weekend ride reports - where'd ya ride?
11-22-10, 01:14 AM
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On Saturday I did the Low-key Hillclimb of Hicks and Umunhum roads. I rode to the start and got there about 50 minutes early so after checking in and donating my $10, I headed out for a warm up ride. With time on my side and without a destination I explored a little:
The weather was gorgeous and I could see snow across the valley on Mt. Hamilton. Alas I had no camera with me, not even a cell phone ("weight savings").
The climb itself went pretty well. I kept my pace in check on the initial steep part of Hicks Rd even as many riders passed me. Then on the upper half of Hicks I started reeling people in one and two at a time.
Here's a picture of me making the turn from Hicks onto Umunhum (credit Jon Degenhardt):
After that turn onto Umunhum road the gradient is more reasonable. I somehow passed a few more folks despite being very close to blowing up. Somehow I didn't manage to check the climb stats before hand and I had no idea how much farther until the finish. I was pleased to hold off everyone to the finish line except for one guy who passed me with a pretty impressive sprint.
At the finish (credit Phil Dubach):
The weather was gorgeous and I could see snow across the valley on Mt. Hamilton. Alas I had no camera with me, not even a cell phone ("weight savings").
The climb itself went pretty well. I kept my pace in check on the initial steep part of Hicks Rd even as many riders passed me. Then on the upper half of Hicks I started reeling people in one and two at a time.
Here's a picture of me making the turn from Hicks onto Umunhum (credit Jon Degenhardt):
After that turn onto Umunhum road the gradient is more reasonable. I somehow passed a few more folks despite being very close to blowing up. Somehow I didn't manage to check the climb stats before hand and I had no idea how much farther until the finish. I was pleased to hold off everyone to the finish line except for one guy who passed me with a pretty impressive sprint.
At the finish (credit Phil Dubach):
11-22-10, 10:44 AM
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i went on a fairly typical weekend ride and all these people showed up:
part 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvfM4o5oX1A
part 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvfM4o5oX1A
11-22-10, 02:15 PM
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Finally got out to ride on Sunday, just a quick run up to the South Gate Ranger Station on Diablo - weather as good, traffic was light and my climbing legs were absent.
11-22-10, 08:37 PM
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I have the week off and so I tried to go visit the snow on Mt. Hamilton. Unfortunately the park rangers decided to spoil my plans by closing the road.
I stopped and talked to the ranger at bottom of the first intermediate descent where the road closure began (just east of where Quimby comes in). He said I could continue on as far as the Twin Gate trailhead "and not one tenth of a mile farther". He also said that if any cyclists were seen at the observatory during the road closure then he wouldn't let any bikes past his checkpoint for the rest of the season.
High point of the day, Twin Gate Trailhead at about 2300'
On the way back I descended Quimby and caught some amazing views of the valley:
Looking north from Quimby
Quimby hairpin, with just a little debris in the road.
Quimby hairpin
Looking back up Quimby
View to the west.
After getting back down to flat ground I promptly got dumped on by the rain but then it cleared up 20 minutes later in time to eat my Chipotle burrito outside under a bright sunny sky.
I stopped and talked to the ranger at bottom of the first intermediate descent where the road closure began (just east of where Quimby comes in). He said I could continue on as far as the Twin Gate trailhead "and not one tenth of a mile farther". He also said that if any cyclists were seen at the observatory during the road closure then he wouldn't let any bikes past his checkpoint for the rest of the season.
High point of the day, Twin Gate Trailhead at about 2300'
On the way back I descended Quimby and caught some amazing views of the valley:
Looking north from Quimby
Quimby hairpin, with just a little debris in the road.
Quimby hairpin
Looking back up Quimby
View to the west.
After getting back down to flat ground I promptly got dumped on by the rain but then it cleared up 20 minutes later in time to eat my Chipotle burrito outside under a bright sunny sky.
11-22-10, 10:39 PM
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Took the new bike out for a spin up Stevens Canyon to Mt. Eden this morning. Cut it off early and headed home just in time for the skies to open up on me about a mile from home. Beautiful day otherwise.
Boy, mark me down as "not good at noticing stuff." The mountain is pretty much visible from my house, but I haven't noticed snow. D'oh.
Boy, mark me down as "not good at noticing stuff." The mountain is pretty much visible from my house, but I haven't noticed snow. D'oh.
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11-27-10, 08:29 PM
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Great photos SilentBen! I still haven't made it up there yet. Maybe in the Spring.
5k run on Thanksgiving morning:
Day after Thanksgiving, solo tempo ride out in the orchards. West of Chico.
5k run on Thanksgiving morning:
Day after Thanksgiving, solo tempo ride out in the orchards. West of Chico.
11-29-10, 03:15 PM
#3007
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On Turkey Day, a 46 mile solo ride from Berkeley to Livermore for glutonny with the extended family (my side). A gorgeous day, if a bit chilly.
On Sunday, a wonderful 50+ miles in honor of bigbossman's 54th birthday (he managed to hit 54 through the time-honored method of circling the parking lot to get an extra few). Another glorious day, if a bit chilly. (Multiple wool jerseys, wool tights, wool socks and arm- and leg-warmers FTW.) BBM, MarkoPolo, x136, LanceOldstrong, Midland, ccorlew, MyLilPony and Chuck (owner of Dublin Cyclery - may we all ride so well when we are in our 80's
) headed off from Dublin after a lovely pre-ride breakfast down Foothill Rd to Sunol, then out Calaveras Road to the Top O' The Wall and back to Dublin. There was a slight diversion onto Welch Creek Rd on the way out. This Clydesdale decided about 50 yards up the steep part that this was A Very Bad Idea and turned around to wait at the bottom. (The only worse idea than going up the 15%+ grades on a slick, wet road was coming back down the 15%+ grades on a slick, wet road.) Almost everyone else made the same decision not much further up - of course, LanceOldstrong is impervious to such rational thinking and continued onward and upward. Except for BBM getting a case of punctureitis on the climb to the dam on Calaveras, the rest of the day was uneventful in a gorgous-weather-fun-ride-good-friends kind of way. Grub followed the ride, too (of course it did - it always does if John or I have anything to say about it). Just a wonderful day.
On Sunday, a wonderful 50+ miles in honor of bigbossman's 54th birthday (he managed to hit 54 through the time-honored method of circling the parking lot to get an extra few). Another glorious day, if a bit chilly. (Multiple wool jerseys, wool tights, wool socks and arm- and leg-warmers FTW.) BBM, MarkoPolo, x136, LanceOldstrong, Midland, ccorlew, MyLilPony and Chuck (owner of Dublin Cyclery - may we all ride so well when we are in our 80's
) headed off from Dublin after a lovely pre-ride breakfast down Foothill Rd to Sunol, then out Calaveras Road to the Top O' The Wall and back to Dublin. There was a slight diversion onto Welch Creek Rd on the way out. This Clydesdale decided about 50 yards up the steep part that this was A Very Bad Idea and turned around to wait at the bottom. (The only worse idea than going up the 15%+ grades on a slick, wet road was coming back down the 15%+ grades on a slick, wet road.) Almost everyone else made the same decision not much further up - of course, LanceOldstrong is impervious to such rational thinking and continued onward and upward. Except for BBM getting a case of punctureitis on the climb to the dam on Calaveras, the rest of the day was uneventful in a gorgous-weather-fun-ride-good-friends kind of way. Grub followed the ride, too (of course it did - it always does if John or I have anything to say about it). Just a wonderful day.
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11-30-10, 02:37 PM
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More from BigBossMan Birthday ride:
BigBossMan Birthday ride_BBM himself by ccorlew, on Flickr
BigBossMan Birthday ride_Dan by ccorlew, on Flickr
Tricia has RED TIRES now!
BigBossMan Birthday ride_Red Tires by ccorlew, on Flickr
BigBossMan Birthday ride_BBM himself by ccorlew, on Flickr
BigBossMan Birthday ride_Dan by ccorlew, on Flickr
Tricia has RED TIRES now!
BigBossMan Birthday ride_Red Tires by ccorlew, on Flickr
11-30-10, 06:50 PM
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Hey Curtis - can you send a hi-res copy of the first pic to me? That's a really nice shot.
highpower(at)comcast(dot)net
highpower(at)comcast(dot)net
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11-30-10, 07:05 PM
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11-30-10, 09:40 PM
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Did the Dirty Dozen in Pittsburgh on Sat.... a low key 50 mile ride/spin on Sunday...
12-01-10, 12:45 AM
#3015
Don't mince words
My weekend rides pale in comparison to BBM's birthday ride. Happy birthday, and may you celebrate many more! Sorry I missed the ride -- I'd've bought you a beer. Wait, does that mean I owe you?
12-01-10, 12:59 AM
#3016
Don't mince words
Thanksgiving ride: cgallagh, cgallagh Jr. & I joined 3 other intrepid souls for a 33 mi. Winters loop. It was the wind, not the temp., that was a factor. But there's something very satisfying about sharing your obsession with 2/3rds of your family.
Friday, young cgallagh & I met my BFF and we did a Gordon Valley loop. Since Colin is very fast (thanks to riding a fixie all over SF) he missed a couple turns and added about 7 miles onto the ride, for 53 miles total.
Sunday I joined the shop/team ride for 51 miles, wherein I hung like a rock star until the 46th mile. They turned, I slowed, I was dumped.
The pace overall was fast, IMNTBHO, for off-season, but not undoable.
Coincidentally, my exercise-induced asthma reared its ugly head two days before, and my lung function is that of a 15 y.o. boy. Hey, it's either asthma or age -- my bag of excuses isn't that big.
At least I know why I've not been able to keep up lately...
Friday, young cgallagh & I met my BFF and we did a Gordon Valley loop. Since Colin is very fast (thanks to riding a fixie all over SF) he missed a couple turns and added about 7 miles onto the ride, for 53 miles total.
Sunday I joined the shop/team ride for 51 miles, wherein I hung like a rock star until the 46th mile. They turned, I slowed, I was dumped.
The pace overall was fast, IMNTBHO, for off-season, but not undoable.Coincidentally, my exercise-induced asthma reared its ugly head two days before, and my lung function is that of a 15 y.o. boy. Hey, it's either asthma or age -- my bag of excuses isn't that big.
At least I know why I've not been able to keep up lately...
12-01-10, 10:01 AM
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A great weekend for riding. On T-Day I went to the top of Mt. Diablo. Beautiful views, very clear - and cold. Lost a glove somewhere so on Friday I retraced the route and found the missing garment on Stone Valley, then proceeded to climb to Junction. And finally on Sunday I was late but caught up with the BBM group while they had a optional climb of Welch Creek, then proceeded to the top of the wall and back.
12-01-10, 12:18 PM
#3018
Family, Health, Cycling
You forgot to say "to the top of the wall and back, twice". You and I turned around at the top and took on the climb a second time. I thouroughly enjoyed our hotly contested Cat 6 racing both times up. Thanks for pushing me.
12-01-10, 07:21 PM
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On one of the best on going Sunday rides in the Bay Area, the Sport Basement Presidio ride. Every week we ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin. This last week Paradise Loop about 40 miles of riding right along our beautiful San Francisco Bay.
12-03-10, 01:23 AM
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Didn't get to ride much over the weekend but went out on Monday with a few friends, here is the strava info from one of my friends:
https://www.strava.com/rides-by-count...3-miles-231493
I seem to always get this 100ft/climbing per mile thing going since I live right at the foot of the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. Rough life, huh?
https://www.strava.com/rides-by-count...3-miles-231493
I seem to always get this 100ft/climbing per mile thing going since I live right at the foot of the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. Rough life, huh?
12-06-10, 10:02 AM
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Despite the weather I got ride in on both days.
Saturday: A nice little jaunt to Bishop Ranch via Diablo Rd/Blackhawk.
Sunday: Led a Valley Spokesmen ride out of Shannon park into Livermore. All reports had the weather holding until 1 or so, and sadly we finished at 2. Got hit hard on Camino Tassajara, then it tapered off and was okay for the finish.
Saturday: A nice little jaunt to Bishop Ranch via Diablo Rd/Blackhawk.
Sunday: Led a Valley Spokesmen ride out of Shannon park into Livermore. All reports had the weather holding until 1 or so, and sadly we finished at 2. Got hit hard on Camino Tassajara, then it tapered off and was okay for the finish.
12-06-10, 10:50 AM
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Despite the weather I got ride in on both days.
Saturday: A nice little jaunt to Bishop Ranch via Diablo Rd/Blackhawk.
Sunday: Led a Valley Spokesmen ride out of Shannon park into Livermore. All reports had the weather holding until 1 or so, and sadly we finished at 2. Got hit hard on Camino Tassajara, then it tapered off and was okay for the finish.
Saturday: A nice little jaunt to Bishop Ranch via Diablo Rd/Blackhawk.
Sunday: Led a Valley Spokesmen ride out of Shannon park into Livermore. All reports had the weather holding until 1 or so, and sadly we finished at 2. Got hit hard on Camino Tassajara, then it tapered off and was okay for the finish.
We were all warm and comfy in a local coffee house, being served hot food by our friendly waitress Tanya while you were getting drenched.
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"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
12-11-10, 10:07 PM
#3025
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Nice photos Milliron!
