Montevina and Bohlman Roads

Bill Bushnell — Sunday, January 3, 1993

Because of rain the previous week, I changed the originally-planned route going up dirt Alpine Rd. and mucking around in the open space preserves near Skyline and Page Mill Rd. Challenged to come up with a paved ride that offered as much adventure as the dirt roads in the Page Mill Rd/Skyline area, I chose the following.

Rich Feldman, Paul Kern, Jude Katsch, Brent Silver, and I meet at the Palo Alto Cultural Center at 9:15. We start by winding our way through Palo Alto and then by stopping at the Mollie Stone’s Market on California Avenue to pick up some food for the long, cold ride ahead. We continue up California Avenue, taking the short steep path at Peter Coutts Hill and then proceed to climb Page Mill Rd.

At Skyline Blvd we turn left and continue pedaling south on Skyline toward Saratoga Gap. We are buzzed once by an impatient motorist driving an old dirty-brown Volvo station wagon. We stop at the Fire Station to eat lunch and to refill our water bottles. None of us has drunk much water, but this is the last water stop until we reach Saratoga later in the day. During lunch Paul accuses me of waging “psychological warfare” by appearing not to work hard while climbing, and the rest of the group nods and grumbles in agreement. For the record, I was working very hard. I try not to waste energy by standing, bobbing, or throwing the bike around. While we eat, we feel colder and colder. Just how cold is it? My thermometer reads 37F, and it is 12:00!

After lunch Rich decides he will head home, so he cuts out down SR-9 and rides home to Los Altos. The rest of us continue. Perhaps to get back at me for riding ahead before the fire station, Brent, Jude and Paul continue ahead while I finish my snack and refill my bottles at the fountain. I make the mistake of spilling water on my hands and then not drying them thoroughly because halfway to Castle Rock State Park, my fingers are in extreme pain from the cold, and my gloves are not thick enough to keep them warm. I stop and blow hot breath on each hand for about 5 minutes until the pain ceases and the circulation returns.

I meet up with the group just past the high point on Skyline Blvd. where they’ve stopped at the boulders overlooking the San Lorenzo River watershed. The air is clear as we enjoy the view of the mountains, Monterey Bay, and the Santa Lucia Mountains beyond. After another few minutes we bundle up again and continue down Skyline, being careful to avoid patches of black ice and frost. We continue past Black Rd. and bear left at Gist Rd.

Gist Rd. connects the middle of Black Rd. to a point on Skyline Blvd. between Black Rd. and Bear Creek Rd. Gist Rd. consists entirely of short to moderate length steep switchbacks. About halfway down Gist Rd., we rouse a large fearsome-looking black dog. Poor Jude, who is carefully descending last, gets chased.

At Black Rd. we turn right and continue down to the intersection with CA-17 near Lexington Reservoir. Since we plan to ascend Montevina Rd., we decide to walk our bikes in the generous shoulder along the left side of the roadway rather than risk life and limb by crossing the busy highway twice for the 0.2-mile journey to the intersection of Montevina Rd. and CA-17.

Montevina Rd. is flat for about 150 yards and is then flat no longer as it climbs an average 9% grade with a very steep stinger for the last 200 yards before the gate leading into the El Sereno Open Space Preserve. Twice along Montevina Rd. we activate dog alarms. With amazing predictability, they rush out to the street growling, barking, and baring their teeth. We stop once and get off our bikes. Immediately, the dogs retreat with ears flipped back and tails wagging.

Paul and I reach the gate first. Fifteen minutes later Brent and Jude come into view. Jude suffered leg cramps on the ascent, so he had been riding slowly. After another few minutes we start up the steep dirt road. Later as I descend the little hump at the upper gate, my front wheel sinks into deep gravel, and I almost take a dive.

Soon we’re at Bohlman Rd. and we begin the descent. Near the top yet another legion of canines run out to the road to “greet” us. Paul rides swiftly down ahead of us while I stop twice beyond the territory of the dogs with Brent and Jude to enjoy the clear view of San Jose and the east bay hills. For variety, I bear right at On Orbit Lane and continue down until On Orbit rejoins Bohlman Rd. Brent and Jude have just passed ahead, so I continue down after them. Bohlman Rd. is very steep, and there are wet patches on the surface. Not wanting to hit ice at breakneck speed, I descend slowly.

When we reach Saratoga, we head for the International Coffee Exchange. Brent decides to head home, and Jude, too, decides not to stay. His legs are still hurting. I venture inside to find Paul sipping coffee and munching goodies looking very comfortable and relaxed. It’s been a while since I breathed warm air. I decide to order a small hot chocolate (~5 oz.) and a chocolate-covered biscuit. I pay a ridiculous $2.24 for the snack, but it’s worth it to sit indoors today.

After about 15 minutes, Paul and I reluctantly leave the warm coffee house. We continue back to Palo Alto along a winding route taking us through south Cupertino and a neighborhood of tract mansions and then north on Foothill Blvd. and Foothill Expressway.

Ride stats:

distance: 58.6 miles

climbing: 6130 feet

total time: 8:02

riding time: 4:48

average speed: 12.2 mph

maximum speed: 33.0 mph

index: 83

irp: 10

mirp: 17

climbing ratio: 1.05

An article on indexing can be found here.

©2004, Bill Bushnell

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