Northern California - It's time I climbed Hamilton: any takers 8/22?

New Update: Arrrgghhh!!!!!!
I am out of my own ride!! I just remembered I have to go to my company picnic that day. What an idiot, total brain fade.
Ya'all have a nice ride. Crud!!


Update: OK then, 10:30 AM Start it is on Saturday 8/22.
Meeting at: Linda Vista Elementary 100 Kirk Ave San Jose, CA 95127 See post #13 for routes

My wife and kids are out of town this week and I don't pick them up at the airport until Sunday.
I have been wanting to add to my climbing resume which has a big hole where Mt. Hamilton should be.

Mt. Diablo? - check
Mt. Tam?- check
Sierra Rd?- check
Morgan Territory?-check
Empire Grade?- check
Mt. Hamilton- :eek: I knew I was forgetting something!

I would love to do it Saturday. Does anybody want to do it with me?
Maybe even play guide since I know nothing about that climb or the access roads?

If anyone from Contra Costa wants to come we could all go down in my van.
I can roof rack 2 bikes and put 2 more inside. If you can drive or BART to Concord... come on over.
Of course if you live somewhere between Concord and San Jose, I could pick you up.

I am completely free all day so, start time is open.

Keep in mind I am not a 140 pound climbing mutant.

My specialty is sustained high speeds on open or rolling roads. I'm told I am fun to draft on.
On big climbs I am more of a plugger since I go 6' and 195lbs.
I am looking for a social paced climb and or regroups. In the range of 40-60 miles for a loop?

Any takers?

Game on! I'll do it with you Dan. I haven't done Hamilton in a while ... been about 3 months at least. But I'm not doing it on the fixie ... will bring my Seven for that!

Hey Dan, that sounds great! I may be in. depending on starting time. I would have to take Caltrain.

Hey Dan, that sounds great! I may be in. depending on starting time. I would have to take Caltrain.

Or BART to Concord and ride down with me.

This is going to be fun. I hope you can make it.

I am glad Spingineer can show me the ropes.

Time?
I don't mind heat, besides forecast is only for 85.
I hope we can make a time work for Pete.

Oh bugger all. Stupid mountain is just down the road, but I'll be up in Napa that day.

I've never ridden it, and I think I need to.
I'll be checking with the family...

I've never ridden it, and I think I need to.
I'll be checking with the family...

Cool!

Seriously tempted. Never ridden it on my Trike and have always wanted too. What time? Cant ride a road bike till my hand heals.

I am glad Spingineer can show me the ropes.


Show you the ropes? I think I'll need a rope to lassoo you in before you get too far up the hill ... :roflmao2:

If my back is feeling better I'd be down for this (probably do the "shortcut" up Quimby).

When you get to the top, hang a right and go up to the observatory. If you go all the way around the building to the post office entrance, there are bathrooms, a water fountain with cool water, and vending machines.

If you are looking for more of a climbing challenge, go down the east side to isabel creek, turn around and come back up. It's 2000' of climbing and averages about 9%. Team CSC used it as a test climb when they were out training before the Tour of California a couple years ago. In the summer it can get very hot back there, and there is a cattle guard right at the bottom of the steepest part and around a bend, so be cautious on the descent.

As I have said, I do not know the south bay worth beans.

Where should we meet?

How about an 11:00 AM start with a late lunch-early dinner after?
(I am thinking about a time late enough that makes it easy for those using mass transit)

I like the back side too. More so in the Spring than in the summer, but still good.

It would be nice to head down to the Junction and get lunch too. Turns the ride into a 70+ mile ride though.

Something like this would be cool:

Option A) Front side only - standard to the summit and back - (40 miles, 5000 ft) http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Pesky-Penguin-up-Mt-Hamilton
Option B) Front and back - standard route - (73 miles 8900 feet) http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/hamilton-front-back
Option C) Front and back - with Qumiby - (75 miles, 9400 feet) http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Hamilton-front-back-with-Quimby

Everyone (from all groups) could regroup at the summit (observatory) and then group B & C could descend together to the Junction Cafe for lunch.

Then we (B&C) all set off to climb the back side, regroup at the summit again, and descend the front side back to the cars/train/etc...

OF course, the standard route is just fine... just offering suggestions :) Right now my back is messed up, so we might be doing the standard route, and slowly. ;)

As I have said, I do not know the south bay worth beans.

Where should we meet?

How about an 11:00 AM start with a late lunch-early dinner after?
(I am thinking about a time late enough that makes it easy for those using mass transit)

Caltrain allows for a 10:30 start apx... train arrives in SJ at 9:51.

The ride over is a pretty much flat/urban ride of around 7 miles.

If the gov't weather service (http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Mount+Hamilton&state=CA&site=MTR&textField1=37.3709&textField2=-121.602&e=0) is to be believed, an earlier start may be preferred to a later start: of course, if all y'all wanna relive parts of the Davis Double, DMD, RedRider and cgallagh's "slo-poke" ride, et al, well, perhaps the later the better. :innocent:

Caltrain allows for a 10:30 start apx... train arrives in SJ at 9:51.

The ride over is a pretty much flat/urban ride of around 7 miles.

OK then, 10:30 AM Start it is.

Meeting at: Linda Vista Elementary 100 Kirk Ave San Jose, CA 95127


It would be nice to head down to the Junction and get lunch too. Turns the ride into a 70+ mile ride though.

Something like this would be cool:

Option A) Front side only - standard to the summit and back - (40 miles, 5000 ft) http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Pesky-Penguin-up-Mt-Hamilton
Option B) Front and back - standard route - (73 miles 8900 feet) http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/hamilton-front-back
Option C) Front and back - with Qumiby - (75 miles, 9400 feet) http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Hamilton-front-back-with-Quimby

Everyone (from all groups) could regroup at the summit (observatory) and then group B & C could descend together to the Junction Cafe for lunch.

Then we (B&C) all set off to climb the back side, regroup at the summit again, and descend the front side back to the cars/train/etc...

OF course, the standard route is just fine... just offering suggestions :) Right now my back is messed up, so we might be doing the standard route, and slowly. ;)

Sounds good, I will go for Route B or C myself, but the A option will make this ride have something for everyone.

As I have said, I do not know the south bay worth beans.

Where should we meet?

How about an 11:00 AM start with a late lunch-early dinner after?
(I am thinking about a time late enough that makes it easy for those using mass transit)

Most of the time, people meet at the elementary school at Kirk Ave. That'll give you ~ 1 mile warmup before hanging a right on Hwy 130, and on up Mt. Hamilton Rd.

Most of the time, people meet at the elementary school at Kirk Ave. That'll give you ~ 1 mile warmup before hanging a right on Hwy 130, and on up Mt. Hamilton Rd.

OK then, 10:30 AM Start it is.

Meeting at: Linda Vista Elementary 100 Kirk Ave San Jose, CA 95127

For Route A, B, or C depending on how a given rider feels that day.

Most of the time, people meet at the elementary school at Kirk Ave. That'll give you ~ 1 mile warmup before hanging a right on Hwy 130, and on up Mt. Hamilton Rd.

Yep.. school right near Alum Rock on Kirk Ave.

The train is SJ Diridon Station. apx 6-7 miles from the school.

Quimby is pretty hard it effectively climbs the first chunk of Hamilton in less distance, thus being quite a bit steeper. It is a tad bit harder than Sierra Rd, if you haven't done it before. With that said, I really like climbing Quimby for some reason.

You can also take VTA Light Rail to the McKee stop, and ride till you get to Kirk Ave, then hang a right. I might do that, since I have an ecopass for VTA ... :D

You can also take VTA Light Rail to the McKee stop, and ride till you get to Kirk Ave, then hang a right. I might do that, since I have an ecopass for VTA ... :D

I can usually ride faster than the light rail... at least in the downtown area. I think it ramps of the speed once it gets out of downtown, since there are fewer pedestrians, stop lights, etc, etc..

[SIZE=2][SIZE=3][SIZE=4][B][COLOR=Red]New Update: Arrrgghhh!!!!!!
I am out of my own ride!! I just remembered I have to go to my company picnic that day. What an idiot, total brain fade.
Ya'all have a nice ride. Crud!!


Jeez, Dan, keep this up and you'll get to be like me! I don't even bother saying I'm going to make a ride anymore - but maybe I'll show up to one eventually! I'll miss this one - hiking Half Dome with some friends on Friday, so we're driving back on Saturday.

JB

I should be in for the ride. Just got a call from my LBS today saying my rim was covered under warranty, so I have a bike back tomorrow. I will play the backside by ear, but if I go, I will head up 130 from the bottom.


I can usually ride faster than the light rail... at least in the downtown area. I think it ramps of the speed once it gets out of downtown, since there are fewer pedestrians, stop lights, etc, etc..

Yep, Lightrail is a lot slower in downtown. I used to go to SJSU, but work in Santa Clara by Great America. I used to race the trains for quite a distance and could keep up with them for a good distance. Lots of fun. :thumb:

If I do light rail, I'll probably ride over to Tasman ... if I was to ride to downtown, I might as well ride all the way to the start.

Is there parking at the elementary school? Never been there before.

Yes, there is ample parking at the school.

Fighting off beginnings of a cold ... I'm 50-50 at this point.

Fighting off beginnings of a cold ... I'm 50-50 at this point.

I got a pretty nasty 36 (or so) hr flu.

Good thing I am off today. I feel much better this morning than I did yesterday/Wednesday. So I can rest.

My back is still a little sore, but I think I am good to go for tomorrow :)

All I know is when I get home, I'm going to hide in my blanket and sleep till the morning comes.

I should be in. With the late start I'll probably take an easy (:lol:) spin over Sierra to warm up. If anyone wants to join we can set up an early meet-up, otherwise I'll see you all at the school.

Well, we figured we want to ride Saturday, but we just plain 'ol don't want to drive to get to do it, and Hamilton is about 1.5 hours for us. So, we are going to pass this time. I sounded good last week, but after my first week of school i don't need any drive time!

I need to get back early so I'm thinking about starting at 9am at the school. Will probably turn around at the creek/bridge on the back. Maybe will see the 10:30 starters at the observatory on my return climb.

Well, we figured we want to ride Saturday, but we just plain 'ol don't want to drive to get to do it, and Hamilton is about 1.5 hours for us. So, we are going to pass this time. I sounded good last week, but after my first week of school i don't need any drive time!

+1. It's our wedding anniversary (28, for those who keep count), and we're doing something close to home so we can get in a nap so we can stay awake for our late dinner ressie. :eek:

Hey, age has its drawbacks. :twitchy: We're happy we can still clip in and ride a few miles! ;)

I am going to back out for tomorrow. I am really lacking the motivation for biking right now and I should be responsible and get more work done.

Stay safe and have a great time tomorrow!

As long as you guys wait for me to get a road bike and for me to get in shape and give me months of notice and it's not a hot day and I don't have something else going on and I have the $ to venture up North - I'm down!
But heh, I did it when I was ~15 (see my post)
Have a good time.
Actually, some day I would like to do it again.

Looks like we are out. Going to stay local.

Ramon, Ruth and I are riding from San Mateo, to SB Mtn, then SF Steep Hills, (maybe) Headlands, and back. It's supposed to be in the mid-90s on Hammy tomorrow...

I'm out ... doing short local ride.

Guess this ride was doomed from the start. But me and my buddy Dave went anyway. Our 9am start became 9:40, the climb was not too bad, about mid 80's which went to the mid 90's. Was around 80's with a breeze at the observatory. Skipped the back side as I needed to get back, probably a good move as it was probably scorching hot back there.

On the descent down the last section I passed this younger guy who followed me for awhile. Lost him and waited for Dave at the Alum Rock intersection. Was a good 30 min when Dave comes down and said that guy crashed. I guess he called someone to pick him up and take him to the hospital. Hope he's okay but Dave said he didn't look good and probably broke his collarbone.

Ooohhh, that's no good. I hope he will be alright.

I did this ride today, I would have joined yesterday but my Friday night adventures stopped that idea. It was my first time up Hamilton, great ride. I had a tailwind on the lower slopes and very nice temperatures the entire way up.

My only issue was the bees, there were a ton of them up top, and one of them stung me right above my knee. It still hurts!

hope that guy who crashed is OK. Hamilton isn't the safest road to decent. road condition is so-so, and lots of corners.

i had numerous bees following me when i climb up local mountains, esp the bare ones. anyone know if regular insect repellent work on them?