Northern California - Hicks Camelback Ride - 8/8/2009

Since the Berkeley Death Ride has been pushed back till end of August, and I can't do Mt. Tam / Marin Century, I figure I'd offer this up ... I guess we can call it the Almaden Death Ride. It only features Bohlman, On Orbit, and Hicks. For safety reasons, not going up Mt. Umunhum, at least until they clean up, and don't want to get beaten by that white albino.

Anyhow, here are the details:

When: 8/8/2009, 10 am start time
Where: Peet's or Starbucks (whichever you prefer) at Homestead and Foothill in Cupertino/Los Altos
Distance: 60 miles, about 6100 feet climbing
Route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Hicks-Camelback-Ride

white albino.


redundant :p

ugh...you have chosen some truly wretched climbs, I like it. For kicks, you could add in climbing Bear Creek rd and descending via Old Santa Cruz highway and around Lexington.

wait...never mind I just checked the route, I noticed your planning on heading back down Bohlman instead of connecting via the short dirt path to Montevina.

Should have signed up for Patterson Pass RR earlier.. it's sold out!

So for this ride, I am in (with Ruth) to kill Bohlman with our new tandem.

ugh...you have chosen some truly wretched climbs, I like it.

You mean fun climbs, right? :D

In. :thumb:

Redwood Gulch appears to be missing from that route :innocent:

Nice job throwing in Toll Gate at the end, that's always a fun one :thumb:

Also you can always do Umunhum up to the first no trespassing sign. That's perfectly legit.

redundant :p

Damn, you beat me to it. That was the first thing I thought of also. :)

Speaking of heading down south... I would be down for a Henry Coe Ride again, sometime soon :)

Redwood Gulch appears to be missing from that route

I didn't want to go through the stop light on Hwy 9, even though it is downhill.

Speaking of heading down south... I would be down for a Henry Coe Ride again, sometime soon :)

I was thinking of that too ... We'll have to do that too a little later.

One other thought .. this route goes within 9 miles of Metcalf road :) Still not sure how my schedule will look for the weekend in question but I'll definitely try and make it if possible

Tempting. Might need to see if I can swing this, but currently 50:50.

How steep are these climbs compared to say, Tunnel Road?

How steep are these climbs compared to say, Tunnel Road?

Significantly steeper from what I can see. Never ridden them, but profiles I've seen would suggest that if you ride, say, Hiller at the bottom of tunnel (20-25% albeit a shortish climb), or perhaps El Toyonal/Lomas Cantadas (prolonged >15%), that'd probably be a better approximation-- anyone else ridden both sets of climbs?

I am afraid of Bohlman on Orbit. I think I will cry if I were to try it. It has quite the reputation. At least you all will get to laugh at a grown man crying. :rolleyes:

I think I am in though.

Kyle, if I can do it, you can definitely do it. It'll be ... "fun". :D

But Hicks can kick you in the butt if you are not careful. It's not a cakewalk either.

Significantly steeper from what I can see. Never ridden them, but profiles I've seen would suggest that if you ride, say, Hiller at the bottom of tunnel (20-25% albeit a shortish climb), or perhaps El Toyonal/Lomas Cantadas (prolonged >15%), that'd probably be a better approximation-- anyone else ridden both sets of climbs?

According to Ascent, and the last time I did it, the steepest grade was 19.7%, but most of it averaged from 10-16%, and the climb up to the top is about 2.5 miles.

I am afraid of Bohlman on Orbit. I think I will cry if I were to try it. It has quite the reputation. At least you all will get to laugh at a grown man crying. :rolleyes:

I think I am in though.

Bohlman was the only hill I ever quit on.

:notamused:

It was my first ride back after being off the bike for months with knee issues.

Bohlman...first ride back after being off the bike for months with knee issues.

Don't try that one at home kids ;)

One other thought .. this route goes within 9 miles of Metcalf road :) Still not sure how my schedule will look for the weekend in question but I'll definitely try and make it if possible


But then it wouldn't be the Almaden death ride ;)


Whew...I am soooo glad that I already signed up for the Dammit run in Los Gatos for the same day, can't do it.

Ron:

I'm motivated and interested in this suffer-fest. Won't be able to commit until time gets closer, though. It's been a while since I've been able to join you guys for a ride. Sure would like to get out there again.

Have fun, guys. I'm still working on Hicks. (I live in Almaden).

Have fun, guys. I'm still working on Hicks. (I live in Almaden).

You should come join us along the route ... whenever that is.

Ron:

I'm motivated and interested in this suffer-fest. Won't be able to commit until time gets closer, though. It's been a while since I've been able to join you guys for a ride. Sure would like to get out there again.

I need some company ... I'll be climbing from the back, and you can join me (unless I'm too slow :lol: )

Significantly steeper from what I can see. Never ridden them, but profiles I've seen would suggest that if you ride, say, Hiller at the bottom of tunnel (20-25% albeit a shortish climb), or perhaps El Toyonal/Lomas Cantadas (prolonged >15%), that'd probably be a better approximation-- anyone else ridden both sets of climbs?

If you really want stats on Bohlman/On Orbit, http://graphics.stanford.edu/~lucasp/grade/bohlmanonorbit.html. Average grade 9%, max grade 22% (24% if you take the inside radius)

Awe man, I think I'm going to have to miss this. Got some more travel next week, so have too much to get done on the w/e. I might need to make up for this with a Friday PM hookey expedition.

Awe man ... this could be the next challenge ... We'll hook up next time.

Bump.

Just want to make sure this is still happening. I will be down for most/all of the ride. I invited a couple friends and 1 or both of them are planning on coming. If it is not happening, we can just be cool and make our own ride. :)

Yes, it is still happening. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Also you can always do Umunhum up to the first no trespassing sign. That's perfectly legit.

How far up to the first no trespassing sign is it?

How far up to the first no trespassing sign is it?

From what I can tell from satellite view, it's 2.8 miles to the first painted sign, 3.1 to the second painted sign, and 4 miles to the gate. I've ridden to the gate before. People on the low key hill climb mailing list claim that they've been up there, seen cars, and never been hassled. You can see both of the painted signs in this view (white stripes across the entire road):

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3076824

Anyway I am now a definite yes for this ride. I plan to go to the gate. The views from there are superb .. you have to go past the painted signs in order to see the ocean :)

So I plan to leave my house around 9am and ride to the start and then bail after we get back to Los Gatos the second time around.

How far up to the first no trespassing sign is it?
On an old cue sheet I have, Mt. Umunhum is listed as 2.9 miles, 1440' vertical.

I plan on doing the ride, too.

The only time I ventured to Mt. Umunhum was on July 4th. But one mile up the road was closed. Guys had chairs out and probably shotguns out of view. It felt like Deliverance and they told us the road was closed for July 4th. Of course, part of me (the part that consists of all) was like: "You mean I can' t do 2 more real difficult miles of climbing in the hot sun. No problem." Mind you, this is just after the worst part of Hicks.

couple questions before I commit:

1- about how long will this ride take? Can we get back by say 3pm?
2- are camelbacks required if I promise to drink from bottles?
3- are there lots of tight turning downhills requiring plenty of braking? Or are they smooth and fast?

Don't bring the Reynolds. A lot of braking and tight turns on Bohlman descent.

We are down for going to the gate... yeeehaw!

http://nickjack.blogzine.jp/eigajin/images/2008/05/21/deliverance_dueling_banjos.jpg

I'm debating on the camelback thing, although weather reports do say it will be warming up for tomorrow, so we'll see. If you do go with water bottles only, I highly recommend topping off your bottles in downtown Los Gatos, before heading up to Hicks. Perhaps we'll stop by Summit Bikes, which is on the way to the climb to Hicks.

Oh god, what have I started ... I guess we're going to the gate?

Pete, you sure you don't want to join us? This will be epic! I can hear the dueling banjos now ...

Don't bring the Reynolds. A lot of braking and tight turns on Bohlman descent.

I recall Umunhum as a pretty bad descent too. The road surface is rough with quite a few potholes. The south side of Hicks is also rough. None of the descents on this ride are ones you can really let 'er fly on. :(

I don't plan on bringing a camelbak, just two bottles with a top-off in Los Gatos. From there if you did Umunhum all the way to the gate it would be about 26 miles/3500' until a fire station near Camden/Almaden or 34 miles/4200' until getting back to Los Gatos. Skipping the Umunhum bit and just doing Hicks would shave 8 miles and 1900'

Donald, if you're worried about time you could park in Los Gatos and ride with me to the start :) that would shift the entire ride earlier by about an hour while maintaining about the same mileage

I drove up Umunhum last week to see what it was like and yeah, it is pretty rough. If you take your time going down that section, it probably won't be that bad. When I reached the gate for the fire road, there were actually two cars parked there with 2 sets of people there. 2 mountain bikers getting ready to head off and a family of 4 hikers. No hillbillies spotted. I do love that at the parking area at hicks and Umunhum, there is a sign on the billboard that warns hikers to be wary of pot growers in the area.

I think there will be about a 5% chance that I will join you guys up to the top of Umunhum and I will wait for everyone at the top of Hicks. That is a little too much steep climbing for me.

I recall Umunhum as a pretty bad descent too. The road surface is rough with quite a few potholes. The south side of Hicks is also rough. None of the descents on this ride are ones you can really let 'er fly on. :(

I don't plan on bringing a camelbak, just two bottles with a top-off in Los Gatos. From there if you did Umunhum all the way to the gate it would be about 26 miles/3500' until a fire station near Camden/Almaden or 34 miles/4200' until getting back to Los Gatos. Skipping the Umunhum bit and just doing Hicks would shave 8 miles and 1900'

Donald, if you're worried about time you could park in Los Gatos and ride with me to the start :) that would shift the entire ride earlier by about an hour while maintaining about the same mileage


Okay, great idea. Sounds like I'll make this ride. Where do you propose we meet/start in Los Gatos?

I'll change out the wheels and use water bottles.

Since the Berkeley Death Ride has been pushed back till end of August, and I can't do Mt. Tam / Marin Century, I figure I'd offer this up ... I guess we can call it the Almaden Death Ride. It only features Bohlman, On Orbit, and Hicks. For safety reasons, not going up Mt. Umunhum, at least until they clean up, and don't want to get beaten by that white albino.

Anyhow, here are the details:

When: 8/8/2009, 10 am start time
Where: Peet's or Starbucks (whichever you prefer) at Homestead and Foothill in Cupertino/Los Altos
Distance: 60 miles, about 6100 feet climbing
Route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Hicks-Camelback-Ride

While your on the way up Hicks, might as well hit Reynolds as that one is always fun. :D

Okay, great idea. Sounds like I'll make this ride. Where do you propose we meet/start in Los Gatos?

I'll change out the wheels and use water bottles.

Donald,

I'm gonna nag you every hour, on the hour, tomorrow just to make sure you drink and eat properly. I don't wanna have to call for the medic again. :p

Wouldn't it be ironic if there were no camelbacks on this ride? Doesn't look like it will be really hot ... just sayin'

Donald,

I'm gonna nag you every hour, on the hour, tomorrow just to make sure you drink and eat properly. I don't wanna have to call for the medic again. :p


I'm pretty sure it wasn't the eating and drinking even though the end result was dehydration. I think I know what happened but need to experiment a little more.

We'll be out and about tomorrow morning but sorry, that's a stupid amount of climbing for this tandem crew (we aint M & R, OK?)

I value my marriage too much to take jen up hicks.

I value my marriage too much to take jen up hicks.

:lol:

Bailed early (in Los Gatos) and headed back. I am sure some of them are still out, but it was a wonderful day for all kinds of technical issues thus far.

Myself:

-going down Bohlman, I got stung by a bee through my base layer and jersey. Right at the bottom of the rib cage. Really sore right now.
-while going back to the cars on 9, got a flat. (need new tube)
-while taking off my rear tire, I realized a needed a new tire (knew this was coming, but threads are starting to poke through)
-also while riding, I noticed that a couple spokes are starting to pull through and causing the rim to crack. When I got back to the car, I took a close inspection of the rim and there are a total of 4 spokes that have well defined cracks/pulling apart, and 3 that have the beginnings of hairline fractures.

It turned out to be an expensive day for me.

Andrew (friend I brought along) was noticing his rear hub area was starting to make some weird noises and not shifting correctly while coming into Los Gatos. When we got to lunch, he pulled off his wheel and the rear cassette fell apart, with about 4 cogs falling to the ground. It turned out that his lock ring for the cassette decided to undo itself. He put it together and did what he could by hand to tighten it.

Also, I will let Marco/Ruth fill this part in, but they had their first blowout on their new tandem coming down Bohlman.

Lets hope everyone else came out scot free.

Just got back from the ride. Very grueling day. I didn't remember it being this tough the last time around. Had to walk Hicks part of the way, as I had no energy to get up the 22% section of the hill. No energy by the time I got to Umunhum, so decided to skip the albino citing.

Very little energy coming home, and barely rolled along at average of 6 mph coming home from Los Gatos. Very tired now ... will post more later, plus a few pics.

Glad you and your friends could make it Kyle. You did great! No mortal man is able to climb Bohlman and On Orbit. Give yourself a few pats on the back.

Brutal. I was cramping bad going up the hill on Camden before the Hicks turnoff on the way back. No way I would have made it back over Kennedy and into Los Gatos, then I'd still have to ride back to Great America area! My internal organs were cooking. Probably dehydrated but felt waterlogged too, wanted to puke. Took a break at a 7-11, got my bearings and 64oz of Gatorade and took light rail home. Rode 55mi in total; woulda been 70+ if I made it the whole way. I did 220oz of liquid before I even got to light rail. Feeling a lot better now. Glad I did BOB and Hicks though!

Overall the ride was good. I felt great it's just that BOB took it out of me and I didn't have much left for Hicks. I felt healthy for the most part, just overheated near the end, after the last climb.