rides in San Jose

[jabbahop]

I have to be in San Jose the first week of April and want to do some riding. Are there any group rides or routes that you would recommend that are good for training? I am staying down town but will have a car so can drive a bit for a good ride.

thanks

[pdmtong]

http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/?page_id=128

drive 15 minutes north from san jose

The big coast loop and old la honda are the two benchmark rides in our area.

make the time for the big coast and you'll get it all in one ride - climbs/redwoods/ocean. bring your camera

[tmanley]

We (SJBC - http://www.teamsanjose.org/) have a weekly Saturday club ride that heads out of Almaden Valley and goes south towards Gilroy. The loop has some minor climbs and passes past all the reservoirs (Calero, Chesbro, Uvas). Details are on the website.

[rspecker]

Go to altovelo.org

They are the big club in the area and they have good ride info. You could do a lot worse than riding in the Alto Velo "B" ride on Saturday. Nice people and they welcome new riders. It starts from Peets Coffee in Los Altos, which is a frequent hub for great rides.

If you are speedy you would like the Spectrum, Wednesday night or Noon rides that are described on the altovelo site. These organized rides can be very fast.

One of the other posts in this thread included a link to Palo Alto Bicycles and their routes. Those are good rides. I think the classic route on that page is the Coast Ride. Old La Honda + Tunitas Creek.

If you have more time and can drive to SF--then I think perhaps the most beautiful ride in Northern California is Alpine Dam Loop--Mt. Tam. A description of this ride is at http://velocurean.com/rides/alpinedam01.htm. On a good day the views from the top of Mt. Tam will convince you that Northern California is the finest land anywhere.

Have fun! So many good rides . . . .

[jabbahop]

should be a great week. Wish I was going to be there on a Saturday!

[Steve in SLO]

If you like climbs, Mt Hamilton is a classic. Starts from Alum Rock in East SJ.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hamilton_(California)

[pdmtong]

If you like climbs, Mt Hamilton is a classic. Starts from Alum Rock in East SJ.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hamilton_(California)

so true...but or first timer here I'd still point to the coast/big coast loops - there you still get the climbs but also the redwoods and the ocean. mt hamilton (to me) is just a long steady grinder woth a u-turn at the top.

[rspecker]

so true...but or first timer here I'd still point to the coast/big coast loops - there you still get the climbs but also the redwoods and the ocean. mt hamilton (to me) is just a long steady grinder woth a u-turn at the top.
I agree. Mt. Hamilton is a nice ride but all in all it is just a big hill. For major hills in the East Bay I think Mt. Diablo is a nicer ride--although it is a long drive to get there from San Jose.

I agree with this poster--the Coast/Big Coast rides are more scenic and varied.