One of the main reasons I got hooked on cycling is my belief that bikes, actually, are the future: Cycling is the most efficient form of transportation invented by humans. I think we’re going to fart around with hybrid this and electric that for a few decades, but eventually efficiency will win.
So, initially, I looked down on recreational cycling, because I believed it was diminished: “Bikes are a hobby for your spare time, so infrastructure to support cycling is not as important as for something essential like cars.” Then I joined the AIDS/Lifecycle ride, and started training to ride to Los Angeles. I became a recreational cyclist too — with a cause and a destination. I found myself continuing the long recreational rides afterwards on a weekly basis.
About a year ago, after falling off my bike one too many times (sliding on wet road around a bend), I bought an indoor trainer. At first I just got it because I thought it would be a good way to maintain fitness without crashing during wet weather. So I started doing intervals and following training plans, sweating alone down in the garage. I’d also heard about a cycling computer game — Zwift — which puts thousands of cyclists worldwide simultaneously on a computer generated world.
I found myself riding 2-4 times a week on Zwift, even during the summer. And Janeen, too, has been riding around the virtual worlds. The incredible graphics fulfill my desire to see beautiful views while riding, and the safety and convenience allow me to fit more cycling into my week. I still use a bike as transportation to get around SF — and sometimes further — but most of my miles are recreational, and on Zwift, by a long shot. This winter, the rain hasn’t come to California as it did last year: It’s been a very dry winter so far. When the annual “Festive 500” challenge appeared, Janeen mentioned that she’d like to do it also. And here we are, one day away from the end of the challenge with 45km to go.
We haven’t had snow, ice, or even any rain to speak of over the last week. Both Janeen and I have ridden more miles on the road over the last week than any other week all year. So what is it I love about cycling?
I still love that it’s the most efficient form of transportation known to human kind. I love getting fitter and stronger even as I get older. I also love that I get out to see sights and places I would never go otherwise. And there’s a social side to it that I love: Every ride needs a destination involving food and/or coffee! I just love to ride somewhere with friends, and then sit and enjoy eating and talking, before riding home. It’s such a pleasure to me, that I just can’t understand how I managed the first 42 years without it!
So when we set out this beautiful chilly clear morning, headed for lunch in Woodside, you know I was looking forward to that lunch stop. We rode out through the Golden Gate park, and down the Great Highway.
The surfers were out riding waves as we rode by. No fog anywhere to be seen.
I planned this ride as a flat ride, but forgot how much elevation the rolling hills along Skyline rack up. The ride along Sawyer camp trail and around the reservoir was spectacularly beautiful — but damn cold. It must be ten degrees colder down in the valley.
We took a selfie standing on the reservoir dam. Actually, this is called “San Andreas Lake” (yes, directly on top of the San Andreas fault line).
Looking down into the valley below the dam, this haze hints at how cold it would be.
Crystal Springs reservoir is further down the valley.
As we were working our way up the grade before the downhill into Woodside, Janeen’s energy was starting to fade: I decided at that point that instead of retracing our path back to SF, we would take a flatter route along the bay side of the peninsula.
When we got to Woodside, Janeen went in to the market to get deli sandwiches while I stood outside with the bikes. While standing there, I noticed about five cyclists across the street sitting on the curb eating. Across another street, on the island, a couple of cyclists were trying to prop their bikes up as they tried to sit on the wall to eat. There is an acre of parking for so few shops, and absolutely nowhere to sit outside. No benches. Not even tables outside the market. We found a corner of the parking lot, and sat on some wood fencing while we ate our sandwiches and I griped about Woodside.
It took me a couple of hours riding after this for it to really sink in why I got so annoyed: I was missing my absolutely favorite part of the ride!
The road out of Woodside was a fast, smooth descent. It felt good to be escaping the town that just did not support my dream. On the way through Hillsborough, we happened upon this wonderfully painted traffic light control box. I really don’t like traffic lights (efficiency?), but if the control boxes are this beautiful, I can make an exception:
Riding past Oracle in the Baylands, I took a wrong turn, and we started winding along the Baylands heading south. We ran into a nice looking little cafe that is part of the library. When we went inside, the person working there was bandaging up a cut hand 🙁 Onwards.
Once we got back on track, we found “Creme Brewlee” – and I loved it. It’s the complete opposite of Woodside: Tables and chairs outside, inexpensive, unpretentious and lots of fun things to refuel on (mini muffins, chocolate filled beignets, coffee, and green tea soy latte for Janeen). We were happy cyclists.
