Sierra Crest from Treasure Lakes 2 - 9/2016
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Bike Items for Sale - Here's a photo journal of bike parts that I'm trying to clear out of my workshop.
Shipping is $10 or (actual shipping charges + (optional) insurance charges + delivery confirmation fee), whichever is greater. I will try to find cheapest shipping option (e.g. USPS for US Domestic delivery) or will ship according to your carrier of preference.
Some of the parts are new, some are used. If you think my item pricing is off or you're buying multiple items, please make me an offer.
I am selling everything "as is". But, if you buy an item that is dead on arrival, damaged in shipment, or you believe you got a raw deal, please contact me as soon as possible so we can work out a solution. Given the time involved in selling these items I am not making a profit on this and am more interested in seeing components and parts I no longer use but that have remaining useful life to find a home with other bicycle enthusiasts, where they will be used instead of collecting dust in my workshop.
Contact me at the following . It will help if you include the links to photos of the items that interest you. All prices are in US Dollars.
Entire Blog - Display the entire Blog for all years. This is a large file!
East Dunne Ave., Morgan Hill, October 2006 - I rode from home down to Morgan Hill, then up East Dunne Ave. to Henry Coe State Park and back to Morgan Hill before returning home. This album includes photos only from the ride up and down East Dunne Ave.
John Peckham Memorial Ride, September 2006 - On Friday Sept. 8, a drunk driver speeding northeast on Old Page Mill struck and killed John Peckham, 31, who had ridden slightly ahead of his group on the Noon Ride heading in the opposite direction that day.
This memorial ride, in honor of John, started at the VA Health Care Facility in Palo Alto. After everyone was gathered in the parking lot, several hundred altogether including John's mother, we made our way slowly and silently to the place he was killed on Old Page Mill Road to leave flowers and wildflower seeds in his memory. Afterward we all continued on a short or long ride in the nearby hills.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 61.7 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 5700 feet |
| Total Time: | 6:48:58 |
| Riding Time: | 5:30:28 |
| Avg. Speed (moving): | 11.2 mph |
| Max. Speed: | 46.7 mph |
| Max. power to rear wheel: | 453 watts |
| Avg. power to rear wheel: | 133 watts |
| Total energy to rear wheel: | 2630 kJ (731 wh) |
Kings Creek, September 2006 - I rode from home in Sunnyvale and climbed directly to the highpoint on Skyline Blvd. near Mt. Bielawski. Then after making a quick detour to the top of Mt. Bielawski I rode down Kings Creek Truck Road, (a.k.a. Smead-Damond-McDonald Road), past the Buddhist retreat, Vajrapani Institute, then down Kings Creek Road, and returned home on routes I have documented in other albums.
Kings Creek Truck Road is steep and rough, but appears to be seldom traveled. The road passes mostly through Castle Rock State Park, although it passes through at least two inholdings: one owned by Isaacson near the top, and the other the Vajrapani Institute at the point where the road reaches Kings Creek.
At the institute I stopped to chat with some folks, Lisa and Venerable Jangchup, a Buddhist monk, who were cleaning up around the stupa following a festival the day before. They suggested I ride around the stupa for good luck. (The proper chant was provided by Lisa, the photographer.)
The weather was very warm at lower elevations: 87F, but relatively cool on the ridges, 62F, an unusually large temperature spread.
Return to Freedom, September 2006 - A group of nine recumbent cyclists and two unicyclists started at the Easy Racers Factory in Freedom, CA and rode out to Sunset State Beach, then south to Moss Landing for lunch. We returned through the hills of Prunedale, stopping at Gizdich Ranch for apple pie before returning to the Easy Racers shop through Corralitos.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 61.6 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 5230 feet |
Hollister, August 2006 - Ron Bobb and I met in Hollister and rode a couple of out-and-back routes on Comstock Road and Lone Tree Road in the hills to the east of town. We finished the ride with a loop up Santa Ana Valley and then Quien Sabe Roads to Tres Pinos and returned to Hollister on Southside Road along the mostly dry San Benito River.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 67.2 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 3760 feet |
Old Stage Road, August 2006 - Ron Bobb and I started at his place in Watsonville. We rode over to San Juan Bautista through Aromas, then we rode up the Old Stage Road (dirt and closed to motor traffic) over the northern tip of the Gabilans, then down into Salinas for a break. We returned to Watsonville through the artichoke fields of Castroville, then through the hills of Prunedale and Las Lomas.
Shoreline Park, August 2006 - This was a short ride with Zach and Noriko from home to Shoreline Park in Mountain View. What's unusual about this album is that it features Zach riding an upright bike.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 58.3 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 6500 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 2780 kJ (772 wh) |
Montevina, August 2006 - I started in downtown Sunnyvale and headed out to Los Altos Hills, climbing Moody and Page Mill Road. Then I rode south on Skyline Blvd. and descended Gist and Black Roads. Then I took the reverse direction of the usual traversal of El Sereno Ridge by climbing Montevina Road and descending Bohlman Road. I returned to Sunnyvale by riding through Saratoga on a portion of The Maze and by climbing over Sarahills, Pierce, Mt. Eden, and Stevens Canyon Rds.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 38.9 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 3860 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 1550 kJ (431 wh) |
Aptos Creek Fire Road, July 2006 - After getting a new sock pole made for my bike at the Easy Racers factory, I and Ron Bobb headed out for a late afternoon ride up Eureka Canyon Road to Buzzard Lagoon Road. We then rode through the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, over the top of Santa Rosalia Mountain (2600ft) and down the Aptos Creek Fire Road into Aptos. We returned to Freedom on Soquel Drive and Freedom Blvd.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 75.6 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 4190 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 2588 kJ (719 wh) |
Fort Ord, July 2006 - Ron Bobb and I rode from Watsonville south to Marina and then into Fort Ord via Reservation Road and East Garrison. We then toured through the reservation grounds on a zig-zagging course that included paved and unpaved roads. We stopped in Marina for a late lunch and returned to Watsonville through the Elkhorn Slough.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 95.1 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 8770 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 4107 kJ (1141 wh) |
Chalk Mountain, July 2006 - I started this ride in Sunnyvale, CA and rode over the hill to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. From the park headquarters I rode west on Gazos Creek Road to Sandy Point. Then I rode south on Whitehouse Canyon Road to Chalk Mountain Road. I rode Chalk Mountain Road up to Chalk Mountain and beyond to the western peak, where the views are less obstructed by vegetation. I returned to Sandy Point and then continued west on Gazos Creek Road as far as Cloverdale Road. From this point I rode home on the usual roads. I only included photos from the Big Basin segment as the rest of the route is documented in various other albums.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 96.9 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 7720 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 3885 kJ (1079 wh) |
Montara Mountain, July 2006 - I rode from downtown Sunnyvale north to Pacifica, then up Montara Mountain where the temperature climbed from a low of 59F to 94F once I got above the fog. I then rode down to Half Moon Bay for a late lunch. I returned home up the Purissima Creek and Borden Hatch Mill Trails, Tunitas Creek Road, Star Hill Road, Swett Road, Skyline Blvd, and then descended the Spring Ridge Trail through the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve.
Lyresa's Hills Candid Group Photo, July 2006 - Candid photo of most of the participants of Lyresa Pleskovitch's ride in the hills of the south-central Santa Cruz Mountains on July 4, 2006.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 78.8 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 8000 feet |
| Total Time: | 10:29:39 |
| Riding Time: | 7:35:54 |
| Avg. Speed (moving): | 10.37 mph |
| Max. Speed: | 47.6 mph |
Olmo Trail, July 2006 - Ron Bobb and I started in downtown Sunnyvale and headed out one of the usual routes to Big Basin Redwoods State Park to the top of China Grade Road and halfway down the South Butano Fire Trail.
At the junction with Olmo Trail we turned left and descended Olmo Trail over the bumps and dips of Olmo Ridge before descending into Butano State Park. We returned to Sunnyvale on the main roads after stopping for a snack at the store in Loma Mar.
The photos include only the portion on Olmo Trail as I have documented the rest of the route in various other albums.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 115.9 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 8200 feet |
| Total Time: | 13:17:19 |
| Riding Time: | 9:57:06 |
| Avg. Speed (moving): | 11.6 mph |
| Max. Speed: | 42.1 mph |
| Max. power to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 395 watts |
| Avg. power to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 122 watts |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 4364 kJ (1212 wh) |
San Benito, Clear Creek, and Idria, May 27, 2006 - On the drive south to Paicines, CA rain pelted my windshield. In the gradually lightening sky I could see angry clouds swirling about Mt. Hamilton and the hills to the south. Knowing that that San Benito County could be hot this time of the year I had planned to do this ride on a cool day. The weather reports said nothing about rain, yet it was raining.
Fortunately, the clouds seemed less dense to the west, and with the prevailing northwest winds blowing the weather in the opposite direction, I expected this would all pass by the time I was on the bike. It did.
Ron Bobb and I had planned to meet at 7:00a in Paicines, CA near the store at the intersection of CA25 and Panoche Road as we had on our prior rides in San Benito County. A couple of minor events conspired to delay our departure until nearly 8:00a. Fortunately, this was just long enough to allow the weather to blow eastward. Perhaps some of the rain would dampen the dirt roads we were to ride later in the day.
Our route was inspired by a few ride reports written in recent years by Jobst Brandt (1, 2, 3) of his ride through this area and by my own curiosity after perusing a AAA roadmap of the area. We would ride south on CA25, then detour on Old Hernandez Road before taking Coalinga Road (County Road 109) over a short but moderately steep ridge into Hernandez Valley. Our route would then climb the dirt Clear Creek Road through the off-road vehicle recreation area to Clear Creek Summit before descending into the old mining ghost town of Idria, site of the abandoned New Idria quicksilver mine. We would then return to Paicines on New Idria and Panoche Roads.
Detail Maps: Old Hernandez Road, Lorenzo Vasquez Canyon to Hernandez Valley, Clear Creek and Idria
(Open the full-size images to see the details in the maps.)
We headed south on CA25 under cloudy skies and cool temperatures with the aid of a gentle tailwind. Traffic, most of it going to Pinnacles National Monument, vans and SUVs loaded to the windows with coolers and sleeping bags, passed us occasionally as we rode past miles of vineyards. A red-tailed hawk screeched and chased an interloping crow overhead. By the time we crested the hill north of the Bear Valley CDF station, the clouds had broken, allowing the morning sun to peek through.
We continued south through Bear Valley past the east entrance to Pinnacles. Bear Valley is shaped like the top of a "Y"; the stem and low point of the valley points southwest through Pinnacles. Water falling in this valley eventually flows into the Salinas River.
After we passed the Pinnacles entrance we began a mild climb along the other side of the "Y", a climb that steepened shortly before a notch, the east side of which took us down into Dry Lake Valley. We turned left on San Benito Lateral that took us to Old Hernandez Road that heads south and upstream along the meanders of the San Benito River.
Old Hernandez Road climbs and descends along the spurs of Buck Ridge to the west and is not as flat as it appears on the map, about 700 feet of climbing altogether.
A few miles from San Benito Lateral, Old Hernandez Road crosses a new culvert and becomes a well-graded dirt road on the floodplain. In another mile we reached an unpaved ford that we could not ride through the San Benito River. We both walked our bikes through the ford, although Ron gave riding a try after we saw a motorcyclist ride through. As the morning air was still cool we removed our socks (and insoles) first, but walked through in shoes, not barefoot. If the water had been only a few inches high we could have done this without getting our feet wet as we discovered that our shoes were watertight. Once flooded, though, our shoes did not drain unless we tipped them upside-down.
The dirt part of Old Hernandez road eventually became paved as we neared its southern end. Somewhere along the southern end of Old Hernandez Road I saw frightened to flight a large black bird with a bare head that had been perched at the top of one of the taller trees. This bird had at least twice the wingspan of a vulture. It flew off behind some trees before I could photograph it, but I distinctly saw a skin-covered head and a tuft of feathers around the base of its neck. I think it was a California condor, but it could have been an enormous turkey vulture. It disappeared too quickly for me to be sure.
We turned left at Coalinga Road and continued along the San Benito River, past the Beaver Dam CDF station that was closed (although the residence behind the gate appeared to be occupied), and began the gradually steeper climb up Lorenzo Vasquez Canyon.
As I climbed I watched a particularly handsome red-tailed hawk circle lazily over us, first on one side then on the other side of the canyon. I thought of stopping to get a picture, but with my point and shoot camera, I’d have to get lucky and have him come close first.
Near the top of the climb at milepost 11.34 the road crosses a small but unusually clean-looking creek, unsullied by algae blooms. We stopped here to top off our water supply as good water would not be available for another 50+ miles. (I used a PUR Hiker pump filter that I had packed for just such an occasion.) I learned later that this creek is fed from Sweetwater Spring about a half mile up the mountainside. Ron thought the water tasted good. I agreed but detected a touch more salt than I am accustomed to, like drinking water out of a nearly spent water softener. It certainly was not as salty as the water we got at Mercey Hot Springs on our ride earlier in the year.
After climbing out of Lorenzo Vasquez Canyon the road descends sharply to Laguna Valley then climbs a low ridge before descending to the edge of Hernandez Reservoir and Hernandez Valley.
We rode past verdant Hernandez Valley for less then two miles before turning left onto Clear Creek Road. Our first obstacle was a rideable paved ford through the San Benito River, our last crossing of this river, but the first of many such crossings of Clear Creek that we would make.
Clear Creek Road ascends through the Clear Creek Management Area, a popular off-road vehicle park managed by BLM (Bureau of Land Management). Clear Creek itself appears clear compared to San Carlos Creek on the other side of the ridge, but signs warning of asbestos-laden soil and abundant mine tailings and other mining activity, not to mention the motorbike traffic in the area, made me glad that we filled up our water at Sweetwater Spring.
Clear Creek Road climbs imperceptibly up Clear Creek Canyon to the Oak Flat campground. After the campground signs warn that the county-maintained road ends. The canyon narrows, and the road becomes rougher and steeper, climbing steeply above the creek for a while before plunging down and crossing it at a ford. It was on the longest and steepest of these uphills that we were forced to walk for about 200 yards, the second time of three that we had to walk our bikes during the day.
We passed several groups of motorbikers. Fortunately, we could hear them for about 10-15 seconds before they came within sight. These groups were not so frequent as to be annoying, and they were all with one exception courteous. (Ron almost got nailed by the leader of the first group we encountered coming down the hill.) Most of them waved. A few said, "Whoa! What was that?!", as they went by.
We saw the rangers at one of the campgrounds further up the canyon. They were surprised when we told them we were going "over the hill to Idria." I asked if the road was open all the way, and they said, "Yeah, it's a county road all the way over." One of them insisted on taking our picture, saying he had never seen bikes like ours in that area in all the years he's worked there.
Once past the narrows of the canyon the road climbs more gradually alongside the creek, crossing it several times through paved fords, all of them rideable. At several places the road passes near large outcroppings of serpentine rock.
We passed several open areas, "barrens", where off-roading is not restricted to established roads or trails. Some of the steep, barren hillsides appeared to be popular exercises for the motorbikers, although we saw none attempting these while we were there.
Eventually the road leaves the creek and begins a steady climb of several long switchbacks. As we rose out of the canyon the view opened up. We could see down the canyon where we had ridden, across to Picachos Ridge (4688ft and 4657ft) and Alta Peak (4709ft) that divide the watershed of Clear Creek from that of Sawmill Creek on the other side and to the east, the summit of San Benito Mountain (5241ft) and Clear Creek Summit (4441ft) we would have to cross.
Along one of these switchbacks near the top we saw a car coming down the road, and in the car was Ron's dentist (and fellow woodwind player), Grant. Sometimes the world seems small.
When we got to the summit we couldn't find a summit sign, so we used the direction sign as a backdrop for a couple of pictures (1, 2). From the summit we could see far below the dry reddish Ciervo Hills north of Idria, and beyond the cultivated fields of the San Joaquin Valley were clearly visible far below. It was then that I was aware of our elevation (4441 ft) and why the air felt cold in the light breeze now that we had stopped climbing.
The continuation of Clear Creek Road descends the north side of the ridge in dramatic fashion for the first 3/4-mile and 700 feet of drop. Much of it would be too steep to ride up, the surface being too loose for good traction. But, downhill was quite rideable or if loose, Drais-able*. We did not ride fast, not wanting to miss good picture opportunities, and there were several: San Carlos Peak, dramatic views, large barrens, and a panoramic view over Idria.
Prior to each sharp bend the surface of the road was wrinkled by moguls about eight to twelve inches deep spaced approximately six feet apart. These made for interesting riding. Most of the time I picked a line that avoided the deeper ones, especially as some of these had a muddy bottom, but once I allowed myself to go from one to the next at a faster pace. I found that their period was about equal to the wheelbase of my bike (72 inches), so that both front and rear wheels rose and fell together. I was able to suspend myself between my feet and my back and let the bike rise and fall underneath me, the seat slapping me lightly on my backside at the peaks of these moguls, although if I did not take care, the seat would slap my jewels.
The road descended more gradually after the junction with the road that climbs along the upper reach of San Carlos Creek. Where the road levels off we heard a nearby report of automatic gunfire: rat-tat-tat-tat, the noise echoing off the cliff on our left. We were hoping that's all that was bouncing off the cliff. This was no shotgun. We rode quickly around the next corner and out of a direct line of whatever was being fired.
Along one of the tightly spaced switchbacks we walked our bikes for the second time past a mud bog. Slightly further down the road we passed a when-is-a-door-not-a-door door of one of the mineshafts. The void felt vaguely threatening as if unseen eyes were peering out at us.
About a half-mile before we arrived in Idria the road became steep and rocky. This time we draised* about 20 yards of the steepest, loosest stuff.
At an overlook of the town we beheld an ugly pool of acid mine drainage located directly behind the old smelter. The red/burnt orange color is apparently from iron oxide, not mercury. This is the "tomato soup" one sees flowing down San Carlos Creek.
The town of Idria itself appears unchanged from our prior visit in December 2004. We looked around for Dan Kingstone-Hunt, the town's erstwhile caretaker, but neither he nor any sign of his dogs could be seen or heard. I took pictures of some of the buildings (Post Office, Mine Rescue, and General Store) and the main street, but just as I took the last picture before we left town my memory card filled up. Fortunately, I have pictures of the smelter and our return route available in the 2004 photo album.
We descended the mostly-paved New Idria Road as it dropped 1000 feet steeply through the narrow canyon and out into Vallecitos Valley. Where the road makes its bend to the west and leaves the shelter of the hills, the headwind that would accompany us most of the way home hit us full force. Even though the route was now familiar, we still had almost 50 miles to go.
We slowly climbed the gradual 400 feet to Syncline Divide into the roaring headwind, managing 11-12 mph. To break the monotony we watched numerous ground squirrels dart across the road in front of us. If we listened we could hear the rustling of the grass next to the road as warning that a squirrel was about to appear. Several of them squeaked warnings as we went by. I had visions of a squirrel climbing up under the fairing when one of them crossed in front of me and ran next to my front wheel for some distance before turning away and rushing into the grass by the road.
The descent to and through Griswold Canyon was just steep enough to counter the headwind, making the road feel level. When we exited the canyon into Panoche Valley we enjoyed a tailwind while the road tacked east, but the headwind hit us again, this time stronger, when the road rounded a bend and began to head again north and west.
We stopped at the Panoche Inn for a break. From the porch outside we could hear the sounds of laughter and billiards from within. I felt like I was walking into a different era. Several guys were at the bar in full western dress: Stetson hats, plaid shirts, jeans, and shoes with spurs. They were flirting with a couple women dressed similarly.
The Panoche Inn feels initially like the Junction Cafe, but the clientele here appeared to be predominantly country folks who work on a ranch.
Ron and I both decided to stay for a while to take a break from the wind. We each ordered a small meal of sandwiches, chips, and soft drinks from the friendly couple who run the place. Maybe the wind would weaken as the sun went down. We were in no rush as we had packed small lights in case we didn't finish by dark.
After our break we continued northwest on Panoche Road into the now weaker wind, but directly into the setting sun past Llanda and up to Panoche Pass. At the pass we stopped to put on our taillights. I was hoping to get through the Tres Pinos Creek narrows before needing headlights. The moon would not be out tonight.
After the sun went behind the ridge, I witnessed a brilliant orange sunset until I remembered that my dark glasses, being burnt orange tint, made the sunset appear more saturated than it was.
While riding through the narrows I saw a great horned owl circle overhead, land in a tree, swivel its head, and peer down briefly at me, its "horns" visible in silhouette against the lighter sky, before taking off again on its broad, silent wings. I saw another great horned owl later on down the road circling over the fields looking for a meal.
As sunset turned to twilight I turned on my headlight and enjoyed the last 10 miles back to Paicines breathing in the sweet odor of drying grass, the scent of California.
Information on Idria and the New Idria mine can be found here.
Information on the Clear Creek Management Area can be found here.
*Draising - named after Baron Karl von Drais inventor of the Laufmaschine or dandy-horse, propelled by the rider pushing along the ground with feet as in walking or running. On our bikes Ron and I draised only for balance not propulsion when descending steep, loose surfaces, but the technique can also be used to move slowly through tight or crowded spaces. This technique can be used to teach children to balance on bicycles without using training wheels.
| Bike Ridden: | Rotator Pursuit |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 95.8miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 8010 feet |
| Total Time: | 10:54:00 |
| Riding Time: | 8:10:03 |
| Avg. Speed (moving): | 11.7 mph |
| Max. Speed: | 48.0 mph |
| Max. power to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 506 watts |
| Avg. power to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 140 watts |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 4145 kJ (1151 wh) |
Tour of the Unknown Coast, May 13, 2006 - Ron Bobb and I towed the Particleboard Palace up to the campground and the Humboldt County Fairground in picturesque Ferndale, CA so that we could participate in the Tour of the Unknown Coast, a 100-mile loop through big redwoods, up and down some long and steep hills, through hidden valleys and along a remote segment of California coastline between Point Gorda and Cape Mendocino.
Maps: Overview, Complete, Panther Gap Detail, and Lost Coast Detail
We started off just behind the lead bunch who were racing the course. The first ten miles were the easiest as we rolled through fields along Grizzly Bluff Road and later on the rollercoaster of Blue Slide Road until we got to Rio Dell.
After passing along the quiet main street of Rio Dell we crossed the Eel River on the Murphy Memorial Bridge into Scotia, a company town for Pacific Lumber. The town and the factory were both quiet as we rode by.
Our route took us onto the wide shoulder of US-101 for a few miles until we reached the northern end of Avenue of the Giants. We proceeded south along the Avenue past the Immortal Tree, up to Redcrest, then down alongside the Eel River.
At the old site of Dyerville we crossed under US-101 and headed up into Bull Creek Basin on Mattole Road through the magnificent old redwoods of the Rockefeller Grove. The closest analog I can recall is the lower reach of North Escape Road through Big Basin Redwoods State Park, but these groves were larger, and the trees seemed larger, too. The feeling was like that of riding through a cathedral.
Eventually Mattole Road left the giant redwoods and began a long, somewhat tedious climb to Panther Gap. We paused for a few minutes at the top of the climb before starting the descent to the Mattole River Valley. On the way down, we stopped a few more times to take pictures.
Mattole Road descends gradually at first, but toward the bottom of the descent, the road gets steeper. After several switchbacks we suddenly found ourselves at the Honeydew Bridge that crosses the Mattole River.
After crossing the bridge we continued down river over several of what seemed to me to be gratuitous hills. I wondered why the road didn't follow the river but chose instead to climb high above its banks, sometimes far from the river itself.
At some length we reached our lunch stop at Arthur W Way County Park tucked into a sheltered bend of the river. Ron had broken a spoke on his rear wheel while climbing over one of these gratuitous hills and spent some time with the mechanic installing a spare spoke.
While we were at the lunch stop, Randall Braun and Carrie Rose arrived. We had dined together the prior night at Hotel Ivanhoe in Ferndale with Randall and Carrie, but we were not riding as a group as they were riding at a more relaxed pace than we.
After leaving the lunch stop we continued west on Mattole Road over a longer hill and crossed the Mattole River for the last time before riding through Petrolia, the site of the first oil well in California (1861).
West of Petrolia the road climbs another shorter hill past a curious emu before descending to the Lost Coast between Point Gorda and Cape Mendocino.
We had good weather for the day, so the coast was clear but windy. The sea was a cloudy brown near the coast, the beaches were short and of coarse sand, and the hills to the east rose precipitously from the coast and showed evidence of severe erosion. It was clear that these beaches were not like those around Monterey Bay.
After a windy ride north along the coast we reached The Wall. The Wall presents itself as no surprise as it can be seen on approach from a great distance away. I stopped for a few minutes in front of Ocean House to consider the task ahead.
Mattole Road abruptly leaves the coast by climbing a 20% grade for the first quarter mile through its first hairpin turn. Usually one must climb this thing into a strong, gusty wind, and today was no exception. As I looked up the road I could see a few cyclists weaving across the full width of the road.
The hardest part for me was neither the steepness of the grade nor its length. But this combined with the gusty wind striking my faired bike broadside made the climb an armful. At 3 mph climbing speed a strong side-gust would be enough to tip me over before I could counter-balance. The fairing that had been helpful when riding into the wind along the coast was now a wind scoop.
Somehow I managed to make it up around the first turn without having to put a foot down or to walk the bike. Unfortunately I had trouble higher up the road where some poorly graded patchwork combined with an inopportune gust of wind forced my foot down. Impossible to restart on the grade I had to carry the bike not more than twenty feet past the steepest bit before restarting. Further up the road a steep gravel patch where I lost rear wheel traction had me making the same maneuver again.
Once I got to the top of The Wall, I descended its equally steep north side down to sea level at Capetown and the crossing of the Bear River. On the way down to Capetown I stopped to photograph the long switchbacks of the Endless Climb over the Bear River Ridge. I would be riding up these a few minutes later.
The Endless Climb did eventually come to an end and was not as difficult as the switchbacks made it look from the other side of the valley. What made this climb, and to some extent the climb up The Wall, more bearable were the incredible views that could be enjoyed if one allowed oneself to look about rather than to focus solely on the road ahead.
The Endless Climb isn't without its chicane. The climb reaches a false summit where it crosses the Bear River Ridge. The road then descends for a mile or so before climbing again to a higher altitude where a hazy view of Humboldt Valley can be seen before commencing the final descent into Ferndale.
Once back in Ferndale I left the official route so that I could return down the main street on my way back to the Fairgrounds.
| Bike Ridden: | Gold Rush |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 61.7miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 4500 feet |
| Total Time: | 6:02:27 |
| Riding Time: | 7:41:31 |
| Avg. Speed (moving): | 10.2 mph |
| Max. Speed: | 55.7 mph |
| Max. power to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 412 watts |
| Avg. power to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 132 watts |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 2824 kJ (784 wh) |
Mission-Allison-Monument Traverse, May 6, 2006 - This weekend the weather promised to be much as it was last weekend, but I awoke relatively late and didn't feel like riding long miles. Back in 1992 I had ridden up to Mission Peak and down. Since then the through trail between Mission Peak Regional Preserve and Ed Levin Park has opened. I had always wanted to traverse this impressive treeless ridge that towers above south Fremont and Milpitas by bike since it was a bit too long for me to hike comfortably in a day.
Maps: Overview, Complete, and Detail
I left home after 10:00a and took a winding route through Sunnyvale's Baylands Park and the northern section of the San Tomas Aquino Creek trail. After a rather long detour on Tasman, Vista Montana, and Headquarters Drive, I continued on the trail east of Zanker Rd. and north of CA237 past the new power plant.
At McCarthy Ranch Rd. I continued on the new Coyote Creek Trail as far as Dixon Landing Rd. The trail runs between Coyote Creek and the old McCarthy Ranch, some of which appears still to be a going concern. At Dixon Landing Rd. I crossed I-880 and then headed north on Warm Springs Rd. to Warren Ave. Warren Ave. passes under I-680 and climbs a short steep hill, at the top of which one has a magnificent view of the west face of Mission Peak.
At Mission Blvd. I turned right and continued up to the San Jose Mission before turning right on the first climb of the day: Mill Creek Rd. Similar to Morgan Territory Rd. and Morrison Canyon Rd., Mill Creek Rd. is another minor road that climbs a deep canyon in the east bay hills. This one ascends Mill Creek on the east side of Mission Peak.
I rode Mill Creek Rd. to its end and then returned down the road about a half-mile to a low point in the barbed wire fence near the gate to the Mission Peak Trail. Unfortunately, the park district doesn't provide a walk-around or an easy way to get past the gates on Mill Creek Rd., presumably to discourage access to the preserve from this road.
Once I got inside the Mission Peak Open Space preserve I rode on a cow path and then a short distance across a meadow before I got to the fire road that marks the trail leading to the summit. The fire road climbs steeply, sometimes too steeply to get sufficient traction, up to the top of the ridge separating Fremont from the Mill Creek drainage. The top of this trail is marked by a lone outhouse placed visibly on the ridge.
I continued up the Mission Peak Trail, but I did not go all the way to the summit. I had been to the summit of Mission Peak in December, and there were too many hikers about for me to feel like taking my bike up there, even walking/carrying it. (Note: Bikes are forbidden on the footpath to the summit.) But for visitors who have never been to the summit, the detour is well worth the effort.
Mission Peak gets by far the most traffic in the area. I was never out of sight of a hiking party until I veered off of the beaten trail to the summit. Once I had started on the Eagle Creek Trail I saw very few hikers or bikers until I reached the picnic grounds at Ed Levin Park.
Eagle Creek Trail descends gradually along the east face of Mission Peak before making several short steep upward pitches, passing the Eagle Creek Backpackers Campground, before regaining the saddle between Mt. Allison and Mission Peak. Looking back I could see the dramatic south ridge of Mission Peak, the profile of which is like the back of one of the beasts seen grazing its slopes.
I continued upward toward Mt. Allison, passing groups of grazing and resting cattle. About a mile later I reached a junction. The road to the right appeared to climb to Mt. Allison, so I turned right. The road was partly paved, but became unpaved with large gravel at the steepest uphill pitches. After a couple of these short, steep ramps I reached the summit of Mt. Allison.
The summit of the mountain is covered with antennas locked behind cyclone fences, but the USGS marker at the true summit is accessible. After enjoying the views of the south bay, which were hazier and more obscured than ideal, I descended the summit road and then resumed my ride south toward Monument Peak, where I was passed going the other way by a pair of dirt motor bikers.
When I reached the Monument Peak area I discovered several widely spaced antenna farms, including one massive antenna anchored in a notch at the source of Scott Creek, and several prominent peaks in the area. I couldn't remember which of the peaks was Monument Peak and which were unnamed nearby peaks, so I rode up each of them. I started with the southernmost peak (which I learned later was the true Monument Peak), then the northern peak (which was the highest), and then the western peak nearest to the Agua Caliente Trail, the trail I would descend into Ed Levin Park.
The ride down the Agua Caliente Trail was an adventure. First of all the trail is very steep, and second, the trail is pock marked from cattle having used the trail when it was muddy. The trail looks green and smooth, but the grass hides what can only be described as continuous post-holes in the trail.
In places the trail was covered by a slide. Fortunately, most of the mud had dried out, but this made descending a slow, uncomfortable affair. Descending too fast made the front of the bike airborne much of the time and difficult to steer, descending too slow was just plain uncomfortable as the bike threatened to come to a complete stop as the wheels went into some of the larger holes. In other places, the trail was muddy, but fortunately, these spots weren't too frequent. The trail was also overgrown in places, with thistle and grass growing six feet high in places.
Near the bottom of the trail, just beyond a mud bog I passed a large swath of wildflowers. Ground squirrels were everywhere. I also saw one jackrabbit, one wild turkey, and several groups of cattle, including one ornery looking bull who eyed me as I went by. Nevertheless I was happy to be back on asphalt when I got to the bottom.
I descended through Ed Levin Park to Calaveras Rd., turned left and climbed Calaveras Rd. to Felter Rd. and to the top of Sierra Road before descending into San Jose, stopping briefly to photograph the slide that had devoured more than half of the road about a mile from the bottom of the hill. I was glad that I could get by the slide as I probably didn't have enough time to climb back up the hill if I wanted to get home before dark.
My trip back took Piedmont to Cropley, Capitol, Tasman, the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail south to Central Expressway, then back to Sunnyvale.
| Bike Ridden: | Rotator Pursuit |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 119.7 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 8000 feet |
| Total Time: | 10:16:00 |
| Riding Time: | 8:33:41 |
| Avg. Speed (moving): | 13.8 mph |
| Max. Speed: | 48.6 mph |
| Max. power to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 408 watts |
| Avg. power to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 144 watts |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 4460 kJ (1239 wh) |
Mount Hamilton Loop Clockwise, April 29, 2006 - Not having registered for the annual Mount Hamilton Challenge this year, I decided nevertheless to ride this classic loop that includes visits to San Jose, Mount Hamilton, Livermore, Sunol, and Milpitas. Since I wasn't constrained by the ride organizers' schedule, I decided to start at the leisurely hour of 0900 and ride the loop clockwise, reverse of the Challenge direction.
I headed out across Santa Clara and San Jose to Milpitas, climbed the steep part of Calaveras Road, then the twists and turns of Calaveras Road as it headed north along Calaveras Reservoir. I stopped a couple of times to take pictures of some wild turkeys near the road (1, 2).
While I was enjoying an uncommon tailwind on the northernmost section of Calaveras Road I decided to take Vallecitos Road to Livermore instead of the usual route through Pleasanton. Vallecitos Road required a short trip on I-680 followed by a couple miles of wide-shouldered road, followed by a short climb without a shoulder, then a fast descent into Livermore. Traffic was moderate but polite, even where the shoulder disappeared.
When I got to Livermore I took the southern route across the city to South Livermore Avenue, then stopped to take a short break at the restrooms at the Little League field before starting the long climb up Mines Road
Along Mines Road I found myself amongst cyclists riding the DMD, an organized ride that climbs both Mounts Diablo and Hamilton and a few other climbs. I also started seeing cyclists on the Mount Hamilton Challenge route heading the other way.
The first climb on Mines Road is moderately steep, but after about 800 feet of rise, the grade lessens and becomes almost pleasant. By the time I reached Mines Road the wind direction had changed and was now blowing from the north, almost strongly enough to push me up the hill.
I stopped briefly along Arroyo Mocho to say, "Hi," to Lisa Antonino and John Langbein who were riding the Mount Hamilton Challenge. While I was stopped I saw Tom Lawrence riding the DMD heading up the hill in my direction, but he didn’t seem to want to stop and break his rhythm.
The wind had died by the time I got to Eylar Summit, and I could tell that the temperature had gone up at least ten degrees F. The descent into Blackbird Valley looked different from this direction, and the climb out the south side was easier, being a short bump up to the broad curve near the source of Sweetwater Creek.
The Junction Cafe was bustling with activity. Aside from the normal weekend crowd, the DMD had set up their lunch stop at the tables outside. I managed to get a seat at the bar and ordered lunch. I was rather looking forward to sitting down and eating some real food instead of energy bars and water the rest of the day.
About 45 minutes later I was heading south through San Antonio Valley. I stopped several times to photograph animals or wildflowers, but I noticed that this year they were less variegated than last year. As the road heads south it descends into Upper San Antonio Valley where the wildflowers are usually the most spectacular. Compare with last year's display.
San Antonio Valley Road eventually leaves the valley and heads over the ridge to the west, followed by a long gradual descent along Arroyo Bayo, one of the sources of Del Valle Reservoir in Livermore.
But, the easy riding eventually comes to an end. The road climbs a false summit between Arroyo Bayo and Isabel Creek before making the hardest climb of the day, 2000 feet in about 4 miles, the climb up Copernicus Peak, often called the backside of Mount Hamilton, seen here as this frowning ridge that must be ridden over to get home.
The first half of the climb is the more difficult, being hotter and slightly steeper. At the halfway point marked by a spring by the road at mile marker 3, I stopped to chat with Dennis Del Norte who owns the land uphill and downhill of this spring and had just finished cleaning silt from its plumbing. But, I didn't take on any water here as I still had enough to get to the summit, and I didn't want to carry the extra weight.
About a mile from the top of the climb I came upon a small rest stop for the DMD. One of their guys offered me a can of V8 juice. At first I refused, not wanting to freeload their supplies since I hadn't entered their event. But he insisted, so I couldn't refuse. He asked me if I was hot in there (under the fairing). I told him that the fairing is more like an umbrella than a jacket.
By this time the sun was beating less directly on the road and combined with the altitude, the temperature was comfortably in the 60's F. I stopped briefly for water at the spigot on the outside wall of the old dining hall where San Antonio Valley Road becomes Mount Hamilton Road.
The descent down Mount Hamilton and the trip home across the valley went without incident, and I arrived home shortly after 1900.
| Bike Ridden: | Rotator Pursuit |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 108 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 4500 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 3250 kJ (903 wh) |
Panoche and Mercey Hot Springs, April 2006 - Ron Bobb and I started from Paicines at the junction of Panoche Road and CA25. We rode east up Tres Pinos Creek, over Panoche Pass and down into Panoche Valley. We continued past the Panoche Inn and veered left where New Idria Road veers right. We continued for another couple of miles until the pavement turned to dirt and a sign indicated that the road was closed ahead. Some other day after inquiring locally about the road condition we might try to ride through to I-5.
The unpaved section of Panoche Road appears to run along the drainage (Silver Creek) from the New Idria mine, the source of most of the mercury now found in San Francisco Bay.
We turned around and returned up the valley to Little Panoche Road that we rode north over Glaucophane Ridge into Little Panoche Valley. We had been anticipating a nice, sit-down lunch at one of the food concessions at I-5 and Little Panoche Road. Unfortunately, when we arrived at I-5 we saw only a patch of dirt, a couple of lonely portapotties and an overpass. We were so disappointed. It was then I remembered that the food concessions were at Panoche Road and I-5, twelve miles to the south. That gave us another reason to explore the unpaved length of Panoche Road at some future date.
We would have to settle for Clif Bars for lunch. Fortunately the day was relatively cool, and we had enough water to get back to Mercey Hot Springs, tucked into the far western corner of Fresno County some 12 miles back up the road.
We stopped at Mercey Hot Springs while Ron inquired about camping at some future time. We refilled our water but discovered that the local water supply, while potable, was quite salty, much like diluted seawater. Given that we were exercising, this was probably not harmful. Still I noticed at the end of the ride that I did not crave salty food as I normally do after a long ride.
| Bike Ridden: | Rotator Pursuit |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 80 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 5500 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 3312 kJ (920 wh) |
Pescadero, April 2006 - A ride to Pescadero, then north on the coast highway (CA1), then back over the hill on Tunitas Creek Road.
| Bike Ridden: | Rotator Pursuit |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 80 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 5000 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 3283 kJ (912 wh) |
Calaveras LDT, February 2006 - I rode from home to east San Jose to meet the Western Wheelers. We then rode up Sierra Road, down Felter Road, then north on Calaveras Road. We did an extra climb up and down (eight miles altogether) pretty and steep Welch Creek Road before continuing north to Sunol. I left the group at this point and continued west on CA84 through Niles Canyon, through Fremont, across the Dumbarton Bridge, and back home.
Tour of California: Stage 3, February 2006 - A 30km individual time-trial, this race started at the IBM facility on Bailey Road in San Jose, climbed Bailey Road, then went south on McKean, Uvas, and Oak Glen Roads before returning to San Jose on Willow Springs Road and Santa Teresa Blvd. I took most of my photos at the top of Bailey Road and later at the intersection of Bailey Road and Santa Teresa Blvd. as the racers were motoring home.
Tour of California: Stage 2, February 2006 - I rode with Gary Wong from Sunnyvale across the Dumbarton Bridge, through Niles Canyon and onto the race course, taking Calaveras Road and Felter Road to the top of Sierra Road where I took most of the race photos.
Tour of California: Prologue, February 2006 - A trip to San Francisco with Randall Hull and Debra McMananon to watch the individual time trial from Justin Herman Plaza to the top of Telegraph Hill.
| Bike Ridden: | Rotator Pursuit |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 90 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 4000 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 3100 kJ (861 wh) |
Morgan Hill LDT, February 2006 - A ride from Uvas Reservoir across Gilroy and around the Canada Road/Leavesley Road loop, then north to Metcalf and San Felipe Roads before returning to Uvas Reservoir.
| Bike Ridden: | Rotator Pursuit |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 85.9 miles |
| Cumulative climbing: | 3370 feet |
| Total energy to rear wheel (PowerTap): | 2750 kJ (764 wh) |
Winter Ride Around the Reservoirs, January 2006 - We started at the Boulanger in Los Altos and enjoyed a leisurely ride to Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Almaden for lunch, followed by a ride south to Calero Reservoir. The group turned back at Calero, but since I wasn't as far from home I continued south and rode the usual loop past Uvas Reservoir, over the Sycamore bump, and on Oak Glen Road past Chesbro Reservoir before returning home.
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