Northern California - Calaveras-Palomares 10/13/2007 Ride Report

Ok, I'm the first one home it looks like. I'm not great with details so we'll have to wait for the others to bring in a better report.

8 people showed up for the ride: Ron, Jason, Ramon, Angel, Jack Paula, Jin and Tony(me):D. The ride started out cold with a little bit of fog. Everything was going well until we hit the "Wall". Its smacked me right on the face and laughed at my pityful existence. :( Ramon and Paula are very good, nay, excellent climbers. They left the pack and showed us how to climb them thar hills. After the wall the rest of the ride was great and very scenic. It is a great route that has everything. It has climbing, twisty downhills, rolling hills, flats and a very fast descent. I want to thank Ron and everybody else for such a great ride experience.

Thanks Tony.

So here's my ride report.

As Tony mentioned, there were 8 of us. Yes, it was foggy to start with, but I could see the sun trying to break through, so I was not worried about the rest of the ride being too cool. In stuffed my windbreaker jacket in my saddlebag, and I never had to take it out.

Jin got a flat before we even got rolling ... hope this is not a sign.
Paula (msincredible) showed up with her brand new stylish Orbea ... ooooh, nice new hardware :D. This is her first real ride on it (had about 25 miles on it)

Off we rolled on, and the plan was to take a potty stop at Ed Levin park, after the first set of climbs on Calaveras. Just before the park, Paula took a slight spill. I'll let her describe it, if she's not too embarrassed to share the rest of it with us ... I attribute it to it being a new experience on a new bike, and different, compared to her hybrid bike.

We continued onto Calaveras, left turn onto the wall. Paula and Ramon were at the front, and was climbing really well. Don't let Tony lead you on ... he did just fine.

There was not too much traffic on Calaveras, and I think with the exception of 2 riders, we were the only cyclists going northbound on Calaveras. There seemed to be more cyclists coming the other way, include FFBC, and some of Jack's friends.

We proceeded through Dublin Canyon, expecting lots of fierce headwinds, but it really wasn't that bad. However, my left leg started cramping a little bit ... this is not a good sign, especially knowing Palomares was coming up. I ended up being the last one to roll up as the rest of the group was waiting on Palo Verde.

The climb up Palomares was gorgeous. Once again, I was the last one up, and saw Jin, Jack, Angel, and Jason at the top. The rest of the group proceeded down the hill. We finally regrouped at the bottom of the hill, and proceeded through Fremont, where we stopped off for a break at Peet's.

The original plan was to go through Paseo Padre, but there was some big construction going on at Paseo Padre, so Jack led us through Grimmer, bypassing Paseo Padre all together. It also bypassed the rolling hills :D ... Jack veered off while we continued on Warm Springs. At that point, I had my second wind, and lead the group through an aggressive pace back to the finish. Angel needed to get back soon, so I had to push the pace to get back ... :)

It was a great day for the ride. Great people, and the group regrouped at very strategic points which made the ride all the much better. Thanks everyone for coming out, and keeping me company. I'm glad to lead rides that others haven't been to before. I can't wait to go on adventures in other areas of NorCal that I have never been to either.

Stats:
Distance: 61.92 miles
Riding Time: 4:15:03
Total Time: about 6 hours
Average Spped: 14.5 mph
Altitude Climbed: 3796 feet

Pics coming up.

Nice ride. I was in the neighborhood, but didn't run into you guys - we (TnT Tucson team) started in Castro Valley, went up Crow Canyon and then Norris Canyon to San Ramon, down Tassajara, out Highland and then down Collier Canyon to Livermore, then worked our way back through Pleasanton and Sunol to the Dublin Grade and back to Castro Valley. Almost the same stats as you guys too - 68 miles, no idea how much climbing, in a bit under 4 hours.

It was a beautiful day for riding!

JB

http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares.html

jinws
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120051.jpg

Bostic
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120055.jpg

Zorrov999
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120056.jpg

SJRoadie and Jinws
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120057.jpg

Potty stop at Ed Levin Park
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120058.jpg

Top of wall at Calaveras
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120059.jpg

Climbing Calaveras
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120060.jpg

More on Calaveras
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120061.jpg

Ms. Incredible ... great climber, even stronger now on her new Orbea. Watch out guys ... she'll smoke you on the hill
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120062.jpg

jinws and zorrov999
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120063.jpg

More pics ...

All smiles before the descent
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120064.jpg

http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120065.jpg

http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120066.jpg

mtnwalker, sjroadie, and superunleaded
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120069.jpg

sjroadie, msincredible, zorrov999
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120070.jpg

zorrov999 and bostic
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA120071.jpg

Climbing Palomares
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA130072.jpg

msincredible, the climber
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA130073.jpg

superunleaded and bostic
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA130075.jpg

http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA130076.jpg

zorrov999, representing NorCal Bikeforums
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA130077.jpg

Moo
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA130078.jpg

superunleaded, sjroadie, and jinws, resting at the top of Palomares before the fast descent.
http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Calaveras-Palomares_files/PA130080.jpg

Great ride! Thanks everyone for the company, Ramon for the company on the hills, and Ron for organizing!
That was a lot of fun and definitely easier on the new bike than on the hybrid.

I'm not too embarrassed to share my accident. I was reaching down for my water bottle for the first time on this bike, looking at the road ahead, forgetting that my water bottle is in quite a different location on the new bike than it is on my hybrid.

So I accidentally grabbed the wheel instead! :eek:

Thankfully I had decided to put on my full-fingered gloves today. I melted one of them slightly. :rolleyes:

No real harm done, just a few scrapes and bruises. I know you were all relieved that I got the obligatory crash out of the way early on. ;)

Of course, I was amused that after my spill, everyone's first question was, "Is the bike OK????" :p

Well? Is the bike okay?

:p

Just kidding. Glad you're okay! That must've been quite a feeling, reaching for a bottle and getting a handful of spinning spokes.


Other than that, it looks like it was a great ride! Sounds like I really missed out.

sweet ride. first of all. Thank you Jason for the lift back to San Jose after the ride. My legs were about dead, riding back to San Jose would've killed me. My garmin must be off 'cause I got about 5200 ft of climbing when I uploaded to Motionbased. Oh well.

Anyway, it was great riding with all of you guys again. The second descent was amazing. very quick and fun. Although I have to keep working on climb 'cause as soon as we hit the second big climb, my legs were dead and I went on autopilot. In all, it was a great ride. Very glad I dried my shoes last night.

And I know it's been said many times, but msincredible is indeed incredible! Don't try to get her autograph on a hill 'cause she'll smoke ya.

Oh yea! thanks Ron! for leading the ride. and we should starting talking about the 27th ride up Mnt. Tam.

Great ride everyone, thanks for organizing Ron. Great workout, I'm dead tired right now.

No prob Jin, I was thinking how badly I wanted to get off the road and it only took me maybe 1 minute extra to drop you off.

incredible miss, my hats off to you. You sure smoked us guys on those climbs.
Except for those "flatitus", overall, it was a good ride.

Thank you again Ron for organizing the ride. It was a very enjoyable first time in that part of the Bay Area. I am glad I didn't bring the knee warmers because once the first climb started it got quite warm. The descents were the payoffs to the climbs. Keeping up with Paula is no easy feat. The cows on the road were an interesting occurrence, not something I see every day.

Thanks all for coming out. I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. I'm always interested in riding other areas that we normally don't ride. Another interesting ride I have is starting from Fremont, and going to Berkeley, and taking Bart back to Fremont. But I'll have to see if I can remember the route.

We'll have to see if the Mt. Tam ride is a go or not. If not, let's just plan one.

You guys are making Paula out to be quite a challenging climber. I'm going to have to test her skills next time we meet.

Sorry I had to miss it.. It was a perfect day too!

I'll be out riding today instead.

Sounds like a nice ride! Sorry I had to miss it.

Paula: Let's see some pictures of your new bike! I love the Orbea look.

PS. Stay away from Sweetnsour on the climbs - his afterburners will scorch you :eek:

Paula: Let's see some pictures of your new bike! I love the Orbea look.



She posted it here ... http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=5437269&postcount=96

Sorry I had to miss the ride! But it looks like all the guys that were supposed to do the shorter Out and Back route like me flaked as well. :)

BTW, Ms. Incredible, nice bike!! Glad you are okay. But I'm guessing climbs are much easier on the lighter bike compared to the hybrid! Hopefully next time I'll be able to ride with you guys before I gain all the weight back after training for the Waves to Wine ride! Ugh!!

Gary

Ron, thank you again for organizing and leading the ride. It was my first ride on the East Bay and I was very curious about Calaveras and “the wall”. It was fun!

Sorry for posting so late, but I had a flight to catch Sunday early morning and I now I’m not sure I want to be stuck again on a small seat on an airplane for several hours after a long bike ride the day before :rolleyes:

I don’t have too much to add to the ride reports, other than sharing a scary/funny moment. During the downhill in Palomares, while riding behind Ron, I noticed a squirrel trying to cross the road right in front of Ron’s wheel, so I started yelling “Ron! Watch out!”. Ron didn’t stop and the squirrel stop, but then, after and a moment of indecision, it finally crossed the road, missing Ron’s front wheel just for a split of a second. I was like “whoa! Ron just earned new respect, after showing such control and decision”. And after describing that moment to the group during the coffee stop at Peet’s, Ron said “What Squirrel!!??”
:eek:

Nice weather, not too much traffic, some wet roads (but not too bad) and a good pace were the ingredients for a nice ride. Thanks everybody!

Now, the pictures:

Group picture at the start point: mtnwalker (Tony), zorrov999 (Angel), SJRodie (Jason), Bostic (Ramon), spingineer (Ron), jinws (Jin) and Ms. Incredible (Paula)
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/zorrov/BikeForumsCalaveras101307-001_small.jpg

Some scenic views in Calaveras
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/21207/2214776310068796226S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/23465/2897506360068796226S600x600Q85.jpg

Regroup at the top of Calaveras: jinws (Jin), Ms. Incredible (Paula) and spingineer (Ron)
http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/23711/2831153540068796226S600x600Q85.jpg

SJRodie (Jason), Bostic (Ramon) and (Tony)
http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/21056/2413487520068796226S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/24057/2425975350068796226S600x600Q85.jpg

Stop at Peet's
http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/23145/2160325650068796226S600x600Q85.jpg

Stats:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/zorrov/Garmin.jpg

All photos can be found here (http://good-times.webshots.com/album/561046745zYdAwp?vhost=good-times)

P.S. Thanks Jason and Jin for suggesting “Sino”. We loved it!.

I'm going to have to test her skills next time we meet.

I don't think this is a good idea. Give her maybe a couple hundred miles on her new bike first and then...

That definitely looked fun. Hopefully I can make the next one.

You guys are making Paula out to be quite a challenging climber. I'm going to have to test her skills next time we meet.

Um, I think you forgot to include one of these :p or one of these ;).

You know, comments like this won't encourage more women (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=353483) to show up to the group rides.

I don't care about competing with anyone besides myself. And despite everyone's very nice and flattering compliments, I think Ramon is a better climber than me.

I would say Paula is quite close to where I am at in fitness on the bike. She was right there the entire time up the first climb and led the way on the second until it was my turn to pull. I know from the Labor day ride I'm not at the level of the more experienced riders like Sweet&sour, Blastradius, Big Sean and Gpiu. That's fine though, I don't race and my biggest challenger is also myself.

I don't care about competing with anyone besides myself. And despite everyone's very nice and flattering compliments, I think Ramon is a better climber than me.

Ah, don't fret about the comments from the other guys here. Its the testosterone working overtime. It causes temporary insanity sometimes.

But in all seriousness, Ramon may be a better climber than you you still outclimbed the rest of us.:o I really tried to keep up with you and Ramon up Palomares but I just had to stop because of the pain, multiple times btw. It was quite amazing to watch you and Ramon just grind up that hill while I was completely stopped waiting for my heart rate to unwind from 96-97%. And it was quite amusing to watch the guys below grind up the same hill out of their seats.;) It looked very painful.

I hope your bike is allright.;) Heal up quickly for the Mt Tam ride. You too of course.:D

I would say Paula is quite close to where I am at in fitness on the bike. She was right there the entire time up the first climb and led the way on the second until it was my turn to pull.

I wish I had an opinion about who was faster, but I was so far behind I totally missed the action at the top :p

I wish I had an opinion about who was faster, but I was so far behind I totally missed the action at the top :p

Hey Angel. Those are great pics and thanks for making the full sized ones available for download.

I will have to say that Bostic was faster up the hill. He is officially the King of the Mountain which makes Ms I the queen of the mountain. Which makes the rest of us the slowpokes of the mountain. :p

Haha, yeah Angel, I had the same problem. All I know is that superunleaded and I were battling to make it up Palomares and having a "who can pedal the slowest without falling over" competition. Not sure who won, he was a worthy adversary :)

Haha, yeah Angel, I had the same problem. All I know is that superunleaded and I were battling to make it up Palomares and having a "who can pedal the slowest without falling over" competition. Not sure who won, he was a worthy adversary :)

I was very surprised to find out that Jack(superunleaded) was using a 53/39 double. That must have been very painful up that hill. Next time we should all bring fixies with a 53-11 gear ratio.;) Lets see who can have their legs fall off first.

Haha, yeah Angel, I had the same problem. All I know is that superunleaded and I were battling to make it up Palomares and having a "who can pedal the slowest without falling over" competition. Not sure who won, he was a worthy adversary :)

I won because I was so far in back of everyone else :p

I love my 50/34 :)

I will have to say that Bostic was faster up the hill. He is officially the King of the Mountain which makes Ms I the queen of the mountain. Which makes the rest of us the slowpokes of the mountain. :p


Luckily I didn't go... I'd be the Court Jester of the Mountain bringing up the rear while you all laugh! Doh!

You know, comments like this won't encourage more women (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=353483) to show up to the group rides.

I must apologize if I came across the way you took me as. Discouragement was not my intent. I am also not an outwardly competitive person, although it may show in my riding, because it's one of the few things I am really good at. It doesn't matter to me if you are a guy or a gal, I make no exceptions when it comes to riding.

I must apologize if I came across the way you took me as. Discouragement was not my intent. I am also not an outwardly competitive person, although it may show in my riding, because it's one of the few things I am really good at. It doesn't matter to me if you are a guy or a gal, I make no exceptions when it comes to riding.

I'll vouch for Sweetnsourbkr. He's more sweet than sour, for sure!:D:D

It's all about having fun out there, and I would never try to compete at hill climbing, because I know my limits. As long as we remember those three letters ... F - U - N ... then we have accomplished our goal of the ride.

I must apologize if I came across the way you took me as. Discouragement was not my intent. I am also not an outwardly competitive person, although it may show in my riding, because it's one of the few things I am really good at. It doesn't matter to me if you are a guy or a gal, I make no exceptions when it comes to riding.

Apology accepted. Look forward to riding with you sometime soon, I hope. :)

Luckily I didn't go... I'd be the Court Jester of the Mountain bringing up the rear while you all laugh! Doh!

Don't worry Gary. Most of us took that role for ya.;)

Don't worry Gary. Most of us took that role for ya.;)

Then hopefully next time I can join ya!! :) haha!

It's all about having fun out there, and I would never try to compete at hill climbing, because I know my limits. As long as we remember those three letters ... F - U - N ... then we have accomplished our goal of the ride.

Well, I definitly had a lot of fun. The only thing I wish we could've done was ride in a tighter pack. I don't usually get to ride with more than 2 or 3 people. It'd be nice to ride a paceline when there's a chace to.

The only thing I wish we could've done was ride in a tighter pack.
jin, good thing you opened that up. We'll try that next time.

I though we were in a paceline on the flats. Between Jason and I, I really thought we were doing a steady pull. Sorry if there was some yoyo-ing during those pulls. Paceline on uphills is really not ideal since everybody has to climb on their own climbing ability. Like what Jason said, we were just trying to keep our balance :) trackstand anyone :D

My original plan was to cut off from Sunol and skip Palomares but I was having so much "fun" with the pack I decided to go for the whole route knowing my legs are only good for 45-50 miles. I really suffered on Palomares especially with my heavy gear.

Anyways, the guy to watch is Tony. I bet you, once he put on those Speedplays, he'll be ready to take some serious pulls, even on climbs.... that is if he can keep still on the paceline :p

just teasin' T :D

jin, good thing you opened that up. We'll try that next time.

I though we were in a paceline on the flats. Between Jason and I, I really thought we were doing a steady pull. Sorry if there was some yoyo-ing during those pulls. Paceline on uphills is really not ideal since everybody has to climb on their own climbing ability. Like what Jason said, we were just trying to keep our balance :) trackstand anyone :D

My original plan was to cut off from Sunol and skip Palomares but I was having so much "fun" with the pack I decided to go for the whole route knowing my legs are only good for 45-50 miles. I really suffered on Palomares especially with my heavy gear.

Anyways, the guy to watch is Tony. I bet you, once he put on those Speedplays, he'll be ready to take some serious pulls, even on climbs.... that is if he can keep still on the paceline :p

just teasin' T :D

I actually had thoughts of heading over Dumbarton, over to Palo Alto, then circle counterclockwise back to Milpitas. However, cramps got to me, and I thought I'd better just stick to the plan instead. Still gotta get my century of the month in ... I'm in danger of missing it for October :eek:

Yeah Jack, we had a good pull going between you, tony, and myself. We were doing a good 25mph from the part where calaveras flattens to where it hits 680. Jin, next time ride up front and you'll get a little bit of paceline action.

Yeah Jack, we had a good pull going between you, tony, and myself. We were doing a good 25mph from the part where calaveras flattens to where it hits 680. Jin, next time ride up front and you'll get a little bit of paceline action.

yea, getting to the front is the problem. most of the time i'm trying to.

Well, I definitly had a lot of fun. The only thing I wish we could've done was ride in a tighter pack. I don't usually get to ride with more than 2 or 3 people. It'd be nice to ride a paceline when there's a chace to.

Sorry I wasn't very good at the paceline riding. I'm still nervous after breaking my wrist from crossing wheels with someone years ago. But after some paceline practice at the velogirls clinic on Sunday, I hope to do better next time. :)

Sorry I wasn't very good at the paceline riding. I'm still nervous after breaking my wrist from crossing wheels with someone years ago. But after some paceline practice at the velogirls clinic on Sunday, I hope to do better next time. :)

We can always try the paceline again on our way from San Fran to Sausalito next weekend. Or a more leisurely ride may be in order before all the climbing we are all about to do.

We can always try the paceline again on our way from San Fran to Sausalito next weekend. Or a more leisurely ride may be in order before all the climbing we are all about to do.

there's a good stretch from Mike's bikes to where we have to make a left and go uphill.

yea, getting to the front is the problem. most of the time i'm trying to.

In a paceline the front comes to you :)

I have that problem too... pulling a little too hard on my turn at the front. There is an instinct telling me that the front is sooo much harder, and therefore I have to exert way more energy to maintain the pace. Then I look at my computer and I realize I am going to fast.

Use the computer, as previously suggested.

Nice ride. You guys inspired me to try this route (I had done parts of it before), so I rode something similar yesterday. From Fremont BART, I went south and rode up the wall, north on Calaveras, right on Palomares, and ended up in Hayward. I think the whole ride was about 45-50 miles with plenty of climbing.

Where did you guys go from Palomares? Did you ride it out and back or did you continue on to Hayward/Castro Valley?

Nice ride. You guys inspired me to try this route (I had done parts of it before), so I rode something similar yesterday. From Fremont BART, I went south and rode up the wall, north on Calaveras, right on Palomares, and ended up in Hayward. I think the whole ride was about 45-50 miles with plenty of climbing.

Where did you guys go from Palomares? Did you ride it out and back or did you continue on to Hayward/Castro Valley?

From Palomares, we headed into Fremont for a quick bite. Then, we went down Paseo Padre, to Grimmer, then back to Milpitas.