Mines Road Oct. 28

[Veronica]

Bike Momma wants to do this ride again.

We'll set a meeting time when we see who else jumps on board and how the weather is.

V.

[BikeMomma]

Thanks for the new thread, V. Maybe we can get more peeps out this time. Last time, it was Mom's Day and many had other plans.

Weather should be better...if it doesn't rain, that is. My policy will probably to come up rain or shine, unless it's positively storming. I like riding in the rain, unless it's really storming, but I don't know how you guys feel about that. Shouldn't be real cold, either.

Guess we'll see. Still have lots of time.
~Kim

[aka_kim]

I believe I'm a jinx on the weather for Mines Road rides. First time I did it, we had rain and hail. Last time, with y'all, heat! So I'll abstain until the last possible moment.

[DrBadger]

Hello all-
Yay, I will be back in town by this point, and will even have had a chance to get back into riding hills after a summer in flat Houston! I will definitely be there if I am in town that weekend. I should know that sometime early in Oct. Looking forward to it!

[Bike Goddess]

Yes, I've been thinking about this ride too. I did say we should do it again in the fall when the weather is cooler.

However, the only day on a weekend I can come is on a Sunday which would be the 29th instead of the 28th. Would that be a possible alternative?

[BikeMomma]

Errrmmm....the spouse works Sundays now.....meaning no babysitter.... But then again, as unpredictable as his <insert bad word adjective here> place of work is, that could change.

I know, I'm difficult.
~BikeMomma

[BikeMomma]

Errrmmm....the spouse works Sundays now.....meaning no babysitter.... But then again, as unpredictable as his <insert bad word adjective here> place of work is, that could change.

A little mouse in my ear told me that what I said earlier could have been a slight against Nancy (BikeGoddess)....and you don't know sometimes with written word what context to take it.

Nancy, in no way was I trying to imply my schedule is more important than yours. I'm merely just pretty much fed up with my husband's place of employment altogether and I let that come out. I guess we'll iron out the day as the day itself nears. There IS a possibility I could get someone to watch the kids (just have to beg and plead....).

Whooohoooo....looking forward to Mines Rd!
Hope everyone (including me!) can make it!
~BikeMomma

[Bike Goddess]

Bike Momma- I didn't even think of that- so I definitely wasn't offended!
Just wish I could do more rides with you all - but - unfortunately I have a schedule I have to work around as well! Such is retail.

[SadieKate]

Sue F and Cyndi are requesting clarification of my 30 mile shallow climb description. They don't trust me for some reason. Perhaps my definition of the 15 mile post lunch climb at the Siskiyou as shallow made them think that my definition of shallow was a tad different from theirs (and it wasn't as steep as the morning climb, so there!)

Any way, Veronica, do you have stats, as in hard core facts and figures I could feed them?

Kim, you've ridden both climbs plus Iron Mtn, which they both have done. What would be your description? I believe they'll need some convincing by someone other than I.

[Veronica]

Tell them to go read my DMD report on tandem hearts.

The initial climb is about 1.6 miles at 6%. Followed by about 25 miles of 1.3%. Then there are two hills about 2 miles and 1.5 miles long at about 3%.

V.

[Veronica]

The forecast is for 75 degrees in Livermore next Saturday. If we are on the road by 9, I think that will be good.

V.

[SadieKate]

Uh, same meeting place? This is what you posted before.

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.

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.

[Veronica]

Yep! Who have you coerced into coming?

V

[SadieKate]

Dunno nothin' for certain yet.

[Veronica]

My brief description of Mines Road from the DMD report to aid in the coercion.

Mines Road starts off with a fairly stiff climb, but then becomes a steady 1 % grade for about twenty miles. This part of the ride was actually some of the most pleasant. I was riding along by myself, enjoying the scenery and the sounds. I saw a deer and maybe a red wing blackbird. It was a black bird with red wings anyhow.

V.