A digital travel diary. · WP v1.08 · Updated
I hoped to wing foil at Coyote Point (one final time this season), but the wind didn't cooperate. Although the forecast called for 20 knots, I waited until 13:00, but the wind didn't reach the forecast speed. . I decided to unload my 2008 Toyota Sienna minivan and go mountain biking at Almaden Quicksilver instead. I parked at the Hacienda entrance nd unloaded my 2011…
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I had decided to try using my iGPSPORT BiNavi GPS Bike computer to mountain bike from my house to Lexington Reservoir and back. This is a popular, highly rated trail also available on Komoot.. My GPX directions can be downloaded here.. . It was a very difficult, 20-mile climb with 2,835 feet of elevation gain. It has some spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. It…
Read More: Mountain Biking around Lexington Reservoir
After trying various bike computers, including the Garmin 1040, Wahoo Roam 3, and Wahoo Bolt, and being somewhat dissatisfied with the value for the price, I decided to mount my iPhone 14 Pro Max on my 2011 Specialized FRS S-Works mountain bike. However, all the extended front bike computer mounts were either too short or too flimsy to accommodate my heavy iPhone. . I realized…
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After many years of mountain biking, I realized that GPS directions would really help me discover new trails (without the fear of getting lost). . . . I initially considered mounting my iPhone 14 Pro Max on the handlebars. Still, I learned that the mountain bike's jerky motion could damage the phone's sensitive camera system. . I did some research (with the help of ChatGPT…
Read More: Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 Bike Computer
Saturday, August 9, 2025. . Start: #351, Cameron House, A82, Loch Lomond, Alexandria G83 8QZ, Scotland . End: #351, Cameron House, A82, Loch Lomond, Alexandria G83 8QZ, Scotland. Highlights: Cameron Spa, Bike Ride to Luss, La Vista Restaurant . . . . . After waking up around 08:30, I showered, shaved, and dressed. When Inna was ready, we walked downstairs, into the long corridor leading…
Read More: Bike & Spa at Loch Lomond, Scotland (August 9)
With a free day at work (and no wind in the forecast), I decided to return to mountain biking at Almaden Quicksilver County Park. . . After I pumped up the tires and lubricated the chain, I loaded the bike into the Toyota Sienna minivan and drove for about 20 minutes to reach the Hacienda Entrance of Quicksilver County Park. . As it was around…
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I was offered a chance to ride from Palo Alto to Filoli Gardens, and I decided to give it a shot. Initially, I was looking for a gravel bike for the long ride, but I did not want to pay $150/day to rent a bike at Summit Bicycles. . My Specialized FSRS-Works is not the ideal bicycle, but I made it work. When I arrived…
Read More: Ride from Palo Alto to Filoli Gardens
Earlier this year, the Almaden Quicksilver Trail was closed due to heavy rain that washed it away. Trail repair took many months, and I was finally able to return to the trail today. . . . Though I struggled during ascents, I had an excellent ride on my Specialized S-Works FSR mountain bike. . . . . The weather was perfect - 50 Fahrenheit -…
Read More: Return to Almaden Quicksilver
Saturday, July 31, 2021 . In the morning, Inna and I woke up around 08:00. I installed the Via Velo Bike U Lock on Inna's Specialized hybrid bike, cleaned up my windsurfing gear, started the washing machine, and loaded the dishwasher. . . . . Alex had severe allergies to ragweed pollen, so we walked to Arsicault Bakery (on Arguello) to bring him some of…
Read More: San Francisco Workation Week 3
Thursday, February 10, 2021 . . My rear brake stopped working on my recent mountain bike ride at Almaden Quicksilver County Park. I was shocked, as I had my rear brake pads replaced by Michael at Silva Cycles recently. I thought my rear brake cable had broken, but that was not the case. . When I brought my bike to Silva Cycles, Michael found that…
Read More: Specialized Rear Brake Problems
The last time I mountain biked on the John Nicholas Trail was May 3, 2020. I had a fantastic time; this is one of my favorite bike trails in Los Gatos.. . . . I really enjoy biking on the John Nicholas Trail in the fall. The leaves are turning yellow, red, and all the shades of the rainbow. The temperature is cool - in…
Read More: Biking John Nicholas Trail
For a few weeks, I have been thinking about using a bike computer to help me improve my fitness training when riding my Specialized FSR S-Works mountain bike at Almaden Quicksilver County Park (and other parks & trails).. . Until now, I have been using my iPhone 10 with an Apple Series 3 watch to record my rides using the Strava app on my iPhone.…
Read More: Review: Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt GPS Bike Computer
With the coronavirus raging in San Jose (and across the United States), I resumed exercise. I thought that Almaden Quicksilver County Park would be closed, but I learned it was still open on closer inspection.. . . . . On April 17th, I rode my Specialized FSR S-Works mountain bike on my standard 10.5-mile trail. According to Strava, my ride took me 87 minutes. With…
Read More: Back to Almaden Quicksilver
Since I've been ill, I haven't been able to ride my Specialized FSR S-Works mountain bike at Almaden Quicksilver County Park.. . . . I decided to try a few rides on Sunday, November 17, Saturday, November 23, and Sunday, November 24. My overall time improved from 86 minutes to 69 minutes. However, I am uncertain about the accuracy since Strava keeps lowering my distance.…
Read More: Back to Almaden Quicksilver Park
After many weeks of constant rains, it was finally time to mountain bike in my favorite local Almaden Quicksilver County Park. . . . . . . The whole park was as green as I've ever seen it. Here is my Strava.com feedback: . . Ride . Biking Almaden Quicksilver . 8:45 AM on Sunday, April 14, 2019 · Santa Clara County, California . Distance…
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After dropping off Alex at this Speech & Debate tournament at Los Gatos High School, I had a couple of hours to burn off some fat at the Almaden Quicksilver County Park.. . . . I arrived at the Hacienda Entrance around 7:50 a.m., but the park entrance was still closed. A ranger came around 7:55 a.m., opening the gate so I could park my…
Read More: Biking Almaden Quicksilver County ParkSince the surf forecast in Santa Cruz was poor, I decided to ride my Specialized FSR mountain bike at my usual Almaden Quicksilver County Park.. . . . I arrived at the Hacienda Entrance at around 9:30 and pumped up the tires on my bike (which were flat). I put on my Aukey Latitude Bluetooth headphones and started the Strava app on my Apple watch…
Read More: Biking Almaden Quicksilver County Park
On my last mountain bike ride at Almaden Quicksilver Park, I stopped by for a short break and got talking to another mountain bike rider. She told me about a mountain bike ride on the nearby John Nicholas Trail in Los Gatos (relatively nearby), which she thought was one of the best rides in the area.. . Since I had never biked there, I was…
Read More: Biking John Nicholas Trail
As the weather was scorching, I mountain biked the Saratoga Gap and Peters Creek trail in Saratoga (starting at the Vista Point parking lot at Highway 9 and Skyline Boulevard).. . . . . I arrived just before 9:05 am and rode my 2011 Specialized S-works FSR with newly built wheels. The rear tire flat has been fixed at Silva Cycles.. . The trail started…
Read More: Biking Saratoga Gap and Long Ridge
Today, I decided to go for an excellent mountain biking ride at Almaden Quicksilver County Park.. Unfortunately, halfway through the bike ride, I heard a loud whistle as my rear tire lost air pressure and turned flat. Since I was using tubeless tires, I expected my rear tire to self-seal automatically, but this did not happen on my ride. My WTB Werewolf rear tire went…
Read More: Biking Almaden Quicksilver County Park