The ride involves no serious climbs. There is a gentle elevation gain as you head away from the bay and a corresponding mild descent as you head back, but this is barely noticeable. You do need to put in some moderate effort as you get closer to I-280 on Sand Hill Road earlier on the ride, but the only two stretches that really feel like a climb arrive shortly after the first crossing of I-280. Only one of these uphill segments exceeds a grade of 6% and neither of them are sustained for very long.