March 27 – The Shrine, Mt. Tamalpais

[SadieKate]

Sorry, Jo, a group of us already had this planned (and the Catholics in the group are going to church on Saturday). You can gather up the hardcare roadies :(

Non-technical and long mtb ride – unfortunately, almost all singletrack is closed on Mt Tam but we can have all kinds of fun anyway.

Start: Natalie Green Park (off Lagunitas Road near Ross)
Time: 10 am, ready to ride as soon after as possible
Length: 20-24 miles
Climbing: Lots! We’re going to ride all the way around the mountain and then some.

We’ll ride a lollypop loop starting with the stick. We’ll wind our way up Shaver Grade past Bon Tempe Lake and Lake Lagunitas to Eldridge Grade where we’ll grind our way up (it’ll be fun, trust me!) to the fun Hoo Koo E Koo trail. We’ll roll over to the legendary Rail Road Grade and twiddle up to the historic West Point Inn (restrooms and water). The ride leader has been known to bring homemade Rice Krispy treats for the birthday boy(s) and his (their) friends, so be sure to let her know you are coming!

After this respite, we’ll have a last climb to the summit at East Peak so you can pat yourself on the back and laugh at all the people who drove up! Those lazy bums.

We’ll them zoom down the paved road to Rock Springs – Lagunitas where we’ll be back on dirt, noses headed down a long, long hill. Make sure your brakes are tuned and fully operational! They will be squealing like a pig by the time you get back to Lake Lagunitas where we pick up the lollypop stick past the lakes once again.

Be sure to bring layers as Mt Tam is notorious for sunny weather on one side and cold/drippy weather on the other.

PM or email me for more details or about carpooling from Davis.

[jobob]

no worries SK! I just offered that day up as a possibility, who knows if we'll actually do a ride that day.

The March issue of Sunset has an article on Mt. Tam including a bit about the West Point Inn.

[SadieKate]

Whew! I can sleep tonight. :)

[jobob]

...wizeguy... :p

[SadieKate]

Sigh, I love my friends but some of them are like herding cats. Our friend who usually serves as the ride leader for this particular event can't be there until 11 AM. That cause a problem for anyone? V and Kim, it will give you more time to recover from the previous day's assault on Diablo.

I've called the Marin Brewing Co and they are open on Easter Sunday and taking reservations. So, I'll need a headcount for these interested.

Sorry, sorry, sorry. :o

[Veronica]

11 is fine. Marin Brewing Company - yes.

V.

[aka_kim]

Ack! I was thinking about passing on both the dirt rides that weekend. What's wrong with flat, scenic, easy, road rides? Can't we schedule some of those?

How hard is Tam, really? And remember you can't get the car and SAG me if I poop out early. If I'm left gasping by the side of the trail after 5 miles, then what?

[SadieKate]

I think Veronica's March 26 Diablo ride is on the road. The 20th is the dirt ride. And, wait a minute, aren't you the Ironwoman who rode to the junction on Diablo twice the day before our Berryessa ride? I don't think Tam is any harder than what we did at Berryessa and I'll be bringing cupcakes and Rice Krispy treats (there's also been a rumor of bubbly B-day libations). :)

Regarding the gasping by the side of the trail in 5 miles, we have friends who are considering going with us who'll make you look like Mari Holden. And, we can always get a ranger to rescue you. :D

As far as flat, I'm thinking nice and easy flat miles right out of my front door this Sunday if you want to join us. Maybe out and around Lake Solano so a range of 40-50 miles. Maybe check out the new coffee/smoothie cafe in Winters.

Maybe Briones on Saturday which is dirt and hills (10.x miles and 2,020 ft climbing per V's compooter).

[CorsairMac]

Make him cute and single and heck - I'll be there!!!

[SadieKate]

Today's forecast is no rain for a few more days so, as of right now, we're still intending to ride. Cupcakes and bubbly will be served so let me know if you're going. It's a little B-day celebration for my LOF so one and all are invited.

Kim, Tam is physically no harder than the Berryessa ride. From an email sent by our frend Chris (who will be riding Sunday), I would deduce that Mt. Diablo's trails are much steeper, so if you can do those . . .

Time is still 11 am at Natalie Green Park (off Lagunitas Road near Ross)

Of course, if the forecast changes . . . .

[SadieKate]

Geez, none of the weather forecasts seem to match, but we're kind of sick of being caught in the rain and cleaning mud. Since so many people got called away with family emergencies and events, we're going to just reschedule.

Anyone want to suggest a date? We'll try again.

[SadieKate]

We would have been caught at the summit in howling winds and rain.

We went for a 30-mile road ride near Winters, had lunch and were then going to drive our April 9th route. At 3 pm, we could see the rain sheeting down the canyon so it had to have hit Mt. Tam much earlier. Could have been nasty business up there. Whew!

[Bike Goddess]

Yep you did! We went on our usual Sunday ride across the Carquinez bridge, up Cummings Skway, and eventually into Martinez. I am making a route map so anybody can do this ride!

We started out at 8:00AM and I was home just after noon. 43miles in, yippee :D

I'm glad you all didin't go too. I wondered if you would get down to Pleasants Valley road in time! :) :)