Summit to Saratoga Gap

Yesterday I went for my first bike ride since returning home, riding up to Summit Road and over to Saratoga Gap.

View Summit to Saratoga Gap in a larger map

I'm still somewhere between Paris and California time, so I got up early but waited until about 8:30 to head out, since any earlier would have been too cold.

I took the familiar route over Kennedy to Los Gatos, then enjoyed the ride up Old Santa Cruz Highway to Summit. It was great to be back in the fog and among the big trees. I didn't have enough time to head down to the coast, so I just rode up Summit all the way to Saratoga Gap, then quickly descended and returned over Kennedy.

Elevation profile

This turned out to be about 48 miles, with about 4500 feet of climbing. The most difficult kilometer was the one that included the segment of Mountain Charlie Road between Old Santa Cruz Highway and Summit, with an average of an 8.3% grade. A short ride, but a check-out ride for the bike (nothing apparently damaged), and a welcome return to the Santa Cruz mountains.