Everybody was waiting in Big Basin, then we all headed out to do China Grade together. It was a bit faster pace, riding with the group. I think that everybody was working too hard on China Grade, because I know that I was working hard, but I wasn't dropping hardly anyone. Phil Yee was tired at the top, so decided to just head up Hwy 9 from there. The othrs went down Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek for a stop at the grocery store.
Then it was up Jamison Creek. This climb was brutal if you went too hard. Luckily for me I realized that right away, and so backed way off (and I had my granny gear), so I just put it in first gear and went from shady spot to shady spot. They didn't have a regroup at the top, but I waited for the last of them anyway. It was Dan Pappone and me bringing up the rear going down Empire Grade. The next one in front of us was Mike Trowbridge (a new guy).
When we got down to Empire Grade and Western Ave, Dan and I noticed our group standing in the road, surrounding a cyclist sitting on the ground. I took a good look and saw that it was Mike. He managed to hit a dip in the road and go flying, all within 20 yards of where everyone was waiting, so Jennie and company got a clear view of the crash.
Mike lost some skin, especially from his arm near the elbow. His bike was ok, but it was clear that he needed to go to a hospital. A police car showed up very quickly, and then soon there were three more motorcycle police, a fire engine, and an ambulance. They checked Mike over, and took a report. The hospital was four miles away. Mike thought he could ride his bike there. We told him that was not a good idea. (He wanted to save the cost of the ambulance.) A very friendly neighbor came and helped out. She first brought some ice and towels. Then she brought some water for the other riders. Finally she brought her husband with a pickup truck, and they took Mike and his bike to the hospital. Jennie and Karl were going to come back over after the ride to pick Mike up.
By this time it was time to eat, so we all went to the Eric's Deli in Santa Cruz. Then, instead of doing the "tourist route" along East & West Cliff Drives, we just went on Soquel Drive (lots of traffic), and then headed up Soquel-San Jose Rd. I managed to stay not too far off the back along the flat section of S/SJ so I was feeling pretty good. Once the climb started, I noticed that Jennie was leading the pack, and that everyone else was too tired to pass her up. I knew that I was faster than Jennie on a climb if I was feeling good, so I passed and cruised on up to the summit. I wasn't feeling tired and so had a good climb. I waited at the top for more than a few minutes and the others all finally came up as one group, with Jennie still leading.
We stopped in at Summit store for awhile, then it was down Old Santa Cruz Hwy, and down Hwy 17. The others took the Hwy down to Los Gatos, but I opted for the trail down the dam. Everybody made it, and I was only a few minutes behind.
99 total miles, with 9100 ft of climbing. There were 21 riders on the ride, 10 of whom did the whole ride. Jennie gets credit for 1452 rider-miles.
Since I rode from home, I got 118 miles with 9400 ft of climbing. Average speed was 15.0 mph, for a B- pace. I could live with that.