Northern California - Morgan Territory

About a million years ago I did club rides through Morgan territory, and over Diablo. It seems built up and possibly trafficky now. It was one of my favorite rides. Does anyone here do it often=info? Would any BF'rs want to lead a group ride sometime? I'd be really interested. :)
Pete

What weekend sounds good for you?

This weekend is out as is the weekend of the 17/18. Oh, and first weekend of December. Otherwise, I'm up for leading this.

An easy meeting place would be at the Pleasant Hill Bart Station.

BR

I'm interested on being in this ride too. I was just mentioning in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=346114)how I wanted to do a solo ride that involves Mt Diablo and Morgan territory. A group ride would be much more enjoyable.

How about next Sunday? Only problem is, that would be the day after the climb to the top of Mt. Tam.

How about the weekend of 11/24-25? Weather permitting.

What weekend sounds good for you?

This weekend is out as is the weekend of the 17/18. Oh, and first weekend of December. Otherwise, I'm up for leading this.

An easy meeting place would be at the Pleasant Hill Bart Station.

BR How about "riding off the Turkey ride" ? Sat 24th... I'm up for that ride, it will give me a couple of weeks more to build back up for Diablo.
Pete

Damn, I'll be visiting my dad in LA Thanksgiving weekend ... but then again, I'll ride with SoCal BF ... I'm just addicted to BF.

I used to do that ride in the 80s, but the traffic on Clayton Road where it goes slightlt rural seems crazy. Am I wrong?
BTW, clockwise or counter?

How about the weekend of 11/24-25? Weather permitting. I had been thinking lately of that ride and last night you we're discussing Diablo, I missed the last Diablo Bf ride cause I was sick. I was going to post last night and the earthQuake interrupted.
Pete

I used to do that ride in the 80s, but the traffic on Clayton Road where it goes slightlt rural seems crazy. Am I wrong?
BTW, clockwise or counter?
Hey Curtis I think we're from the same time loop. I liked clockwise to finish with Diablo. You in?
I remember doing the last Tassahara road race 87, there was not a whole lot out there....not to brag but that was my first road race and I won! 35 and up, caught the rider from the previous race, wish I could ride like that now:(

I don't think I can. I've got way too much going on, and I am a bit worried about Clayton RD.
I've done that ride both directions. I think clockwise was better for me. Getting back to WC was easier and slightly downhill from Danville.

A really good meeting spot is the Train Station Museum in Danville. It leaves you nicely situated for food after the ride, gives a pretty good warm up to the south gate, and once you are done with Morgan Territory leaves you with a fairly easy ride back to the cars.

I do this ride a LOT, usually starting in Antioch where I live, so I do MT first. Traffic is traffic. On the weekend, it is not so bad, unless you're used to riding two or three abreast. Then you'll have problems. Another nice thing about this ride is you can follow the DMD (Devil Mountain Double) signage on the road if you get lost. Just turn right at the bottom of MT not left, otherwise, eventually you'll find yourself climbing Mt Hamiliton, the hard way!

Veronica

A really good meeting spot is the Train Station Museum in Danville. It leaves you nicely situated for food after the ride, gives a pretty good warm up to the south gate, and once you are done with Morgan Territory leaves you with a fairly easy ride back to the cars.

I do this ride a LOT, usually starting in Antioch where I live, so I do MT first. Traffic is traffic. On the weekend, it is not so bad, unless you're used to riding two or three abreast. Then you'll have problems. Another nice thing about this ride is you can follow the DMD (Devil Mountain Double) signage on the road if you get lost. Just turn right at the bottom of MT not left, otherwise, eventually you'll find yourself climbing Mt Hamiliton, the hard way!

Veronica

Veronica,
What would the mileage be if you did make the left turn and did Mt. Hamilton the hard way? Just curious.

If you did the entire DMD route from the South Gate of Diablo, over MT, Altamont and Patterson Passes, up Hamiliton and stopping at the summit, about 125 miles with 12,000 feet of climbing.

Even taking the easiest route possible back to Danville, you'd still end up with probably 175 miles and I would guess around 15,000 feet of climb. From the Milpitas side of Hamiliton, you'd probably have to head over to Calaveras. I don't know if there is a flatter way to get to Sunol. From Sunol, I would probably take that road on the west side of 680 (don't know the name) back to Danville.

Skipping Altamont and Patterson takes off probably twenty miles I would guess and maybe 2,000 feet of climb.

Veronica

I like the idea of doing this on 11/24.

In order to beat the traffic up Ygnacio and over Marsh Creek, I usually start this ride around the 7:00 - 8:00 window. I add the SouthGate portion last which is a great challenge. Perhaps this should be an option:
"A" ride includes Southgate. 64 total miles.
"B" ride excludes Southgate. 52 total miles.

Starting in Danville, the "A" riders should start at least 30 minutes before the "B" riders. Everyone could meet up at Peet's in Clayton and enjoy the Morgan Territory together.

BR

I like the idea of doing this on 11/24.

In order to beat the traffic up Ygnacio and over Marsh Creek, I usually start this ride around the 7:00 - 8:00 window. I add the SouthGate portion last which is a great challenge. Perhaps this should be an option:
"A" ride includes Southgate. 64 total miles.
"B" ride excludes Southgate. 52 total miles.

Starting in Danville, the "A" riders should start at least 30 minutes before the "B" riders. Everyone could meet up at Peet's in Clayton and enjoy the Morgan Territory together.

BR

I am up for the long version of whatever ride the group decides on! I've only done one BF ride - just curious but does/can the group split into fast/easy sub-groups?

Aaron

I used to do that ride in the 80s, but the traffic on Clayton Road where it goes slightlt rural seems crazy. Am I wrong?
BTW, clockwise or counter?


I just did Morgan Territory about a month ago. The pavement on the north side is abysmal - you'd have to be crazy to go down (counterclockwise). Climbing up the bad stretch is the way to go, and the descent into the Livermore Valley is a great one. As I recall, the traffic on Clayton Road wasn't bad, and as soon as you turn off onto Morgan Territory, you are on your own - very little traffic out there.

I like the idea of doing this on 11/24.

In order to beat the traffic up Ygnacio and over Marsh Creek, I usually start this ride around the 7:00 - 8:00 window. I add the SouthGate portion last which is a great challenge. Perhaps this should be an option:
"A" ride includes Southgate. 64 total miles.
"B" ride excludes Southgate. 52 total miles.

Starting in Danville, the "A" riders should start at least 30 minutes before the "B" riders. Everyone could meet up at Peet's in Clayton and enjoy the Morgan Territory together.

BR Is southgate up diablo Mt. Diablo scenic Blvd from blackhawk? That's the way I would want to ride. 8:am would be the earliest for me since I'm comming from SF.
BTW for me everything is weather permitting.
Pete

Is southgate up diablo Mt. Diablo scenic Blvd from blackhawk?yes

How about the weekend of 11/24-25? Weather permitting.

11/24-25 sounds good. I should be back in the Bay Area by that time. Right now, I'm in Atlanta and I'm planning on riding to Stone Mountain this weekend on a piece of tank. I mean, an old POS, piece of steel bike that is :)

... just curious but does/can the group split into fast/easy sub-groups?

Aaron


I don't see why not.

BR

11/24-25 sounds good. I should be back in the Bay Area by that time. Right now, I'm in Atlanta and I'm planning on riding to Stone Mountain this weekend on a piece of tank. I mean, an old POS, piece of steel bike that is :)
I think that would be called a cannonball with wheels, being your at historic Stone Mountian of Civil war lore you'll be riding in fashion.
Pete

I think that would be called a cannonball with wheels, being your at historic Stone Mountian of Civil war lore you'll be riding in fashion.
Pete

Here it is Pete.
My Cannonball ride

Here it is Pete.
My Cannonball ride
Very Cool! The bike looks pretty slick though. :)