Saturday, Nov 18 – Mt George/Atlas Peak road ride

[SadieKate]

Come explore more of the remote roads of Napa. We’ll start in Fairfield, ride up Wooden and Gordon Valley roads, over Mt George to Napa and then up Atlas Peak. This is part of the spring Davis 200k brevet route.

Distance and climb: 60 miles (out 30 and back 30) and about 4,900 ft.
Start: Safeway parking lot in Fairfield at Waterman/I-80/Hilborn
Route Map: http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=6712
Eats: Corner store/gas station at 20/40 mile points as we go through Napa both ways
Time: Let’s talk. How about 10 am? Earlier? What?

Oh yeah, rain cancels.

[Veronica]

We'll be there. We may turn around early, but we'll be there.

V.

[Trekhawk]

Would love to come on this one (see you are turning me into a hill groupie after all) even though I will probably swear at you on the way up them.

Not sure if DH will be working though (should know by middle of next week). Count me as a hopeful maybe.

[SadieKate]

Does the 10 am start sound OK?

[Veronica]

Fine with us.

V.

[jobob]

excellent

[aka_kim]

Okey dokey.

[Bike Goddess]

If you haven't done Mt George before, just a word of caution....the road after Wooden Valley which leads you up to the pass gets quite narrow with NO shoulders. People driving up that way tend to go fast so keep your ears open (you'll hear them coming!).

That's a great ride. Haven't done Atlas Peak yet (it's on my list). Sounds like you will have a challenging, but great ride. Gordon Valley is especially beautiful right now- orchards full of yellow trees. Quite the sight!

[SadieKate]

Thanks, Nancy. I know the roads and 121 is used heavily for brevets and the Knoxville Dble, to name a few rides. As it is after the boating season, the traffic should be better than during the summer. Atlas Peak is amazingly remote and deserted though there is home construction up there.

[jobob]

I'm not worried.

[Bike Goddess]

Yes, the signnage for the Knoxville double and the Fall Foxy are quite visible both on Gdn Valley and at the turn onto Wooden Valley and then up at the junction. Everytime I ride up there, it's a reminder of how popular this route is! AND for good reason as some of you know!

Have a nice ride!

You will find nice folks at the Vintage Cafe (Mankas Corner) if you need water or bathrooms. They are quite used to cyclists coming in. Great food too! That's about the last place to get water until you get to the other side of Mt George that I know of.

[SadieKate]

Thanks, Nancy. We're starting in Fairfield and there is a corner market at the intersection of Vichy and Atlas Peak -- only 20 miles away. At these beautiful temperatures we should be fine if we stock up there before the 40 miles round trip to the peak.

Bill and I've ridden this route. I was really surprised by some of the landscape up there. There is one section that flattens and rolls along where there is a huge cattle ranch of about 50,000 acres. I hope you can make it up there sometime.

[Bike Goddess]

I couldn't remember where the Atlas Peak Road was in relationship to the store down on that side. Don't know about their bathrooms, though.

When I do George, I come back through Gordon Valley as I don't like riding through Napa to Hwy 29 and back to Benicia. Much prettier the way you are doing it.

[SadieKate]

I couldn't remember where the Atlas Peak Road was in relationship to the store down on that side. Don't know about their bathrooms, though.

We could always stop in at the Silverado Country Club. It's less than a mile up Atlas Peak Rd. I'm sure they'd love us to stop by.

The store at Vichy is mentioned in a lot of route directions so it must be OK. Can't be worse than the Pope Valley accommodations.

[SadieKate]

Weather is looking good except for a few pesky spots of fog. I assume someone from the west will shout if the weather gurus got it wrong?

I'm off to bed.