AV A Ride 11/05/23 - Endurance Century-Bonny Doon & Zayante

This week’s A Ride will take us to small coastal town of Daven Port through Pescadero and returns through some of the most scenic roads in Santa Cruz Mountains.

This will be a long endurance ride (to give you an idea expect the page mill climb will take 45 to 48 min). The pace will be ~ 3 w/kg on flats/rollers. Riders are welcome to hammer the climbs where we will regroup at the top.

Please respect the pace set by ride leader. If you like a faster pace, you are welcome to leave 5 minutes earlier, but if you start with ride leader, I advice not to create chaos.

We will aim to stay together in flats and rollers. This route include great sections to practice pace lining. At the same time, this is a long route for a short fall day, so we want to be keep moving and avoid unnecessary delays.

We will have 3 stops for food and water:

• 10 min stop in Pescadero (Mile 31)

• 20 min stop in Felton (Mile 67)

• 10 min stop in Los Gatos (mile 84)

Route:  https://www.strava.com/routes/3154831385120810708

Summary: 105 miles/ 9600 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page > West Alpine > Haskins > Pescadero > Cloverdale> Gazod Creek > Bonny Doon> Icecream garde > Felton > Zayante > Bear Creek > Los Gatos trail > Saratoga > Prospect > Foothill

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

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

Ride Leader: Hoss Hayati

A Ride 2023-10-22 - Low-Key West Alpine

This Sunday’s A Ride will head up Kings then descend via Skyline and 84 to West Alpine, this week’s Low-Key Hillclimbs segment. Riders will then have the option to descend Page Mill or add on extra miles by heading back via Skyline, 9, Pierce, Mt. Eden, Stevens Canyon, and Foothill Expressway. We’ll regroup at the top of Kings, the bottom of 84, and the top of West Alpine, where we’ll get water at the nature center. If needed, we can stop again for water on Stevens Canyon. It should be a great way to spend a fall Sunday.

Route: AVA Ride: 2023-10-22

Summary: 64 miles / 6,500 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Whiskey Hill > Kings > Skyline > 84 > West Alpine > Water > Skyline > 9 > Pierce > Mt. Eden > Stevens Canyon > Foothill > 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

AV A Ride 11/8/23 - OLH, Pescadero, West Alpine

This week's ride will start from Summit Bicycles in Palo Alto and immediately head up Old La Honda climb and then descend 84 all the way to the coast where we will head south to Pescadero.  We can stop for water here if needed (right around halfway point). Next we will climb west alpine all the way up to Skyline and then descend Page Mill back into Palo Alto. Feel free to make the two main climbs as hard as you want but lets be civilized and stay together the rest of the ride.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3144794392278624264 

Summary: 64 miles / 6,050 feet: Summit Bicycles > OLH > 84 > 1 > West Alpine > Page Mill > Palo Alto

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9 a.m., Leave 9:10 a.m Note the A ride will now start at 9am for the Fall and Winter

Water stops: Pescadero

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

Ride Leader: Jon Wells

AV A Ride 10/01/23 - Coastal Hills

This week’s A ride is also the first of our three Alto Velo Racing Team recruiting rides for the 2024 season! This recruiting ride will be our typical A ride pace so if you’re looking for an opportunity to hammer, this is the one. More info on our other recruiting rides here and you can apply to Alto Velo Racing Team here.

The route will take us up Kings, over Skyline, and down 92 to Half Moon Bay. We’ll have a quick stop for water before enjoying the rolling hills of Higgins and Lobitos. We will make another quick stop at the Bike Hut, then paceline up 84 and WOLH in search of some K/QOM’s. The route takes you all the way back to Summit, but some of us (myself included) will stop at Alpine Inn for some food and drinks after the ride.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3139270961876513154

Summary: 77 miles / 7,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Kings > 35 > 92 > Higgins > Lobitos > 84 > WOLH > 84 > Portola

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9 a.m., Leave 9:10 a.m Note the A ride will now start at 9am for the Fall and Winter

Water stops: Half Moon Bay, Bike Hut

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

Ride Leader: Cameron O’Reilly

A-Ride 2023-09-24-Page, OLH, Skyline

This week’s A Ride will start with going up Page Mill and down Alpine to the other side. We’ll immediately climb back up OLH up to Skyline. From there we’ll take Skyline, go down the 92, and ride back on Cañada.

Regroups at the top of Page Mill, OLH, and bottom of 92. See you there!

Route:  Strava route

Summary: 63 miles / 6200 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page Mill > W OLH > Skyline > 92 > Cañada

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 AM, Leave 8:10 AM

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

Ride Leader: Daniel

AV A Ride 9/17/23 - Kings, 92, HMB, Tunitas, Swett

This week’s A Ride will lead us to the nice coastal town of Half-Moon Bay, climbing Kings Mountain and decscending 92 along the way. After a short coffee stop in HMB, we will paceline HW1 until Tunitas and add a slight twist towards the top, going up Swett road until Skyline.

The pace will be real 3-3.3 W/kg everywhere (sorry but my coach likes zone 2 endurance rides), with people welcome to go as hard as they like on Kings and Tunitas, where we will regroup at the top. We will aim to stay together outside of these two climbs and maintain a steady (i.e. not surgy) pace, especially between Kings and HMB and on the HW1 stretch. Hope to see you on Sunday!

Route:  https://www.strava.com/routes/3137803166324601864

Summary: 59 miles / 5,700 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Manzanita > 84 > Kings (Regroup at top) > Skyline > 92 > Half-Moon Bay (Coffee) > Tunitas > Swett (Regroup at top) > 84 > Sand Hill > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 AM, Leave 8:10 AM

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

Ride Leader: Maxime Cauchois

AV A Ride 9/10/23 - RWG, Hwy 9, Hwy 35, Cañada

This week’s A Ride will be a bit different than usual. We will climb Redwood Gulch to Hwy 9 and then head up to 92 via Skyline/35. We will regroup at the top of 9 before seeing how fast we can ride the 25 mile stretch of Skyline. With no major climbs along 35, we won’t plan to regroup again until we reach the bottom of 92. Temperatures are starting to fall, so this ride should be possible without stopping for water. However, we will pass through Woodside at mile 56 if anyone needs to fill up. If anyone wants extra mileage, we can tack on some flat miles riding out and back on Foothill toward Cupertino.

Route:  https://www.strava.com/routes/3134871534375831104

Summary: 64 miles / 5,700 feet: Summit Bicycles > Yale > California > Hanover > Hillview > Foothill > Stevens Canyon > Redwood Gulch > Hwy 9 (regroup at top) > Hwy 35/Skyline > 92 (regroup at bottom) > Cañada > Mountain Home > Manzanita > Sand Hill > Santa Cruz > Junipero Serra > Campus > Bowdoin > Stanford > Yale > Cambridge

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 AM, Leave 8:05 AM

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

Ride Leader: Andrew Ernst

AV A Ride 9/03/23 - Kings, Tunitas, 84,W. Alpine, Hwy 9

This week’s A ride wakes you up on Kings, refreshes you on Tunitas, bakes you on W. Alpine, invigorates you on Highway 9, and rests you comfortably back at Summit Bicycles. Planned pace shall be 2.5-3.5 w/kg.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3132382593097348672

Summary: 71 miles / 7,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Kings > Tunitas > 84 > W Alpine > Skyline >  Hwy 9 > Pierce > Mt. Eden > Foothill > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 a.m., Leave 8:10 a.m.

Water stops: Bike Hut, W. Alpine/ Skyline

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

Ride Leader: Peter Ambiel

A Ride 2023-08-27 Pacifica - Tunitas

This week’s A Ride will head to Pacifica and back home over Tunitas. We will stop at Devil’s Slide and/or Half Moon Bay for quick water refills. We’ll work together to keep a steady endurance pace on the flats and regroup after Tunitas. Hoping for some ripping tailwinds on HWY1!

Route: AVA Ride: 2023-08-27

Summary: 80 miles / 5,900 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Cañada > Skyline > Sharp Park > HWY1 > Tunitas > Kings > Loop > Arrastradero > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 a.m., Leave 8:10 a.m.

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

Ride Leader: Nico Sandi

A Ride 2023-08-20 - OLH - Pescadero - W. Alpine

This week’s A Ride will head up Old La Honda, then descend to Pescadero via Sky Londa, 84, and Pescadero Creek Road. After refueling in Pescadero, we’ll begin looping back via Stage Road and 84. We’ll complete our figure eight by climbing West Alpine and descending Page Mill. We’ll work together to keep a steady endurance pace on the flats and regroup after our main climbs. It should be a beautiful day on beautiful roads!

Route: AVA Ride: 2023-08-20

Summary: 68 miles / 6,500 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Old La Honda > Skyline > 84 > Haskins > Pescadero (water stop) > Stage > 84 > West Alpine > Page Mill > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 a.m., Leave 8:10 a.m.

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

Ride Leader: Michael Fryar

A-Ride 2023-08-13-OLH, Pescadero, Tunitas

Highway 84 has reopened, so OLH is back on the menu! There is still a stoplight, so be aware we will be stopping and waiting for it. We’ll plan to stop for water in Pescadero after Bean Hollow, which should be enough to get people up and over Tunitas, but if necessary another quick stop at the bike hut can be done. 

Usual pace, 2.5-3.5 w/kg on everything except the climbs, no random surges, have all the fun you want on Tunitas, Stage, Lobitos, etc. There is still road blockage on stage, so be careful traversing that as per usual. Short regroups, if needed, at tops and bottoms of climbs.

Reminder: A-ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave in Palo Alto at 8 am Sunday during the summer.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3098097420623994584

Summary: 88 miles / 8,200 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Old La Honda > Skyline > 84 > Haskins > Cloverdale/Gazos > 1 > Bean Hollow > Pescadero (water stop) > Stage > Bike Hut > Lobitos Creek > Tunitas > Portola > Summit

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 a.m., Leave 8:10 a.m.

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

Ride Leader: Nathan Martin

A Ride 8/6/23-Gravel JNT & Dirt Alpine

While many in AVRT will be racing Patterson Pass Road Race this Sunday, Alex will lead a gravel ride!

Gravel route (51 miles, 6200 ft) : Freemont older, JNT, Ridge/Saratoga gap, Dirt alpine

Pace: endurance on the paved and tempo on the climbs. Terrain for those with dirt experience but anyone else will get dropped.

Water: One stop is at castle rock so bring 2 full bottles to the start

Meet at 8:00 am at Summit Bike shop in Palo Alto, roll: 8:10

https://www.strava.com/routes/3121619275553173948

A Ride 7/16/23 - Pescadero Coastal Classic Pre-Ride

This week’s A Ride will be the last before the Pescadero Coastal Classic Road Race, so we’ll head to Pescadero and pre-ride the race course. We will regroup at the top of Page Mill and West Alpine, and we’ll also stop for water in Pescadero. On the flats, we’ll ride in a steady paceline (~3.5 W/kg) to get in some low-stakes pacelining practice before the race.

The Pescadero Coastal Classic Road Race is next Saturday, July 22 - register here! If you don’t want to race, Alto Velo is looking for volunteers to help this race run smoothly, so please consider signing up for a volunteer position.

Reminder: A Ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave in Palo Alto at 8 am Sunday during the summer.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3113629091505608760

Summary: 66 miles / 6,600 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page Mill > West Alpine > Haskins > Pescadero > Hwy 1 > Hwy 84 > West Alpine > Page Mill > Summit Bicycles

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 a.m., Leave 8:10 a.m.

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

Ride Leader: George Wehner

A-Ride July 9: Pacifica & Bike Hut Classic

The A-Ride this week charges north along Cañada to Skyline, loops around Pacifica down Highway 1, stops in Half Moon Bay and climbs Tunitas Creek. We’ll ride in a pace line along Cañada, Skyline, and Highway 1 and maintain a strong, consistent pace, but be sure to save something in the tank to send it and complete the Bike Hut Classic with your Tunitas PR! Folks will ride back to Summit through Woodside and Portola Valley after descending Kings. We’ll stop for water in Half Moon Bay. 

Reminder: A-ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave in Palo Alto at 8 am Sunday during the summer.

Route: AV A-Ride 7-9-23 | 79.3 mi Cycling Route on Strava

Summary: 80 miles / 6,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > California Ave > Hanover > Stanford > Junipero Serra > Sand Hill > Whiskey Hill > Cañada > Skyline > Sharp Park > Hwy 1 > Tunitas Creek > Kings > Tripp > 84 > Portola > Alpine > Arastradero > Page Mill > Hanover > California Ave > Summit

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 a.m., Leave 8:10 a.m.

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

Ride Leader: Drew Mathews

A-Ride July 2: Bohlman-On Orbit-Bohlman and Beyond - 8 AM!

Please note 8 am start time (this is the normal AV A-Ride summer start time). To get an early start on our Independence Day celebrations, we’ll warm up by riding out to Los Gatos, and then the fireworks will begin with the famous Bohlman-On Orbit-Bohlman climb! We’ll regroup at the top and briefly commiserate about how hard it was. The rest of the ride should be no sweat, thought: We’ll carefully make our way through the brief Montevina dirt/gravel section (watch for loose sand/gravel at the turns) before winding our way down the paved part of Montevina. We’ll then regroup again briefly, before crossing 17 at Bear Creek Rd and heading up the Old Santa Cruz Highway (stopping for water at Lexington Elementary, if needed) and Summit, and then descending on Soquel San Jose Rd. We’ll then enjoy the mild-ish ups and downs of Laurel Glen and Branciforte (where there is another water stop at Delaveaga Park, if needed), before heading into Scotts Valley via Glen Canyon Rd. We’ll then climb out via Bean Creek, Glenwood, and Mountain Charlie Rds, before descending back into Los Gatos (where we can stop for water again), taking the east side of the reservoir , and then make our way back to Palo Alto.

Since this is a long one, let’s keep a steady, hard A-Ride pace. We’ll regroup at the top of the climbs and try to stay together on the descents. We will have water stops, but bring two water bottles and plenty of food. It should be a lot of fun, so come give it a shot. Also, I turn 40 the next day, so this could be it for me.

Reminder: A-ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave in Palo Alto at 8 am Sunday during the summer.

Route: 7-2-23 A-Ride (4) | 97.1 mi Cycling Route on Strava

Summary: 97 miles / 9,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Los Gatos (via Stevens Canyon, Pierce, Eden) > Bohlman-On Orbit-Bohlman > Montevina > Old Santa Cruz Highway > Summit > Soquel San Jose > Laurel Glen > Branciforte > Glen Canyon > Bean Greek > Glenwood > Mountain Charlie > Summit > Old Santa Cruz Highway > Alma Bridge Rd > Los Gatos Creek Trail > back to Summit Bicycles (via Saratoga Los Gatos, Saratoga Sunnyvale, Stelling, Mary, Homestead).

Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto

Time: Meet 8 a.m., Leave 8:10 a.m.

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

Ride Leader: Nat Green

A-Ride June 25: Big basin Big endurance

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3107067543151376068

Pace: 3-3.5w/kg sustained

Start with two full bottles as our first and only stop is Boulder Creek. Emphasis is on getting long uninterrupted chunks of endurance

Time: Arrive at 9am, leaves promptly at 9:10

A Ride 6/18/23 - HC Climbs

This week’s route will mirror parts of last week’s ride and see us tackle at a tempo(ish) pace (~3.5 w/kg) two of the longer climbs the Peninsula has to offer, Page Mill and Tunitas. Come out and keep your climbing legs sharp in anticipation of the Leesville, Pescadero, and Patterson Pass Road Races. By all means you are welcome to imagine instead that you are preparing to crest Col de la Loze or the Grand Colombier in two to three weeks’ time at Le Tour!

We’ll make this a one-stop ride at The Bike Hut before Tunitas to restock on water and snacks, but this route is short enough that 3 to 4 hours worth of gels and snacks should suffice. After ascending Tunitas, we’ll cruise down Skyline and roll a Dunnigan Hills style paceline down Canada to return to Summit Palo Alto.

Reminder: A-ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave in Palo Alto at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3103385015904137066

Summary: 70 miles / 6400 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page > Skyline > 84W > La Honda > SG Cutoff > Tunitas > Skyline > 92E > Canada > 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: Conor Austin

A Ride 2023-06-11 - Pescadero

With the exciting news that the Pescadero Coastal Classic Road Race is happening on July 22nd, we will preview the (new) course during this week’s A Ride! We will go up Page and down 84 to Pescadero Creek Road, where we’ll head up Haskins Hill before descending to the town of Pescadero for a quick coffee and water stop. We will then head up Highway 1 and 84 to West Alpine before descending Page to return to Summit. .

It’s threshold/PR season so pace will be “spirited” on the major climbs, but we’ll regroup at the top of each (Page, Haskins, West Alpine). If you’re one those people who “doesn’t like to stop during rides” you’re welcome to get some bonus miles by descending and climbing again while we wait. We will ride the descents/flats in a steady pace with the goal of keeping the group together for some paceline practice.

Reminder: A-ride meets at Summit Bicycles on California Ave in Palo Alto at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3101564877293172602

Summary: 74 miles / 7000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page > Skyline > 84W > Pescadero Creek Road > Hwy1 > 84W > West 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: Jeremy Besmer

A Ride - 6.4.23 - Lexington Climbs

Love climbing? Love suffering? Need an excuse to skip work Monday?

For this week’s A Ride we’ll be tackling some less frequented climbs around Lexington Reservoir (whose volume has doubled since last year). On the menu is Soda Springs, Montevina, and Hwy 9. We’ll regroup at the top of every climb so that everyone can go at their own pace. Water stops at Los Gatos (mi 23) and Saratoga (mi 51). Couple gravel sectors and technical descents so come prepared. Hope to see you there!

Soda Springs - 5 mi at 9%

Montevina - 3.5 mi at 9%

Hwy 9 - 5.5 mi at 6.5%

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43085576

Summary: 77 mi / 9600 ft

Foothill > Stevens Canyon > Eden > Saratoga > Los Gatos Creek Trail > Soda Springs > Montevina > Bohlman > 9 > Skyline > Page Mill

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: Flo Costa

A Ride 2023-05-28: HMB + Pescadero

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