twocoasttb
08-28-07, 12:26 PM
Two weeks ago I climbed Mt. Hamilton and Sierra Road (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=332660&highlight=hamilton+sierra) with a friend of mine. I took another day off yesterday and we decided to try climbing something on both sides of the valley. We started at the train station in San Jose and rolled to Alum Rock Park. From there we went up Crothers Road, which is always a tough wake-up call. There's a real short section of 22% that goes over broken pavement and gravel where traction is tough to maintain. The climb up the rest of Hamilton was uneventful and I think we made pretty good time. After the descent we rode north up the east side, following pretty much the same route as two weeks ago, except for bypassing Sierra Road. After crossing the Dumbarton bridge we stopped at my house in Redwood City to refuel and let the dog out. We took Atherton Ave to Alameda De Las Pulgas to Alpine to Portola and got to the bottom of Old La Honda at about mile 103. I usually climb OLH in the middle ring, but halfway up I decided I'd had enough of that nonsense and switched to the granny. It was slow going; I got to the top in just under 33 minutes, about six minutes slower than my fastest time. It hurt. After a quick descent down 84 we cruised back to my house, just in time to greet my wife who was rolling in on her bike after commuting from the train station. Distance: 120 miles. Climbing: 9,800 feet. Legs: sore.
At the top of Mt. Hamilton:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1071/1259061256_95710accf1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/shakenbrain/1259061256/)
At the intersection of Old La Honda and Skyline.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/1258206643_e805155f71.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/shakenbrain/1258206643/)
GoogleEarth view of the ride. My GPS (Garmin 305) lost satellite reception halfway up OLH and didn't get it back until the bottom of 84. Bummer.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/1259317473_708284278a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/shakenbrain/1259317473/)
At the top of Mt. Hamilton:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1071/1259061256_95710accf1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/shakenbrain/1259061256/)
At the intersection of Old La Honda and Skyline.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/1258206643_e805155f71.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/shakenbrain/1258206643/)
GoogleEarth view of the ride. My GPS (Garmin 305) lost satellite reception halfway up OLH and didn't get it back until the bottom of 84. Bummer.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/1259317473_708284278a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/shakenbrain/1259317473/)