Northern California - Hookie ride this Friday morning up Montebello?

I'm secretly (here's hoping no-one at work reads BF) planning on a hookie ride this Friday morning up Montebello, and am wondering if there're anyone who's had enough of this 5-day workweek thingie that would like to do this with me. Ideally, we can meet in that shopping plaza on Homestead and Foothill Expwy and roll out around 8:45. Route is TBD depending on interest. Thanks.

I'm secretly (here's hoping no-one at work reads BF) planning on a hookie ride this Friday morning up Montebello, and am wondering if there're anyone who's had enough of this 5-day workweek thingie that would like to do this with me. Ideally, we can meet in that shopping plaza on Homestead and Foothill Expwy and roll out around 8:45. Route is TBD depending on interest. Thanks.

hmmmm....Let me look at the train scheduale and what's happening here

Pete

I would love to join you guys but I just committed to go hiking with my mother-in-law. Sorry. I wasn't sure about Montebello I thought it might be too steep for me but actually really liked it. Have fun. Wish I could go.

Now that our Uber-cool jersey is here, this could be the first '08 jersey preview ride!!

I would love to join you guys but I just committed to go hiking with my mother-in-law. Sorry. I wasn't sure about Montebello I thought it might be too steep for me but actually really liked it. Have fun. Wish I could go.

What?!?! :twitchy: You'd rather hike with your mother-in-law than playing hookie with us? Where's the logic in that? :D

No worries. This is my first time up Montebello, so it might work out that the less audience the better. :)

hmmmm....Let me look at the train scheduale and what's happening here

Pete

Oooh, bullet-train it down, Pete! You can sneer at them working-stiffs on the train!

I'm with ya, it's on my way to work. Earlier would be better for me but if Pete or other folks are coming down, 8:45 is fine

Awesome, Eric. See you Friday. If it's just you and me, we'll do it as early as, say, 8? How long do you reckon it takes to go up to Montebello and down?

It's only Tuesday and it's already been a long week. I am penciling this one in. Haven't been up Montebello in ages.

Bump the thread sometime Thursday if it's not already near the top, as a reminder...

How long do you reckon it takes to go up to Montebello and down?

Up will be anywhere from about 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on your climbing ability.

Down is 15 minutes or so, maybe less.

I think I am in!! Thank goodness I work in the evening!!

Awesome, Eric. See you Friday. If it's just you and me, we'll do it as early as, say, 8? How long do you reckon it takes to go up to Montebello and down?
Why dont you guy's do it earlier. I don't know what's going on with work just yet. Friday's I never know to the last minute.

I'm driving up to Reno on Friday but perhaps I could squeeze in this ride before leaving.

Nice!

Will bump this one on Thursday for final time and headcount. Work will be much easier and mellower after a ride in the morning, for sure. I plan on staring at my computer screen and just sip whatever cold beverage is handy at work that afternoon!

Earlier time OK with you 'nother? 8 would be perfect.

Earlier time OK with you 'nother? 8 would be perfect.

If I can get out for it, 8 will be fine. I am trying to align the stars to make it happen. I might meet you guys along the way (McLellan & Foothill), depending. Should know more by Thursday p.m.

I'm a pencil mark for this ride as well. I haven't ridden since labor day, so Montebello should be a good way to punish my laziness.

Very nice. I'll return early this afternoon to get a final headcount. So far, it seems that only ahpook and I are definites, while at least 3 or 4 are on the "pencil" ('nother, Ty.S), "perhaps" (Bostic), and "I think..." (CRSturdivant) wavelength. Come on, folks! It's a Friday morning! What productivity are you really going to turn in? If there's any other worthier cause to play hookie than this, let me know! :thumb:

I'm a pencil mark for this ride as well. I haven't ridden since labor day, so Montebello should be a good way to punish my laziness.

WHO'S been a lazy boy??!! Come and get your just desert:

http://www.supernannyrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/punishment.jpg

I'm going to try to make it. I am somewhat sick, which is irking me since I've been using Purell on a regular basis after working on others computers.

I'm going to try to make it. I am somewhat sick, which is irking me since I've been using Purell on a regular basis after working on others computers.

Yikes! Based on what I do on, near, and to my keyboard here at work, I pity anyone who has to touch it. And I consider myself somewhat clean already.

Here's to speedy recovery. I've heard, though, that stressing your body (via vigorous exercise - like riding up Montebellow) would stimulate more virus-fighting whatchamacallits? :D

I'm no longer a pencil.. where is the meeting point?

Foothill/Homestead Peet's parking lot, 8AM tomorrow. Like 'nother, I'll also be coming from McClellan, so maybe we'll see each other on the way.

OK, I am switching to permanent ink as well :) I will shoot for Foothill & Homestead at 8.

ahpook: Since I'm going to meet there, rather than the McClellan intersection, I will probably go from my house (near San Tomas & Hamilton) to Williams, Moorpark, Lawrence, then Homestead, and make more of a loop out of the ride (I'll probably come home along McClellan, but may continue on out Stevens Canyon and do Mt Eden, Pierce, etc. and go Prospect/Hamilton/etc. depending on how gassed I am from the Montebello effort).

I will be in Webcor/Alto Velo kit on a green bike. I'm going to allow about 45 minutes to get from my house to Peets which *should* be way more than enough but you never know :) I guess I can get coffee if I'm early.

Alright, so here's what it's looking like:

1. Jack
2. Ahpook
3. 'nother
4. Ty.S

http://graphics.stanford.edu/~lucasp/grade/montebello.html

Location: Foothill/Homestead Peet's parking lot, 8AM tomorrow; roll-out 8:10.

This is kinda stupid, but I think I'm the only one that has never made it up Montebello (on a bike) before. Tomorrow is my maiden voyage!

Oh, I'll PM you folks with my cell phone in case you run into issues on the way to Peet's. See you then.

Jack

OK, I am switching to permanent ink as well :) I will shoot for Foothill & Homestead at 8.

ahpook: Since I'm going to meet there, rather than the McClellan intersection, I will probably go from my house (near San Tomas & Hamilton) to Williams, Moorpark, Lawrence, then Homestead, and make more of a loop out of the ride (I'll probably come home along McClellan, but may continue on out Stevens Canyon and do Mt Eden, Pierce, etc. and go Prospect/Hamilton/etc. depending on how gassed I am from the Montebello effort).

I will be in Webcor/Alto Velo kit on a green bike. I'm going to allow about 45 minutes to get from my house to Peets which *should* be way more than enough but you never know :) I guess I can get coffee if I'm early.

I'll be headed over from that area too, I was planning on San Tomas / Campbell - Campbell Ave - Prospect - Stelling - Mcclellan - Foothill to the start..Want to hook up?

I'll be headed over from that area too, I was planning on San Tomas / Campbell - Campbell Ave - Prospect - Stelling - Mcclellan - Foothill to the start..Want to hook up?

I could meet you at San Tomas and Williams around 7:15 (give or take a few) if you want to go the Lawrence/Homestead way. Or, instead of Lawrence we could keep going out Moorpark (Bollinger) and go up Tantau to avoid the heavier traffic on Lawrence. Or something like that.

Sounds like too much hassle to try to coordinate it, I'll just head up that way and probably see you there. I'll be on my green della santa with a red/black backpack.

If it were some other weekend, I'd join you, but I had plans to go visit dad down in LA. Maybe next time.

Good ride, everyone. It was lung-searing, but worth every minute of it. I am truly impressed that we rolled out of the parking lot around 8:08. That's dedication!

If it were some other weekend, I'd join you, but I had plans to go visit dad down in LA. Maybe next time.

Ron, we missed you there today. We'll see you next time. This seems like a good way to start Friday mornings.

Good ride, everyone. It was lung-searing, but worth every minute of it. I am truly impressed that we rolled out of the parking lot around 8:08. That's dedication!

Ditto! Nice to see/meet everyone. It was a good kick in the butt going up Montebello. I'd forgotten all of my tricks of where to go hard and where to recover.

I made it back at 9:59 just in time to sign my papers, with no further trouble from my chain...but I think I'm going to pick up a new one anyway.

Josh, good to hear the chain didn't give you trouble for the rest of the way. I think you were probably just placing undue load on them links going up. Next time, ease up a bit! :lol:

Ron, we missed you there today. We'll see you next time. This seems like a good way to start Friday mornings.

I'd be the last one there anyways ... lol Glad you had a good ride.

Here's something to remember the ride by ...

YouTube - Descending Montebello Road

YouTube - Descending Montebello Road part 2

Hey that was good. I felt weaker on the climb than last time I went up but the time was respectable. But the real win for me was going over the top. Photos are up on my flickr for now, but suffice it to say I'm ready to go back with my 28mm treaded schwalbes next week so I don't have to walk the bike as much. Just gorgeous up there.

Josh, good to hear the chain didn't give you trouble for the rest of the way. I think you were probably just placing undue load on them links going up. Next time, ease up a bit! :lol:

ha ha, yeah I think I need to lose a few pounds and "ease up" that way :)

Actually I was thinking about what happened; it was fine all the way down my descent but at the very bottom I was shifting out of my high gears and maybe didn't quite complete the shift...backpedaled slightly and I'm thinking the link may have caught the outside derailleur plate at just the right (wrong) angle and popped it out. I was not under load (short of actually breaking the pins, I can't imagine how one of those could come out under load).


But the real win for me was going over the top. Photos are up on my flickr for now, but suffice it to say I'm ready to go back with my 28mm treaded schwalbes next week so I don't have to walk the bike as much. Just gorgeous up there.

Glad to hear that...it is nice up there. I'll check out your photos (I always seem to forget my camera when traveling up there). My CX buddies and I often ride up Montebello, tool around there at the top, then take some of those trails back down (comes out at the end of Stevens Canyon road). Lot of cool territory up there.

Hey that was good. I felt weaker on the climb than last time I went up but the time was respectable. But the real win for me was going over the top. Photos are up on my flickr for now, but suffice it to say I'm ready to go back with my 28mm treaded schwalbes next week so I don't have to walk the bike as much. Just gorgeous up there.

You know, you did have that commuter backpack on (prob. with 2 or 3 laptops in there, for all we know), and thus the "weaker" feeling climbing.

I'm tempted to go up to that fire road now, based on what you are saying. I guess that's a public road? I did see someone's gate right before the top with that sign "never mind the dogs, beware of the owner" with a gun pointing at me.

Small photos below - for bigger ones check http://flickr.com/photos/ahpook

Ramon at the top

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2851532952_accefccfca.jpg

Ty, Jack, Josh at the top. I'm headed through the gate....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2851532902_ee4983c602.jpg

Gorgeous blanket of fog over the Santa Clara Valley

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2850699865_bcb5a64d6b.jpg

Looking back towards montebello on the fire road

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2850699881_9e2f53b495.jpg

Steep bits like this made me wish I had rumbutter's "knobbly hooves", or at least my Schwalbe Marathon+ 28s. When my rear tire started to skid on the gravel, I got off and walked.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2850699913_53d17b0bac.jpg

Then, miraculoso, I was through. The first thing I noticed after I turned onto Page Mill was this portrait of Gandhi outside a commune-type of place. (Nothing wrong with that!)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2851533114_8f607c7174.jpg

Then it was a quick 8 mile drop down Page Mill to work. Pretty nice for a morning commute :D

Great looking ride. I have to do that on the cx bike or put some 28 mms on my salsa.


Riding all the way down there from San Carlos on a cx tires might be excessive:)

Sorry I missed the ride, looked like big fun. Too far too early : (
Did get a ride in with the Bottle rocket though. Complete fog ride.
See if you guys can do Marco and Ruth's ride Sunday!

Tough climb today. I wore long clothing since I'm sick but the latter part of the climb was in full sun. I wish my ears would get unplugged.

Would riding 23's on the fire road be a bad thing?

Thanks for the ride this morning guys. Sorry about laggin off the back, I need to get my climbing legs back on. I'd love to blame my equipment but that just wouldn't be fair.

Was nice to meet 'nother, what was your top speed on that descent man? You were GONE@!

This ride was a nice alarm bell to tell me that the lowkey events are closing in, and I need to get my butt in gear.

Tough climb today. I wore long clothing since I'm sick but the latter part of the climb was in full sun. I wish my ears would get unplugged.

Stop saying you are sick! You are making us look bad! :lol:

Thanks for the ride this morning guys. Sorry about laggin off the back, I need to get my climbing legs back on. I'd love to blame my equipment but that just wouldn't be fair.

Dude, you weren't lagging at all. You came up within 2 to 4 minutes at most behind us, completely robbing us of time to catch our breath. I would hate to see you with your climbing legs back!

Would riding 23's on the fire road be a bad thing?

I was on 22 slicks today Ron. It was a lot of walking for two reasons
1. the gravel is loose in lots of places and i slid sideways in it
2. the ups and downs really really want you to have some tread on the tires to grip better, especially the downs. my ability to stop was really hurt by the skinny slicks, and the rear tire would lock up and skid in the dirt going down, and alternately 'skip' on the uphills.

it was about 50% walk 50% bike. i am serious about trying it again next monday on my treaded commuter tires, which i expect will probably be 20% walk and 80% bike.

Quite honestly this was the first time I ever "got" Grant Peterson's fetish for being able to ride fire roads on your road bike. The whole ride was so energizing and the scenery so awesome up top, I told the first fellow biker I talked to at work that it was "life changing". I got down and wanted to go back up...

Are we seeing a CX bike in your future?

Maybe I'll put CX tires on my Cannondale, which I never ride. I don't ride it for several reasons

1. It's not Titanium ... it's Aluminum
2. It's not Titanium ... but does have Campy Athena components
3. It's not Titanium ... but does have just about the same gearing

Was nice to meet 'nother, what was your top speed on that descent man? You were GONE@!

Nice to meet you as well. I am slowly but surely putting faces with names here...

I'm not sure what my top speed was, but probably somewhere around 35. There are a few places down toward the bottom where gravity + pedaling can get you scooting pretty good. Have to be a bit more conservative at the top because the road surface is worse, and a lot narrower, plus the corners are a bit tighter. But below the school you can get flying pretty good.

I love descending. I figure, I can't go very fast uphill so might as well make the most of it going down :)

'nother, just curious, what was your time to the gate?