Northern California - Mt Tam Report..What was I thinkin!

I must have listened to the weather report from Cleveland today, cause I could have sworn I heard rain moving into the Bay Area LATE AFTERNOON! So I hung out at Mikes in Sausalito. Vic and his buddy who I can not remember his name showed up. Where’s everyone we asked each other? Sounds like everyone played it smart…. Portent of things to come: ( . At this point the 3 of us head out. I said I wanted to do the usual way up Tam from the back. Vic wasn’t sure what to do as it began to sprinkle. We stopped at the restrooms on the bike path and Vics friend crashed standing up. The bike hit a lip in the curve but the guy was quick on his feet. Another portent of things to come. When we stopped after the Corte madera grade, Vic and friend decided to do the Tiburon loop. I really wanted to ride up Tam. It’s been months and I’m feeling really great on the bike. So I split. Pretty heavy sprinkle by now. I jammed up to Fairfax, stopped for a bottle of Gatorade and headed up. I felt great, but the rain started really coming down. A group coming down reported in passing told me it’s really wet up there. A couple of guys from Colorado passed me on the way up, and told me rain is no big thing. I stopped to take a pict and nature break. Rain got worse. Over the first climb and down to Alpine I started getting really wet and cold. Took a pict at Alpine and started back up. Lucky I was climbing as I got really cold when I stopped. Halfway up, pouring and Colorado boys pass me on the way back and tell me you don’t want to go up there! At this point I’m thinking Steinbeck century 85 or 86 funnel clouds and hail…couldn’t be worse than that. Well it was. I got to ridgecrest and I was freezing as rain and wind was blowing me around like a moth on a freeway. Surprisingly I felt great on the climb, my strength has really come back. So by the last sister hill I couldn’t feel my hands anymore and my teeth began to chatter. Downhill was miserable! I stopped a few times cause I couldn’t break with my hands and I was shaking so bad that my whole bike was wobbling. It was cold! I felt sleet hitting my face, a ranger went by and I almost waved him down. At one point I stopped and an SUV pulled along side and asked if I needed a lift but I couldn’t talk cause my jaws we’re frozen and it came out mmmnnfff….. So I barely made it down. I stopped at a Seven Eleven but I was shaking so badly I couldn’t even answer the clerk when he asked if he could help. At least the wind had stopped and I made it back to my car and ran the heat full blast till I stopped shaking. Made it home and Cathy had a hot Quesada and a giant batch of chocolate chip cookies waiting : ) A hot shower and 2 hr nap and I’m ready for the next ride. Sometimes you just don’t have a good , ride but the adventure makes it all worthwhile. Pain makes you feel alive! And the cookies make it all go away!
Pete
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Tam111007.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Alpine.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Top.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/TamPortrait.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Bars.jpg

Wow, this pic says it all.....

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/TamPortrait.jpg

That's great to hear you've got your health back, Pete. As terrible as it may have been, you make it all sound like fun. I know how you feel as I got caught out in the rain too and had the uncontrollable shivers on the way down over here. The weather sites said rain wouldn't come in 'til 4pm. Boy, were they wrong :mad:.

The rain is seriously making this long weekend depressing. I went out for an urban ride and to the MOMA in San Francisco today and jesus, painful trying to grind up the steep (and thankfully short) hills in the Nob Hill area but yeah, perhaps one day I'll be able to withstand the almost-snowy conditions like you've got. *impressed* :)

Wow, Pete. You definitely get the award for perseverence (I won't say stupidity) ... glad you made it through okay. Some of us SoCal transplants are such whimps ... myself included.

Now, compare this ...

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/TamPortrait.jpg

with this ...

http://web.mac.com/ronng/iWeb/bikeforums/Mt.%20Tam%20BF%20Ride_files/PA270038.jpg

[QUOTE=spingineer;5612098] Some of us SoCal transplants are such whimps ... myself included.

Dude last thing you are is a wimp! For cryin out loud Mr. Triple Crown!

Wowwww
That looks fun.
Seems like you were ready for the rain though with that raingear.

Dude last thing you are is a wimp! For cryin out loud Mr. Triple Crown!

All that means is I spend time sitting on my fat butt!

Pete: You're as crazy as you look! :eek::eek::eek:

Pete: You're as crazy as you look! :eek::eek::eek:

Hey! how did you know that's what my mother said when I was born!~

She used to put me in the corner and hang a pork chop around my neck so the dog would play with me!

Pete,

You're an animal. I got cold just reading your report. You're better man than I am to ride Tam today.:)

Gary

Pete,

Glad you got home safely. Joe and I rode 41 miles and about 2000' feet elevation. Nothing dramatic to report althought we got good and wet.

Can't rely on those weather forecasts, no matter how "accu" they claim to be. We proved it today.

Victor

Maybe they were referring to the South Bay when they said "late afternoon"? It didn't start raining out in Santa Clara till around 4 PM.

Pete,

Glad you got home safely. Joe and I rode 41 miles and about 2000' feet elevation. Nothing dramatic to report althought we got good and wet.

Can't rely on those weather forecasts, no matter how "accu" they claim to be. We proved it today.

Victor
Yep good thing you didn't come with me, it sucked! at least the last half...Next time just slap me upside the head and make me go with you guys.
Pete

No Morgan territory ride it there's a cloud in sight though!

Great job Pete. You look Mahvelous!