Northern California - Curse of the Pesky Penguin

It's time to reserve the date ... Curse of the Pesky Penguin ... Saturday, 12/6/2008. It will be the same Mt. Hamilton route that we normally do ... maybe this time, we will be prepared for the pesky penguin! :roflmao2:

When: Saturday, December 6, 2008
Time: 10 am
Where: Starts at Kirk Elementary School, on Kirk, close to Alum Rock
Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Linda+Vista+Elementary+School&near=San+Jose,+Ca&sll=37.341464,-121.64166&sspn=0.002005,0.005021&num=10&ie=UTF8&ei=fO9IR_2eE5vCiQOCyK2KCg&cd=1&cid=37376955,-121823937,13134639175619882122&li=lmd&z=14&t=m)

In:
spingineer
taxi777
uspspro
bostic
MetalClydesdale
Steverino
BlastRadius
gpelpel (maybe)
silentben
jonthanb715
ROJA
kb5ql (maybe)
scottmorrison99 (maybe)
dl33 (maybe)

That sounds pretty interesting! Do you have a route you could post for an east bay type who's never ridden Hamilton before?

It's basically one right turn on Hwy 130 (Mt. Hamilton). Go all the way to the top. Then, head straight down. I thought I had a bikely for it, but can't find it. I'll dig one up.

Here (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/BF-Ride-to-Mt-Hamilton195148)'s the route we took the last time we went up Hamilton. Same thing, I suppose.

I'm afraid I won't be able to make it this time, though.

Yup, same route ... confusing cue sheet, eh?

Hey, I managed to get lost. :P

Thanks Alex.

Put me in as a solid "maybe" and I'll work on securing the appropriate domestic cycling permit...

It's time to reserve the date ... Curse of the Pesky Penguin ... Saturday, 12/6/2008. It will be the same Mt. Hamilton route that we normally do ... maybe this time, we will be prepared for the pesky penguin! :roflmao2:
I drove up by car back in March and told myself to never ever ride up there due to narrow and partially real bad asphalt. How do you guys feel about it ?

Just start at a reasonable time for me to get down there...remember I live very close to the north pole!

Just start at a reasonable time for me to get down there...remember I live very close to the north pole!

Just hitch a ride with that jolly rotund dude with the sleigh. You can't miss him. He always wears red!

Just hitch a ride with that jolly rotund dude with the sleigh. You can't miss him. He always wears red!

.....................Bossman? :roflmao2:

I just moved to the south bay and love riding Hamilton, I'm in, schedule permitting.

I'm planning on attending. I'll be bringing the fixed gear bike, as good a time as any for the first time up on the Langster.

Cool. Will probably bring the tandem for this time around.

I am interested, put me as a may be for now.

I'm in! I might do it on the fixed gear along with Ramon too.

I'm planning on attending. I'll be bringing the fixed gear bike, as good a time as any for the first time up on the Langster.

OK! now I'm in...someone to suffer with!
Me Langster too!:thumb:

Awesome, I met the penguin up there last year, and am up for doing it again!

Steve

.....................Bossman? :roflmao2:

Just for that, your flea-bitten carcass shall never befoul my car's interior - this I swear on my sainted uncle Bambi's grave........ :p

Hmmmm, maybe the ride up won't be so bad when its cold out.

Just for that, your flea-bitten carcass shall never befoul my car's interior - this I swear on my sainted uncle Bambi's grave........ :p

So Santa...Does that mean you're going to ride up with us and deliver "Your stuff" to the little penguins?:innocent:

maybe - might be pheasant hunting in Oklahoma that weekend. Dunno yet......

bad news. Looks like it's going to snow that weekend.

I'll be putting the studded tires on the folder.

bad news. Looks like it's going to snow that weekend.

I'll be putting the studded tires on the folder.

I thought you said bad news ... :roflmao2:

I drove up by car back in March and told myself to never ever ride up there due to narrow and partially real bad asphalt. How do you guys feel about it ?

Interested in hearing your opinions about road conditions going up Hamilton from SJ.

Never had an issue with the road being too narrow. Its a single lane all the way up and down with a narrow shoulder but with the low amount of traffic, it's not an issue for cars to pass. The road asphalt is decent, a couple bumpy sections near the top and some gravel on the flat sections just before decending the last section.

I am in. Unless I get recalled by the Family.

Interested in hearing your opinions about road conditions going up Hamilton from SJ.

I have done it several times, including on the tandem.

It's nothing to worry about. Just be on alert for bumps and gravel when descending the top and middle sections. Really, it's no big deal.

I have done it several times, including on the tandem.

It's nothing to worry about. Just be on alert for bumps and gravel when descending the top and middle sections. Really, it's no big deal.

I just close my eyes throw out a "Hail Mary" and just go for it!

I only crash in straight lines...I seem to have a problem when I'm not weaving..:(

I definitely want to do this, as I've never ridden Hamilton and have always wanted to. Hopefully my schedule holds.

I added this to my calendar and will plan to make it out unless something drastic comes up in the next month. It will be my first time up Mt. Hamilton on a bike unless I happen to do the low key climb on Thanksgiving Day.

I definitely want to do this, as I've never ridden Hamilton and have always wanted to. Hopefully my schedule holds.


TAndem?

TAndem?

Not a chance! I will be solo on my Cannondale.

One part to watch out for cars is that especially tight, steep hairpin somewhat near the top. I had some hotdog Fast And The Furious wannabe in a red RX7 come flying by me as I was approaching that area, and he didn't notice how sharp the turn was until the last second. He was braking so hard as he turned that the inner rear wheel lifted off the ground. :rolleyes: It wouldn't have been fun to be in the actual turn when that happened.

Other than that, it seems like a pretty safe ride, in general. I enjoyed it a lot, and will be heading that way again as soon as I'm able.

No kids, no soccer - I'm in!

JB

The date is saved! Should be a great ride!

I've never ridden Quimby or Sierra roads and what better way to ride them for the first time than both on the same day? I think it would be fun to do Quimby on the way to the top of Hamilton. This would add a little climbing to last year's route but not a whole lot. Then I think it would be even more "fun" to add on a 20 mile Sierra road loop at the end. This would be optional and would bring the total stats for the day to 60 miles and 8000' of climbing.

Here's a bikely. (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Quimby-Hamilton-Sierra)

Any other takers?

So the "easy" route is about 40 miles RT with around 5000 ft of climbing? That might be enough for me!

I am in for this. If time permits, silentben's bikely looks good to me.

Was a start time every decided for this?

Dang, my daughter's first reconciliation is this day. I have yet to meet this pesky penguin.

If you miss this ride, YOU will be doing the confessing to Fr. Pete!

Repeat after me:
Bless me, Fr. Pete, for I have sinned. My last ride was more than a week ago! I have committed the following sins: I didn't inflate my tires before every ride; I didn't drop the hammer on all the hills; I forgot to lube my chain; I failed to say "on your left" when passing; I put family before my bicycling addiction, uh, hobby; etc.

LOL. Fr. Pete is sure to get an earful from me to be sure!

I didn't drop the hammer on all the hills

Please dial up your computer's spell check guads to 400 watts.

I've never ridden Quimby or Sierra roads and what better way to ride them for the first time than both on the same day? I think it would be fun to do Quimby on the way to the top of Hamilton. This would add a little climbing to last year's route but not a whole lot. Then I think it would be even more "fun" to add on a 20 mile Sierra road loop at the end. This would be optional and would bring the total stats for the day to 60 miles and 8000' of climbing.

Here's a bikely. (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Quimby-Hamilton-Sierra)

Any other takers?

I think this option has Ramon's name written all over it.

I like the Sierra/Quimby option too.

I made a commitment to drope with the fixed gear bike so I'll be going the standard route.

I made a commitment to drope with the fixed gear bike so I'll be going the standard route.
Hey I can bail on SS if you guys want to do climbs...I know Ramon needs to feed..."Hill Vampire and BTW MY SONS Henry...Justin I have sent Sister Mary Elephant over to have a chat with you:notamused: YOu're just fornunate I didn't send Father Im'inYa

The HOLY PAPA....:eek:

We'll be on the tandem. So either route is good.

Hmmm. Maybe I should do this ride on my folding bike a la Ms. Incredible! The descent would surely be interesting!

I just realized, LKHC is the week before. Climbing Hamilton two weeks in a row ... hmmm .... might skip LKHC then. Not sure yet.