Saturday A Ride 5/3 - Updated: Skyline to Lexington loop

Update: Since Big Basin is officially closed due to wind, we’ll reroute and stay out of that zone.

New route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3353549030709636142

This will take us up 9 as planned, but we’ll continue on skyline to summit and drop down old Santa Cruz, loop around the back of Lexington, down the short dirt trail section and into Los Gatos for a snack stop. We’ll go back through Saratoga, then up and over Mt Eden again to Foothill.

Summary: Foothill, Stevens Canyon, Highway 9, Skyline, Summit, Old Santa Cruz, Alma Bridge, Hwy 9, Stevens Canyon, Foothill

Saturday is looking pretty windy, with temps in the mid 50s to 60 and some sprinkles in the morning. We’ll stay inland and out of the wind with a loop through Big Basin, the less traveled direction. Why clockwise? More time taking in the best part: Big Basin.

We’ll take Foothill to Stevens Canyon and highway 9. We’ll skip Redwood Gulch because there’s nothing endurance pace about that thing. We’ll continue on Skyline with a brief water stop at Castle Rock before heading down Bear Creek to Boulder Creek. This is our main stop for snacks if needed. Plan to bring food for the whole ride, but happy to stop for a quick bite at the tree coffee shop if there’s interest.

We’ll climb up through Big Basin, then out 9 to Skyline. I expect we’ll split up here for home - some going Skyline to Page and some down 9.

Pace will be Z2 as much as possible. Feel free to smash the climbs if you want and we’ll regroup at the top.

Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3353187080238339084

Summary: Foothill, Stevens Canyon, Highway 9, Skyline, Bear Creek, Big Basin Way, 236, 9, Skyline, Page

Start: Summit Bikes Palo Alto

Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM

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

Ride Leader: Greg McCullough