Modern Vespa

I"m planning on freeway. I don't like 880 so was thinking about scooting over to 680. Shouldn't be too much of a detour. Maybe we can hook up with the lads from Napa/Vacaville. The freeways shouldn't be too bad early on Saturday.

Ditto here, my pug Aki (to the left) will keep the light on for you. Email me if you need a room.

Mike
el Jefe
VCLG

Just a reminder about the $6 user fee for Mt Diablo. Anyone know if there are fees for the other 2 mountains? I think Tam is free.

good reminder. thanks

Sorry guys and Gals I'm headed back to Akron Ohio and won't be able to make the 3 peaks challenge. The lord know I would rather be here than there but family does come first and my father needs me. If I'm in the right frame of mind I do plan on making the Second Sunday Ride as I will be returning Saturday Evening.

There are no fees to Mt Hamilton or Mt Tam

Godspeed, Curt. My condolences.

There is a fee for the Richmond bridge tho, $4 as I recall. Don't think I've ever done the upper deck.

Don't forget your FasTrak transponders for the bridge.

I've ridden the freeway before, and while I don't prefer it, I do just fine on them. Sounds good to me. We just need a place and time to meet.

Since I'm not sure what time our friends are passing through on 680, it may be better to stick to 880 and get it over with. I can meet you in Emeryville somewhere. I don't know the area (I've ridden along San Pablo Ave thousands of times), so you pick a place. I'm thinking around 7:30.

Anyone else out there coming our way?

I am So doing this ride

A simple place to meet would be the Emeryville CompUSA. It is very close to San Pablo Ave, and isn't far from an 880 ramp. 7:30 sounds good.

I will be there For Sure.

That's it homeslice, you me and pat gotta find ourselves a meeting spot and ride down to San Jo (YOU KNOW) on Sat morn'.

I say one of the cafes near the 101 octavia onramp, if the ride's at 9 then we should be there no later than 7:40 I think, but I'll double check ride time estimates.

You down?

Don't forget the gas-up is at 8:45, and by the time you get down there, you're going to need it. From the start of the ride to the first gas point is a long stretch of absolutely nothing all the way to Livermore.

Actually, I think there's a general store along the way, but I can't remember if they have gas or not...

See you there.

I've arranged meetings like this before. It's funny how I have no idea who I'm meeting. You could be a teenager or grandmother. Lucky this isn't a blind date.

Haha. I wont tell you about myself then.
You just need to look for a person on the black GTS.

Me too, with fear and trepidation!!

Cheers,

Bob

Touché.

It's about 30 minutes to SJ if we hit no traffic, which I would assume would be the case at 7:something on a saturday morning because no one but us would be stupid enough to be awake and up and running on a freeway to SoBay.

We do want to factor in this time though.

Right you are Jess! The first gas stop is in Livermore. No gas at the restaurant.

I'm guessing you're young (your'e on spring break). I'm at the other end of the spectrum & would be more of the grandmother type, except I didn't have kids.

Is your vespa broken in yet? If not we may want to leave earlier if you need to take it easy on the freeway. I don't mind how early.

The weather gods are angry again....

crap.

Matters not to me......

Still bringing the sunblock.....

R

8)

If it rains, I'm not going to ride with you crazies.

You guys enjoy yourself as I'm on a flight tonight for Akron and there it is in the high 20's and snowing. I will be back late Saturday night.

gosh darnit.

it says "PM showers" on weather.com - this isn't necessarily horrible and has the ability to change in one day. clearly.

Dammit.

I don't want to do the richmond bridge in the rain. that's a shitty bridge.

Be safe Phat... See ya when you return...

Well if that isn't a skillet calling the kettle black....

I saw that look in your eye after the run up 84 to Alices. ; ))

\osc

We did this ride in the rain last year...not a big deal.

-But-

If water on the road makes you nervous, you might want to reconsider....

Time will tell what Saturday really looks like...

R

8)

Rain makes me melt.

http://pentaclerecords.net/wav/woz_3.wav



R

It is very nearly broken in, but not yet. So yeah, I guess we should leave a little earlier. How early do you think?

How about 7:00? If it's raining, though, I won't make it. While I don't have a problem riding in the rain, I don't find it pleasant & I want this to be a pleasant trip. Can't see the point of all that riding if I'm going to be miserable.

Riding 270 mi in one day gets a *little* unpleasant I will warn you...

but I understand the issue as a whole. Hell, having to jump on a freeway with 12" wheels at any time when its raining is less than amusing. Especially since it's been a whiel since it's rained so the pavement will be nice and oil coated.

There's nothing really pleasant about this ride except the satisfaction of completing it in one piece. It's a hugely difficult piece of riding, definitely not a breezy jaunt. Not only are there a huge number of miles, but they're all really really hard miles. Expect to be exhausted by the time we get to Livermore, with two more peaks to go.

This is a reality check here.....the first 'leg' of this ride is alot of work. By the time you arrive at Diablo you have already put on 100 miles of some of the slowest most remote miles you can find. Thou the roads are nice they are little used and there are always suprises (gravel, water running across road, feral pigs.....etc), every time.

The other two mountains are easier, but the miles add up. I have taken some very long rides and this ride, this '3 peaks challenge' is by far the toughest.

The best way to describe the end of your day would be 'hollow feeling'.

Not trying to scare anyone away. You will feel a real sence of accomplishment to finish, it is an adventure....

But remember...."Adventure is discomfort recounted at leisure...."

"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." Sydney Harris

See ya Saturday morning....bring your rain gear.

R

8)

ayeaup. I don't think it's scaring people away, Rich, it's due dilligence. If anyone at all thinks that the groups of us who rode down from SF or further to Rides of March were riding "far" or at all "crazy", remember this ride is actually just about the same length distance-wise but technically "longer" hours-wise since you're not going 45-70mph for most of the trip. Plus, the twisties on these mountains are both more mentally challenging, and more physically challenging than Highway 1 are that route - I've been on 2 of the 3 mountains that are considered the "easy" ones.

There's a reason it's called a "challenge", not "the 3 Peaks Vista Ride". Personally I view this to be among the harder rides I'll likely do, and I think SF->SLO along 1 is a cakewalk.

Mt Hamilton is my "Everest", always looking down and challenging me. I've been up it a few times, but have yet to conquer it. That is, I've yet to get to the top without crossing the yellow line at least once around the many steep uphill right hand hairpin turns! Mount Hamilton road starts off pretty easy apart from the slippery tar snakes in one section, but deteriorates as it progresses upwards and the terrain becomes more wooded, until it's a narrow bumpy switchback, getting steeper and steeper as it nears the top. Every once in a while you get a glimpse of the observatory, goading you on, but every time it looks the same distance away!

Here's a pic from the top to whet your appetites:

Got the Gore-tex out. A HUGE thanks to SF Vespa, I was able to switch off my GT60 seat for the ride. I'm now ready to rock. See you others here in SF at the meet up spot, hopefully Bright and early.

holy teh carp that's cool of them. Say, if you don't want the seat...