DRietz

Livermore to San Jose.

I figure that I'll head to Mt. Hamilton because Sierra is going to be packed for the finish.

Are there any parking areas or offshoots along the Mt. Hamilton ascent? What about near the base so I could ride up?

How early would I have to start to drive the actual stage route until Mt. Hamilton?

Just trying to figure out logistics.

UmneyDurak

Well it says the start is at 11:45 am, and finish 3:15-3:35. I think they should hit the bottom of Mt. Hamilton sometime after 1. My plan is start in the morning ride over Mt. Hamilton, descent on the other side then slowly start climbing back up and let them catch me.

I figured I'll kill two birds with one stone: see the stage, and pre ride part of the course for Mt. Hamilton RR.

There is a good Pho place on San Jose side. Mmmm Pho.

jonathanb715

We actually rode the Stage 4 route yesterday, along with another 30 miles to get back to Livermore. There are a couple of wide places on switchbacks where you could park a car on the backside climb. A better choice might be to park at the bottom at Isabel Creek - there are some very wide places to pull a car off the road down there. You could then ride up to a likely spot on the climb.

It's funny - I've ridden Mines/San Antonio a bunch of times now, but I've never driven it in a car! It's 40 miles or so to Mt. Hamilton from Livermore, and for most of it you could drive at or close to 40 mph (excepting the single lane section of Mines), so count on more than an hour to drive it.

I'm thinking of riding out Mines to a likely spot on or near one of the last little climbs before the Junction Cafe, then trailing the race to the cafe for lunch before riding back. Not as dramatic, maybe, as Hamilton or Sierra, but it should still make for a fun day.

The other choice I'm considering is to park in Sunol and ride out to and up Sierra.

JB

Edit: I should also mention that last year they closed Mines well before the peloton came through - apparently the ranchers that live out there didn't like the idea of a lot of traffic on their road! I think they closed it more than an hour before the race came through, so take that into account too.

velocycling

I think they will close those roads really early. Sierra is closed to car traffic usually before the race even starts. They may stop you at Grant park for Mt ham. I am not sure about the ranchers but it makes since to not let cars on because that road is narrow ad where are you going to go except for the race.

spingineer

Sierra will be crowded, crazy like a zoo ... but that may be the appeal for seeing it on Sierra.

ericm979

In the past they have evicted parked cars from Sierra. I would expect the same on Mines.

danec99

Still far out but damn, weather report is showing rain next week. It rained last year in Santa Rosa, was pretty wet up on Tunitas and actually sprinkled as I left Mines.

spingineer

Just our luck, rain on Sierra when the race comes through, dry the following day. Hopefully accuweather is not too accurate.

DRietz

Wait, so you guys don't think that it's doable to drive Mines? Is it just more realistic to park at Grant Park and ride up and over Hamilton?

Which side is easier to ascend? I just want some sweet pics of the guys climbing and some pictures of myself running around in bibs with a California flag.

UmneyDurak

Hmm? It's till 9 days away. The weather report 3 days out is iffy, 9 days is like my cat guessing it.

jonathanb715

For the last 20 miles or so from the junction to Isabel Creek at the base of Hamilton it's 2 lane, but with no shoulder. There's plenty of places with wide dirt shoulders that you could easily pull a car off onto, and at Isabel Creek there's room for a lot of cars to easily get all the way off the road. I wouldn't think they'd have any problem with someone parking there for the race. It's not like Sierra where there's just not a lot of places to get a car fully off the road. Here's a Google Earth picture of the Isabel Creek area - the pavement does not extend far past the fog lines, and there's plenty of room on both sides to get a car completely off the pavement onto the dirt/gravel shoulder. Near the driveway, it's wide enough to go several cars deep.



As for the climb - the backside is steeper - 8.6% average grade? - and about 5 miles long. It's a nice climb - as long as it's not hot. We did get swarmed with bugs in a few spots on Saturday.

JB

jobob

I drove Mines Rd on Saturday for the first time ever (supporting JB's team ride, hi JB!). I nearly got carsick on the twisty-curvy parts between Livermore & the Junction - and I'm not one to get carsick . I'd much rather ride it.

bayareawheeler

i plan on riding up Sierra pulling a BOB trailer with goodies plan on an early start to find a nice spot, get dug in and start on a nice bottle Pinot

come say hi if you see me

anyone know if there is ATT reception? Was thinking of bringing an IPAD to see if i can get the tracker working

terrain

Anyone planning on being at the start of the race? I did a nice 65 mile ride from San Jose up Mt. Hamilton yesterday - Weather was perfect. I was thinking about avoiding all of the mess at the finish and perhaps drive up to Livermore. Any idea on what time you would need to get there - what there is to see?

danec99

This was passed along, so I am passing it here:

terrain

Thanks - Good information.

MilkRace

Does anyone know what time the Festival at the finish line starts/stops? Is it open all day during the race?
Thanks

DRietz

Alright, so I still haven't figured my crap out and the day is approaching.

I may park at the Junction Cafe, buy some burgers, and then ride from there if they'll let me. At this point, it appears to be my only viable option.

DRietz

Well, the Junction Cafe is a no-go.

If anybody has any suggestions, I'm all ears... I'd like to make like a 30mile loop out of the whole shindig...

DiabloScott

+++ My goal is to get on TV every year and I have a big California Flag to help get the attention of the TV cameras.
Moderately successful last year at Bonnie Doon:



Weather.com says rain on Tuesday and mostly sunny on Wednesday!

Beaker

Hang on....is that....sasquatch?

UmneyDurak

Why not?

DRietz

The proprietors of the Junction Cafe will not let me leave me car there to go ride Mt. Hamilton.

UmneyDurak

Can't you just park along Del Puerto Canyon?

DRietz

I was told by employees at Lick Observatory that in the past couple of months lots of signs have gone up about fines and no parking in the wash outs.

Unless there's an actual parking lot on Del Puerto Canyon, I guess I'll park at the park on the SJ side of Mt. Hamilton and climb over.