NorCal (Bay Area) DRIVE Chat Thread

[Clipdat]

@jsimon7777 was talking about this surface the last time we were on Mines. He mentioned it even makes your tires wear faster. I can't remember the exact name of the surface that he used though. Jon?

Regarding the gravel, was it also gravely in the Junction to Livermore section? Or did you turn around at the Junction and head back up to the observatory?

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

They have replaced the beautiful smooth tarmac that I love so much to a rough, grippy, gravely surface.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by Clipdat

@jsimon7777 was talking about this surface the last time we were on Mines. He mentioned it even makes your tires wear faster. I can't remember the exact name of the surface that he used though. Jon?

Regarding the gravel, was it also gravely in the Junction to Livermore section? Or did you turn around at the Junction and head back up to the observatory?

Ya, the surface looked very rough and abrasive, so I'm sure its killer on the tires. I think its considered an "upgrade" since that area gets really icy and slippery during the winter months, I sure appreciated it when I was near the peak on that snow.

I did go past the junction and all the way to Livermore. As you get closer to the junction, there was noticeably less gravel but it was still there. There were some good sized rocks scattered along the cliff-side of the road, about golf ball to even base ball size (didn't bother me, hooray ground clearance!), probably from the recent rains. For the way it is now, I wouldn't recommend it. I didn't realize how tense I was driving down that road until I finally relaxed and enjoyed the smooth tarmac section after that "T" intersection near lake del valle, that part was surprisingly sublime compared to 90% of Mines.

[Clipdat]

Thanks for the additional details. Sounds like it's pretty much a gravel shitshow again. I wonder how it can be remedied. Maybe a few more rain showers, or maybe just more normal traffic and time.

I love that tarmac section from Tesla to that T intersection. In either direction it's a lot of fun when nobody is in front of you.

[Clipdat]

Is anyone planning on doing a New Year's Day drive?

[PMok]

not to be a stickler for semantics but I think a lot of people are improperly referring to the roads around Mt. Hamilton as all being Mines Rd. I've prepared this handy graphic (with the help of the Alpine Speed Stars map too) to help you out.



The road between the Lick Observatory and The Junction is San Antonio Valley Rd, and I think not too many people realize that. It is not Mines Rd, but is part of Hwy 130 (which then continues on Del Puerto Cyn Rd out to I-5/I-580).

I believe right now it is San Antonio Valley Rd which is the most gravelly portion. The other roads are relatively clearer and still drivable. Which is a damn shame because that section coming down from the observatory to the Junction, used to be one of my favorite driving roads.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by PMok

not to be a stickler for semantics but I think a lot of people are improperly referring to the roads around Mt. Hamilton as all being Mines Rd. I've prepared this handy graphic (with the help of the Alpine Speed Stars map too) to help you out.

Whatever, you know what I meant lol

[Clipdat]

Here's the route I'm doing tomorrow morning: https://goo.gl/maps/qGZYrMgyRt12

Originally Posted by Clipdat

Is anyone planning on doing a New Year's Day drive?

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by Clipdat

Here's the route I'm doing tomorrow morning: https://goo.gl/maps/qGZYrMgyRt12

What time are you planning on heading out?

[misooscar]

I'm in

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[Clipdat]

I'll be at the Starbucks on Atlantic at 8am

[PMok]

sounds fun, but I think I'm going to be sleeping in tomorrow LOL.

Happy New Year to y'all!

[Clipdat]

It's 8:10 and nobody showed up so I'm rolling out alone!

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by Clipdat

It's 8:10 and nobody showed up so I'm rolling out alone!

I guess I should have posted that I needed to be back by 9, so 8am didn't work, but hope you had a fun drive!

Happy new year everyone!

[Clipdat]

Happy New Year, indeed. That was probably one of the most enjoyable drives I've ever gone on. Literally the only thing that could have made it better was a fellow twin to enjoy it with.

I ended up doing Grizzly Peak -> Pinehurst -> Redwood -> Palomares to Sunol Super stop for 3 gallons of 100octane (all the room I had in the tank since I had filled up yesterday evening), and then back up Palomares.

No traffic or cyclists in my lane the whole drive! The only obstacles on Palomares were an empty Four Loco can and then on the way back two random dogs with collars on but no leash casually wandering out into the road in front of someone's driveway.

What a great way to start the year. I decided that I'm going to log every time I do this route and see how many times I can do it in 2016.