Worn Treads: Getting High

Finally a good panoramic from the hills.

My seasonal job is up, or at least I think.All this free time means lots of riding time! I haven't done any real long rides in these lazy days, but I have hit almost every road that goes over the Hills in the Oakland and Berkeley area.

Looking East from Tilden

While riding the other day a fellow rider mentioned to me a road in Tilden that closes every winter. Of course this meant I had to go find it. Finding South Park Drive I can totally understand why it closes every winter. The road is a 10 % grade reaching to the top of Grizzly Peak Boulevard, giving the most fantastic view of the Bay Area. I dropped down Claremont Ave, which is also a 10 % grade, so of course I had to come back and go back up it the next day.

Straight up South Park

I thought this was at the end of it.

Then I had this. It always looks less steep in photos.

The view from the top of Grizzly Peak.

But why? Why constantly shred my legs going straight up the hills, when roads like Old Tunnel Road have a much gentler climb? Being here in Oakland I have for the first time lived near climbs. I wasn't much of a rider in my days on Long Island, but the highest point on Long Island is Bald Hill, a whopping 331 ft above sea level. Then in Buffalo it was a 30 mile ride to the Boston Hills to see any sort of elevation gain, and yeah, there were some absolutely brutal roads, but nothing that you could hit right off the bat.

Wild Cat Canyon Rd. A great climb going back West. Gentle and quick.

Looking East from Wildcat Canyon Rd.

From Claremont Ave, I like the way the city is boxed in by the Hills.

Now, here in Oakland, I leave my house and I'm in the hills. Doing a 30 mile ride, I can shred my legs, which may sound unpleasant to the non-athletes, but to anyone who enjoys the sport of pushing your physical limits may get this notion. I don't know the pure science behind it, but pushing your body to it's limits can create euphoric moments and literally cresting hills only amplifies these ecstasies.
(Mapmyride profile example: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/148729613)

More of the Eastern hills.

Looking out at the Bay.

Claremont looking at the Hills.

Lost my fender, which means I can enjoy watching my tire spin on the descent.

There were lots of ravens out after the fresh rains.

These signs are dotted everywhere in the hills.

A fellow cyclist descending. He stopped for pictures too. He also had a beautiful Serotta.

Shephards Canyon Rails to Trails, flat between the Broadway climb and the Skyline climb.

Yesterday I found a hill on the backside through a nice little part of Orinda built on the hill side with gradients about as bruising as South Park Drive, so that's where I'm off to next.