Hey all — Greetings from Tatooine. This week’s gravel ride, smoke and weather permitting, will be back at Shindagin. It’ll include the southern downhill of Level Green Road, which I remember having quite the view from last year.
Route: clockwise Downey > Yaple > Level Green > Smith > Hurd Hill > Braley, 19.6 mi, +/- 2021 ft:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43191493
The biggest uphills on this route are Downey (which we’ve done before), Yaple (paved), Smith, and Braley Hill northbound (long but gradual). And the downhills are definitely worth it. If the fast group wants an additional challenge, they can substitute Ekroos for Smith.
With all the smoke locally from Canadian wildfires, it seems likely that the air quality will be pretty bad (like today!). In the name of keeping people healthy, I’ll call off the ride if the Air Quality Index (AQI) will be “unhealthy” (150+) or worse. Not worth risking your lungs just for a ride. If the AQI is “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” we’ll discuss a possible shorter/flatter route based on people’s comfort levels at the start.
Adding even more fun, it’s entirely possible it’ll be raining on Thursday night. If there’s light rain, we’ll go on anyway. If it’s a downpour, or thunderstorms are imminent, I’ll call it off too. Final determination by 4pm on Thursday.
Maybe some rain would wash all these particulates out of the air?
See you in the woods on Thursday!
_Rob