Northern California - Back side of Mt. Hamilton ride

Anyone interested in riding the back side of Mt. Hamilton on Saturday 3/21?

I'd be interested in either doing a complete loop of Mines Road or else just doing an out and back to the junction with Del Puerto Cyn. like gw_12 had mentioned in another thread.

The loop (http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ca/san%20jose/714890983545) would be about 101 miles and 6700' of climbing according to MapMyRide.com. The out and back (http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ca/san%20jose/764585304266) ride would be 73 miles (starting at Alum Rock & McKee roads) and 7900' of climbing. Should be a lot of wildflowers out there this time of year :)

This is relevant to my interests. I did 60 miles up the front side of Hamilton and back down last weekend, and I live in Santa Clara.

This has got to be one of my most favorite rides. I am already committed for a MTB ride on that day, gol dern it.

Enjoy!

BR

Is there any interest in one of these rides? I can make it on Saturday, but have to take my son to the dentist at 8am. So I should be able to start in Fremont at 9 if anyone is interested.

I'm still down :)

I'm leaning toward doing this ride the following weekend (March 28) due to how my knee has been feeling recently. But if you guys want to carry on this saturday by all means go for it. You could do one version of the ride each weekend :)

hopefully no rain...

i'm on the fence b/c of the weather, as well, but if i had to vote i'd opt for the "out n back" route...

Yeah, out 'n back is probably best for me at this point in the year.. 28th is probably no good because I'm on call that weekend.

I'm out for Saturday, attending a friends wedding in San Francisco. Sunday looks like it will rain in the morning, boo.

I'm out too ... I'm on-call this weekend. More training time lost :(

Okay, let's see what the weather man says on Friday. Can't go on Sunday or 3/28.

I'm okay with the out and back. Or depending on the weather, just down the back side and back up.

If the weather is good, we'll do Saturday.

what time is the start? and where?

(if the weather is OK, I'll join)

It's not looking *great* but might avoid rain... 60 degree high forecast in Santa Clara. I climbed Hamilton a week or two ago when it was 68 in santa clara, but a chilly 44 degrees at the summit :-/

yup, might just do the front side and back down, depending on the weather.

So who, when and where?

I won't be riding tomorrow so someone else will have to figure out a starting time and place

I'm down to meet somewhere near the base (either at the school on Kirk street, or Stabucks at Capitol and McKee)... not-too-early is probably best just temperature-wise, though the past 24h weather plot shows highs of 60 and lows of 50.. I'm surprised its not getting colder at night.

yup, might just do the front side and back down, depending on the weather.

So who, when and where?

ok, i'm in.

donald & reid,

you guys pick the time & spot, this'll be my virgin trip-up mt. hamilton - i'll defer to you.

How about we meet at 10-10:15 at the school at 100 Kirk Ave, San Jose.

^

you got it, see you tomorrow. :thumb:

see y'all there!

also, I highly recommend bringing something warm-ish. I'm bringing my arm warmers and leg warmers, and full-fingered gloves. The descent 2 weekends ago in all-shorts was not enjoyable.

We should be there. See you there!

Good ride! Pretty and green. Just started to rain when we finished. Good timing!

We didn't do the backside... just the usual to the top and back ride. 40 miles.

I had 3 hours for ride time. apx 2 hours up, apx 1 hour down (to/from the School on Kirk).

Funniest part of the ride was when we were leaving the observatory, I did not know that we were shortening the ride... So Ruth & I went to go down the backside... and everyone yells "Where are you going". Haha... I guess I was ultimately happy to skip the backside, considering we just beat the rain.

Word.. I was about 2:13 going up, but actually under 1h descending, my total time was barely over 3h on the climbing part.. but that's from the turnoff, not the school.

I was going to ride to my buddy's place (near the Penetictia creek VTA stop, 1 stop north of McKee stop). Halfway up the road it started sprinkling on me.. to turn back or not? kept going, it rained harder and harder, but fortunately the Penetictia creek stop was close. Got on VTA, and by the time I made it to Santa Clara, it had stopped raining and was sunny.. so just a bit wet, not bad at all, and nice and warm with my warm clothes on.

Got a flat just as I pulled into my apartment complex. tiny little nail or staple. it was still holding 60psi or so. Rain bonus: you could see air bubbles without even having to dunk the tire/tube!

Thanks guys, I had fun today and on-top-of-that I'm a Mt. Hamilton virgin no-more. :)

It basically rained all the way home for me. Was pretty heavy from East San Jose thru Milpitas, lighten up the rest of the way to Fremont but was drenched. I guess its a good time to give the Look a wash.

Here are pictures...some moisture got on the lens in the last shot.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/3374059095_c3ca5fc106.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3374876274_34a7042fda.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3374876234_189df5859c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3374876198_5f7445efc8.jpg

Here are pictures...some moisture got on the lens in the last shot.I dunno, looks more like you somehow ended up with Pete's camera. :P

Thanks guys, nice ride. Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long at the bottom. I started cramping up on the first mini-climb on the way down. The rain came fast and furious. Got a good soaking on the ride home to downtown SJ.