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Palo Alto

Sunday, August 17th, somewhere in the pre-scorching, but already uncomfortably hot foothills just west of Palo Alto, California. I turn to the athletic looking guy who’s riding beside me. He’s on a black carbon bike and likely pedaling against his brakes in order to ride as slowly as I am. I ask, in-between pants, blinking the sweat from my eyes: 'Is the guy who just passed us wearing a leather helmet? Like, for real? And furthermore […sound of labored panting…] did he just drop me?'

By 9:15am it was clear that all 70 of the RSVP’s were either already present or likely going to show. Operation ‘Big Coast Loop’, a Rapha group ride co-hosted by Palo Alto Bicycles was scheduled to begin at 10:00am and already every vertical surface in and around the shop was propping up a bicycle of great pedigree – beautiful carbon, titanium, and steel machines scattered like confetti. Five ‘til 10:00 and the area just at the back of the shop was an anxious, rolling sea of helmets and water bottles, waivers and conversations about the weather and distance.

Slate Olson, Rapha’s General Manager in the U.S. and Gentlemen’s Ride task master, did his usual pre-depart briefing with a run-down of the 70-mile day. Then Chris, a local and long time friend of the Palo Alto Bicycles, led the peloton safely out of the lot, off University, onto Sandhill, under I-280, and delivered us to the base of a strong wake-up call for the legs.

The invitation requested a prompt start and, on time, the ride began easily enough. But a hill is a hill, and Page Mill Road - the first climb of the day - is a big hill just five miles into the ride. For the next seven miles the group ascended some classic Northern California scenic hill country; a mixture of tight corners, expensive and garish homes, Mediterranean flora and Australian fauna (minus the wombats, didn’t see any wombats). The field of riders, though wide in category and history, stayed surprisingly well together.

As we climbed, both the heat and vistas were impressive, and the effort was enough to bring out some of the local characters. Like Chris Phipps, the former college running standout turned Cat-1 racer, who climbed every pitch at least twice. The Mission Cycling crew, whose ‘regular-guy-and-girl’ look belied a truck-load of climbing ambition and skill. The three chiseled, über-tanned, accomplished old locals: Lindsay Crawford, who was almost the first American to race the Tour; Tom Hardy, who wears a leather helmet and means it; and Bruce Hildenbrand, a man who really has pretty much seen and done it all in the sport of cycling as a long-time reporter, author and friend. Two of the founders of the MASH-SF fixed gear media phenomenon, who rode like bullets, constantly attacking and forever strong. And some guy in denim knickers, Vans, and a wool sweater, riding a bike with 38’s who literally floated up every rise with ease and grace.

At the top, where the road intersects Skyline, we regrouped, chatted and waited for the tail of the field. The ride continued to climb, now exposed to the sun, across a tan and rolling world of hills with several steeps on it’s way up. The panoramic, euphoria inducing drop down Alpine on the far side, started with a series of long and lazy but steep turns. Halfway down, near where we dropped into the trees where the road got tighter and rougher, Bob (the amazing Bob who works at Palo Alto), had pulled over and was serving the most delicious water to every elated and relieved one of us, on our way west.

The climb in the next section (apparently topographically stunning) was cut short when a motorcycle accident forced us to turn around and reroute along HWY84 to the General Store, where we’d refresh before making for home. 'Big Guy' and 'French Country Jersey' drilled it into a head wind at 25mph (plus) for twenty-five minutes on our way to the store. They rotated off the front and wouldn’t let anyone pull through. Not me. Not Neil, the super cool English gent with long hair and a superb attitude. Nobody.

We descended onto the General Store, which is really one part bar, one part mini-mart, and one part Levis retailer. Coolers were emptied of sandwiches, Coke, and It’s-It ice cream sandwiches. I should take a moment to mention that for the Rapha Continental Team this was halfway (35-miles) into the third day of epic riding. Day one was 108-miles and day two was 115-miles. So I wasn’t surprised, upon my arrival, when I found Hahn Rossman, Carey Schleicher-Haselhorst and Cole Maness immersed in Guinness at the bar. The chance to rest was good and provided a moment to see old friends like Michael Robertson, who was the only returning cohort from our attack on Occidental earlier this year.

After lunch we rolled past the Pacific Ocean down a hill on which 52mph was a breeze, to abruptly turn inland for the final climb up Tunitas Creek, back towards town. I don’t remember much except getting passed by a chatty woman running a homemade water hydration system, elaborately mounted on her road bike. And bits of an hour long conversation with Hahn about his escapades in Iceland. Which centered mostly around partying with the locals, and strange snowy customs and folklore. Tunitas was like riding, uphill, through the pages of Lord of the Rings’ Middle Earth; Ents (ancient talking trees), elves, cool brooks, all of it ancient and venerable, pretty and deep.

Back at 171 University Avenue, Adam Galuskza (manager and planner extraordinaire) had transformed the shop into a movie theatre restaurant. Beer was on tap and wine was flowing. Folding chairs were fanned out and Road to Roubaix (a new film about the 'Queen of the Classics', Paris-Roubaix; picking up where A Sunday in Hell left off) was being cued to start after dinner. Eggplant parmesan, hummus, salad, penne pasta and Jamaican chicken skewers, all prepared by a PA Bicycles employee who happens to be a terrific chef. If only every big ride could finish with a full spread and a great film on cycling.

Needless to say, it was a great ride and a wonderful evening. The route was beautiful and the people exceptional. Thanks to everybody who came out and shared, and to everyone at Palo Alto Bicycles. And to characters, which may be the whole point of a Gentlemen’s Ride, right?

Words - Daniel Wakefield Pasley
Photographs - More images can be found at www.jeremyharris.com
Palo Alto Bicycles

More images can be found at www.jeremyharris.com