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 4.30.2023
This week's A-Ride follows up Berkeley Hills Road Race with some more hills, because sure, why not. We’ll hit some classics including Kings and HWY9.
I plan to be completely gassed from Saturday, so we’ll keep it Z2 on the flats, tempo on the climbs. You can go harder but we’ll regroup at the top of Kings.
Reminder: A-ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave. in Palo Alto at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3086817086950522694
Route Summary: Arastradero/Portola/King's/Skyline to HWY 9, Down Foothill. Quick water stop at Alice’s.
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto.
Time: 9 am. Leave 9:10am. You can also catch us on Page Mill, but we won't be stopping.
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Ian Twamley
A Ride-04.23.2023- Happy Valley & Zayante
Alto Velo A ride will explore some less travelled roads in Santa Cruz mountains this week . We will head to Los Gatos and through bike trail find our way to Lexington reservoir and Santa Cruz mountains. We will ride through beautiful Happy Valley before we stop for coffee in Scotts Valley.
Pace will be 2.5-3W/kg on flats, 3-4.5 W/kg on climbs. Feel free to hammer the climbs but we will regroup at the top. Please maintain a consistent pace on flats and rollers. Our goal is to stay together as a group. Note that the longest climb with some steep segments comes at the end.
https://www.strava.com/routes/2956343942584509546
Summary: 89 miles / 8500 feet: Summit Bicycles > Foothill > Log Gatos > Lexington> Old Santa Cruz Hwy> Summit Road > Soquel San Jose Rd > Laurel Glen Rd >Mountain View Rd > Branciforte Dr (Happy valley) > Granite Valley Rd > Scotts valley > Mt. herman Rd > Zayante Rd > Skyline > Page Mill > Summit Bicycles
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
A Ride 2023-04-16 Pescadero
A ride is going to the coast again this week! We will go up Page and down 84 to San Gregorio, before heading to Pescadero for a quick coffee and water stop. We will then go back to Summit up West Alpine and down Page.
Pace will be 2.5-3W/kg on flats, 3-4W/kg on climbs. We may organize one or two climb segment challenges (probably Haskins, and another segment) to get legs ready for Sea Otter and Berkeley Road Race. We will regroup at the top of each major climb (Page / Haskins / West Alpine) and wait for the whole group, so participation to these challenges is optional.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3081987054517961808
Summary: 72 miles / 6800 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page > Skyline > 84W > HW1 > Pescadero Road > Haskins > West Alpine > Page Mill > Summit Bicycles
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: Maxime Cauchois
A Ride 2023-04-09
After a few weeks heading south, this week the A-Ride will head back to Half Moon Bay. We will plan to climb Haskins before West Alpine, but may shortcut via 84 if needed. Looking forward to seeing folks this weekend!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3078929319062591528
Summary: 86 miles / 8,200 feet: Summit Bicycles > Alpine > Portola > Kings > Tunitas > Lobitos > Higgins > HMB > Hwy 1 > Haskins > West Alpine > Page Mill > Summit Bicycles
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: Will Hakim
A Ride 2023-04-02 Big Basin
Good weather has finally returned to the Bay Area. We will head to Big Basin and have a rest stop at Boulder Creek this weekend. If Big Basin is still closed due to storm damage, we will go straight down Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek.
Pace will be (~3.5-4.5 w/kg) on climbs and 2.5-3 w/kg on flats with regroups after the major climbs and descents. Hope to see you there!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3076770897631125824
Summary: 81 miles / 8,400 feet: Summit Bicycles > Foothill > RWG > Hwy9 > Big Basin > Boulder Creek > Bear Creek > Skyline > Page > Summit Bicycles
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: Jack Liu
A Ride 2023-03-26-Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Most of you are probably aware of numerous road closures in bay area. Page & W-Alpine seem though have held up until now! The A-ride this week takes us to Pescadero through the lovely Hwy1/Gazos Creek/Cloverdale loop. We will be riding on a less travelled segment of Hwy 1 instead of Stage road with great views of the ocean and the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. We may have to improvise as we ride depending on road conditions! Please be flexible.
Pace will be (~3.5-4 w/kg) on climbs and 2.5-3 w/kg on flats with regroups after our main climbs and main descents. The roads will be wet and covered in trash, so please be cautious on descending and when pacelining.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3074103485810552458
Summary: 80 miles / 7,300 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page > W-Alpine > 84 > Hwy1 > Gazos/Cloverdale > Pescadero > Haskings > W_Alpine> Page> Summit Bicycles
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
A Ride 2023-03-19 - Fun in the Foothills
On this week’s A-ride, we’ll have fun in the foothills as we stick to the lower elevations again due to the high likelihood of wet roads. Pace will be steady endurance (~2.5 w/kg) with regroups after our main climbs and a level of caution on descents appropriate for the road conditions. Come dressed for the weather and it should be a good time! I’m personally excited to get a chance to test out my new Palomar Jacket that just arrived with our first Eliel kit order.
Route: AVA Ride: 2023-03-19
Summary: 70 miles / 4,800 feet: Summit Bicycles > Mt. Eden > Saratoga > Rancho San Antonio > Los Altos Hills > Portola Valley > Woodside > Jefferson > Woodside > Portola Valley > Summit Bicycles
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: Michael Fryar
A Ride 2023-03-12 - Santa Teresa
Spring forward with the A ride this week as we head south to The Valley of Heart’s Delight and Santa Teresa County Park. With luck, it won’t be raining—but the roads will surely be wet, so bring a fender. If the forecast worsens, an update will be posted noting that the ride is cancelled.
Pace will be steady endurance (~2.5 w/kg) with a goal of working together as a group. We’ll regroup after our three main climbs (Kennedy, Santa Teresa, Shannon). Bring two full bottles and we can top off in Saratoga, if needed.
Route: AVA Ride: 2023-03-12
Summary: 66 miles / 3,300 feet: Summit Bicycles > Saratoga > Kennedy > Santa Teresa > Shannon > Saratoga > Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Leave 9:10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (Don’t forget we spring forward!)
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Michael Fryar
3/5 A-Ride Pacifica aka Wolfpack Route (B’s Birthday Bike Bash)
This Sunday March 5th, join me and celebrate my 50th Birthday by riding with me to Pacifica down the 1 and up Tunitas and maybe a PR!
I have a reservation for Alpine Inn from 2:30 to 4:30, so if you cannot make the ride, you are welcome to meet us there at 2:30.
Plan B for a shorter ride is to turn around at Sharp Park and roll back along Sawyer Camp Trail since there will be less of you, and still plan to meet at 2:30 at Alpine Inn.
https://www.strava.com/routes/3065449310018900192
Standard group ride stuff. DBAA.
Summit 9. Leave 9:10.
Revised A Ride 2/26 - Z1/2 Cañada
Andre and Papouille are stuck in the snowy depths of Mount Doom. Luckily, Nico and Austin have courageously accepted the challenge of A ride leaders. We will lead a Z2 paced ride through classic Cañada and Portola Loop. 2.5-3 w/kg. No TT bikes allowed.
https://www.strava.com/routes/3064747993145311116
Normal group ride stuff. DBAA.
Summit 9. Leave 9:10.
A-ride 2/19/2023
This week’s A-ride we’re heading to east bay for the Calaveras Reservoir! Pace will be steady endurance (3-3.5 w/kg). Hope to see you there!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3061494544003418158
Summary: Summit > Dumbarton > 84 > Calaveras > Milpitas > bay trail > summit
Regroups: Milpitas (some general store or gas station)
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: Jack Liu
A Ride 2/12/23 - AVRT Team Camp Special
The Alto Velo men’s racing team will be holding our annual winter training camp this weekend. So in the spirit of racing bikes and logging some productive training miles with teammates, this week’s A Ride will be a tour of our local NorCal race courses, close to home in the Santa Cruz mountains. On route, we will preview three courses that the team will race this year (Cat’s Hill, Santa Cruz Classic, and University) by riding a couple laps and hearing some tips from our previous race winners. In between courses, we will work on maintaining a fast pace while keeping the group together through smooth pace lines. Expect 3-3.5 w/kg in the draft and 4 w/kg on the front.
IMPORTANT - We will be starting in DOWNTOWN LOS GATOS instead of the usual location!!! Also please note the start time if you want to preview the Cat’s Hill race course!
Route: AVRT Winter Team Camp 2023
Summary: 68 miles / 7200 feet: Cat’s Hill Course, Los Gatos > Lexington > Old SC HWY > Soquel-SJ Rd > Capitola-SC > Santa Cruz Classic Course > University RR Course > Empire Grade > Felton > Zyante > Bear Creek
Regroups: Top of Old SC HWY, Coffee in Santa Cruz, Felton, Top of Zyante
Start: Bachman Park, Los Gatos
Time: Meet 8:50 a.m., Preview Cat’s Hill 9:00 a.m., Leave 9:10 a.m.
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Shane McGuire
2/5/2023 A Ride
The A Ride will head to the coast this week! And the emphasis this week is on “group” ride. Kings and West Alpine are there so you can do whatever you want with, but the rest of the ride we will try to stay together at a steady pace (~3wkg). As Austin once said “if you drop the group on the flats you are effectively dropping yourself from the ride.” See you there!
Route: 2/5/23 A Ride
Summary: 64 miles / 6600 feet: Summit Bicycles > Kings > Tunitas > HWY 1 > Pescadero (short water stop) > West Alpine > Page Mill
Regroups: Top of Kings. Pescadero. Top of W Alpine.
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: Nico Sandi
A-Ride 1/29/23 - Lexington Reservoir + Black
This week, we will head to Lexington Reservoir to climb Black Rd---my first time! Water stops in Los Gatos right before the gravel and on Skyline at the fire station after Hwy 9. And let's take a picture at the reservoir. Feel free to do your own pace on the climb, but otherwise pace will be steady ~3 w/kg everywhere (except the downhills which will be 4 w/kg… jk). I will get boba at Ume Tea on Cal Ave after. Hope to see you there!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3052727908430580332
Summary: 66 miles / 5900 feet: Summit Bicycles > Foothill > Saratoga > Los Gatos (water) > Lexington Reservoir > Black > Skyline (water at fire station) > 84 > Sand Hill > 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: Gina Yuan
A-ride 1/22/23
While many local roads are still recovering from the damage of flooding, let’s head south to explore the daunting Mt. Umunhum. On the way back, we will climb Hwy9 then descend Page back because why go through a flat route when there’s a climb.
Pace will be steady 3.0-3.5 w/kg on the flat and 3.5-4.0 w/kg on the climbs. You’re welcome to do harder intervals on the climb, but it’s a courtesy to turn back once you reach the top to get more miles in ride with your teammates. We will regroup on top of Mt. Umunhum and stop at Saratoga on the way back for water.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3050481205947506686
Summary: 80 miles / 8800 feet: Summit Bicycles > Foothill > Saratoga > Los Gatos > Kennedy Rd > Hicks Rd > Mt. Umunhum (water stop at top) > Los Gatos > Saratoga (water stop) > Hwy 9 > Skyline > page > 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: Jack Liu
A Ride 1/15 - Steady Endurance
For this weeks A ride, we’ll be doing a classical coastal loop with a fun twist: z2 pace! The goal will be to maintain a steady endurance pace (2.5-3 w/kg). The group will regroup after each major climbing, leaving individuals an opportunity to get their efforts in as appropriate.
We’ll roll out from Summit, and begin the day with yet another climb up Old La Honda. We will stop at 84 and Skyline for water. After descending 84 to San Greezy, we’ll cruise over to the second climb of the day: Tunitas. After waiting for Cam to finish the climb, we'll rip down Skyline and 92 to return to Canada, the place where fun goes to die. At this point riders will choose their own adventure to go back to whatever hole they came from.
As we know, there is a lot of debris in the road. Sunday is not the day to experiment with your ultra supple tubular tire. A good robust, tubeless setup is recommended. Cameron will be inspecting sealant levels.
Water Stops:
84/Skyline after OLH
Bike Hut on Tunitas
Route:
SF Saturday Special Ride -1/14/23
With the current weather forcing the Coast Ride to get cancelled, it’s time to take care of the rainy day blues and get out for a ride across the bridge. Although there is a bit of rain in the forecast, we’ll stick along the flat roads and refuel at the bakeries in Point Reyes station to get us through it!
Route: Strava Route
Summary: 75 miles / 4,800 feet: Once out of the city, we’ll ride north along Hwy 1 to Point Reyes Station, and head back to Fairfax through Nicasio Valley.
Start: Golden Gate Bridge Plaza, SF (parking in Sports Basement Presidio)
Time: Meet 8 a.m., Leave 8:10 a.m.
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Daniel Fonyo
A-Ride 1/8/23
The forecast calls for rain, but winds are looking manageable, so as of now A-Ride is ON for this week. Plan is to re-attempt Cam's New Years ride, but we will adjust if needed pending road and weather conditions.
We’ll keep the climbs short until we reach Haskins around mile 80; bring lots of food so you don’t join the ranks of AV’ers who have bonked on West Alpine. We will stop for water in HMB at mile 25 and again the second time through Pescadero at mile 70. Otherwise plan for rolling regroups after the shorter climbs along the coast. Plan is still to have a hard, steady pace, though there will be plenty of skippable climbs and bailout options should the weather take a turn for the worse.
Route: Save the best for Last https://www.strava.com/routes/3043785534596368578
Summary: 100 miles / 9,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Whiskey > Cañada > 92 > Higgins > Lobitos CCW > 1 > Stage > Bean Hollow > 1 > Gazos Creek > Haskins > West Alpine > Page
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: Ian Twamley
A-Ride 1/1/23
After what looks to be a rainy Saturday, the A ride will start 2023 by heading to the coast. We’ll keep the climbs short until we reach Haskins around mile 80; bring lots of food so you don’t join the ranks of AV’ers who have bonked on West Alpine. We will stop for water in HMB at mile 25 and again the second time through Pescadero at mile 70. Otherwise plan for rolling regroups after the shorter climbs along the coast. This will be a hard, steady pace, though there will be plenty of skippable climbs and bailout options if your NYE festivities catch up to you at some point during the ride.
Route: Save the best for Last https://www.strava.com/routes/3043785534596368578
Summary: 100 miles / 9,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Whiskey > Cañada > 92 > Higgins > Lobitos CCW > 1 > Stage > Bean Hollow > 1 > Gazos Creek > Haskins > West Alpine > Page
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: Cameron O’Reilly
A-Ride 12/25
The last A ride of 2022 will take advantage of some quiet roads to visit Big Basin and Zayante. Plan for minimal stops, probably just for water since I’m not sure what will be open on Christmas day. This will be a hard, steady pace, so you should bring a lot of food. If you aren’t free for the entire adventure, please join for what you can!
Route: Boulder Creek XXL https://www.strava.com/routes/3035813513744284414
Summary: 95 miles / 9,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page > 35 > 9 > 236 > 9 > Zayante > Bear Creek > 35 > 9 > Pierce > Foothill
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: Cameron O’Reilly