A Ride
The A rides are led by the Alto Velo Racing Team and feature a hard, consistent pace for 3-5 hours of riding. The Sunday A Ride is the most challenging ride offered by Alto Velo. The Saturday A Ride offers a pace between the Saturday B Ride and the Sunday A Ride and is focused on endurance. Most routes will include shorter options in case you want to join for the first part but have afternoon commitments or don't (yet!) have the fitness to hang in for the whole ride. These rides do not stop often, so two full bottles and plenty of snacks are highly recommended.
Start Point: Summit Bicycles at 392 California Ave in Palo Alto
Start Time:
Saturday A Ride: Meet at 9 a.m. Roll at 9:10 a.m.
Sunday A Ride:
October - May: Meet at 9 a.m. Roll at 9:10 a.m.
June - September: Meet at 8 a.m. Roll at 8:10 a.m.
Pace: Fast. Expect to climb Old La Honda in 21 minutes or less.
Regroups: Rarely. Highly recommended that you know the route and/or download to your head unit.
Example route: https://www.strava.com/routes/10975526
The A Rides are subject to Alto Velo's Ride Rules and all participants must sign an annual waiver.
See below for details of the upcoming rides as well as past rides.
A-Ride 5/1/22 - Felton Figure-8
Sunday's A Ride will take us into the Santa Cruz mountains. We'll be going up Highway 9, then down 9 into Felton, and returning via Zayante and Skyline. There will be a refueling stop in Felton and short regroups at the top of each major climb, but minimal stops otherwise.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/2954489642261600254
Short Option: https://www.strava.com/routes/23640067
Start: Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot
Time: Sunday 9 a.m. Leave at 9:10 a.m.
Non-members:
Alto Velo welcomes non-members to join us on our rides. However, non-members must have a Waiver on file with the club. We are using a new process now, and it is all electronic. There is no need to sign a form, scan it, and email it to the team. Instead, you can use BikeReg. It is free of charge. Use the attached QR Code to initiate the process to sign the waiver and you are good to go for riding with AV for 2022.
Health notes:
Follow local guidance for COVID 19, and bring a mask to use when you can't separate by 6 feet.
You must be vaccinated to ride with Alto Velo.
Ride Etiquette:
Introduce yourself to new riders. If you're a new rider, introduce yourself at the start of the ride.
Roll out from the start/regroups gently so everyone has a chance to warm up and get going.
Use hand signals and call out turns, stops, and road obstructions. Repeat the message through the group.
Mechanicals: relay the message to the front. Help out the impacted rider. Wait for the impacted rider at the next regroup.
Ride paceline / 2x2 on the flats. The ride leader will initiate a rotating paceline when the group desires.
Follow behind the wheel in front to avoid the bunch spilling over the road.
If you leave a ride early, notify someone so the group doesn't think they lost you.
Ride Safety:
Riders should carry a medical ID that contains their name and emergency contact information. Additional helpful information includes any medical history. Two IDs are preferable.
Riders must always wear a helmet. Riders are encouraged to wear a helmet on AV rides and riders are discouraged from riding with AV groups if they don't wear a helmet.
Riders are always responsible for their own safety. If you feel uncomfortable riding with the group, gently move to the rear of the group.
Look for yourself for cars and other road users, and OBEY TRAFFIC rules. You are responsible.
Do NOT cross the centerline. You will be asked to leave the ride if you do so.
If you're new to group riding, make this known to the ride leader and ask for help.
Protect your front wheel, do not cross wheels.
Do not make sudden lateral movements at any time.
Be gentle on brakes so as not to suddenly stop in front of someone.
No aero bar use.
No sitting on the top tube for descending.
A-Ride 4-17-2022: Not your usual Pescadero ride
Tomorrow's A ride takes inspiration from the upcoming Pescadero Road Race (!). Before everyone (rightfully) groans about another ride out to Pescadero, note the following key differences:
- We will ride the Pescadero loop clockwise, the direction of the actual race course
- There will be no stop in Pescadero, rather we will take the "North street" detour around town to get from Pescadero road to stage
- The Pescadero loop portion of the ride will start and stop in La Honda by the fire station (water/regroup)
- Everyone will have a Jesus-like rebirth on 84 but first we must die on Haskins
https://www.strava.com/routes/2950143988436485930
ALSO: WEAR YOUR NEW KIT!!
Start: Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot
Time: Sunday 9 a.m. Leave at 9:10 a.m.
Non-members:
Alto Velo welcomes non-members to join us on our rides. However, non-members must have a Waiver on file with the club. We are using a new process now, and it is all electronic. There is no need to sign a form, scan it, and email it to the team. Instead, you can use BikeReg. It is free of charge. Use the attached QR Code to initiate the process to sign the waiver and you are good to go for riding with AV for 2022.
Health notes:
Follow local guidance for COVID 19, and bring a mask to use when you can't separate by 6 feet.
You must be vaccinated to ride with Alto Velo.
Ride Etiquette:
Introduce yourself to new riders. If you're a new rider, introduce yourself at the start of the ride.
Roll out from the start/regroups gently so everyone has a chance to warm up and get going.
Use hand signals and call out turns, stops, and road obstructions. Repeat the message through the group.
Mechanicals: relay the message to the front. Help out the impacted rider. Wait for the impacted rider at the next regroup.
Ride paceline / 2x2 on the flats. The ride leader will initiate a rotating paceline when the group desires.
Follow behind the wheel in front to avoid the bunch spilling over the road.
If you leave a ride early, notify someone so the group doesn't think they lost you.
Ride Safety:
Riders should carry a medical ID that contains their name and emergency contact information. Additional helpful information includes any medical history. Two IDs are preferable.
Riders must always wear a helmet. Riders are encouraged to wear a helmet on AV rides and riders are discouraged from riding with AV groups if they don't wear a helmet.
Riders are always responsible for their own safety. If you feel uncomfortable riding with the group, gently move to the rear of the group.
Look for yourself for cars and other road users, and OBEY TRAFFIC rules. You are responsible.
Do NOT cross the centerline. You will be asked to leave the ride if you do so.
If you're new to group riding, make this known to the ride leader and ask for help.
Protect your front wheel, do not cross wheels.
Do not make sudden lateral movements at any time.
Be gentle on brakes so as not to suddenly stop in front of someone.
No aero bar use.
No sitting on the top tube for descending.