Mt. Hamilton - 2nd Attempt 1st Success

Today I road from the (Silicon Valley Floor) to the top of Mt. Hamilton. All told it was a 60 mile ride with about 6,000 feet of climbing. I met a group of friends who drove their bikes to the base of the mountain and then we all started the climb together. It was a bit more challenging this time because it goes from a relativly easy climb to a steeper climb during the last three miles and of course the road gets narrower the higher up you go. It was the last one up but still I made it in one piece.

Wine Country Century

This ride starts at the Luther Burbank Center in the city of Santa Rosa, 60 miles north of San Franciso. The ride is sponsored by the Santa Rosa Cycling Club. There are the standard family rides, metric centuy and the century ride. The ride meanders through some beautiful countryside; a fantastic mix of farmlands and vinyards, forests and riverside views.

I would have to say the food (for being billed as a non-gourmet ride) is probably the best that I have had this year. I mean you have the standard orange slices, bananas, whole wheat fig newtons and cookies, but the broiled dilled potatoes were great and the choice of sandwhiches for lunch were definately worth the stop.

One downer though...was the condition of the roads in the area. I know it is very rural in some areas and the heavy agricultural machinery might have an effect on it but wow...I did not expect the jarring that I got along the way. Only two really hilly portions of the ride however, one being the well known Chalk Hill, about five miles from the end of the ride.