Northern California - LABOR DAY Ride 1st September Mt. Hamilton

I can bring a trailer and we can haul your dog up the mountain :D

she's 100 pounds... that'd be interesting :rolleyes:

On second thought, I'll bring a harness and she can pull me up the mountain! :roflmao2::lol:

*edit: MsI stole my idea :(

Should have seen me on the folder this week...I discovered if I have a heavy backpack on, and am climbing > 15%, I end up wheelieing like crazy. :eek:

:lol::lol::lol:

Were you practicing for your unicycle? :D

I would have loved to join this ride but my daughter is moving in her College dorm the same day.

If I can convince my fiance, I'll bring my two folders. I've never seen Mt. Hamilton Road before, seems to be a paved road with a shoulder to ride on?

No shoulders, but little car traffic, and generally good sightlines (except around tight turns).

Is there water along the way, or should I bring more than my usual 2 bottles?

Count me out... The boss has other plans for us. :(

But I am doing a short ride on Saturday down in HMB... I'll post it in a seperate thread if anyone is interested in joining...

Gary

I reckon we are going to park in Warm Springs and ride to the start to get a warm up.

I'm officially an innie! After much arm twisting (and begging), I'm allowed to go play. :-)

Next step: who wants to ride to the start? I'll be riding from Palo Alto. It'd be interesting to pick up and form (instead of riding) a train on the way there since the climb doesn't start until 10 to 10:30.

Currently I'm planning on one stop near Stelling/Prospect to meet up with ahpook. Anyone else want to join in along the route?

Current route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=arastradero+and+foothill,+Palo+Alto,+CA+94306&daddr=stelling+and+prospect+avenue,+san+jose,+ca+to:Gordon+Ave+%26+Kirk+Ave,+San+Jose,+CA+95127&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=37.385299,-122.035446&sspn=0.069972,0.25629&ie=UTF8&z=12).

How far do we go before we start climbing? I'd like to ride a little warmup before the climb, say 20 minutes? Maybe I should park farther away, or just do a warmup loop say at 10 if we have a 10:30 start?

I'm driving down from Alameda. Any thoughts?

How far do we go before we start climbing?

About 3/4 of a mile. :)

I know a lot of folks have different strategies for riding, but I'm not wasting any energy on warming up that I can spend on climbing. This ride is tough enough for me as it is without burning fuel before I "start". The last 6 miles or so are relentless.

1JackTripper, I am interested in meeting up at Stelling/Prospect. What time?

I'll be coming from San Mateo and would love a 30-50 minute warm-up if anyone is interested. Let me know if you'd like to carpool or meet up enroute.

I reckon we are going to park in Warm Springs and ride to the start to get a warm up.

How far is that to the start?

I'll be coming from San Mateo and would love a 30-50 minute warm-up if anyone is interested. Let me know if you'd like to carpool or meet up enroute.

Hey Lorrie, What time and where are you warming up from Appox. I might be interested...

Pete

Hey now, Phoebe, no low key time trials allowed on this 'autobus' ride. ;)

Between limited time and between paychecks I'm down to two bikes...Maybe I'll walk up the hill!....

Just rambling to make sure my thread stays ahead of Bossman's!!!
I'm not goin down like Hillary!....

Did I just say that! ???? : (

I just started road biking this season and I have been looking for friends to ride with as I am always riding alone. Is this ride for me??

Is there water along the way, or should I bring more than my usual 2 bottles?

Alan,
There is Grant Ranch park along the way where you can get water.
About 7.7 miles from Alum Rock to the park on the right. The Lick Observatory is about 11 miles farther.
2 bottles might not be enough depending on how you use your water. I usually use half of 1 bottle to get the back of my head and neck wet during the climb.

I just started road biking this season and I have been looking for friends to ride with as I am always riding alone. Is this ride for me??

Yes, please join us.

It'll be a large social ride with riders of widely varying levels.

Hope to see you there. :)

Should have seen me on the folder this week...I discovered if I have a heavy backpack on, and am climbing > 15%, I end up wheelieing like crazy. :eek:

No kidding! I was riding my dad's 16" wheel folder when I was up in Seattle 2 weeks ago. Ended up riding some 15-18% climbs and it was a pain to keep the front wheel down.. not to mention to keep the pedals turning! And the handlebars were so twitchy.. a different experience for sure.

I would be down to meet up, but Stelling/Prospect is about 3x as far from home (and in the wrong direction!) as Alum Rock.

I'll be riding from Tasman and Lafayette; just following Tasman till it becomes Capitol, and take that to McKee. I'm happy to meet up with anyone on the way :)

Thought I would post the actual google map location of the meeting point: link (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Kirk+Ave+%4037.376833,+-121.823640&sll=37.376279,-121.822908&sspn=0.012431,0.018797&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&ll=37.376825,-121.823637&spn=0.012431,0.018797&z=16&iwloc=addr)

1JackTripper, I am interested in meeting up at Stelling/Prospect. What time?


PM sent

well, our baseball team dumped 2 games today and we have 2 tomorrow. So making the Championship game is looking rather bleak, but Hammy is looking brighter.

I just started road biking this season and I have been looking for friends to ride with as I am always riding alone. Is this ride for me??

Jump on in and say Hi. This most certainly is not a race.

I just started road biking this season and I have been looking for friends to ride with as I am always riding alone. Is this ride for me??

COME ON DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just started road biking this season and I have been looking for friends to ride with as I am always riding alone. Is this ride for me??

Absolutely, I just bought my first road bike in April! Mt Hamilton is the second climb I did after buying the bike. We're just out for a pleasant holiday ride, you'll have a great time and meet new friends!

unless I somehow make it to the top first in which case I will gloat like Usain Bolt

Okay, I want to play too!

unless I somehow make it to the top first in which case I will gloat like Usain Bolt"I just want you all to know... YOU ALL SUCK!" --Pete

ok so who's riding to the start from Caltrain(San Jose)

ok so who's riding to the start from Caltrain(San Jose)

Looks like there is a small cadre of us heading up past Diridon, so we could scoop you up at the station. Caltrain's running on Sunday schedule so you're going to have to catch the first train -- 422 , dep SF at 8AM , arrives SJ at 9:36. See you there?

ok so who's riding to the start from Caltrain(San Jose)


See ya at the train!

Add Steverino. I'll be riding to the start from Willow Glen. See ya there!

okay, did I understand this correctly? CalTrain to Diridon and then someone will lead us to the start? I like that plan. who all is taking the train? I'll be the girl in pink.

Looks like there is a small cadre of us heading up past Diridon, so we could scoop you up at the station. Caltrain's running on Sunday schedule so you're going to have to catch the first train -- 422 , dep SF at 8AM , arrives SJ at 9:36. See you there?

See ya at the train!

okay, did I understand this correctly? CalTrain to Diridon and then someone will lead us to the start? I like that plan. who all is taking the train? I'll be the girl in pink.

I live in San Jose. Just wanted to see if there are people I can ride with to the start. I'm in downtown SJ, a couple mins from the station.

okay, did I understand this correctly? CalTrain to Diridon and then someone will lead us to the start? I like that plan. who all is taking the train? I'll be the girl in pink.

I'm taking the 8am from SF, I know the way so if you meet me on that train, I'll get you there...I'll be in NorCal Black n Yellow DRAG!
Pete

I don't know if there's a better route, but the way I plan on going is straight up Santa Clara Street, which turns into Alum Rock Rd as it crosses 101. Hard to go wrong :)

http://xrl.us/oozbd

I'll be the girl in pink.

Crap, now I'm gonna have to change my whole outfit.

probably the best route from my experience. and easy too :P

oh: and on alum rock & white (just down that road) theres a bike store called reed's if you need to pick anything up, that is...if they haven't gone out of business yet.

I know this is late, but you can count me in!

I'm in Calgary,I'll be with you guys "in spirit."aka - Post lots of pics.

I know I'm earning a (well deserved) reputation as a flake but I'm not going to make it out tomorrow.

I went OTB and down tumbled down that hill yesterday. Bruised tailbone, right shoulder and arm, dragged my leg down a rock and got myself thoroughly tangled in those bushes to the point where my friends had to pull me out before I could climb back up :\

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/mtb-salmonfalls-82908/images/dsc04051.jpg

Too late for a sign up? I'm in Berkeley and just want to make sure on directions.

680 south -> Mckee Rd. Exit -> Right onto Kirk Ave. -> Arrive at Gordon St.

Also, I've never done Mt. Hamilton but has always been on my "to do list." How are we looking on mileage? I assume it'll be an out and back?

Edit: One more thing, is there a place to change there? Or should I drive with spandex?

Too late for a sign up? I'm in Berkeley and just want to make sure on directions.

680 south -> Mckee Rd. Exit -> Right onto Kirk Ave. -> Arrive at Gordon St.

Also, I've never done Mt. Hamilton but has always been on my "to do list." How are we looking on mileage? I assume it'll be an out and back?

Edit: One more thing, is there a place to change there? Or should I drive with spandex?

Its never too late to turn up for this informal gathering of friends. We just happen to be a lot of like minded persons riding up hamilton on the same day :D

Be sure you're not camera shy either ... :p

Too late for a sign up? I'm in Berkeley and just want to make sure on directions.

?

No sign up...Pig Pile meets Clus*** F*** fun ride and don't forget naked twister and "Burning Man Re-enactment at the top!

Your host, Taxi777

No sign up...Pig Pile meets Clus*** F*** fun ride and don't forget naked twister and "Burning Man Re-enactment at the top!

Your host, Taxi777

What about the GU drinking contest? See you guys at 10:30.... I can't believe I got Labor Day off.

BTW,
If you are looking for a coffee shop, there is one in the shopping center at McKee and Kirk. Good excuse to get there early. :D

Gunther is in...