bikefromstreet: Route 9, Sunnyvale-Saratoga
biketo: Saratoga
biketostreet: Route 9, Sunnyvale-Saratoga
mileage: 30
difficulty: 5
explain: Good workout the first 12 miles, then downhill until tired.
cityroute: Los Gatos
roadroute: Route 9 North (Big Basin Way) uphill 6.5 miles to summit at Saratoga Gap. Then south on Skyline Drive (Rt 35S) to Bear Creek Road (on the left). North (toward Los Gatos) on Bear Creek Road - a terrific downhill scream! until you come out at the new bridge over Route 17. Now comes a choice: (a) Continue over the bridge, then turn left down the On Ramp, and ride along the wide shoulder about 0.5 miles to Alma Bridge Road - the access to Lexington Reservoir; or (b) turn left before the bridge and ride along the access road to Montevina Road and cross Hwy 17 CAREFULLY to the opening of Alma Bridge Road. (I suggest method (a) as safer, unless there's NO traffic on 17.) Anyway, ride to the top of the dam on Alma Bridge Road, then through the fence and down the face of the dam (I've always walked here, since the ground is loose and there are always lots of joggers.) From the base of the dam, continue along the Creek Trail (okay for Hybrids, not touring tires!) to Main Street in Los Gatos (about 1 mile). Turn left on Main Street and ride into the center of Los Gatos. Turn right on Santa Cruz Blvd and follow it through town to the first light - Route 9. Turn left onto Route 9 South, up the hill, and return to the starting point in Saratoga.
hillprof: Intermediate
road-Hill-Work: 6.5 mile climb at about 6% on Route 9.
road-construction: There has been a one lane interruption on Rt 9 at one point.
Traffic road-excess: Route 17 - don't cross it!
consider-road: Poor
Road Surface
road-road: Lexington Reservoir Dam and Creek Trail
consider-shoulder: No Shoulder
road-shoulder: Bear Creek - but you can go as fast as cars!
times: 6am-9am
times: 9am-12noon
times: 3pm-6pm
sights: Some beautiful views into the Santa Cruz Mountains, looking South and West from Rt 35. Overlook onto Lexington Reservoir from Bear Creek is expansive. Some good views from Rt 9 into Silicon Valley. Remember fog in early hours.
water: None
food: Hot Dog stand (??!) at Saratoga Gap. Lots of places in Los Gatos and Saratoga.
food-visible: Bike Visible
food-sitdown: Sit down Restaurant
food-grocery: Grocery
food-snack: Snack Food
name: Bill Altmann
biketype: Univega Carisma Hybrid
lastridden: Spring 1996
comments: The Route 9 climb is long but never steep. I would suggest
starting in Cupertino or even in Los Gatos, to get a warmup
in before starting the climb. I admit that I usually stop
halfway up for a 5 minute break and a bananna. The Rt 35
ride is great rollers, with nice views. The connection from
Rt 35S to Bear Creek is a little confusing: don't turn right
toward Boulder Creek, or you'll go WAY out of your way (I've
made that mistake!) Alternatively, continue on Skyline past
Bear Creek, across Rt 17 on the summit bridge. Then turn
left onto Old Santa Cruz, through the woods until you come
out onto Rt 17. (Don't turn right on Aldercroft or you'll
have to go around the back of the reservoir, which is okay,
but add 5-6 miles.) From the end of O.S.C., continue right
on the access road until you meet up with the Bear Creek
Road bridge and "option (a)" above.
email: altmann@slip.net