Categories: The Rides

California Dreaming

Mt Tam Ascent

I’m in California this week on a family trip, from which I stole a morning and did the classic ride up and around the Marin County’s Mt. Tamalpais. The climb started in the dark forest, eventually opening into the sun-drenched hills that buffer the Pacific Ocean. The metaphor was clear: I was climbing out of the darkness of my northwest hibernation and into the light of a new cycling season. Sure, I’ve been riding all winter, but the majority of those miles have been pushing the flat pedals of my long-tail as I take my son to school. This was a return to cleats, carbon, and the almighty V-kit. It felt good.

The bike I rented from ACME cycles, a Foundry frame with Shimano 105 components, was an odd fit. An insufficient drop, saddle-to-bars, for starters. That didn’t bother me for long though. I passed a deer early in the climb, who looked up at me with those ever-vacant eyes. He seemed to say, slowly “Wha? It’s a bike, fool”. “Fair enough,” I thought, it was a bike indeed.

I reached a viewpoint and looked down on Stinson Beach, where I had surfed the day before, and I felt the full swing of summer. The sun was in every pore now and the pedals were swinging underneath me.

As I neared to top of Mt. Tam, however, my climber’s high fell away to fatigue. I began to lament my meager fitness, and my California dreaming drifted in a darker direction. What if I worked less and rode more? What if I lived in a place like this, where I could ride big climbs right from my back door? What if I could fully realize the innate combination of endurance and arrogance I was seemingly born with? These are the daydreams of a middle-aged man on an expensive rental bike, to be sure.

I crested the summit and looked out to San Francisco Bay, the bridges, and the city. I finished the last of my water and deployed my vest for the chilly decent. I stowed my daydreams in favor of the present. I had my health, and enough fitness to get up here. I was alive. And I was on bike. This was, and is, enough.

jim

Jim rides a bike a lot and hates people.

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Nate says:

Apr 21 2015 at 9:25 pm

Mt Tam is magnificent riding. Can't believe I haven't been over there since @frank was here. I need to fix that.

Bay Area Cogal may need to return to Marin this year...
Owen says:

Apr 22 2015 at 6:22 am

One time I had the opportunity to ride from the house of some relatives of the VMH in San Jose. Rode over the hills to Santa Cruz. Couldn't have asked for a better ride. One forgets that California isn't all LA sometimes.
PeakInTwoYears says:

Apr 22 2015 at 7:12 am

@cognition

I’m still looking to head over your way for some more time on the Olympic Peninsula before leaving.

Right on.

If nothing else, I emailed @frank today to see about setting up a graveur Cogal from North Bend up to Snoqualmie Pass and back, a metric century with mostly gravel , a little singletrack, and some crappy pavement. Maybe we can tempt you to come over (close) to the big city…

Keep me informed!
Jamie says:

Apr 22 2015 at 5:09 pm

As some of the Seattle Velominati know, I'm temporarily living in Oakland these days. The cycling around here is great. My niece took me up Mt Diablo a few weeks ago. What a magnificent ride. In the next few weeks, we're planning on doing Mt. Hamilton and Tam as well. In Seattle, a climb is usually measured in hundreds of feet. Around here, climbs are measured in thousands of feet.

We'll be here until November or so - what's the word on a Bay Area Cogal? Are old, fat, slow climbers welcome?
ShawnB says:

Apr 22 2015 at 9:18 pm

@Jamie

As some of the Seattle Velominati know, I’m temporarily living in Oakland these days. The cycling around here is great. My niece took me up Mt Diablo a few weeks ago. What a magnificent ride. In the next few weeks, we’re planning on doing Mt. Hamilton and Tam as well. In Seattle, a climb is usually measured in hundreds of feet. Around here, climbs are measured in thousands of feet.

We’ll be here until November or so – what’s the word on a Bay Area Cogal? Are old, fat, slow climbers welcome?

You're welcome to meet me at Cole Coffee and go do the after-work Redwood-Pinehurst loop any old day, Jamie. I can promise you neither old nor fat, but I can bring the slow like nobody's business.
Nate says:

Apr 22 2015 at 10:12 pm

@Jamie

As noted above, thinking Marin. Usually do it mid July but might be late June. Stay tuned.
Jamie says:

Apr 23 2015 at 10:18 am

Shawn and Nate - great to hear.

Shawn, I'm staying near Mills College, so do the Redwood gig regularly. Just love that kicker at the top climbing from Mountain (not). From where and when do you roll? The rest of the week is pretty packed for me, and I'm traveling all of next week. Starting the following week, however, I'll be in dire need of some miles. Feel free to email me at: jelenbaas(at)duvoice(dot)com
Jamie says:

Apr 23 2015 at 3:45 pm

Oops - reading comprehension on my end. Cole Coffee - (right near Noodle Theory - yes?). Got it .
ShawnB says:

Apr 23 2015 at 10:53 pm

@Jamie

Shawn and Nate – great to hear.

Shawn, I’m staying near Mills College, so do the Redwood gig regularly. Just love that kicker at the top climbing from Mountain (not). From where and when do you roll? The rest of the week is pretty packed for me, and I’m traveling all of next week. Starting the following week, however, I’ll be in dire need of some miles. Feel free to email me at: jelenbaas(at)duvoice(dot)com

Oh man, I just go up Butters when I approach low like that. Pinehurst kicker is enough for me later in the loop.
Will PM you at the addy listed.
gilly says:

Apr 24 2015 at 4:29 pm

Like it @jim. nice piece