I achieved my 2025 goal of #cycling up #mthamilton 12 times this year. I didnβt manage it every month, but sometimes did it twice to catch up.
Case in point - this was my 2nd time in December. Itβs currently on the warm side in #siliconvalley and the goal was to complete the ride before the forecast rain arrived. The top of the hill was just in the cloud and the Lick Observatory was almost deserted.
I did Hamilton again today. Cooler, so more folks out riding π. I was much quicker up the hill.
On my way up I came across a BMW that had gone over the edge. It was still there on the way down so I got some pics.
I had plenty to think about as I did my monthly climb of #MtHamilton. A friend learned some bad news a couple of days ago and felt able to share their news with me yesterday. It's going to be a hard few weeks for them. #FuckCancer
It was a beautiful day for a ride here in #SanJose. Slightly cool to start the climb, but very comfortable temperatures overall. While I didn't run into many folks on the way up, the top was on the busy side.
Our company observes MLK day, so I did some avoidance by riding up Mt. Hamilton again. Riding to the beginning of the climb, we had some gusty winds that almost persuaded me that climbing would be a bad idea. Weirdly, the winds were stronger at low levels with very little towards the top.
It was warmer than last time at the top and I again enjoyed the somewhat hidden courtyard. This time I spotted the plaque thanking the Jon Graff fund for helping with the maintenance.
Attached: 4 images I last climbed Mt. Hamilton by bike in September when I suffered mightily due to lumbar pain. It's 49.5 miles out-and-back from home with ~5,500' of climbing. While I got to the top in September, I needed to take several breaks. My goal for this 2 week break from work was to build up to revisiting Mt. Hamilton. I rode to the fire station (7 miles from the top) last weekend and then the Calaveras/Felter/Sierra loop on Thursday as well as recovery rides on other days trying to avoid the rain. Despite the nice weather on Thursday I was disappointingly slow. After yesterday's rain, the weather was good for climbing Hamilton - partly cloudy with a high-level overcast with good visibility. I got to the top with some lumbar pain, but without stopping! I even had a sprint in the legs at the very top. I wasn't taking in the scenery on the way up, but at the top the views were rather good. Here are a few shots from the summit (the Sierras were visible to the East), plus a stunning vista that interrupted my descent. #MtHamilton #SanJose #cycling #photo #SiliconValley
I last climbed Mt. Hamilton by bike in September when I suffered mightily due to lumbar pain. It's 49.5 miles out-and-back from home with ~5,500' of climbing. While I got to the top in September, I needed to take several breaks.
My goal for this 2 week break from work was to build up to revisiting Mt. Hamilton. I rode to the fire station (7 miles from the top) last weekend and then the Calaveras/Felter/Sierra loop on Thursday as well as recovery rides on other days trying to avoid the rain. Despite the nice weather on Thursday I was disappointingly slow.
After yesterday's rain, the weather was good for climbing Hamilton - partly cloudy with a high-level overcast with good visibility. I got to the top with some lumbar pain, but without stopping! I even had a sprint in the legs at the very top.
I wasn't taking in the scenery on the way up, but at the top the views were rather good. Here are a few shots from the summit (the Sierras were visible to the East), plus a stunning vista that interrupted my descent.
Morgan Fletcher
Richard Brockie