Cycling Upgrades with Ms. Cools - Mt. Hamilton

[@pauldc779]

Fantastic scenery. Ms. Cools certainly looks cool today. Always stylish.

[@Korina42]

Hah! I grew up in Tracy, back in the olden days when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the population was 10,000. Always loved those hills. Congrats on a great ride! Thanks for bringing us along, it was fun.

[@flylotusfly520]

cool ride! Love that climb. Nice use of BART to close the loop.

[@glenjo0]

There used to be a ride called the Mt Hamilton Challenge. It started in San Jose, went over Mt Hamilton to Livermore, back thru Ptown to the start - I forget the milage. Fun ride, did it about 79 or 80.

[@Henrywildeberry]

There are still a few organized rides and races over Mt. Hamilton. The bike race starts at the High School and rides over to Livermore. San Francisco Randonneurs has a 200k Brevet over Hamilton. There is also a Double Century going over Mt. Diablo and Mt. Hamilton each year. I'm sure there are others as well. It's a challenging climb.

[@glenjo0]

@@Henrywildeberry Wow! A double century over Diablo and Hamilton! That would hurt! I first went up Diablo when I was in HS in the mid-seventies.

[@ReVoltaire]

Nice! The Junction establishment is not a store, but a "bar & grill". As you note, it's not currently open everyday and the hours and open days seem to fluctuate. When is open on weekends, it can be fairly crowded with slow service. It's a popular biker bar/pit stop. If the fire station is open and staffed, you can get ice cold water from their cooler. If closed, there is a bib in front with potable water in a pinch.

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thanks for the info on the Bar and Grill, and water options. It's surprisingly remote out there even though it's so close to the Bay Area.

[@MonoLake02]

I live near Mt. Hamilton and love the climb. It is my fitness gauge. I rarely venture over the to the other side because it is a challenging place to ride due to the distance without services. I think that the forgotten element in the Hamilton climb is the altitude. You are at about 4200 feet at the top coming from near sea level, so there is definitely less oxygen near the top. I have sometimes felt the I was fit enough only to find that I was suffering near the top, and other times I just cruised up to the top. It is interesting that there are days when altitude has less of an effect. Thanks for the great content...

[@steveflor9942]

What a nice climb. I'd love to do someday. Reminds me of Mt. Palomar... which is awesome. Both roads up Palomar - South grade slope (S6) & East grade slope (S7) - are both great rides. Cheers, Stevesocal40

[@lorenzsiggel1515]

Nice. Informative. Looks like a great ride.👍

[@chrislilley5320]

You have a beautiful area to cycle and a great friend to explore with!!

[@sheilastallard]

Lovely video and thumbs up for the route map. Regards from England!

[@kenblair2538]

I sure wish we had nice roads like that, but winter happens. But, the climbs we have, are usually , well shaded. Got to love those snacks, Ms. Cools uses.

[@johnbouttell5827]

Dear Henry, loved your video, especially the 3-D map -- a la Tour de France. If you ever come to the Peak District, I'll take you up Winnats Pass, Mam Nick and Monk's Dale. Best wishes, John.

[@JustRideZipp2001]

Looks like such a beautiful climb with a great view as a reward for your efforts.

[@jonjames480]

Enjoyed the ride! Thanks!

[@allrounderbicycle7193]

Wow that was a long day. Been up Hamilton only once and remember the climb was fun but getting back to Dublin through the winds was the hardest part. Keep inspiring me with your rides.

[@Henrywildeberry]

We sure missed you there with us, Mr. Allrounder. Give my favorite a big hug, and say hello to Omar while you're at it:)

[@leestimson12]

Man you have some great riding out there.

[@yendoradon7836]

Appreciated!

[@Radnally]

Mt Hamilton is a great climb. Ive been roasted there. Thanks

[@tmagee27]

How did I miss this one all these years?! Trying to find the one where you and Miss Cools talk about what to eat on a long Brevet, which one is it?

[@SurpriseMeJT]

What kind of shoes does Ms. Cools wear for use with her flat pedals? Does she have a good reason for her choice, or does any comfortable shoe work?

[@theresecools3079]

Hello Jay Tee, I usually wear Classic Vans but I am sure many different tennis shoes will work. I prefer shoes that have smooth tread on the bottom and have a light yet sturdy material. Although light and breathable in the summer, Vans don't provide much warmth in the cold, so I am ever on the lookout for the perfect pair of shoes to cycle in...

[@brianward7724]

Wish we had such nicely surfaced roads around here! Just one question: what is BART?

[@simonunwin3966]

Bay Area Rapid Transit I think. Like the tube in London

[@theresecools3079]

Yes, it is the subway system in the bay area. It goes across the bay to San Francisco but also south toward San Jose, although it doesn't go quite that far south. It is a great way to get around the bay area without using a car!

[@brianward7724]

@@theresecools3079 Thanks, Therese! I live in 'the sticks', so public transport doesn't run to that kind of equipment. There are inter-city buses, though. BTW, I thought you could only ride horses to San Jose......

[@wallacedavidg]

I'm so jealous. No public transportation to facilitate a point to point ride like this in SoCal. Don't get me wrong there are lots of great rides, You just have to drive 40 min. or more to begin. I've got plans to circumnavigate Lake Tahoe with my brother and then in another ride start from Yosemite Valley up to Glacier Point and back.

[@Henrywildeberry]

The Bay Area, Portland, and Seattle seem to have the best public transportation on the West Coast. Seattle was a surprise to me this year when we visited. The BART is one of the main reasons Therese, and many other cyclists live in the East Bay. It makes car-free living possible, even though most people still use cars to get around. It sounds like you have two fun cycling trips coming up. I wonder if the new bike path on the East shore of Lake Tahoe will be complete when you get there?

[@bicycleutopia]

what? more magic jelly beans??!! where can i get those?

[@Henrywildeberry]

Ms. Cools has a secret supply! I'm still waiting to try some.

[@pavanatanaya]

Bart police wish to speak with you. It is against the law on BART to enjoy yourself