Ride #5 - Ridge Ride El Dorado Hills Ride #1 ( Full Ridge Ride to come soon).
Distance: 30-40 miles
Vertical Feet: 3,000 +
Max Grade: 18 %
Time: 1 ½ to 2 hours
Starting from Cameron Park I go north on the newly paved Bass Lake Road. (Ridge #1) Bass Lake leads directly to the pristine pavement of Serrano. It is a quick descent (40+ MPH) down to Silva Valley Parkway. I then go left until I hit Apian Way. This is the first steep hill that you hit; it is short, but 16% of steepness. (Ridge #2) Once at the top, look to the left and you will see the water tower that you will end the first stiff climb on. I usually return to the top of Apian in about 10 minutes. Once at the bottom of Apian go left for a good ¾ mile hill that has a max grade of 17%. Then follow the road back to Apian and return to Silva Valley Parkway. Cruise left on Silva Valley Parkway, right on Harvard and then left at the stop light onto El Dorado Hill Blvd. I go about a mile until I hit Olson (Ridge #3), stiff climbing here with a max of 16%. Left on Gillette, to Wilson. Wilson takes you back down to EDH Blvd. At the top take a look just over the edge of the road and you will see the switchbacks of El Dorado Hills.
Hairpin #1, there are only three along the million $ homes:
This at the top of the switchbacks looking across to the Cameron Park, where the ride began, and the various ridges in between:
Next, I begin my ride back over the ridges to Cameron Park. This shot is just one of the pristine road that I climb on the way back through Serrano towards CP:
This shot below is looking down towards El Dorado Hills Golf Course and Highway 50:
I know I am a bit of a nut to talk about the pavement, but it is so nice that when I ride in the rain, I see my reflection. I guess that is part of the $400/monthly homeowner fees for the Serrano Community. The only thing I can compare it to, would be a nice layer of fresh powder that Joe always talks about in his postings.
- Paul
Click the links below for a detailed report:
Ride 1 - Salmon Falls / Prospector Grade
Ride 2 - Hills of San Francisco
Ride 3 - Death Ride Trainer - Ebbetts Pass
Ride 4 - Staple Ride - Hills of Serrano