Northern California - Sierra and Calaveras - 12/20 ???

Seems like nothing going on next weekend ... And since we didn't have a chance to do Sierra on the Pesky Penguin ride, how about this weekend? I'd figure we'd start from the parking lot at Target on Morrill and Landess in Milpitas, go the most direct path to Sierra, then climb then, down Calaveras, through Niles Canyon, then back to Milpitas.

Start: Target parking lot at the corner of Landess and Morrill (map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Target,+Milpitas,+Ca&sll=37.43016,-121.879749&sspn=0.07102,0.146427&ie=UTF8&ll=37.422526,-121.884813&spn=0.033878,0.073214&t=h&z=14&iwloc=C))
When: Saturday, 12/20/2008, 9 am
Sierra/Calaveras - 51.9 miles, 4123 feet climbing (route (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Sierra-Calaveras))
Sierra/Calaveras/Palomares - 70 miles, 5079 feet climbing (route (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/231309))

Insane enough to ride:
spingineer
uspspro
bostic
ygduf
superunleaded
CRSturdivant (maybe ... if he could only make up his mind)
dl33
silentben (if the boss lets him)
mellum76

I'm doing my December 200K 12/21 - Calaveras, Palomares, Redwood, Pinehurst, and on...

It amuses me to do it on the shortest day of the year. :D

Veronica

I'm up for it! Saturday?

Hmm, very tempting. I might be riding with BigSean's team on Saturday morning. Either way I get to go on a cool group ride!!

I'll probably be there. Riding solo, as Ruth visits family in Canada for the weekend.

I'll probably be there. Riding solo, as Ruth visits family in Canada for the weekend.

... and she's not taking you with her??? :eek:

... and she's not taking you with her??? :eek:

uh-oh! Trouble in Paradise? Hmmmmmmm??! :D

Haha, no troubles.

I would have went but can't afford to take off work. As I have already expended all my PTO. Plus airfare, etc.

Thanks for your concern ;)

So Pete, Marco,
What time is preferred? 9 am or 10 am? Keep in mind Sunday is the shortest day of the year.

So Pete, Marco,
What time is preferred? 9 am or 10 am? Keep in mind Sunday is the shortest day of the year.

I would vote 9, but I'm driving and not limited by trains.

Something is missing from that map.

It might rain on Saturday, hopefully not but I have fenders and a plastic jacket.

You guys see that airplane that google snapped in midair along the route. Nice!

Something is missing from that map.

Welch Creek??

Welch Creek??


Or how about going around to Foothill, Dublin Canyon and climb Palomares back. Adds 10-15 miles. And a straight shot down Mission Blvd going south in Fremont, avoids the traffic around the BART station.

Anyway, 9 or 10 sounds good to me.

Welch Creek??

:lol:

Or how about going around to Foothill, Dublin Canyon and climb Palomares back. Adds 10-15 miles. And a straight shot down Mission Blvd going south in Fremont, avoids the traffic around the BART station.

Anyway, 9 or 10 sounds good to me.

Might as well...I'm not doing that millage in the rain though:cry:

You guys see that airplane that google snapped in midair along the route. Nice!

Nice, I had never noticed that plane before :thumb:

That area is right underneath approaches for both SFO and OAK so there are usually jets passing overhead every couple minutes during the day.

Haha, no troubles.

I would have went but can't afford to take off work. As I have already expended all my PTO. Plus airfare, etc.

Thanks for your concern ;)

...

...

eh?

Ok, I guess the original ride is too wimpy? Plotted out the modified Palomares option, with a grand total of 70 miles.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/231309

Since it is the day before the shortest day of the year, we'll start at 9 am.

Ok, I guess the original ride is too wimpy? Plotted out the modified Palomares option, with a grand total of 70 miles.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/231309

Since it is the day before the shortest day of the year, we'll start at 9 am.

Ok cool, but where is Welch Creek? ;)

Ok cool, but where is Welch Creek? ;)

Oops, forgot about that ... while you are at it, you might as well do Morrison Canyon too.

9am works for me. I want to get in the full ride then still have time to freshen up for the Metallica show at the arena.

I figure since for the last 3 weekends I took the liberty of riding without checking in with her, I should consult with my girlfriend about this ride before I commit to it. 9am is good assuming I'm going.

9am damn!

31 mile ride to the start. Any Peninsula people want to meet up along the way? I'd have to leave me house at 7am. I could option it for a caltrain ride back after my 100 miles for the day.

Here's the route I would take:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/route-to-BF-ride-12-20


Or, I could drive. Hmmmm.

Sunrise: 7:20am
Sunset: 4:53pm

Sunrise: 7:20am
Sunset: 4:53pm

It's Fiddler on the Roof (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLLEBAQLZ3Q) Ron!

Maybe I should have labeled the thread, Gladiator's Journey on the Shortest Day!

9am damn!

31 mile ride to the start. Any Peninsula people want to meet up along the way? I'd have to leave me house at 7am. I could option it for a caltrain ride back after my 100 miles for the day.

Here's the route I would take:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/route-to-BF-ride-12-20


Or, I could drive. Hmmmm.


You're riding past my house on that route. So, if you'll let me keep up I'd ride with you over to the start and back to Mountain View at least.

I'm at the intersection of Middlefield & Shoreline.

Let me know!

9 am, I'll try to be there. Think I better cut short the Friday night Xbox 360 session.

9 am, I'll try to be there. Think I better cut short the Friday night Xbox 360 session.

Oh, what game? My Live handle is the same...

You're riding past my house on that route. So, if you'll let me keep up I'd ride with you over to the start and back to Mountain View at least.

I'm at the intersection of Middlefield & Shoreline.

Let me know!

I'll let you know. Don't know if I'll be up on time, but we'll see.

It would be nice not to drive/park.

The route is flat as a pancake (and mostly expressways), so we should be able to make some serious time.

Oh, what game? My Live handle is the same...


Gears of War 2. If I remember, expect an invite. Handle is a furry red creature.

I'll let you know. Don't know if I'll be up on time, but we'll see.

It would be nice not to drive/park.

The route is flat as a pancake (and mostly expressways), so we should be able to make some serious time.

Yeah, should be quick and relatively low traffic at that time. I was figuring 40ish min from my place.

Ok, I guess the original ride is too wimpy? Plotted out the modified Palomares option, with a grand total of 70 miles.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/231309

Since it is the day before the shortest day of the year, we'll start at 9 am.

I'll try to get to the staging area by 9AM since I will be riding from Fremont. If not, I'll try to catch up :eek:

-jack

I'll give everyone a 15 minute grace period, so most likely, we won't roll till 9:15 or later.

I'm in for sure. What's the route going to be? I see two options and neither of them include Welch Creek ;)

It's Fiddler on the Roof (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLLEBAQLZ3Q) Ron!

I've had this song stuck in my head for 3 days now. Thanks :notamused:

The only difference between the routes is one is more direct, and goes straight on Niles Canyon back to Fremont ... the other goes up to Dublin Canyon, then climbs Palomares, before meeting up at Niles.

I'll wait for all the Welch Creek guys at the bottom ... hehehe

I'm way too out of shape to even be thinking about Sierra - enjoy!

JB

Heard on the radio Niles Canyon was closed due to a mudslide this morning. They didn't say anything about it getting cleaned up.


edit: seems they cleared it up.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/ci_11272448

Arghhhh!!!!! We may have to alter our route in that case. Calaveras out and back?

Supposedly the road is open again (http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_11272448).

Cool ... I guess we'll just play it by ear anyways on the ride.

I'm in, Ron, I'll see you tomorrow morning at the parking lot.

I'm in, Ron, I'll see you tomorrow morning at the parking lot.

I just bought some warmer gloves and knee warmers in prep for tomorrow. That, with my layer of extra... insulation, and I should be good.

I'm in, Ron, I'll see you tomorrow morning at the parking lot.

Great ... we can suffer together ... :innocent:

Updated bikely with cue sheets.

I hate trying to figure out the right amount of warm clothing based on what weather sites are reporting throughout the day.

I'm definitely taking my wind resistant gloves ... maybe also bring short fingered gloves. I'll probably decide at the start about going toe covers, or full shoe covers.