Ride Stories

Most of these ride stories prior to the year 2000 were posted originally to Usenet. I have edited them slightly to make them more relevant today, adding comments in italics as appropriate.

San Benito, Clear Creek, and Idria, May 2006 - Ron Bobb and I started near the store in Paicines, CA and rode a loop that went south on CA25 past Pinnacles National Monument, detoured through the San Benito Valley on Old Hernandez Rd., rode Coalinga Rd. over the hill to Hernandez Reservoir to the Clear Creek Management Area, used primarily as an off-road vehicle recreation area. We rode Clear Creek Rd. up to Clear Creek Summit and then descended the steep and dramatic road down past the site of the New Idria mine. We returned to Paicines via New Idria and Panoche Rds, stopping for a small meal at the Panoche Inn before arriving back in Paicines.

Tour of the Unknown Coast, May 2006 - Ron Bobb and I rode this loop through a remote corner of northern California. The route starts in Ferndale, CA and heads southeast along the Eel River through some magnificent old redwood groves, up along Mattole Rd. over Panther Gap, down into Honeydew, CA, along the Mattole River to Petrolia, then north along the coast to within spitting distance of Cape Mendocino before climbing up The Wall and the Endless Climb, the pair of which can best be described as Stage Rd. on steroids, before returning back to Ferndale.

Mission Peak, Mt. Allison, Monument Peak Traverse, May 2006 - A traversal of the ridge that forms these three peaks immediately east of Fremont and Milpitas. I climbed up via Mill Creek Rd. and the Mission Peak Preserve and descended into Ed Levin Park.

Mt. Hamilton Loop Clockwise, April 2006 - I rode the classic Mt. Hamilton Loop in reverse of the usual direction, riding first north on Calaveras Rd. to Sunol, then to Livermore, then south on Mines Rd. to the Junction and up San Antonio Valley Rd. to the top of Mt. Hamilton before returning home through San Jose.

Loma Prieta, November 2005 - Starting from downtown Sunnyvale I rode a figure-eight loop through Santa Clara, Campbell, San Jose, Los Gatos, up to Summit Rd., then on to Loma Prieta and across Loma Ridge to Mt. Umunhum before descending to Hicks Rd. and back through Los Gatos, Saratoga, and home.

South Butano, Old Haul, and Alpine east, August 2005 - I started in downtown Sunnyvale, rode to Saratoga then up CA9 and CA236 to Big Basin State Park. Then I rode up to the top of China Grade Rd. and continued on South Butano Fire Trail to Cloverdale Rd. Then I took Pescadero Rd., Wurr Rd., and Old Haul Rd. to Portola State Park before climbing back up to Skyline on Alpine Rd. west and then descended into Portola Valley on Alpine Rd. east before returning home.

One Third of the Bay in a Day, July 2005 - I started in downtown Sunnyvale, rode north through Palo Alto and Menlo Park then over the Dumbarton Bridge and met Zach Kaplan for about one-third of the "Bay in a Day" double century. We circled back through the south bay before riding out to Canada Rd. and CA92 whereupon I returned home and Zach continued on to Novato to finish the official ride.

Tailwinds to Santa Cruz, April 2005 - A ride from Sunnyvale, CA through Los Altos, Portola Valley, up Old La Honda Rd., then west on CA84 to San Gregorio. Then a swift ride south accompanied by a strong northwest tailwind. On the way I met up with Jobst Brandt. Then in Davenport I met my sister, Laura, and her boyfriend, Michael, for lunch. After lunch Laura, Michael and I continued into Santa Cruz, then I started the long trip home up CA9 to Skyline and then north to descend Page Mill and Moody Rds. before returning home.

Backroads of San Benito County, October 2004 - A tour of the backroads of San Benito County, CA. This ride started in San Juan Bautista, then east through the valley to Hollister, up Santa Ana Valley, then through Browns Valley, a short stretch of Panoche Creek, then south on CA25 to La Gloria Rd., and then west across the Gabilans to Gonzales. Then north into a headwind past Salinas and up over San Juan Grade back to San Juan Bautista.

Mount Hamilton by Moonlight, August 2004 - A ride from Sunnyvale, CA to the summit of Mt. Hamilton east of San Jose to watch the sunrise, and then the return ride.

Marin Century, August 2004 - An organized tour of the backroads of northern Marin County, CA, venturing into southern Sonoma County near the coast. This ride started on the north side of San Rafael and does a big figure-8 loop out to Marshall, Valley Ford, Bodega Bay, and back through Petaluma, Novato, and back to San Rafael.

Mt. Hamilton Challenge, April 2003 - The classic Mt. Hamilton loop, including Mt. Hamilton Rd., San Antonio Valley Rd., Mines Rd., Tesla Rd., Stanley Blvd., and Calaveras Rd., starting and ending near downtown Sunnyvale. I rode this on a very heavy fully-faired Gold Rush in the configuration seen here.

Knoxville Double Metric, September 2001 - The shortened version of the Knoxville Double Century, ridden on a warm day.

Marin Century, August 2001 - The Marin Century, a tour through northern Marin County.

Bolinas Ridge Trail on a Gold Rush, July 2001 - A ride from the southern to northern ends of the Bolinas Ridge Trail. Focus of discussion is on riding a Gold Rush off-road.

Sequoia Century, June 2001 - The 200k route ridden with Ron Bobb, both of us on Gold Rush bikes. Palo Alto, CA to Half Moon Bay, Davenport, Bonny Doon, Big Basin, and back to Palo Alto.

Sequoia Century, June 2000 - A variation on the 200k route from Palo Alto, CA to Santa Cruz and back ridden on the socked Gold Rush.

Strawberry Fields Forever, May 2000 - An organized ride out of Soquel, CA, that visits Eureka Canyon, Corralitos, Watsonville, and Prunedale.

Northern Contra Costa County, December 1995 - A ride along the Carquinez Scenic Drive.

Loma Prieta and Summit Road, August 1994 - A loop from Palo Alto to the summit of Loma Prieta and south on Summit Rd., Redwood Retreat, and home again.

Santa Cruz Zig Zag, July 1994 - A loop from Palo Alto through Big Basin and Bonny Doon to Santa Cruz, then through a few selected backroads back to Summit Rd. and down into Los Gatos and back home.

Santa Cruz Mountains Coastal Loop, June 1994 - A loop from Palo Alto to the coast, then south to Santa Cruz, then through a few selected backroads back to Summit Rd. and down into Los Gatos and back home.

Mr. Bill's Nightmare, May 1994 - A report on the first ride known later as "Mr. Bill's Nightmare". The objective of this ride was to find a 200k route in the local Santa Cruz Mountains that maximized the gross climbing without repeating any significant parts of the route in the same direction.

Hamilton and Diablo in a Day, April 1994 - A loop with Thomas Maslen from Palo Alto up to the summit of Mt. Hamilton, then east and north through the San Antonio Valley to Livermore, then north to the summit of Mt. Diablo, back to Danville for dinner, and then home via Dublin Canyon, Hesperian Blvd., and the Dumbarton Bridge.

Santiago Peak (Old Saddleback), April 1994 - A ride from Irvine, CA up and down Old Saddleback via Silverado Canyon.

Mount Hamilton Loop ridden Clockwise, March 1994 - A loop with Richard Bone from Palo Alto up to the summit of Mt. Hamilton by way of the Dumbarton Bridge, Niles Canyon, and Livermore. Return through San Jose.

A Tour through Marin County, CA, February 1994 - A tour with John Hughes and Company from San Francisco north to Marshall and then south along the coast, back through San Francisco and home to Palo Alto, CA.

Sunrise on Mount Diablo, January 1994 - A ride to the summit of Mt. Diablo to enjoy the sunrise on a cold winter morning. Includes a long ride back to Palo Alto, CA by way of Livermore, Niles Canyon, Alameda Creek, and the Dumbarton Bridge.

Half of the Sequoia 200k route, January 1994 - A loop from CA17 and Summit Rd. through Corralitos and Santa Cruz, ridden with Hildy Licht.

Brunch in Blackhawk, January 1994 - A John Hughes-led ride from Menlo Park, CA to Blackhawk (Danville, CA) via the Dumbarton Bridge, Alameda Creek Trail, Niles Canyon, Palomares, Crow & Norris Canyon Rds., Camino Tassajara and back again.

Sunrise on Mount Hamilton, December 1993 - A group ride I led that climbed the west side of Mt. Hamilton and then the solo ride through to Livermore and back to Palo Alto via Niles Canyon and the Dumbarton Bridge.

Night Ride, November 1993 - A group ride I led from Palo Alto, CA up into the local hills.

Big Basin through the Back Door, November 1993 - A ride with Karen Davis from Palo Alto, CA up east Alpine Rd., down west Alpine and Pomponio Rd., Old Haul, Wurr, Pescadero, Cloverdale, Gazos Creek, detour to Chalk Mountain, CA236, Bear Creek, Skyline, and home.

Mt. Tamalpais and Bolinas Ridge, October 1993 - A ride with from Palo Alto, CA to Union City BART then into San Francisco to ride up Mt. Tamalpais with Richard Mlynarik, then on alone to the Bolinas Ridge Trail before returning on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., back across the Golden Gate Bridge, through SF to BART, then Union City back across the Dumbarton Bridge to Palo Alto.

Amtrak Century, Irvine, California, September 1993 - A ride with Frank from Irvine to San Diego and then a return on a chartered Amtrak train.

Down the Coast to Santa Cruz, September 1993 - A ride with Jim Haughey, Mark Cufford, and Laura Stern from Palo Alto, CA to San Gregorio and down the coast to Santa Cruz and back through Laurel.

Around the Santa Cruz Mountains, California, August 1993 - My first double century, and my longest ride timewise. One big clockwise loop south from Palo Alto to just outside San Juan Bautista, then west to Watsonville, then north to Pacifica, back to Skyline Blvd, and then south to Palo Alto via a somewhat indirect route.

White Mountain Peak, CA, August 1993 - White Mountain Peak from the last trailhead on White Mountain Road.

Last Chance Road, July 1993 - A loop through Big Basin, Last Chance Rd., Bonny Doon, Santa Cruz, and home via Hutchinson and Redwood Estates.

Coastal Backroads, SF Peninsula, July 1993 - An extended loop through the hills of western San Mateo County on some of the lesser-known backroads.

Charcoal, Ward, Towne Roads, SF Peninsula, July 1993 - An extended off-road ride through some beautiful (but forbidden) roads in the central Santa Cruz mountains.

Santa Cruz, July 1993 - A group ride to Santa Cruz and back with Gardner Cohen, Liz Benishin, Hildy Licht, Jude Katsch, Jennifer Zheng, and Rich Feldman.

Uncle Bill's "Double" Century, June 1993 - A ride with Brent Silver, Jude Katsch, and Dick Fulton from Livermore to Patterson (via Patterson Pass) and then up Del Puerto Canyon to The Junction, then north on Mines Rd. back to Livermore. Temperatures 90-100F all day.

Mount Tamalpais, June 1993 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA across the Dumbarton Bridge to Union City BART, BART into San Francisco, then over Nob Hill and out to the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito to join Richard Mlynarik and Mark Chandler for a ride up Mt. Tamalpais. After the climb Richard and I descend the mountain by spiraling around the north side on fire roads, then descend into Mill Valley before returning to SF. I take Caltrain home.

Uncle Bill's Very Difficult Ride, May 1993 - The precursor ride of Mr. Bill's Nightmare. This one starts in Palo Alto, CA, climbs Montebello Rd., crosses the summit of Black Mountain, then heads south down Alpine Rd. and Portola State Park Rd. to Old Haul Rd., then west to the Bridge Trail and up Camp Pomponio Rd. and Alpine Rd. to Skyline. Then to CA-9 and down to Saratoga for lunch. After lunch, we climbed Bohlman, On Orbit, Bohlman, descended Montevina, climbed Black Rd., and then returned north on Skyline to CA-84 before descending one last time into Portola Valley and home.

Mount Hamilton Loop Counter-Clockwise, May 1993 - A ride up the west side of Mt. Hamilton down through Livermore, and home via Calaveras Rd.

Gazos Creek Road, April 1993 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA over Saratoga Gap, through Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Gazos Creek Rd., Cloverdale Rd, Pescadero Rd., CA84, Old La Honda Rd. and home.

Orange County, April 1993 - A loop ride from Irvine, CA around Santiago Canyon Rd., detouring on most of the side canyons before descending to the coast at Dana Point and returning to Irvine on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Irvine to San Diego, April 1993 - A ride from Irvine, CA to San Diego via the coastal bike route.

Sanborn and Soda Springs, April 1993 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA out and back on Sanborn Rd. and Soda Springs Rd.

Mount Diablo and Morgan Territory, March 1993 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA to the summit of Mt. Diablo and around Morgan Territory Rd. via the Dumbarton Bridge and BART.

Gilroy and Santa Clara Valley, February 1993 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA to Gilroy and back via the flattest route.

Two Bay Loops, January 1993 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA through Milpitas, Fremont, Niles, Union City, across the Dumbarton Bridge to Palo Alto for lunch, then back the opposite direction to make for as flat a 100-mile ride as one can reasonable find in the south San Francisco bay area.

Montevina and Bohlman Roads, January 1993 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA up Page Mill Rd., south to Gist and Black Roads, then up Montevina and down Bohlman Roads before returning home.

Big Basin and Chalk Mountain, December 1992 - A winter ride from Felton, CA to Big Basin, out to Chalk Mountain and then back to Felton.

Mission Peak, December 1992 - A winter ride from Palo Alto, CA across the Dumbarton Bridge, along the Alameda Creek Trail, up the back side of Mission Peak, down via Stanford Ave. and back to Palo Alto through Milpitas.

Quimby, Mt. Hamilton, and Kincaid, December 1992 - A ride up Mt. Hamilton via Quimby Rd. including an out-and-back detour on Kincaid Rd.

Montebello and Russian Ridge, December 1992 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA up Montebello Rd. to the top of Black Mountain, then over Russian Ridge to Mindego Ridge, back up to Russian Ridge and down Alpine Rd. (east).

Berkeley Hills, November 1992 - A ride from Berkeley, CA up through the local hills, out around the reservoirs, through Orinda, Moraga, and the Montclair district of Oakland, CA.

Bridge, BART, and Mountain, October 1992 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA across the Dumbarton Bridge, then BART to SF, then up and over Twin Peaks and San Bruno Mountain before returning south along the Skyline Blvd.

Sonora Pass (west), September 1992 - A ride from Kennedy Meadow up the west side of Sonora Pass and back.

Ebbetts Pass and Pacific Grade Summit, September 1992 - A ride from just outside Markleeville, CA over Ebbetts Pass and Pacific Grade Summit to Lake Alpine (near Bear Valley) and then back again.

Monitor Pass west side, September 1992 - A ride from Woodfords, CA through Markleeville and up the west side of Monitor Pass and back again.

Mount Madonna Road, September 1992 - A ride from Los Gatos, CA up along Los Gatos Creek, then to Corralitos, up over Mt. Madonna Rd., then Pole Line Rd. and CA-152 east to Watsonville Rd., then north by the reservoirs and back to Los Gatos.

Tioga Road, July 1992 - A ride from Lee Vining, CA over Tioga Pass to Olmstead Point and back.

Devil's Postpile and Deadman Summit, July 1992 - A ride from Mammoth Lakes, CA over Minaret Summit to Devil's Postpile and back, then an out-and-back ride to the top of Deadman Summit on US-395.

Comstock Silver Century, Carson City, NV, June 1992 - A ride from Carson City, NV through Virginia City, over Geiger Summit, Mt. Rose Summit, around part of north Lake Tahoe and over Spooner Summit.

Santa Cruz, June 1992 - A big loop ride from Palo Alto, CA to San Gregorio, south on the coast to Santa Cruz and back through Soquel, Summit Rd., and Skyline Blvd.

Del Puerto Canyon Road, June 1992 - A ride with Frank from Livermore, CA east to Tracy, then southeast through the San Joaquin Valley to Patterson, then west on Del Puerto Canyon Rd. to Mines Rd. and back into Livermore.

Sequoia Century, June 1992 - Frank and I ride the 200 kilometer course of the 1992 Sequoia Century, starting/ending in Los Altos Hills, CA.

Bonny Doon to Palo Alto, May 1992 - A ride from Bonny Doon to Palo Alto, CA via a corner of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, China Grade, Gate 10 Rd. (between Big Basin and Portola State Park), Old Haul Rd., Camp Pomponio Rd., Alpine Rd., Skyline Blvd, and CA84.

Three Sierra Passes near South Lake Tahoe, May 1992 - A ride from the Stanford Sierra Camp at the end of Fallen Leaf Rd. through South Lake Tahoe, over Daggett Pass, Carson Pass, and Luther Pass.

Mount Hamilton Loop ridden Clockwise, May 1992 - A loop ride from Alum Rock Ave and CA-130 to Milpitas, Livermore, Mt. Hamilton, and back to San Jose, CA.

East Bay and BART, April 1992 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA to Union City, CA. Then a BART ride to Walnut Creek, and then the ride back to Palo Alto.

Purissima Creek Trail, April 1992 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA San Gregorio and then return via the Purissima Creek Trail.

Butano Fire Trail (south ridge), April 1992 - A ride with Frank from Palo Alto, CA up Page Mill Rd., CA35, CA9, CA236, China Grade Rd., Butano Fire Trail, Cloverdale Rd., Pescadero Rd., and CA84.

Eagle Rock Rd. and Big Basin Redwoods, March 1992 - A ride from Waterman Gap through Big Basin on some backroads, up Eagle Rock Rd. to Empire Grade, down into Felton, then back on Zayante, Skyline, and CA9.

Gazos Creek Road, February 1992 - A ride from Palo Alto, CA over Saratoga Gap, through Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Gazos Creek Rd., Cloverdale Rd, Pescadero Rd., CA84, and back.

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