the group.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3307566523616898294

Summary: 76.96 mi / 6,556 feet: Summit Bicycles > Alpine > Portola > Old La Honda > 84> Pescadero Rd > Pescadero Creek Rd > Summit Bicycles > Pescadero Downtown (Water) > Pescadero Creek Rd > Pescadero Rd > 84 > W Old La Honda > 84 (Other side) > Woodside Rd > Mountain Home > Portola > Alpine > Arastadero > Page Mill > Old Page Mill > Summit Bicyles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Clark Penado

Alto Velo A Ride- Sunday 12.22.2024- Big Basin-Zayante

This Sunday A ride is heading to Santa Cruz Mountains for a tour of Big Basin and Zayante. The pace will be endurance, you are welcome to go hard on Pagemill and Zayante but expected to stay together as a group everywhere else. While we regroup at top of 2 main climbs and after long descents, we want to keep moving to be bale to finish before dark. We will only have a 20 min food/water stop in Felton at Mile 50, so please bring enough food/ water. A bit ambitious for a short December day but I am optimistic about our chances.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3305426245654545002

Summary: 93 miles / 9,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Stanford> Page > 35 > 9 > 236 > 9 > Felton > Zayante > Skyline > 9 > RWG > Foothill > Summit

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9 a.m., Leave 9:10 a.m.

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules

Ride Leader: Hoss Hayati

Sunday A-Ride – 12/15/24 – Pacifica

This weekend, we’ll head out to Pacifica to get in some base miles at the coast. We’ll have a quick refueling stop in Half Moon Bay at around mile 45, but otherwise stops will be minimal, so please make sure to bring plenty of food and water. The weather looks like it should be clear but chilly, so bring layers.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3033559963152873388

Summary: 81 miles / 5,700 feet: Summit Bicycles > Cañada > Skyline > Sharp Park > Devil’s Slide > 1 > 84 > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: George Wehner

A Ride 12/8/2024 - Uvas Biggie

Pack your pockets to the brim as we embark on the Uvas Loop this Sunday! This is a fun, fast route as we manage to stay away from any big climbs. We’ll be heading south on Foothill to Homestead, take the Mary bike bridge (avoiding Stevens Canyon, Mt Eden, etc), down to Hwy 9 through Los Gatos, up and over Shannon, Almaden, McKean, and Uvas. We come back the same way. It looks long (and yes it is), but we can easily knock this thing out in less than 5 hours. It could be a good opportunity to practice some pace lining and aero positioning. We will have a couple stops, but the objective of this ride is to keep it movin’! So please bring your bars and your malto as we brace for a speedy hundy.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3299232694447419426

Summary: Uvas Loop - 94 miles, 4500ft elevation gain

Start: Summit Cycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Brad

AVA Endurance 12/7/24 - Peninsula Hits: Page Mill, Kings, Tunitas

We’re going to earn our stripes this weekend on an 8500ft soirée. We’ll have an opportunity to grab some grub after if people so desire.

This week’s A Endurance Ride will be a Chilly Triple Dipper in Peninsula hills. We’ll start out with an appe-teaser climb up Page Mill to then rocket down the backside of 84. The loop will ascend Kings, roll down West 84, climb Tunitas, descend Skyline, and roll back on Cañada.  It’ll pack a whallup.

We’ll have a refuel at mile 34.5 at the intersection of Skyline and 84, and a second stop at mile 52.4 at the classic Bike Hut.  

Take advantage of this great weekend ride to beat the brunt of winter as one of the shortest days of the year approaches. Nice cool temperatures will be out and about, so bring some layers.  Ride up the hills as fast as you’d like, but we will be regrouping at the top of each climb.

We will meet at Summit Bicycles in Palo Alto at 9:00am, roll at 9:10am.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3298942252972267208

Summary: 86 miles / 8,500 feet: Summit > Page Mill > 84 > Kings > junction stop > W84 > Bike Hut stop > Tunitas > Skyline > Cañada

Start: Summit Cycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Rachel

Sunday A Ride 12/1- Skyline

As the Saturday ride is journeying eastward to Hamilton (which everyone should ride this weekend!) we’ll plan to stick a bit closer to home on Sunday and enjoy this classic route. The pace for the day will be steady and relatively tranquilo with regroups (as usual) on the top of climbs. I’ll personally be keeping it endurance pace the whole time though anyone who wants to hammer Rte 9 is welcome to do so.

Reminder: The A-ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave in Palo Alto at 9 am Sunday

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/22576180

Summary: 48 miles / 4,800 feet: Summit Bicycles > 9 > 35 > 84 > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Erik Levinsohn

Saturday A-Ride 11/30 - Mt. Hamilton, Mines Rd, Calaveras (ALTERNATE START LOCATION)

For this week’s A Endurance ride, we are taking a trip to Mt. Hamilton for this year’s final LKHC challenge! PLEASE NOTE: We will be starting this ride from Berryessa Community Center, NOT Summit!! There should be plenty of parking at Berryessa Community Center, and this also gives us a nice 5 mile warmup before we full send it up Mt. Hamilton. Bring some layers as it’ll be quite chilly at the top as people regroup. Then we’ll descend the backside down to Mines Rd with a quick stop at The Junction. After a few smaller climbs we’ll be rewarded with a ripping descent through the canyon down into Livermore and then paceline it all the way to Calaveras, where risk of bonking is extremely high. If somehow you are not completely dead by then, you are welcome to tack on Felter/Sierra at the very end.

Be sure to bring enough food and water just in case The Junction isn’t open because there’s literally nothing else for like 50km, and please descend the backside of Mt. Hamilton safely as it is much steeper than the way up and is quite bumpy in some places. You do not want to crash down there because there’s zero cell service for many miles in either direction.

See you there!

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3290738169826366936

Summary: 103 miles / 8,600 feet: Berryessa Community Center > Mt. Hamilton > The Junction > Mines Rd > Livermore/Pleasanton/Foothill > Sunol > Calaveras

Start: Berryessa Community Center (https://maps.app.goo.gl/UjuEwGHpqzL4XVDT8)

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Richard Red

Sunday A-Ride 11/24/2024 – OLH & Lobitos/Tunitas

This Sunday, we’ll do a classic loop with the goal of finishing before the afternoon rain rolls in. The route is shorter to stay ahead of the weather, and if conditions turn bad, we can skip Lobitos or head straight home after climbing Tunitas. I’ll probably stick to an endurance pace on the climbs, but we’ll regroup at the top of OLH and Tunitas if you want to go a bit harder. We should be fine with a single water stop at the Bike Hut before Lobitos and Tunitas, so please bring plenty of food and two large bottles.

As of now, the rain isn’t expected until late afternoon, so I hope to see you out there!

Reminder: The A-ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave in Palo Alto at 9 am Sunday

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3295091957105689612

Summary: 60 miles / 6,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > OLH > Skyline > 84 to San Gregorio > Stage > Hwy 1 > Tunitas to Bike Hut > Lobitos Creek > Tunitas > Kings > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Henry Mallon

AV A Endurance - 11/23/24-Pigeon Lighthouse

Hi all,

While Saturday seems our best chance for a long ride this weekend, I would still monitor the forecast and may revise the route before Saturday or improvise on ride.

This Saturday we’ll do more base miles in Z2 heading for a long coastal loop with a coffee stop in Pescadero. I expect the road conditions will be messy so be extra careful in pace line . I personally may avoid pace lining if there is too much road wash.

Cheers,

Hoss

Summary: Summit, Stanford, Old Pgae, Arasteredo, Alpine, PV, OLH, skyline, 84, Pescadero, creek road, Clover dale, Hwy 1, bean hollow, Pescadero, Stages, Lobitas, Tunitas, Kings, Woodside, Whisky hill, Sandhill, Foothill

86 miles, 8200 ft

Regroups at the top of OLH, Haskins, Tunitas

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM.

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Hoss

AV A Endurance - 11/16/24 - Pacifica

Hi All,

I have good news for the big-boned cyclists among us, myself included — LKHC for this week is in the East Bay and plenty far away for me to not feel guilty avoiding it.

Instead, this Saturday we’ll be doing some proper base miles and sticking to mellower terrain. We’ll take Cañada and Skyline north, head out to the coast to Pacifica, south along Hwy 1 (hopefully with a ripping tailwind if the weather gods view our paceline worthy), and back inland on Hwy 84. We’ll stop for water at Devil’s slide, and have a longer coffee/snack break at the San Gregario general store.

I’ll be riding zone 2 up the climbs, but people are welcome to smash the larger hills and regroup at the top. The weather looks fantastic and I’m looking forward to a nice day on the coast.

Cheers,
David

Summary: Cañada, Skyline, Sharp Park Road, Hwy 1, Hwy 84

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3292356704816921162

82 miles, 5800 ft

Regroups at the top of that one hill on Skyline, Devil’s Slide (water), San Gregario (coffee), and the top of 84.

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM.

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: David

Sunday A-Ride - Nov 10, 2024 - Black Rd + Skyline + 84

Howdy folks,

This Sunday’s A-Ride will be heading South towards Lexington Reservoir to tackle one of my favorite climbs in the South Bay: Black Road. From there we’ll head back North on Skyline and cruise down West Alpine (people can “bail” on Page Mill to make the route shorter). We’ll then climb west 84, descend east 84 and head back to Summit, or home. Expect a water stop at Castle Rock park.

We’ll aim to stay together with steady pace. Feel free to stretch your legs on the climbs, as long as we re-group on top.

Should be a nice day to play bikes. Hope to see you there!

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3289853359648235224

Summary: 75 miles / 7500 feet: Summit Bicycles > Foothill > Eden > Los Gatos Trail > Black Rd > Skyline > West Alpine > 84 > Sandhill > Summit

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9 a.m., Leave 9:10 a.m. sharp.

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules

Ride Leader: Flo Costa

11/09/2024 A-Endurance LKHC Bear Gulch-HMB

Hi all,

Another week, another LKHC segment to bash your head against in effort to be dropped by Matin by a little bit less. This weeks is Bear Gulch which we will get to via OLH, and then weather providing, we can cruise down Tunitas and Lobitos to Halfmoon Bay before coming back over Tunitas and Kings to go home. Its the day before my birthday so, to celebrate, I’m going to end my ride at Alpine Inn. You all are welcome to join.

Last few weeks, the A-endurance has seemed pretty sensible pacing, lets try to keep that up. If you drop me on my birthday you have to by me a beer (LKHC segment excluded)

-Hannon

Summary: OLH, Bear Gulch, Lobitos-Higgins, Tunitas, Alpine Inn.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3286234339598785974

75 miles, 8100 ft

Regroups at Skylonda (water) , HMB (water), Bikehut (water), Top of Kings, Alpine Inn (beer)

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM.

Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules 

Ride Leader: Hannon