Northern California - Inaugural knee replacement ride - 105 miles & 15,000' elevation

I hinted at this ride earlier but now it's time to get feelers who is interested to schedule a weekend for it. Mt. Eden, Pierce, Bohlman On Orbit (not to top), HW 9, 236, Jamison Creek, Alba, Zayante, HW 35 "rollers", Montebello all rolled into one fun-filled day. I tried to come up with a route that totaled more than a 100 miles and was as close to 15,000' up as possible with not too much back tracking involved. It's time the Bay Area shows the rest of the state what epic is all about.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/doomsday

http://www.bosticman.com/bostic/cycling/doomsday.jpg

That is...unholy.

You might as well do the Everest Challenge

I'd be interested, but a little bit of logistics there and back for me. Sounds like a good challenge...any tentative date? I need a couple of intense hilly weekends I thing before that.

Pete

Yep, Pete would need to setup shop the night before down in the south bay since this would have to be an early start from the Peet's at homestead. I was thinking sometime in September before the lowkey's start.

You might as well do the Everest Challenge

Everest = that ride x2, back-to-back (29,035 total over 2 days and 206 miles). But throw in temperatures that can vary from 90+ in the valley to below freezing at the tops of the climbs (some of which are over 10,000').

I had thought of trying the Everest Challenge next month but at this point it's a financial thing of conserving funds. I went a bit too gung ho on organized events this year and am cutting back now.

This is actually just day one of my two day local Everest type. The second day is the east side, Sierra, Calaveras, Welch Creek, back Calaveras and over to Quimby then both sides of Hamilton. However getting enough people on here to commit a whole weekend to this type of riding is probably not practical without months in advance planning.

This is on motor scooters, right?

This is actually just day one of my two day local Everest type. The second day is the east side, Sierra, Calaveras, Welch Creek, back Calaveras and over to Quimby then both sides of Hamilton. However getting enough people on here to commit a whole weekend to this type of riding is probably not practical without months in advance planning.

Next Year we'll do both days :D

PS- You know I'm down for this ride.

Just curious: I heard over the weekend that Mt. Tam double century has 15,000' climbing, and my source said it took her close to 13 or 14 hours to finish. Is that what is being planned for this ride?

...This is actually just day one of my two day local Everest type. The second day is the east side, Sierra, Calaveras, Welch Creek, back Calaveras and over to Quimby then both sides of Hamilton. However getting enough people on here to commit a whole weekend to this type of riding is probably not practical without months in advance planning.

:eek:

Wait...what?!!??

I'm trying to say yes to the first ride and now this?

Next Year we'll do both days :D

PS- You know I'm down for this ride.

Yeah Right! next year, you'll be too busy chasin the bambino's all over the house:D

I nearly threw up just looking at the route. The mention of Bohlman triggers my gag reflex.

Just curious: I heard over the weekend that Mt. Tam double century has 15,000' climbing, and my source said it took her close to 13 or 14 hours to finish. Is that what is being planned for this ride?

I figure this would be a 6 or 7am type start to the ride unless people wanted to begin even earlier. As far as rest stops, it would depend on each person. After doing Bohlman On Orbit, a water fill up could be done somewhere in Saratoga HW9 before doing the climb up to the Gap at 9 & 35. The next break would be the camp grounds after descending 236. Climb up Jamison then descend Alba. This could be another refill spot. I don't know if I would want to eat a lot before going back up Alba. After the long descent into Felton, that would be the ideal place to eat before heading over to Zayante. By this point the rollers along 35 will be most painful and a water stop could be done either at the Firestation past HW9 or at the Camp grounds where Mt. Eden & Stevens Canyon fork. I know it's going to take every bit of mental strength to arrive at Montebello and tell myself one more climb.

This is actually just day one of my two day local Everest type. The second day is the east side, Sierra, Calaveras, Welch Creek, back Calaveras and over to Quimby then both sides of Hamilton.

Both would be really good training/prep rides for Everest. Very creative coming up with those routes :)

Have you thought about rounding up some significant others/spouses/etc. for SAG or at least sweep? That is an awful lot of climbing and some long stretches without available food/water, and cell phone coverage in those areas can be pretty spotty...

*walks in, stares at all of the crazy people, shakes his head, walks back out*

:P

hmm. looks kinda easy.

EDIT: http://soupytrumpet.com/uploads/2008/02/db1166-pumpkin-puke.jpg

hmm. looks kinda easy.

Great! I look forward to seeing your Pedal Force RS2. Every other group buy buyer will be jealous.


Have you thought about rounding up some significant others/spouses/etc. for SAG or at least sweep? That is an awful lot of climbing and some long stretches without available food/water, and cell phone coverage in those areas can be pretty spotty..

That is a good idea. I initially put up this thread to see who might be interested (head count) since it's not a typical group ride of a few hours. I'm single, no family, etc. so I don't have the some of the commitments that others do when planning weekends and rides.

Sheesh, it looks like you took all the Low Key Hillclimbs (http://lowkeyhillclimbs.com/2008/) and stuck them all into one ride:rolleyes:

I'm stupid enough to try something like this, but Saturdays are no good (coaching soccer will screw that up from now until Thanksgiving). If I don't start riding some more again, Sundays may not be so good either!:innocent:

JB

Great! I look forward to seeing your Pedal Force RS2. Every other group buy buyer will be jealous.

I nearly fainted when you posted the elevation profile. I'm already a few years away from needing knee replacements. This definitely won't help...

Sorry, but 7,000 is about my limit per ride right now.

:twitchy: :D

This looks like a terrible idea.

... I *might* be in...

This is on motor scooters, right?

:roflmao2:

This is waaayyy out of my league right now. Next year though....hmmmm

I may be crazy enough to participate depending on the date... it is a long time in the saddle with daylight waning fast.

All I can say is you guys are insane. Not that there is anything wrong with that.:thumb:

I don't think this would be fun for me. I'll pass...

I think 9/20 (family thing) and 9/27-28 (Lighthouse) are no-gos for me.

Anyone else have availability issues?

So either the 13th or 14th of September seem to be the best dates. One week before Everest Challenge for last minute prep work.

I'd be all over this except I'm doing Everest and I will need to taper. My wife's doing a running race the 14th and I'll be supporting her. But if it's the 13th I'll either ride it and take it easy, or do something for support if I decide that it's too much too close to Everest. The 6th OTOH would be perfect for me.

It's too bad that you are not doing Everest. It sounds like you are ready. If you asked around you could probably find someone to split a hotel room with and maybe also a ride.

Too rich for my blood....

Y'all have fun, though!

I could do the 6th also. But Pete is having the "prep" ride then... maybe too soon?

Pete needs to include my pre-tam warmup to properly simulate Bohlman On Orbit.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Pre-Tam-Warmup

It might be best then to reschedule for October to give more time?

Pete needs to include my pre-tam warmup to properly simulate Bohlman On Orbit.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Pre-Tam-Warmup

Sounds good to me.

October 4th would be ridiculously awsome for me due to the anniversary of an epochal event in my life.
Holy Crap!:thumb:

2nd w/e in Oct would work best for me.

BR

2nd w/e in Oct would work best for me.

BR

I think the more the merrier? so whatever date is best.

I think the more the merrier? so whatever date is best.

Share the suffering :thumb:

Ramon,

Has there been a date set for this ride yet?

I'll be out of town on the following weekend days - 9/13, 9/14, 9/20, 9/21, 10/4, 10/5, 10/11 and 10/12 - for business and vacation. But if it's on any other weekend day, count me in.

-Glenn

Might be able to do the Oct date. I will be out of town 9/13 and 9/14 anyway... though god knows if I'll be able to survive this one anyway.

It might be best then to reschedule for October to give more time?

GIve me until October 2028, when I expect enough medical advancements to be half bionical, and I think I can make it... :p (you guys are nuts!)

Ramon I'll be there. Yah right Remember to bring your rope. :D

Ok, so it looks like one day of the weekend of 10/11 & 10/12 or 10/25 & 10/26 are the ones to select from. So far it's myself, Marco, Glenn, Pete.. and Siu. Feel free to advertise on other forums and if anyone does want to help out with sag support.

Ok, so it looks like one day of the weekend of 10/11 & 10/12 or 10/25 & 10/26 are the ones to select from. So far it's myself, Marco, Glenn, Pete.. . Feel free to advertise on other forums and if anyone does want to help out with sag support.

Fixed it for you. I just remembered you got rid of your rope.

Ok, so it looks like one day of the weekend of 10/11 & 10/12 or 10/25 & 10/26 are the ones to select from. So far it's myself, Marco, Glenn, Pete.. and Siu. Feel free to advertise on other forums and if anyone does want to help out with sag support.

I thought Glen couldn't do 10/11-12 according to his post.

10/25 or 26 sounds cool.

What about 10/18 or 19??

I will try Bohleman on Orbit this week. But I will probably join you.
I suggest a small detour to the fire station on 35 off 9 for water refill.
There should also be water at big basin park, CDF station on Jamison and 236 fire station, and CDF on empire grade and felton empire.

This sounds like the old Mr. Bill's Nightmare ride. You'll probably need to search the usenet for details on that ride. Consider also two rides in Berkeley, the Nifty 10-Fifty and the Berkeley Death Ride. Should be just what you're looking for.

I'd like to do this too, if it ends up happening the 3rd or 4th weekend of October.

Ok, let's shoot for Sat Oct 18 as the date. That gives us Sunday to limp around before going back to work. Best not rain either.

Yep the Fire station makes sense to fill up water.

I did a search on groups.google.com (old dejanews) and found a few postings in the ba.bicycles newsgroup but the links point to a long gone domain. 16,000' woot

Bohlman is bad but it gets really bad when you arrive at Archibald road. Once On Orbit is done I didn't see the point of going all the way up to the end sign to have to turn around again so I didn't include it.

OK, I'm marking my calender. Hopefully the schedule stays clear!

Whaddya know, Bill Bushnell (Mr. Bill or Uncle Bill, depending on the ride), has the old cue sheets on his website. http://bushnell.homeip.net/~bill/downloads/ Look for mrbills_199x.pdf for the Nightmare cue sheets.

Oct 18 is the Quimby lowkey hillclimb. BLARG!