How gnarly is Calaveras Blvd?

[roguedog]

Hey,

A friend (?? suspect until I get more info :D) asked me to joing some friends for a ride on Calaveras Blvd. All info I have is "it's steady climb." Looking for more info so I know how much to start freaking out..

And V.. no fair you answering. Everything seems like it's easy for you :P I need normal humans to answer me.. or normal humans who don't do regular climbing anyway. :) TREK??? Where are you??

...getting ready to spit out my lungs.....

[jobob]

Do you know from which side you'll be starting ?

If you start from the Sunol side (some call it the "clockwise" direction*) and head southward, the climb is long and gradual, with a descent that can be a bit steep in parts.

Here's my account of the very first time I went up Calaveras from the Sunol side:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=7489&highlight=calaveras#post7489

If you go up in the other direction, starting from Milpitas (aka the counterclockwise direction*), the climb is steeper but there's less distance to climb. The climb in that direction includes about a one-half mile section call "The Wall" where the gradient is about 10-12%. It can be a stinker, but once you're up over that, there's a bit of shallow up-and-down rollers to the summit, and then a nice long not too steep descent into Sunol.

(* it's called clockwise vs counterclockwise because some rides do it in a 40-ish mile loop including Niles Canyon Blvd going thru Fremont).

If you run a search on Calaveras you'll see others' impressions as well.

- Jo.

[Trek420]

I guess I've done the "other direction", it's part of the Primavera.

Oy, "the wall" is steep, I've walked all of it, and slightly less of it last year, someday someday I'll ride up it.

But the wall is short.

And oh, the scenery afterwards. It's hard to believe there is a city anywhere nearby, rollers, redwoods or some kinda evergreens anyway, beautiful views of the resevoir, narrow but quiet road.

You should go!

[Veronica]

Geez... what did I do? :)

The Calaveras Wall is not bad. I think I've only done it from the steep side - Primavera and coming down off Sierra Rd. Even Thom says it's not too bad.

Sierra Rd. is hard.

V.

[roguedog]

Thanks guys.

Jobob - I think we're meeting in Sunol so I guess it's the easier direction.

Trek - tks for the answer. How was the ride? How much worse is it than the crystal springs thing we did??

V - You are the climbing .. long rider person in my book. So.. uh.. I can't use you as a gauge. You're too much better than me.

Thanks all

p

[Trek420]

Thanks guys.

Trek - tks for the answer. How was the ride? How much worse is it than the crystal springs thing we did??

Thanks all

p

Hard to compare the two and I'm not wired for data so this is just my impression.

The Crystal Springs route (old Velo Grls Saturday club ride route) the climbs I think are longer but less steep.

Calaveras after the Wall has these whoodeedoos, it's more technical, sharp s-turns, some on climbs, some descents, I've ridden it when it seemed wet, slippery with pine needles. It's very beautiful.

Let's put it this way, after the first couple times doing the Crystal springs route I don't think I've ever walked it, couple times when I had chain suck but other than that...always climb it.

I've never done the Wall.......yet. :p

[Veronica]

V - You are the climbing .. long rider person in my book. So.. uh.. I can't use you as a gauge.

p

It's just stubbornness. :D

V.

[jobob]

Rougedog, it's been ages since I've been on Calaveras and you've inspired me to go up it this coming Saturday.

My hubby & I will be heading out from our home in Union City, and heading down Niles Canyon Blvd. into Sunol, up & over and back home - in the clockwise direction.

Anyhow, you didn't mention when your ride was going to be. Should I be on the lookout for you on Saturday? :cool:

[roguedog]

Hey Jo--

well.. seems the group is wimping out due to cold... there are a lot of emails flying around right now..

later? wimp out? reschedule? ..etc

hehe.. ..

my gut is.. we'll wimp out and reschedule to next weekend..

ps.. also seems almost everyone was sick this week (inc myself) so.. more likelihood of postponing..

[jobob]

Lee & are are playing it by ear. If it's too cold tomorrow, we'll be wimping out as well.

But you're more than welcome to join us the next time we do the ride !