Northern California - Feb 20, 2008 Mt. Hamilton Ride

Finally the Tour of CA is going over Hamilton!
And the steep side too! :D

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/docroot/media/2008/2008-stage3-map.pdf

I plan to ride up it from San Jose & watch the pros come suffering over the top.

We should have a BF group ride start together in San Jose near the finish.

Because the racers also have to do a loop that goes over Sierra grade, we should have plenty of time to watch them on Hamilton and get back in time to watch the finish downtown.

Who's in?

Could be pretty exciting if it snows that day.

It is really too bad they do not have a mountain top finish. They climb Hamilton, then Sierra, but finish with a 18 mile flat route, effectively negating any mountain breakaways.

I'm definitely going to do this!

I work right near the finish. So I can stop by work and check my messages and email afterward ;)

I am also going to ride from San Mateo to Palo Alto for the Prologue. Anyone want to join me on a Peninsula ride to the Prologue??

I've ridden Mt Hamilton before riding up Sierra rd to catch the race both of the last two years. It's been really cold up there!

The back side of Mt Hamilton (4.3 miles 2000ft 8.8%) should be a good separator. But will the field be able to get back together on the descent? If not then a break that also did Sierra fast might get enough time to stay away.

Sierra Road has been a really fun place to watch the race go by. The difficulty, the location in the route, the sheer number of crazed fans up there... I think I'm going to pass on Hamilton.

Maybe Sierra would be better... hmmmm.

Maybe Sierra would be better... hmmmm.

The guy across the road from me posted a Youtube of me waving the Bear Republic flag as Levi goes by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV4jY1-6w00

Maybe Sierra would be better... hmmmm.

I'll ride Hamilton for 2 reasons.

1) Can watch from here and still ride to finish in time to see finish.

2) I have only done this climb once so I'd like to see it again before racing over it in May.

I'm definitely going to do this!

I work right near the finish. So I can stop by work and check my messages and email afterward ;)

I am also going to ride from San Mateo to Palo Alto for the Prologue. Anyone want to join me on a Peninsula ride to the Prologue??

This sounds good. I could be persuaded. Of course, there will be 2,094,885,000 other cyclists with the same idea.

Yeah, I'll try to get out pretty early.

You can count me in, barring the unforeseen.

This sounds good. I could be persuaded. Of course, there will be 2,094,885,000 other cyclists with the same idea.

Thats not exactly a bad thing. Its not like there will be a traffic jam of cyclists going up. Count me in on this ride too.:D

I'm planning on riding this if it's not too cold. I've already told my boss that I'll be taking off Feb 20th. (She understands. She's a bike racer. :) )

This sounds good. I could be persuaded. Of course, there will be 2,094,885,000 other cyclists with the same idea.

They didn't have any trouble accommodating the crowds at the various stages last year. I do not see this year being any different. In fact, I expect crowds on Mt. Hamilton to be kind of sparse since that is a weekday and the people who can take the day off will be split between Hamilton and Sierra. Remember that cars will not be allowed on either of these roads from early morning until after the racers pass.

I think it's a foregone conclusion that every bikeforum member will be up there ... including a few making the trek from SoCal ... I'm actually thinking of going down to SoCal to see the end at the Rose Bowl, for a 5 lap circuit race ... anyone else thinking the same thing?

Thats not exactly a bad thing. Its not like there will be a traffic jam of cyclists going up. Count me in on this ride too.:D

Tony, the traffic jam is when the race is over. Riders trickle in from all over and get spread to the top and when the race is over, everyone tries to get down asap to get to the finish in downtown SJ. But with the crowd split up between Sierra and Mt Ham, there's a good chance that there will good spots on both places and probably not too much like a zoo like the previous years.
If you want to go downtown and watch the race, position yourself in front of the jumbotron right by the barricades so you can watch the race live on screen plus you get to see them in person when they crank it up to the finish. And if you don't care much about the race but want to mingle with the riders, head straight to the parking lot where the team buses are. Act as if you are one of the racers and the guards won't bother you:D
I shook hands with Johan B last year while Lance walks in front of me and I didn't have a darn camera:( so make sure bring a camera if you go towards the team buses. You'll just never know who would pose for you.

Tony, the traffic jam is when the race is over. Riders trickle in from all over and get spread to the top and when the race is over, everyone tries to get down asap to get to the finish in downtown SJ. But with the crowd split up between Sierra and Mt Ham, there's a good chance that there will good spots on both places and probably not too much like a zoo like the previous years.
If you want to go downtown and watch the race, position yourself in front of the jumbotron right by the barricades so you can watch the race live on screen plus you get to see them in person when they crank it up to the finish. And if you don't care much about the race but want to mingle with the riders, head straight to the parking lot where the team buses are. Act as if you are one of the racers and the guards won't bother you:D
I shook hands with Johan B last year while Lance walks in front of me and I didn't have a darn camera:( so make sure bring a camera if you go towards the team buses. You'll just never know who would pose for you.

Cool, this will give me a chance to try out my bumping skills while going down hill.;) Who knows, there may be a big pile up from the spectators. Besides, I plan on riding to Mt Ham from Sunnyvale in the early mornings. Are you going to be there?

Cool, this will give me a chance to try out my bumping skills while going down hill.;)
ewwww... try, bumping skills, downhill :D I think you should try a criterium first;)

Are you going to be there?
I will be about quarter of a mile up Sierra Rd. that way I can go down and ride the course towards downtown SJ as soon as the last rider passes by.
Last year, there was a lot of cops but I just waved at them I get a wave back. And then there's this crowd on Mabury Road cheering me on as if I broke away from the pack :D :D :D

That sounds good. Maybe I'll join you and I'll make sure to bring a camera with me for those kodak moments.:D