Summer is approaching fast, and for us the first sign is always that our hills are no longer green and are now golden, which they will remain until the next rainy season in the fall. But the weather has been delightful for riding, not too hot until later in the afternoon when I am already finished. I do have to be a little careful about ride length because some pollen is in the air that gives me allergy headaches. Not too bad if I keep rides under 3 hours.
Last Tuesday my group did its “Taco Tuesday” ride for the 1st Tuesday of the month. We head south to San Martin, then turn east, and turn back north on the east side of the valley and up the Coyote Creek trail all the way to Metcalf Park, looping back over Malech road and back downtown for lunch.
Cochrane road on the hill that goes past the Almaden reservoir damHeading out on the trailThe trail bends west towards the Santa Cruz MountainsTaking a break at Metcalf park
On Saturday I took my upright out looking for some off-road riding.
The gravel/dirt shoulder next to Main Ave at Guillelmo WineryA local rural road, Elm Rd. Some people zoom pretty fast down this road in their cars which the residents don’t find amusingSome dirt trails at Anderson Lake County Park
Yesterday was a hard day, a brisk two hour 50 minute cruise with some on-bike strength training and intervals. Then I did some upper-body strength training in the garage.
Dougherty Rd, a rural road just northwest of Morgan HillHale Avenue North through the Coyote Valley.Leaning into the turn onto Bailey Ave.The hill at the northern end of Coyote Valley. On the other side is the start of the South San Jose neighborhoods.The neighborhood on the West side backs up onto the Santa Teresa foothills. You can ride along here for about 10 miles (16 km) north, with nice views of open space and Santa Teresa Park on the way.I climbed the steep hill on Bernal Rd that goes up both to the gates of the IBM research facility and Santa Teresa park. I worked in research here from 1984-1987. I heard it it is now closed down so I thought I’d go see the status. But the gates are still closed. IBM is probably keeping people out until they sell the building. If these gates were open you could drop down the West side on Harry Rd to the Almaden Valley.Part of Santa Teresa ParkBlasting back down the Bernal HillBernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch is now a county parkThere is a dirt trail through the ranch that is a fun alternative to the road.
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