See the end of the topic for 2020 clues. {jimc}
Nothing says "fortitude" like sticking-it-out against all odds thrown at you. Mighty US Presidents have faced countless attacks but made it to the end of their term.
Reagan. Bush Sr. Clinton. Bush Jr. Obama.
Can you? Let's find-out.
Three Peaks. One Day. All Guts. All Glory.
It's been a good year since Alhambra Valley Rd (Pinole) has washed-out so we would HOPE that CalTrans has their act together by the end of this summer. We'll see. Stay tuned closer to event time as we'll be sending-out an emissary to test-out the roads once more, not just for AV Rd neither. We heard your complaints/concerns going through Mill Valley, so we're gonna review out the old route through Fairfax, to see how things are.
Here's the "usual" deets if you haven't joined us before :
Start in San Jose early Saturday morning.
Ride up to Mt Hamilton, to Diablo, out to Tamalpais.
This is not a race, but you do have to keep moving to complete the challenge before nightfall. We will pause to regroup from time to time, but each rider should be prepared to navigate the course without aid from others.
Saturday August 4th 2018.
As always, we will start in San Jose and finish atop Mount Tamalpais.
Be prepared for a VERY early morning meet-up, and to depart 1hr later.
MEET-UP IS AT ZAMORAS OMELETTE HOUSE AT 7AM
2920 Alum Rock Avenue
San Jose, CA 95127-2805
(408) 926-2628
KICKSTART AND KICKSTANDS-UP AT 8AM
As tradition goes, we will break for lunch between 12p and 2p, at Genova Delicatessen & Ravioli in Walnut Creek (S. California Blvd. & Olympic Blvd.).
Route information will be available for those who feel they may lag and/or fall behind, both in print form and online. There will *NOT* be a support truck for this ride, so you will more-or-less be on your own should you encounter issues or a breakdown (mechanical or otherwise).
We expect this to be an all-day event. Riders will be of all experience levels, so some will push their machines and themselves harder than others. This does not mean you are expected to "keep-up". Just make sure you finish if you can.
PATCHES
They will be available for $10 at the finish. We are having year rocker patches to surround the patch for each year you complete the challenge. We will get your info and send you the rocker for 2018. For 2017 and other past years, we should have these available by then as well.
* R E M I N D E R S *
1) If we've said it already, we'll say it again - THIS IS NOT A RACE! Each individual is to ride at his/her own pace, and just get to the checkpoints when you can. We will be printing X amount of directions so you may need to pair-up with others if you don't know the route.
2) It helps to have cash readily available to you when you do this ride. It's $10 to get into Mount Diablo State Park, but that $10 charge will also allow you access to Mount Tamalpais (if the Rangers ever enforce the entry fee). There is a toll when crossing the 580 Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
3) Golden Gate NO LONGER has Toll Takers so you have to either pay ahead, use your FasTRAK (if you have one), or get billed in the mail later (possibly with HIGHER fees tacked-on). We recommend going to http://www.goldengate.org/tolls/helpmechoose.php and see what option works best for you.
4) If you feel you've had enough of the challenge before completing the ride, no hard feelings. Just pull someone over for directions to the nearest freeway and you can ride home on your own accord.
5) There are no winners or losers in the Three Peaks Challenge - only those who can finish a very tough ride. These are backroads we'll be taking, where riders on 50cc have made it through the entire thing - though they didn't get to rest as frequently as the rest, they toughed it out.
6) Be prepared for rapidly changing weather. Often we start with an overcast morning, are roasting by the time we get to Diablo/Walnut Creek, and then encounter wet roads and drizzle around Mount Tam. This has got to be one of the more odd-ball rides for weather, from start to finish.
7) Don't try to be a hero and ride with the faster riders if you can't handle sharp turns at high speeds. Ride according to your own style, and traffic rules. Some of us are crazier/more stupid than others when we ride; others just call it experience.
These are JPEG versions of the printed map available on Flickr for the FIRST THREE-QUARTERS (Zamora's to Genova Deli). The last section has experienced issues with road washout (Pinole) and construction closures (Bolinas-Fairfax) so BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!!
Part 1 of 4
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8153/7495515406_0178205659_b.jpg (https://goo.gl/maps/pQzPqKWPHTG2)
Part 2 of 4
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8148/7495515004_c49c656d5d_b.jpg (https://goo.gl/maps/bXwWtjuHzmH2 & https://goo.gl/maps/C7Z3RgGWjUP2)
REVISED - Genova Deli to Mt Tam
https://goo.gl/maps/UvxQ5ecVuQ72
- The Designated/Mapped route from from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD is :
* LEFT AT BON AIR RD
* LEFT ON MAGNOLIA AVE BECOMES CAMINO ALTO
* RIGHT ON SYCAMORE AVE
* SLIGHT LEFT ON LA GOMA ST
* CONTINUE ON MONTFORD AVE
* SLIGHT RIGHT ON MONTFORD AVE
* RIGHT ON MOLINO AVE
* STRAIGHT ON EDGEWOOD AVE
* LEFT ON SEQUOIA VALLEY RD
* SHARP RIGHT ON PANORAMIC HIGHWAY
* RIGHT ON PAN TOLL RD
* RIGHT ON RIDGECREST BLVD.
GPX with waypoints and tracks (You will need to build your own route with your own maps)
http://members.modernvespa.net/oopsclunkthud/uploads/3pc_139.gpx
Some say scooters aren't meant for long/hard rides. I say it's the rider that matters, your ride is your tool/weapon. Nobody ever called us Snowflakes - just crazy.
SERIOUSLY : it's NOT a race, your bike needs to be in proper running form, and Rolf always wanted for "everyone to have a good time."
We'll see you at Zamora's for breakfast!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for updates as they happen.
www.VespaClubLosGatos.com
www.Facebook.com/VespaClubLosGatos
Instagram : @vespaclublosgatos
Twitter : @ VCLG_Events
VespaClubLosGatos@yahoo.com
VespaClubLosGatos@gmail.com