A Ride
The A rides are led by the Alto Velo Racing Team and feature a hard, consistent pace for 3-5 hours of riding. The Sunday A Ride is the most challenging ride offered by Alto Velo. The Saturday A Ride offers a pace between the Saturday B Ride and the Sunday A Ride and is focused on endurance. Most routes will include shorter options in case you want to join for the first part but have afternoon commitments or don't (yet!) have the fitness to hang in for the whole ride. These rides do not stop often, so two full bottles and plenty of snacks are highly recommended.
Start Point: Summit Bicycles at 392 California Ave in Palo Alto
Start Time:
Saturday A Ride: Meet at 9 a.m. Roll at 9:10 a.m.
Sunday A Ride:
October - May: Meet at 9 a.m. Roll at 9:10 a.m.
June - September: Meet at 8 a.m. Roll at 8:10 a.m.
Pace: Fast. Expect to climb Old La Honda in 21 minutes or less.
Regroups: Rarely. Highly recommended that you know the route and/or download to your head unit.
Example route: https://www.strava.com/routes/10975526
The A Rides are subject to Alto Velo's Ride Rules and all participants must sign an annual waiver.
See below for details of the upcoming rides as well as past rides.
AV A- Sunday 04.06 Big Basin
This Sunday we will head to Big Basin through Pagemill with an “endurance” pace.
We will remain in Z2 in flat/roller sections (~ 2.5 W/kg pace) . Feel free ride the two longer climbs (Pagemill and Bear creek) at your own pace as long as you don’t mind waiting at the top where we will regroup. We will have a 20 min stop in Boulder Creek for food/water.
Route:https://www.strava.com/routes/3343760593285469472
Summary: 82 miles / 8,200 feet: Summit Bicycles > Stanford Ave >Page> 35> 9 >236 > Boulder Creek> Bear Creek > skyline > 9 > Foothill
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Hoss Hayati
Saturday A Ride - 4/5/25 - Pescadero Loop and West Alpine
The weather suggests that spring is finally here, lets celebrate by taking a lap of Pescadero loop (because July and the road race will come eventually).
Route will be climbing Old La Honda, descending 84, one lap around Pescadero loop, then climbing West Alpine and finally descending via Hwy 9 and Mt. Eden Rd. Pace will be 2.5-3 W/kg on the flats, and climbs at your own pace (we’ll regroup at the top of OLH and West Alpine). We’ll stop for a quick water fill-up in Pescadero.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3343102879578916148
Summary: 85 miles / 8000 feet: Summit Bicycles > OLH > Pescadero Creek > Pigeon Point > Pescadero > Lobitos > Tunitas > Kings > Shake Shack
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9 AM, roll out 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Steph Hart
AV A Ride Sunday 3/30/25 - Trying to stay dry
Sunday is looking to be a little bit wet so I kept the route shorter and with lots of easy bail out points if the weather becomes too miserable. If it turns out to be a nice day, then we can definitely add on more miles! Generally, the route will depart Summit Bicycles at 9am, head down foothill expressway, wind back thru Rancho San Antonio until we climb Altamont, descend page mill, take Arastadero and Portola over to climb OLH and descend 84. Then we will do an out and back on Canada before finishing on Sand Hill and Alpine then back to the shop.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3341194949874807052
Summary: 66 miles, 5000 ft
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Jon Wells
Saturday A Ride - 3/29/25 - Pigeon Point to Lobitos
So far, this Saturday is looking like it'll be a final reprive of dry weather before next week's storms. Let's knock out some of the best of the coastline while it's dry!
We'll be keeping it "endurance" pace to keep those build phases building. Remain in Z2 on the flats and rollers (~2.5-3.0 W/Kg). Feel free to take the climbs (OLH, Haskins, Tunitas) at your own pace, we'll be regrouping over the top of each.
Water refills at Sky Londa followed by a cafe stop in Pescadero (the long way, at mile 47) because I love coffee. We'll take an audible at The BIke Hut if people need another stop. See you all out there!
This is also one of those fun Shake Shack rides so we'll be ending this one at the Stanford Mall Shake Shack - hang around for that sweet complimentary shake!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3339466315482731930
Summary: 85 miles / 8000 feet: Summit Bicycles > OLH > Pescadero Creek > Pigeon Point > Pescadero > Lobitos > Tunitas > Kings > Shake Shack
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9 AM, roll out 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Kevin Kauffman
Sunday A Ride - 3/23/2025 - Mt Hamilton Front & Back turning at the Junction(NOTE: Ride starts in San Jose at base of MT Hamilton Not at Summit Bikes)
This is a bit of a last-minute post, but for those who are game, we are going to ride the front and back of Mt Hamilton with a turn around at Rainbow Junction. 10k of climbing in 71 miles.
Starting and finishing at the Walgreens parking lot at 2799 s. white rd san jose, ca 95148.
WE ARE NOT LEAVING FROM SUMMIT BICYCLES
We will ride up the front of Mt Hamilton, down the backside, and have a turnaround at Rainbow Junction.
Climbing 10k in 70 miles, so the pace will be moderate, based on who shows up. We will regroup at Rainbow Junction before we head toward home.
Bring Plenty to drink and eat since the weather is decently warm (71 degrees for a high)
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3338742360680980870
Summary: 71 miles, 10k ft of climbing
Start: Walgreens Parking lot at 2799 s. white rd san jose, ca 95148.
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Andy Anderson. Message me on Slack if you are coming since likely a small group…
Saturday GRAVEL Ride 3/22 - Cat’s Hill
This week’s a ride both rough and grand,
Through gravel trails and rugged land.
Not Summit’s start, but Egan’s lot,
From Los Altos, off we trot!
Arastradero, then Dirt Alpine,
Climb Black’s peak—a view so fine.
Canyon Trail, a river splash,
Then Stevens Canyon in a dash!
Redwood Gulch, a climb so steep,
Then down Highway 9 we sweep.
El Sereno? We’ll decide,
If time is tight, we’ll let it slide.
By 2:30, we must be set,
To cheer our teammates—don’t forget!
They’ll climb Cat’s Hill, so steep, so fast,
Lap by lap, huge watts they shall blast.
When racing’s done, if legs remain,
We’ll take the Rail Trail home again.
By six o’clock, we should be near,
So dress up warm and bring your cheer!
(This poem was written mostly by ChatGPT using the normal ride description below as input)
Hello friends, this week we are doing a special edition GRAVEL ride to spectate and cheer on our teammates who are racing in Cat’s Hill! We will start from NOT SUMMIT but the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce (the Egan start location) at 9:00 AM and go to Arastradero to Dirt Alpine, climb to the top of Black Mountain, then descend Canyon Trail where there may be a river crossing! After we make it down to Stevens Canyon we’ll do Redwood Gulch and descend Highway 9 to Saratoga, from where we’ll wiggle our way towards the El Sereno dirt climb. From the top we’ll go down Montevina and make our way back into Los Gatos via Jones Trail.
The Women's P/1/2/3 field begins at 2:40pm so we will do our best to get there by 2:30pm or so, but in The Spirit of Gravel this should be a pretty chill ride (A Endurance Ride pace, 3 w/kg on the climbs) so if we feel rushed we can always cut off the El Sereno climb or play it by ear some other way. A whole bunch of our women’s team will be racing, and with the Men’s P/1/2 field following at 3:50pm, it’ll be a ton of fun to watch and support our friends as they repeatedly blast up the 23% wall!!!
If we’re still together after the race, we will take the Rail Trail back up to Foothill. We can probably expect to be back near Los Altos at like 6pm - since this is an all day thing be sure to dress accordingly. Hope to see you there!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3337567278033243772
Summary: 62 miles / 7,400 feet: Los Altos Chamber of Commerce > Dirt Alpine > Black Mountain > Canyon Trail > Redwood Gulch > El Sereno > down Montevina > Jones Trail > Los Gatos > Rail Trail > Foothill
Start: Los Altos Chamber of Commerce (Egan start location)
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Richard Red
Alto Velo A ride-Saturday 3.15 HMB
This Saturday we will head to HMB through Higgins Canyon with an “endurance” pace.
We will remain in Z2 in flat/roller sections (~ 2.5-3 W/kg pace) . Feel free ride the two longer climbs (Kings and W-Alpine) at your own pace as long as you don’t mind waiting at the top where we will regroup. We will have a 20 min stop in HMB for food/water.
Route:https://www.strava.com/routes/3335757289479731044
Summary: 75 miles / 7,500 feet: Summit Bicycles > Stanford Ave >Foothill> Sandhill > Whisky hill > Kings >Tunitas > Lobitas > Higgins > HMB > Hwy 1 > lobitas > Stages > 84 > W-alpine > page
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Hoss Hayati
AV A Ride Sunday 3/9/25 Montebello- down WALP - up 84/Sky
Sunday is looking to be sunny and warm despite the forecast earlier this week! Come on out as we embark on a fun little jaunt around town. We’ll start by ascending Montebello, traverse the dirt section to Page Mill (we will be taking it nice and easy, don’t you worry), descend W Alpine, up on 84/ skyline north, descend 92, back on Canada. We’ll stop briefly at the water fountain on page mill (~mile 21) and then again at the trading post at 84/ skyline (~mile 38). Pace on the climbs is whatever your heart desires as we will regroup at the top. Rest of the ride is conversational pace. Come on out!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3333256084045041554
Summary: 69 miles, 6600 ft
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Brad Lovegren
AV A Endurance - 3/8/25 Bigger Basin
Taking advantage of a race free weekend with an epic Big Basin ride, but modified. We’ll be going up Page Mill, along Big Basin, up Jamison, down Pine Flat and Felton Empire, up Zayante and Hutchinson, down HWY 9, and roll along on Foothill back to Summit.
We’ll have two water stops, one at mile 39.8 Jamison Creek Fire Station, and the second at mile 78.75 Castle Rock, with a lunch break at Wild Roots
Get ready for a 103.81 mile ride with 11,811 feet of elevation gain. Keep a steady 3-3.5 W/kg up the hills, regroup at the top of climbs, and no-drop pace line on the flats and rollers.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3331707823899388748
Summary: 103 mi / 11,800 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page Mill > Big Basin > Jamison > Zayante > Hutchison > HWY 9 > Foothill > Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Rachel Hwang
Saturday A Ride - 3/1/2025 - Page Mill/Montevina/Bear Creek
Hello riders, we are going down to Lexington Reservoir this week! We’ll start by climbing Page Mill, going South on Skyline, and after a quick water stop at Castle Rock we can enjoy a ripping descent on the rest of Skyline and Black Rd all the way down to the reservoir. Then we will turn left, climb Montevina, and come back down - don’t get too distracted by the spectacular views as the descent is a bit technical! There’s nowhere to get water until we get back to Los Gatos/Saratoga. From the top of Bear Creek we’ll go left on Summit and then enjoy a nice gentle descent down Old Santa Cruz Hwy before circling around the reservoir to the gravel trail back to Los Gatos. From there it’s just Toll Gate to Eden to Foothill and back home.
Please bring two big bottles!! We’ll be doing around 3.0-3.5 w/kg all day but with minimal stopping, so that we can ideally get y’all home at a decent time.
See you there!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3330317323664617182
Summary: 75 miles / 9,000 feet: Summit Bicycles > Page Mill > Skyline > Black Rd > up & down Montevina > Bear Creek > Toll Gate to Pierce/Eden > Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9 a.m., Leave 9:10 a.m.
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Michael Matthews
Sunday A Ride - 3/2/2025 - Bohlman to Saratoga
This Sunday will be incredibly climbing dense, packing in over 11k feet of elevation gain in under 90 miles. Beware: there is also a short dirt section between Bohlman and Montevina. Because of the amount of climbs, we won’t be pushing anything beyond 5wkg up the climbs. Expect an average of 4.2-4.5wkg up climbs. The steepness will be fatiguing, and as such will determine the pace in some sections. The weather is also looking on the colder/wetter side, so be sure to dress accordingly. See you all out there!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3324175657118933122
Summary: 86 miles / 11300ft: Summit Bicycles > OLH > HW84 > Alpine > Skyline > HW9 > Redwood > Bohlman > Montevina > Black Rd > Skyline > Pagemill > Summit Bicycles
Water Stops: Sky Londa (14.5mi), Saratoga (47mi), Skyline Fire Station (68mi)
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Devin Wilson
Sunday A-Ride – 2/23/25 – Half Moon Bay
For this Sunday’s A-Ride, we’ll head out to Half Moon Bay and enjoy the warmer weather. Target pace will be 3.5-4 W/kg on climbs, 3 W/kg everywhere else. We’ll have a coffee stop in Half Moon Bay at mile 42, as well as a short regroup at Alice’s earlier in the ride. I hope to see you there!
Route: http://strava.com/routes/3327870070855321118
Summary: 71 miles / 6,700 feet: Summit Bicycles > OLH > 84 > Higgins Canyon > Half Moon Bay > 1 > Lobitos/Tunitas Creek > Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: George Wehner
Saturday A-Ride 2/22 - Kings, Pescadero, West Alpine, Shake Shack
Hello team, there is a huge cars and coffee meet happening at Sky Londa this Saturday (see @9burgring instagram account) so we will do our best to avoid riding on 84 and Skyline. We’re going to do a sort of repeat of a route I used last month and go up Kings, down Tunitas, to Stage Rd all the way to Pescadero where we’ll grab a quick snack (~20 mins) before climbing Pescadero Creek (the back side of Haskins) back up to West Alpine. This Saturday is our second Shake Shack™ ride so we will head straight there after descending Page Mill for FREE MILKSHAKES!!!
Pace: 3 w/kg on the climbs PLEASE - there has been discontent with this ride’s pace lately so I am going to enforce a true endurance pace this week. Plus it is still winter and half of us have been sick recently… I mean, If you think about it, a strict endurance pace around fatmax is ideal, actually, because after 4-5 hours of burning fat imagine how much better you’ll feel about eating our state mandated Shake Shack™, both physically and mentally! Also, if you think even harder, if you go too far beyond tempo pace, that puts more cortisol in your bloodstream which makes it harder to burn fat, which means you wouldn’t enjoy your Shake Shack as much, so if you show up and start blasting 5+ w/kg that’s basically saying you dislike Shake Shack™, and we’re not allowed to badmouth our sponsors, so actually it’s just straight up illegal to not ride at my pace.
We will of course regroup at the top of each climb as usual. There may still be debris present from the recent rain so as usual, take care when descending Tunitas and Page Mill, but otherwise the weather looks like it should be absolutely wonderful so I hope you will join us for a lovely ride to the coast!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3327176402043761444
Summary: 72 miles / 7,300 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Kings Mountain > Tunitas/Lobitos Creek > Hwy 1 to Pigeon Point > Cloverdale > Pescadero Creek Rd > West Alpine > Page Mill > Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Richard Red
Sunday A Ride- 02.16.Boulder Creek
Wishing anyone who is racing Pine Flat tomorrow a fun and safe day.
If you are missing Pine Flat, you can join an “endurance” pace ride tomorrow. This Sunday we will head to Boulder Creek through Pagemill.
I will remain in Z2 in flat/roller sections (~ 2.5-3 W/kg pace) and I if you are on doubt just follow my pace. Feel free hammer the two longer climbs (page mill and Highway 9 out of BC) as long as you don’t mind waiting at the top where we will regroup. We will have 1 or 2 short water stops (5 min each) at fire station and/or Castle rock and a 20 min stop in Boulder creek before riding Highway 9 to Skyline.
https://www.strava.com/routes/3326058192332676900
Summary: 70 miles / 7,100 feet: Summit Bicycles > Stanford Ave > Old page > page > Skyline > summit> bear creak > Boulder Creek >9 > RWG >Foothill > Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Hoss Hayati
Saturday A-Ride 2/15 - Kings/Haskins/W. Alpine
Hi everyone, let’s hit two classic climbs on the peninsula this Saturday, in a (at least for me) less usual way with Kings on the way to the coast and West Alpine/Page on the way back. Of course, not missing Pescadero and 84 inbetween. I was more sick than healthy this winter, so won’t break any w/kg records - the goal is to keep real endurance pace and not destroy the group, but the 2 climbs are long enough to smash it if you want… but let’s try to keep it to two re-groups max. The wind should be mild, though it will most likely blow straight to our faces on 84, so composed riding with turns or paceline would be great!
Pescadero is a must stop to satisfy the caffeine addiction some of us suffer from (ehm), we can also do a second stop if necessary.
Seems the rainy days are over now (hooray!), but let’s hope for more wind and sun this Friday to dry out the roads. See you on Saturday!
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3325377853278193012
Summary: 75 miles / 7,200 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > Kings > Skyline > Haskins > Pescadero > Stage > HW84 > West Alpine > Page > Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Vlad Michalec
AV A Race Ride - 02/09/2025 (King’s & Pescadero)
This week’s Sunday A ride will be a nice Kings Mountain & Pescadero. Go as hard as you would like on the climbs! The ride will be race pace, but will be regrouping at the top of each climb.
Water stops are located at: Sky Londa (Mile 24) and Pescadero (Mile 45).
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3323476506705585456
Summary: 76.48 mi / 7176 feet: Summit Bicycles > Arastradero -> Portola -> King’s Mountain -> HW84 -> Stage -> Pescadero -> Alpine -> Page Mill -> Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Devin Wilson
AV A Endurance - 2025-02-08 - Big Basin
This Saturday we will head to Big Basin through Pagemill with an “endurance” pace.
I will remain in Z2 in flat/roller sections (~ 3-3.5 W/kg pace) and I expect civility. Feel free ride the two longer climbs (page mill and bear creek) at your own [quick] pace as long as you don’t mind waiting at the tope where we will regroup. We will have 2 short water stops (5 min each) at fire station and Castle rock and a 20 min stop in Boulder creek before climbing Bear Creek.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3323111649806951754
Summary: 80 miles / 8,700 feet: Summit Bicycles > Stanford Ave > Old > page > Skyline > 9 > 236 > Big Basin > Boulder Creek >Bear Creek > Skyline >Page > Summit Bicycles
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Hoss Hayati
AV A - 2025-02-02 - Race Sims
Hi all,
This Sunday 2/2 we will be using the A ride to run through some race scenarios and simulations. While you don’t need to be an active racer to join (the first half of the ride in particular will provide some good practice navigating a fast peloton), you should expect a race-pace ride. It will be wet; bring rain gear/fenders, let some air out of your tires, and ride safe.
We’ll meet at Summit Bicycles at 9am and roll easy along the Spectrum route to Cañada Rd. Then we’ll do a couple laps back and forth between Jefferson Rd and the Bike Path, practicing pacelining, leadouts, and general group riding skills.
Once we’ve had our fill of Cañada, we’ll roll through Woodside for a quick stop to fill up bottles. We’ll then begin some practice races using the AV Pop Up Crit course (Mt Home/Whiskey Hill loops followed by the Firehouse or Alpine sprints).
Route (or a rough idea of it): https://www.strava.com/routes/3320905909635036294
Summary: Portola, Cañada reps, Pop Up Crit reps.
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Cameron O’Reilly
AV A Endurance - 2025-01-25 - Haskins - Higgins - HMB - Tunitas - SHAKE SHACK
Hi everyone!
This Saturday will the first Shack Track & Field Ride of the year. We will take OLH to Haskins and go up Stage through the coastal foothills to HMB. We will enjoy a ~10min coffee stop in HMB before climbing the combo Lobitos - Tunitas. Arriving on Skyline, we go down Kings regrouping briefly at the top and then bottom, after a safe descent, to travel as a group to Shake Shack.
I will enforce a relatively strict 3-3.5 W/kg pace on flatter sections and strive for pacelining. I will personally keep a similar pace when climbing but people should feel free to go at the their own pace on OLH, Haskins and Tunitas. There will be quick regroups at the tops of these climbs. Apart from the coffee break in HMB, we will attempt to minimize our stops and keep a steady pace all around, likely adding a water stop (if needed) in Pescadero.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3316893613510467556
Summary: 83 miles / 8,030 feet: Summit Bicycles > Sand Hill > OLH > 84 > Haskins > Pescadero > Stage > HW1 > Verde > Purisima > Higgins > HMB > HW1 > Lobitos > Tunitas > Kings > Whiskey Hill > Sand Hill > Shake Shack (180 El Camino Real Suite #950, Palo Alto, CA 94304)
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Michael Matthews
AV A Ride - 1/19 - Coastal Classic
Hey Folks,
This Sunday we’ll be doing the Coastal Classic. The pace will be endurance and we’ll regroup at the top of OLH and Tunitas with a stop at the bike hut.
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet at 9:00, Roll at 9:10
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40102681
Ride Leader: Grant
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules