Not to get on too much of a tangent, but have you ever tried the Quimby Road approach, rather than the "regular route" (Alum Rock)? Quimby is pretty stiff, but good climb. Drops you on to Mt. Hamilton Road just before the entrance to Grant park. The descent is not a lot better (it's steeper) but the road actually seems to be in marginally better shape than Mt. Hamilton Road. Something to try sometime.