Northern California - Metric Next Weekend

I meant to post this sooner, because I haven't seen it up here yet, and I hope registration is still open for any of you that may be interested...

The Tour de Max is next weekend, Sunday, August 12. It's a 67 mile ride with 7000 vertical feet -- climbing Tunitas Creek, Page Mill, and Old Stage. I'm riding it with some non-BF'ers, and it will definitely be my last organized ride in California; likely my last ride in California all-together.

Sign up at http://www.tourdemax.org/

I'm signed up for it with a friend, my first organized ride ever. They say there are still plenty of open spots, but no day-of registrations.

I'm thinking of doing this. But I hope the loose gravel from the chipsealing at the top of Page Mill and Alpine Road has been swept away / packed down by then.

I'm thinking of doing this. But I hope the loose gravel from the chipsealing at the top of Page Mill and Alpine Road has been swept away / packed down by then.

The group that I'm going up with did a "practice run" this weekend, because they hadn't yet climbed most of these hills. I'll be talking to them in the next couple days, and can find out, but someone on these boards, I imagine, rode the roads this weekend.

I rode down Page Mill from Skyline yesterday, it was fine. Here's a report that the ride organizers sent by email on Friday 8/2:


In response to the many emails describing the widespread chipsealing on various San Mateo County roads in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and in concern over riders registered for the Tour de Max on 12 August, I did a comprehensive scouting trip yesterday afternoon. Here's what I found:

All areas of chipseal that I have heard about and that are on the Tour de Max route have been rolled and swept. Of course uphill sections on Page Mill and Old Stage between CA84 & CA1 will be very safe (be careful just past the Trancas parking lot as there's a touch of downhill here, and the chipseal extends to the are just beyond our rest stop about 1 mile from the top). Roads that we descend, ie West Alpine and Pescadero have also been swept and it seems to me that these can be ridden with care. This is particularly true on Pescadero as the chipsealed area is downhill from the most thrilling sections of the descent. I am not a particularly courageous downhiller and I would definitely descend on these roads.

Having said the above, there IS a fair bit of loose gravel along the very edges of these roads... approximately 12-18 inches, and I DID see loose gravel patches around. I would not hug the side of the road on these areas of pavement, I would not descend at great speed, and I would not do rapid, hard braking. I would ride these sections with caution & respect. If I was a VERY nervous descender, I might reconsider the long route and do our mid-route instead.

I was out too late to check Tunitas Creek Road; I have not heard that this area was up for chipsealing and I have not heard from club riders that anything had been done on Tunitas. If anybody has any different news, I'd appreciate hearing it myself.

Jobob, hope you can make it. Would be nice to meet some BF'ers out there.

Jobob, hope you can make it. Would be nice to meet some BF'ers out there.

After clicking on your profile just now, I hope you can make it too. I plan on begging for career hookups in California-based biotech IP, so next summer is just as fun. ;)

Thanks for the update, Ms I, that was very reassuring. OK, I'll go register. :)


After clicking on your profile just now, I hope you can make it too. I plan on begging for career hookups in California-based biotech IP, so next summer is just as fun. ;)

Ahh, networking, gotta love it. Well, they say bicycling is the new golf ...

Hopefully my Randonneurs of China (http://roc.bikealot.org/) jersey will arrive in time. I'll be hard to miss in that.

I'd like to do this too but am afraid 7000' of climbing might be too much. Has anyone done this route before and can shed some light.

I haven't done the TdM 70 mile route all in one go, but I do know that both Page Mill and Tunitas Creek are challenging climbs, as is the climb from Alpine up Pescadero.

cd55, if you don't mind my saying, you might want to consider the 40-ish mile route. It goes partway up Page Mill, and it goes through nice roller-y areas in Los Altos, Palo Alto, Portola Valley & Menlo Park. It looks like you'd get your fair share of climbing in.

No prob, jobob (hey, that rhymes). Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm not doing the group ride, but I have done it many times and this is perhaps my favorite bike ride on the peninsula. The 70 mile route is way more scenic than the mostly suburban shorter routes. Here are the interesting parts:

1. up Page Mill Rd - this is a long climb with a couple of longish steep sections in the first half and a couple of shorter steep sections in the second half. In between the steep sections are several flatter sections where you can recover. On a sunny afternoon, it can be warm, but mornings are cool. There is loose gravel for about a mile near Montebello OSP (mostly flat to rolling). Ride single file on the right side of the road since there is some amount of auto and motorcycle traffic going up the hill.

2. down west Alpine Road - the upper 3 miles were recently chip-sealed, making this a very dicey downhill. There is a lot of loose gravel here and the road is narrow and somewhat steep. I am surprised that they didn't change the route to avoid this section. Slow down and spread out. The view is spectacular, but you'll probably be too busy watching the gravel to see anything else.

3. Pescadero Road (Haskins Hill) - this is a short gradual climb through a pretty redwood forest, then a long downhill to the town of Pescadero.

4. Stage Road from Pescadero to Hwy 1 - a narrow road with 3 small hills and nice ocean views

5. Tunitas Creek Road up from Hwy 1 up to Skyline - the first 3 miles and last 2 miles are very gradual. In between is a steep 1 mile climb. The road climbs through a dark redwood canyon. Turn on your tail lights since the road is dark and narrow and there are several blind corners and motorcycles like racing up this hill.

6. Kings Mountain down to Woodside - this is a fun technical downhill with lots of tight corners. Take off your sunglasses since the corners are shaded and gravel is hard to see. There can be a lot of car traffic in the last mile or two (between Huddart Park and Woodside).

Most of this route is on narrow or very narrow roads. If you are riding in a group, spread out and keep well to the right. Cars and motorcycles are more willing to share the road if you don't try to hog it. Have fun.

Here's a picture of me (from my Ireland trip), it'll probably be foggy enough to wear the jacket on Sunday. If you see me, please say hi.

Jobob, will definitely keep an eye out for your cool dragon jersey!

Paula

Just signed up for the Tour de Max, looking forward to it. I just invested in some good wheels, Mavic cosmic elites, so I'll be able to break them in. :)

I'm jumping on the bandwagon. I just signed up for it too. We could make it a small BF ride. Let's try to get together for this. Taxi, jobob, msincredible, cantdrv, when are you starting? LostinSanJose, are you also doing this, or have you headed out already?

Here's a pic of me, in case my avatar is not clear enough to recognize me.

http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/LA%20Visit_files/P7210026.jpg

I'll be there for sure. Look for the red/black/white Willow Glen Bicycles jerseys -- there will be at least 4 of us. Taxi: I'll be on a new rear wheel as well, and I'm pretty excited. My free-hub started to s-the-bed during the Mt. Tam century last weekend (ALXs are junnnnkkkk), and on the way to the shop an orphaned piece of beer bottle slashed open my rear tire, giving me a reason to get a nice yellow Michelin. I'm really looking forward to this ride.

I'll let you guys know when we plan on starting, I'll find out when I visit the bike shop tonight.

-Jeremy


I'm jumping on the bandwagon. I just signed up for it too. We could make it a small BF ride. Let's try to get together for this. Taxi, jobob, msincredible, cantdrv, when are you starting? LostinSanJose, are you also doing this, or have you headed out already?

Here's a pic of me, in case my avatar is not clear enough to recognize me.

I'm going for a 6:30 start, My drive from the city will be about 40 mins ,parking, get the bike together and yada,yada, I'll leave the city around 5:30 ..eek

pete in sf

BTW I heard a rumor that Lance and Levi will be handing out goo's at the staging area! ;)

I am thinking I may join you guys. I live fairly close to the Hillview school. I did this one last year and the SAG and rest stops are real good.

Hey Ron, cool look with the Red/blue tires! I usually have a Magenta/blue with my Klein, but the magenta's are hard to get. I think I'll be riding my Black trek though this Sunday. I'm getting it pimped up right now and hope to have it ready w/new mavics this weekend, Black/yellow tour de france theme.
later, Pete in SF

Spingineer,

I'm not sure if I am going yet but if'n I do, it'll be for the 40+ miler that jobob suggested.

I'm going for a 6:30 start, My drive from the city will be about 40 mins ,parking, get the bike together and yada,yada, I'll leave the city around 5:30 ..eek

pete in sf

The TdM website has a 7AM start... so that's what the group I'm going with is planning on. If we can start early, definitely a bonus as I'm not a fan of large packs of riders.

See you guys there. :)

Hey Ron, cool look with the Red/blue tires! I usually have a Magenta/blue with my Klein, but the magenta's are hard to get. I think I'll be riding my Black trek though this Sunday. I'm getting it pimped up right now and hope to have it ready w/new mavics this weekend, Black/yellow tour de france theme.
later, Pete in SF

Thanks Pete. Actually, the red tires ... well, there's a story behind that. I was doing Davis Double, and on the climb to Inspiration Point, I got a flat. Got it fixed, then waited for my friends at the top, where the rest stop is. After hanging out there for a while, I was ready to go, and got another flat. I got fed up, and just wanted a new tire, but the only tire the SAG had was red. At least it got me home, and I have had them ever since.

The TdM website has a 7AM start... so that's what the group I'm going with is planning on. If we can start early, definitely a bonus as I'm not a fan of large packs of riders.

See you guys there. :)

Correct I misread, I'm flexible, but wouldn't mind beating the crowd.
I guess we can play it by ear..or gear

hey Ron, we must have hit the same dark cloud of bad luck at the Davis, I broke my wheel going down Resurection hill in the morning and wobbled the rest of the way through the ride, I probably already told you but anyway my yellow German tires on the trek seemed to hold up quite well.
See ya Sunday
Pete in SF

I think we're going to try to start a bit early too, but it depends on what time my friend gets up, he's not a morning person :p

See you all there!
Paula

I'm going to try to start at 7.

You can recognize me by my new stylin' Randonneurs of China jersey (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v642/jkeenan7/ROC%20Jersey/?action=view&current=Final_ROC_Pg_1.jpg) (yay, it arrived) - most likely while you all blow past me on the hills. :rolleyes:

Speakin of jerseys, very nice Triple Crown jersey there, Ron! :D

Oh man, I want one of those jerseys :D

Let's hook up. Not sure if I'll wear my Triple Crown jersey or not. It may leave the bad impression that I am a super cyclist, which I'm not.

Word from the people that did the TdM route last weekend is that we're still going to have to be careful in the chip sealing areas. Regardless, much of the route is on gorgeous roads, and I can't wait to climb Tunitas again.

-Jeremy
(I'm also jealous of the RoC jersey)

Not sure if I'll wear my Triple Crown jersey or not. It may leave the bad impression that I am a super cyclist, which I'm not. Nice try, but anyone who earns a Triple Crown is a super cyclist in my book. :beer:

I'll be there too.
Planning to start at around 6:45 am

Not sure if everybody got an email about TOfM, but there's a couple of interesting items:

REMEMBER RECENT CHIPSEALING on the West Alpine Road and lower Pescadero Road downhills. DO NOT apex the turns, stay away from the very edge of the road, and descend cautiously when you???re on the chipseal. I have personally checked the roads and I believe that all can be safely negotiated with care.

TERRORIST MOTORISTS: Last year we were all treated to the madperson in the Black Beemer on Page Mill. I know that it???s difficult to take a license tag number when you???re struggling up a hill. But remember: we have CELLS in all of our short/mid SAGS, and we have HAM radio operators at all of our long stops and in most of our long SAGS??? we can and will report people who harrass you if you can help us peg them.

Hoping to see some of you Sunday !

Angel (Zorrov999)

http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/8785/2219892140068796226S600x600Q85.jpg

Okay, here's what I have for a roster of BF riders for Tour de Max:

LostinSanJose
msincredible
jobob
taxi777
parity
zorrov999
spingineer

Most are starting between 6:30 and 7:00. I'm shooting for 7 am.

I'm not going to be there. I can't make myself wake up early enough on a Sunday and drive an hour for a 7 AM start. Plus, I'm going to be at our baby shower in Sacramento tonight and won't be getting home until 11 PM.

I hope to meet some of you next week at the Tour of Napa though.

I'll be there at 7AM.

Okay, here's what I have for a roster of BF riders for Tour de Max:

LostinSanJose
msincredible
jobob
taxi777
parity
zorrov999
spingineer

Most are starting between 6:30 and 7:00. I'm shooting for 7 am.

Have a fun and safe ride everyone!!!!! :D