Northern California - SF Hill Advice (Mt. Tam?)

What's it like climbing Mt. Tam? I'm living in SF for a summer internship, and I've gradually gotten better at climbing while I've been out here. I grew up in Wisconsin and I weigh about 220 lbs, so hills really weren't my forte (never considered myself anything near a "climber"). When I first moved out here I avoided hills (as much as possible), but started adding some climbing in little by little. I eventually did Camino Alto (a milestone for me), and this last weekend did the Marin Headlands as part of a Marin/Paradise/GG Park extravaganza. I leave SF on Aug. 9, so I want to do something memorable and was thinking Mt. Tam. I've looked at some elevation profiles and it looks like a challenge, so I was just wondering if anyone had an opinion, based on the little bit of information you have here, about whether it's even a realistic idea. Just for comparison, when I did the Headlands this weekend I huffed and puffed my way up, alternating standing and sitting (I only have a compact) but made it just fine, didn't have to stop and rest, and seriously considered looping around after the tunnel to do it again.

Anyway, I guess I just need one of two things; either (1) someone to tell me to just HTFU and do it, or (2) someone to suggest an alternative hill that might be somewhere between the Marin Headlands and Mt. Tam.

Thanks NoCal BFers; I've really enjoyed the riding I've been able to do out here this summer!!

Go for Tam. There are plenty of other hills around, but Mt. Tam is one that everyone knows about and will serve as an excellent benchmark to look back on. It's a long climb, but I don't remember any sections on it that are steeper or otherwise harder than what you already did in the Headlands. If possible pick a day with good visibility - the views can be spectacular from up there.

HTFU and do it!:p

The climb via Fairfax-Bolinas road is awesome.

Mt. Tam is slightly steeper than the Headlands, but much longer. Just go for it. You can always stop and rest if you get tired.

Mt. Tam is the easiest of the 3 popular Bay Area mountain climbs (Mt. Hamilton, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tam). You need to do at least one of these.

we're visiting from NY this week...I am trembling about the hills but we didn't ride the last time we were out there and I want to do at least one day this time. thanks for the push!:)

Thanks folks; Mt. Tam it is! This (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-francisco/459635734) is the basic route I'm going to follow; does it look right?

Thanks for mentioning Hamilton and Diablo. I think I'll give Tam a shot this weekend and maybe consider one of those other two for next weekend based on how things go.

Look at what a summer here has done to me! I'm going to head back east and suffer hill withdrawal!

Thanks folks; Mt. Tam it is! This (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-francisco/459635734) is the basic route I'm going to follow; does it look right?

That is the standard route, but two things to note: First, if you want to go all the way to the top of Tam, turn left when you hit the Rock Springs parking lot (I believe the road is still called Ridgecrest) instead of descending down Panoramic. A couple miles later you will hit East Peak, aka the "top" of Mt. Tam. Then, you just turn around and go back the same way to the Rock Springs parking lot....

Second, it's the Marin Century and the Mt. Tam Double on Saturday, which means there will be tons of riders on the road. Could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how much company you like...

I did it! (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/10413559)

That climb was probably the most difficult thing I've ever done physically. But I have to say, it was AMAZING! If I lived out here I would definitely do it regularly.

There is nothing that can prepare a Wisconsin boy for a climb like that. The highest point in Wisconsin tops out at 1951 feet. There are some hills in parts of the state, but I grew up in the east, where two-mile-thick glaciers flattened everything out like a rolling pin years ago. The experience today of constant uphill was like nothing I had ever ridden. I was so impressed to be going up and up and up, then turn a switchback and see the same thing over and over again. It was physically draining (at one point I got irrationally scared of bears because I knew I was probably too exhausted to even crawl under my bike and play dead), but it felt SO GOOD.

Unfortunately my ride convinced me that anything more difficult than Tam is out of the question, but being able to climb Tam during my time out here was an excellent experience. Thanks to all of you for your encouragement (especially powpow for giving me just what I needed and ConstantRider for pointing the way to the beautiful views from East Peak); know that I am leaving San Francisco as a climbing convert!

Congratulations! I especially liked the part about the bears :thumb:

Now you've got to come back and conquer the others. ;)

Congrats!

You are lucky though, I think there haven't been any bears around for probably 60-70 years in those parts. Mountain lions on the other hand.... There are those around.

Congrats!

Mt Tam is such a nice ride. Glad you got a chance to do it.