AV-B Ride Oct 4: ULKHC Montebello & Foothills Traverse
AV-Ber’s,
It’s Ultra Low Key Hill Climbs season! The B-ride won’t be doing them all because the A-ride already has plans to do several. But I’m stoked to lead us up the first one of the year! If you’re unfamiliar with this whole thing check out the ULKHC List for the skinny, the schedule, and maybe register yourself.
We will ride Foothill Expressway all the way into Stevens Creek Canyon and go up Mt Eden to warm up our legs. Eden is just under a mile so if you want to push hard up Montebello make sure you wake your legs up on Eden first. We will regroup at the top of Eden and turn around to roll back to Montebello. The climb is 5.2 miles long, gains 2,000 feet, and can be broken up into 3 sections. The first section is the hardest. It begins with the steepest continuous stretch where there is a 1/4-mile of 12%+ and a full mile of 9%+. Do not go too hard here. The 2nd section is the false flat in the middle of the climb. There is a full mile of under 3% here and can be big-ringed. The 3rd section is your standard 7/8% climbing with the occasional ramp. I encourage everyone to try their best but we will regroup and wait at the top for all. There should be a water spigot at the vineyard.
I figured after we all give it the beans for 5 hard miles we’d keep the ride chill. After descending Montebello we will head back north and roam across the foothills through some Egan territory. Note the regroup spots. The climbs are very short so we will keep the regroups quick like last week and aim for a proper water/bathroom stop at Rancho San Antonio Park only. Of course we’re rolling past Arastradero Preserve should anyone need an emergency stop. Forecasts say sunny and 75 by the time we get to the top of Montebello (and we’re not going up to Skyline) so don’t bring a bunch of extra clothing to carry up the climb with you!
Non-members are always welcome, but please complete the waiver once a year.
Please make sure to familiarize yourself with the ride rules as well.
Ride Leader
Ryan Dyke
Start / End Location
Start and end at Summit Bicycles, 392 California Ave, Palo Alto
Route File
Link to Ride With GPS Route File
55 miles, 5,700 feet
Start Time
Meet: 9 AM
Leave: 9:10 AM
Regroups
Mile 15 - Regroup at top of Mt Eden
Mile 22.5 - Regroup at top of Montebello
Mile 28.2 - Quick regroup after Montebello descent
Mile 32 - Water/bathroom stop at Rancho San Antonio Park
Mile 33.5 - Quick regroup at top of Mora Trail
Mile 36.5 - Quick regroup at top of La Loma
Mile 44.8 - Quick regroup at Portola/Alpine corner
Mile 48 - Quick regroup at top of Westridge