Hill Climbing Series 5/20, 6/3, 6/10, 6/17

[cindysue]

Please join the LUNA Chix for this Advanced Level Hill Climbing Series.

"Strong" riders only, please. "Strong" does not mean "fast" but you should be comfortable with climbing 6-10% grades.

*Sundays, 8:00am*

Each week, we'll post ride specific information. In the mean time, mark your calendars for these fun and challenging rides.

May 20th - Mt Hamilton: ~ 40 miles * 4,300'
- meet at 100 Kirk Ave. in San Jose. Ride leaves at 8:00am.

June 3rd - Mt Diablo: ~30 miles * 3,700'
- meet at Walnut Creek BART station southeast parking lot. Ride leaves at 8:00am.

June 10th - Page Mill/Old La Honda/84: ~ 38 miles * 3,300' (route sheet provided)
- meet at Woodside Town Hall parking lot. Ride leaves at 8:00am.

June 17th - Alpine Dam/Mt. Tam: ~ 63 miles * 5,400' (route sheet provided)
- meet at Presidio Sports Basement entrance. Ride leaves at 8:00am.

**Riders must RSVP for each ride at least 24 hours in advance. Please RSVP to cindy (at) lunachix (dot) net

These rides will start promptly at 8am. Please arrive early with the appropriate gear (e.g., your helmet), your bike ready to go (e.g., tires properly inflated), and sign the waiver sheet before 8:00am. If you are running late, route sheets will be placed on the windshield of the ride leader's car (usually a black VW Jetta).

Don't forget your ID, insurance card, and emergency contact info. You'll also want a pump, patch kit, spare tube, tire levers, bike tools, food, water, and some cash just in case…

*Dates and locations are subject to change. Please RSVP for the latest update.

**Novice riders are encouraged to try these hills on their own with a friend of similar ability.

Please obey all traffic laws. Remember that bicycles are vehicles, and bicyclists are expected to follow all traffic regulations. This means stopping at stop signs and red lights, using hand signals, and riding single file on the right side of the road. Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers (BUT cars weigh 4000 lbs!)

Be Predictable in Traffic

o Stay to the right of the road unless it is unsafe to do so
o Stop at stop signs and red lights
o Yield to pedestrians and vehicles as appropriate
o Make eye contact with drivers
o Ride in a straight line - don't weave between parked vehicles
o Signal your turns and braking

Respect Group Ride Etiquette

o Introduce yourself, welcome new cyclists, and offer assistance if needed
o Be punctual - arrive with your gear and equipment and ready to ride
o Use verbal or hand signals when slowing, stopping, turning or rolling
- left arm straight out to signal a left turn
- right arm straight out for a right turn
- palm or fist behind your lower back to signal slowing or stopping
o Be courteous
- announce "On your left!" when passing cyclists. Pass *only* on the left
- move to the right if a cyclist indicates they want to pass on your left
- ride single file; two abreast if wide bike lane or very quiet street
- indicate road hazards by pointing them out and/or by shouting
- announce problems like open car doors, detrius on the roadway, etc.

[jobob]

sounds interesting

[cindysue]

you should do the Hamilton ride with us. It could be the back-to-back TE ride weekend.

[jobob]

That's what I was thinking !

[maillotpois]

That's the fun side of Hamilton, too!

I may consider the Marin one. I don't know what my Death Ride team is doing that weekend - and I may volunteer for TT the day before. I'll keep it in mind.

[cindysue]

Great!!!

[cindysue]

Sunday, ride starts at 8:00am

Meet in the parking lot at Linda Vista School; 100 Kirk Ave, San Jose.
Your tires should be fully inflated and you should sign the ride waiver before 8am. Please be on your bike and ready to go at 8am. I'll arrive about 7:45ish with lunabars.

Please RSVP and please read the safety notes in the first post.

There are no ride sheets for this route because with the exception of two turns after leaving the school, there is only one road on this ride (Mt. Hamilton Road).

Mt. Hamilton is the tallest peak in the Bay Area. Even so, I personally consider it the easiest of the four climbs in this ride series because the grades are moderate. You’ll also get two descents, to catch your breath, before you hit the top. Once we pass the bridge, you’ll think your almost there but we’ll still have 5-6 miles to go. The views are great on this ride and hopefully the hills will still be green (if only a little). If it’s a clear day, you might be able to see the Sierras, the mountains around Monterey, and San Francisco Bay from the observatory at the top.

We’ll regroup at the top, check out the views and turn back in time for lunch. Be sure to bring enough snacks and water to sustain you for the 40 mile ride.

Everyone should climb and descend at a pace that is comfortable for them. If someone is behind you, let them pass on your left. Stay to the right as long as it is safe to do so. Watch out for potholes on the descent.

[jobob]

You're bringing LunaBars? OK, that settles it.

[DrBadger]

Hey Cindy-
What is the route for this weekends Page Mill/Old La Honda/84 ride? This is my neck of the woods... actually did Old La Honda last weekend, but I can't figure out how you are doing all 3 roads... Depending on how things go the rest of this week, I might be interested.

Thanks!
Ellen

[cindysue]

We are only doing the upper portion of OLH.

the option on OLH is either to:

1) descend it from Skyline to La Honda then descend 84

(OR)

2) take skyline to La Honda, then ascend OLH, then get back on Skyline to 84

(OR)

3) skip OLH and take Skyline to 84

the faster riders might choose option 2, whereas the slower riders might choose option 3. I'll probably do option 3.

Does this make any sense?????????

[DrBadger]

Ahhhh.... I get it now....It did take some looking at the map though. Hmmm.... not sure I am ready for Page Mill.... Old La Honda from the Portola loop to Skyline is one thing, but Page Mill... yikes! Maybe in a couple of months.

Thanks for clearing up my confusion!
Ellen

[cindysue]

think about it! Maybe you could join us, then cut off to get to Portola/OLH.

[jobob]

pssst ... MsSoonToBeDoctorPAB ... Calaveras is much easier than Page Mill ... you could join us on Saturday ... just sayin'

[jobob]

Hi Cindy, I plan to be there on Sunday.

[cindysue]

just thought of another option - but the timing would be difficult.

from page mill/skyline, we would skip the upper portion of OLH, descend 84 to Portola, then climb OLH back to Skyline, back down 84 to the meeting spot. People would have the option to skip the extra OLH loop.

edit: looks like that extra loop would add 10 miles and about 1400 feet of climbing. So the options, under this potential new plan, would be ~30 miles (~2900 ft) or ~40 miles (~4300 ft).

Glad you can join us Jobob.

Anybody else? MP?