Mines Road- Sunday May 14th

[Bike Goddess]

I am currently planning to lead a ride up Mines Road. This is a beautiful road with a lovely creek and (I'm told) many wildflowers. (We passed this road on the Cinderella ride about a mile outside of Livermore). I'm thinking we could do several options- one would be to go to the Junction cafe -about 30miles from the start in Livermore and then return the same way. The other option would be to keep going after a stop at the cafe, do the back side of Mount Hamilton and then return. This option would be available IF we have enough people who want to do it (14 miles to Hamilton summit)as it involves a lot more climbing.

I have ridden to the junction several times and have always enjoyed it. There is one steep hill about 5 miles into the ride. The other hill is getting out of the canyon- about 5 miles before the Junction cafe. Otherwise, it is about a 3% grade through the canyon.

Unfortunately it's Mother's Day, however, it's the only time I can do this ride in the next two months. I want to do it BEFORE the heat comes as this is a very sheltered area and can get quite hot in the summer months. (Plus the views are pretty spectacular!)

Veronica did this route as part of the DMD. Perhaps she could give us some insight as to difficulty. I believe the up and back to just the Junction Cafe is about 3'000 feet elevation gain- most of which you do in the first 30 miles.

I am planning a 9:00AM sharp start time from Livermore. I willl post more info if any of you are interested.

P.S.- we may have the fortune of an expert bike mechanic and cyclist (Mick) as he has also indicated an interest in coming. (He's ridden this route and Mt Hamilton as well).

[maillotpois]

I'll try to make it. This morning I was just thinking I wanted to get out there and do Hamilton again.

I just looked at my ride data from last year, when I did this ride from the pumpkin patch up to the top of Hamilton and back - oddly enough on May 14. Total miles: 89; 9000 feet climbing (I'm wanting to recheck that to be sure because it sounds high); and it took me 6:47 for the loop.

It was a tough ride and I suggest anyone wanting to go all the way to the top bring a camelback because if it is warm, 2 bottles may not get you form the junction to the top.

[Veronica]

Mines Road is a beautiful ride. The first hill is fairly steep, maybe 5 - 7%, and I want to say about three miles long. The next 18 miles or so are still uphill, but it is very gradual. There is a very short climb, maybe .5 miles, then a somewhat twisty descent. Then another longer climb and then you have a 2 - 3 mile descent almost all the way to the Cafe.

I second MPs reccommendation about water bottles if you plan to summit Hamilton. I could not get from the Junction Cafe to the Summit without asking a SAG driver for more water on Saturday.

This may be the perfect day for me to do my 200 K+ training ride for the month. It involves me starting at my house, has me continuing on the DMD route and I won't bore you with the details... but IF I do that, Thom would be on the road to lend some support. I'd be continuing on to Sunol and there would be room in the car to bring someone back with me (MP!) That is the volunteer weekend at the National Park however and since I've been sucking up all of our weekends with riding... I may be volunteering.

V.

[maillotpois]

This may be the perfect day for me to do my 200 K+ training ride for the month. It involves me starting at my house, has me continuing on the DMD route and I won't bore you with the details... but IF I do that, Thom would be on the road to lend some support. I'd be continuing on to Sunol and there would be room in the car to bring someone back with me (MP!) That is the volunteer weekend at the National Park however and since I've been sucking up all of our weekends with riding... I may be volunteering.

V.

Wow - that sounds like fun, and thanks for thinking of me - but... one of my absolute favorite parts of the Mines ride is descending Mines back into Livermore. It's just that sort of mindless downhill grind, typically into a headwind that I love. If we did the Sunol thing, would we miss that?

[Veronica]

Yeah, we would miss that. We'd descend Hamilton and head over to Sierra.

I've decided my monthly training ride is going to be some combination of Morgan Territory, Patterson Pass, Hamilton and Sierra - ideally all 4. But that's about 140 miles from my house. I don't have to start doing it until June since I'm doing Davis in May. But I think it should keep in shape for next year.

V.

[maillotpois]

Yeah, we would miss that. We'd descend Hamilton and head over to Sierra.

I've decided my monthly training ride is going to be some combination of Morgan Territory, Patterson Pass, Hamilton and Sierra - ideally all 4. But that's about 140 miles from my house. I don't have to start doing it until June since I'm doing Davis in May. But I think it should keep in shape for next year.

V.

Well, I may not do the diversion with you 5/14, but I'd love to know when you plan on doing this ride regularly because I'd love to join you if I can.

[Bike Goddess]

Hi Veronica- Thanks for the SAG offer! WE might want to take you up on the water/etc possibility. I agree with MP- more fun to come back via Mines road. It's such a great downhill ride. AND we'll be parked in Livermore so we have to get back to our cars!

Let's keep in touch and see how your plans go as well.

[SadieKate]

Details? So, where are the details?

[maillotpois]

This is what Nancy PM'ed me:

Mines Rd- Meet at So Livermore Rd and East St. As you are going east on s. Livermore, you'll see (on the left) a large parking lot- trees obscure some of it- and abandon building that used to be a supermarket. There's a strip mall in there, but you can't see if very well from the road. If you get to Concannon you have gone TOO far! Come back!

Lots of shade. We can ride to a little neighborhood park for a portapotty if anyone needs it!


Meet at 9, to roll shortly thereafter. I am always early.

[SadieKate]

Directionally challenged me again.

Yahoo keeps insisting that it is S Livermore Ave and East Ave. Is this the place? Cancannon is over a mile SE down Livermore Ave so is the parking lot right at the 3-way intersection or down the road a bit?

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ad...w=1&name=&qty=

[SadieKate]

For those in the know, should I just assume that since we are starting at 9 am it will be hot, hot and hotter for the entire ride? Will I freeze my tookas on the descent? What?

Fashion setters need to know these things ahead of time.

[Bike Goddess]

Re place- I'd say its not far from that intersection. It's a pretty big lot, BUT there are trees there so it's easy to miss. That's why I said that if you get to Concannon you've gone too far!

I"ve emailed the Valley Spokesmen people for exact directions but haven't gotten a response yet. I'll try Baldino as well. I know the VS meet there for rides.

Re weather- let's hope it's not too warm. I'll do a weather check later on this week to make sure we're dressed for the occasion! A lot of the road is shaded as we get into the canyons, so hopefully it won't be too warm. And if we get going soon after 9:00 we should beat the heat later in the day.

Bring lots of water and whatever you need for sports drinks and bars.

I'll be wearing my AV jersey, that's for sure!

[Veronica]

We usually park in front of the library on South Livermore Ave. The street parking is free and is tree lined on the library side.

Directions: It 's a bit longer, but less confusing.

Take whatever you need to get to 580. Get off at Vasco Road and head South. If you need a bathroom or snacks, there are a lot of gas stations if you head North on Vasco and it is fairly easy to turn around and head South.

Vasco T's into Tesla. Turn right on Tesla. Tesla becomes S. LIvermore Ave. The library is on your right. It is approximately 2.5 miles from Tesla to the library.

Going this way, you will pass Mines Rd., Concannon Rd. and the library/city hall complex on the right. After that there will be lots of trees on the right, pull over and park.

Since it's going to be hot, I will most likely be wearing a red sleeveless jersey. I will attempt to get there early, so SK look for the Subaru.

There is a park with a bathroom on the the way to Mines Road - sometimes it's open and sometimes not. Mines Road is very isolated so hunting for elephants can be done.

V.

PS Will there be another AV jersey order happening?

[Bike Goddess]

V- I chose the other parking lot because of the bathroom situation! I've sent this bulletin out to other groups so a bit hard to change the meet location now, unfortunately!

[Veronica]

I think you really want Pacific and S Livermore, not East Street. Google Maps doesn't show the strip mall on East, but on Pacific and that is just around the corner from the library.

V.