Who Rides Mt. Veeder?

[maillotpois]

Where at the top? East or West side? We put a SAG stop right at the top, usually. It's hard, because there's not a lot of space off road.

[Veronica]

I've only done Veeder from the Napa side and it's been a while. Memory says it's not that bad, Dry Creek was tougher.

MP and I did Ink Grade on Thursday also not a bad climb. Howell is also not bad, neither is Mount George, but ride it early to avoid traffic.

So, what is a tough climb? Welch Creek is a bad climb, double digit steep and unrelenting. Sierra Rd. is nearly as bad.

The last 4 miles of Mt Hamiliton are tough. Not as steep as Welch Creek or Sierra Rd, but steeper than Diablo and unrelenting.

V.

[jayjay]

On the Napa Side. In my other threads I am describing how I've let myself go, from really decent riding shape (and nearly 45 lbs lighter!) ten years ago. One rides from memory at this point, there's a lot of skill in attacking a hill from the heart, don't you agree? Oh, and another thing, I'm one of those who don't care to DriveToRide... silly as it may seem. I don't need to. My dream is to ride all over this mtn, across the valley , into the east mtns and back. There's a loop that I bet you all here could even help me figure out the mileage. (Another post) I have relaxed greatly in my attitude on my bikes, and believe that solo riding my own speed, 80's steel touring frame,with not-too-big panniers, describes it best. I love riding Cavedale, and Wall Road off of Trinity, for instance. The rougher and more winding it is the better, because speed is taken out of the ride, and I must ride slower, and then letting the ego out of the picture seriously makes riding a different experience. I use to be a speed freak with an ego, stupidly I hit 55mpr down Oakville Grade.... now I just am different.

[jayjay]

I've only done Veeder from the Napa side and it's been a while. Memory says it's not that bad, Dry Creek was tougher.
MP and I did Ink Grade on Thursday also not a bad climb. Howell is also not bad, neither is Mount George, but ride it early to avoid traffic.
V.

Yeah, the really hard climbs of MtVeeder are on the Sonoma side, and those are what I strive to be fit enough to ride. To begin and end a ride from home, down the steep side of Veeder, then up DryCreek and along Cavedale. That's one of the rides I look forward to getting in shape for. It would be about 20ish miles of pure brutal hillclimb/descent.

Another, my 'personal best' ride that I'm 'training' for from GroundZero is this : Down steep side of Veeder /over Oakville Grade/ across Oakville crossroad/ up SilveradoTrail to Howell Mtn/up into Popevly /over InkGrade/ across back PopeVly territory to the Monticello side/ and up and over Mt George/ back across valley to Veeder to home. I have no clue what the miles are for that loop, but maybe someone here knows.

[Bike Goddess]

The Eagles- Napa's cycling club should be able to give you some idea of distance. I suggest you contact them. Great group- I've ridden with them several times.

On Saturday mornings they used to have a women's ride. I'm not sure if they still do. You might check that one out too.

I agree solo riding is fun, but at first I'd do some of the ride route you are talking about with others just to get an idea of what's available in terms of bathroom and food (should you need that) as well as water.

[jayjay]

The Eagles- Napa's cycling club should be able to give you some idea of distance. I suggest you contact them. Great group- I've ridden with them several times.On Saturday mornings they used to have a women's ride. I'm not sure if they still do. You might check that one out too.

I agree solo riding is fun, but at first I'd do some of the ride route you are talking about with others just to get an idea of what's available in terms of bathroom and food (should you need that) as well as water.

Thanks BikeGoddess. I know the club very well, but avoid groups these days, mostly because I'm horribly out of shape . I just need to take all day and do these rides at my own pace, stopping as often as I can to enjoy myself , because I'm a SlowRider. I also know the area up in the Angwin/PopeVly territory fairly well, as well as the Trinity/Drycreek area, but just happen to not know the mileage of said loop. All I have to do is drive it , or calculate from maps (haven't found one yet that is close-up of the two regions, maps seem to be either Napa, or PopeValley) ~ I was just curious if any of you BayArea ladies have ever done that loop, or something close. Thanks again... this is fun !

Back to Veeder, I'm wondering who's been up Wall Rd ? Short but Sweet little diversion from DryCreek, isn't it ? I've heard that Boz Skaggs owns a place there, and Robin Williams use to live at the big mansion at the end.

[Veronica]

Another, my 'personal best' ride that I'm 'training' for from GroundZero is this : Down steep side of Veeder /over Oakville Grade/ across Oakville crossroad/ up SilveradoTrail to Howell Mtn/up into Popevly /over InkGrade/ across back PopeVly territory to the Monticello side/ and up and over Mt George/ back across valley to Veeder to home. I have no clue what the miles are for that loop, but maybe someone here knows.

That's a pretty ambitious ride you're talking about.

It's 40 miles, 2700 feet of climbing to start in St Helena, go over Sage Canyon, return on Ink Grade.

From the bottom of Mount George to the top of Howell Mt is 42 miles, 3200 feet of climbing. Of course in the mileage is there some back and forth across the valley, since I pulled it from my Knoxville Double data. But you'd definitely have all that climbing.

I would guess you're looking at a century plus with probably 7,000 feet of climbing.

V.

[jayjay]

That's a pretty ambitious ride you're talking about.
It's 40 miles, 2700 feet of climbing to start in St Helena, go over Sage Canyon, return on Ink Grade.
From the bottom of Mount George to the top of Howell Mt is 42 miles, 3200 feet of climbing. Of course in the mileage is there some back and forth across the valley, since I pulled it from my Knoxville Double data. But you'd definitely have all that climbing.
I would guess you're looking at a century plus with probably 7,000 feet of climbing.V.

You're right V, I think that is maybe too ambitious. I am now remember that the guess of 65mi or 75 mi would be more like going up Howell Mtn and Ink Grade, but coming back ChilesVly/SageCanyon and back across OakKnoll to the west side of Napa and back up the south side of Veeder. The more that I talk to the very experienced and sensible women on this forum the more I realize that my original little dream-goal might be a little far fetched , especially in my out-of-shape condition ~ though I'm giving myself a year to train. I don't care for flats, and I love the mtns, so that's the kind of ride I want to strive to do, if any distance at all. Do you think it's crazy for a woman to surpass her early 30's prime in her late 40's ?

I feel so unable to even imagine it now, and though I've ridden smaller sections of said loop, separately, many times , I just have never done this personal little 'Terrible Two'. I know you must understand that sort of yearning to prove to one's self?

[SadieKate]

I have no clue what the miles are for that loop, but maybe someone here knows.

Just map out whatever you want at www.bikely.com. The elevation data can be a bit off (usually too high) but the distance is right. Then you can design your own routes.

Do ask others about traffic conditions. Mt George can be pretty dangerous at certain times of the day -- especially once boat season starts.

I also highly recommend the Krebs map of the area.

[Bike Goddess]

JoBob- if you've ever done the Napa century, you've done Veeder. It's the first climb after which the route crosses over the Napa Valley to Conn Dam and then (in previous years) out to Aetna Springs.

[jobob]

Thanks BG! I don't think I've done the Napa century yet. So many rides, so little time.

[SadieKate]

Thanks BG! I don't think I've done the Napa century yet. So many rides, so little time.

Eh, I think you've done just about all of the metric route. Haven't you ridden Ink Grade? I know you've ridden all of the others. The best time of year is spring and fall. Colors, scents and temperature. You can get drunk on the aroma in the fall.

[jayjay]

JoBob- if you've ever done the Napa century, you've done Veeder. It's the first climb after which the route crosses over the Napa Valley to Conn Dam and then (in previous years) out to Aetna Springs.

Right, the first climb of the NapaTour. Incidentally, I use to work the rest stop at the Aetna springs, but hear they don't stop there anymore.

[Bike Goddess]

JayJay- The Eagles found out last fall that the Aetna Springs area is up for some kind of fansy smansy resort. I don't know what they have decided to do as an alternative.

JoBob- The Napa century is one of my favorite rides IF you do it early in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat up Ink Grade.

I did the metric last year for the first time and found that to be equally enjoyable. We had about 40 folks from our bike club show up which made for quite a site since most of us had our yellow club jerseys on.