Worn Treads

Wanting to get out and try my new shoes (which you can read about here), I decided to head for the hills once more. I poked around on Google Maps a little and found Shephard Canyon Rails to Trails, which sounded interesting so that was my destination.

The contrast is too much, but looking beyond those trees looms Mt Diablo.

It took some back tracking to where I was the other day, taking Broadway Terrace up, but before the real steep climb to the top of the hills I veered South along the Hills on Duncan Rd towards Montclair. It was much more decent than going straight up. Montclair was a nice little village that is oddly enough still part of Oakland, even though it too feels wildly different from the flats of the rest of the city. It came and it went, I crossed a tunnel underneath the highway, went straight up, turned right down Snake Rd, a fun little twist, then turned left on Shephard Canyon road. Before that turn I went under what looked like the rails to trails, but enjoying that windy descent I neglected to take it, oh well, it looks like I'll stick to roads.

Skyline Blvd looking over the Bay.

Shephard Canyon Rd was a beautiful little road that went through a quaint little village (although not as little as Canyon, CA!), with houses peering down on it from the opposite side of the canyon. I powered up this hill to the same junction I was at the other day taking the much less friendly Broadway Terrace, and instead of taking Pinehurst down the opposite side of the hills I took Skyline back towards the Bay. Skyline hooked up and spun at gentler grades eventually topping out before a wild wild descent down Joaquin Miller Road, where I rocketed down to 45 MPH! I haven't gone that fast since the Catskills in NY, and to be honest, it was terrifying! I improved my technique a little though on this descent, basically flattening my chest on my bars for the descent.

The harrowing descent!

It didn't take long for me to get back into the city, through the colorful Fruitvale neighborhood to the waterfront, where I took the Embarcadero. There I did my part and helped a cyclist who threw his chain in a pretty nice way (it was tangled like I've never seen). It was a quick fix and we parted ways. I finished up with some Blue Bottle, pretty pleased with the short 2 hour 22 mile ride I put in.

Best way to end a ride.