Re: [RBW] Re: RBW List takes over West Point Inn

[Philip Williamson]

I think I'm going to do one of the Pancake Breakfast rides from Fairfax. 
Maybe even park at the gate on Bo-Fax road. 
The ride across Alpine Dam with no cars for miles in either direction is 
pretty amazing. 

Philip 
www.biketinker.com

On Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 1:43:25 PM UTC-7, René wrote:
>
> Those photos are very nice!
>
> Can you share your route? I'm thinking that at some point in mid august, 
> I'd like to try to go for a day ride to check the place out. I'm wondering 
> if you'd recommend parking in Fairfax and doing the loop from there just to 
> avoid all the climbing at the end of the ride. If mid-august is too hot, 
> then I'll do it in early September or in October. 
>
> I'm definitely interested in exploring the area.
>
> René 
>
> On Wed, Jun 29, 2016 at 11:49 AM, cyclotourist  > wrote:
>
>> Great to read the ride reports from the other groups. We split into an
>> initial three groups Saturday morning, based on
>> speed/distance/terrain. I ended up going with the last group on what
>> was billed as the shorter/smoother ride. I don't know about all that,
>> but 34 miles later, I wasn't turning down an offer to shuttle back to
>> the WPI!!! Wish I could have dragged this weekend out and gone for
>> more rides with you folks up there! Even with the heat, it was
>> fantastic!
>>
>> My pics from the weekend in mostly chronological order:
>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/albums/72157667635974003
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 12:32 PM, Hugh Smitham > > wrote:
>> > Thanks Joe for a spot on accounting of this past weekend...like you I'm
>> > still processing what a magical time I had with all of you. Need to do 
>> this
>> > again.
>> >
>> > Here are my photo's sorry it's a huge dump and kinda out of order.
>> >
>> >
>> > ~Hugh
>> >
>> > “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep 
>> moving.”
>> > ― Albert Einstein
>> >
>> > http://velocipeedemusings.com/
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 2:07 PM, Joe Bunik > > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bunik/sets/72157667527929894
>> >>
>> >> I don't think there could have been a weekend any better - my mind
>> >> will be replaying this one on repeat for the foreseeable future! What
>> >> a GREAT time and particular thanks go out to the Jacquie P. / David E.
>> >> / Jim W. / Hugh S. quad-fecta for making this thing happen in the
>> >> first place.
>> >>
>> >> I thought I'd only be able to swing up there for a short visit
>> >> sometime Saturday at best but, thanks to both my fabulous wife's
>> >> enablement and Esteban's encouragement, I knocked off early Friday,
>> >> got my bag together, and hit the road for Marin.
>> >>
>> >> The West Point Inn is a 1904-era alpine lodge high up Mt. Tamalpais
>> >> and only accessible by trail. Individual accommodations can be
>> >> arranged, but thanks to incomparable WPI member Jacquie Phelan, we had
>> >> the entire facility at our disposal. As the gang drifted into camp on
>> >> Friday night, we enjoyed a great feed, good imbibement, and fine
>> >> company.
>> >>
>> >> I dare say if the evening ended warm, Saturday dawned HOT - and, early
>> >> - most of the cabins and the main building are eastward-oriented
>> >> facing the SF Bay and thus little shelter from a 5:30am sunrise. Where
>> >> was the fog, and why had it been replaced with a breeze that felt like
>> >> a hot hair dryer?
>> >>
>> >> The best thing about having 25-30 people ready to go, a quiver of
>> >> bikes available, and no hard agendas whatsoever was that splintering
>> >> into 4 or 5 different riding groups felt totally fine. I had brought
>> >> my Legolas, which I am always happy with on fire roads but a bit less
>> >> sure of on technical/MTB-level descents (x42 Conti "Cross" tires just
>> >> grazing the chainstays when the frame flexes) - so, I will need come
>> >> back on something else to test the run-out on Eldridge Grade (though I
>> >> heard afterwards it may have recently been leveled out some).
>> >>
>> >> Jim W., Esteban, Joe #2, and myself (all of us mid-size tire riders)
>> >> opted for the ridgeline, ocean views of the Seven Sisters / BoFax
>> >> pavement descent to Alpine Dam, where we branched onto the old flume
>> >> road in the Lagunitas Creek canyon heading down towards Kent Lake.
>> >> This fine track had some major mojo, and we agreed we'd made the right
>> >> choice! The bill for all that descending came due upon arrival at the
>> >> junction w/ Old Vee Rd., which was a triple chevron death march
>> >> up-and-out to the next ridge. Throw in some stretches of blasting sun
>> >> and those goddam biting horse flies only adding to the fun.
>> >>
>> >> Finally, we reached the open roads which would take us north into a
>> >> more rolling hilltop and valley terrain, with several stretches of
>> >> exposed boulder gardens for good measure. We left a decision of
>> >> whether or not to pursue 

Re: [RBW] Re: RBW List takes over West Point Inn

[René Sterental]

Those photos are very nice!

Can you share your route? I'm thinking that at some point in mid august,
I'd like to try to go for a day ride to check the place out. I'm wondering
if you'd recommend parking in Fairfax and doing the loop from there just to
avoid all the climbing at the end of the ride. If mid-august is too hot,
then I'll do it in early September or in October.

I'm definitely interested in exploring the area.

René

On Wed, Jun 29, 2016 at 11:49 AM, cyclotourist 
wrote:

> Great to read the ride reports from the other groups. We split into an
> initial three groups Saturday morning, based on
> speed/distance/terrain. I ended up going with the last group on what
> was billed as the shorter/smoother ride. I don't know about all that,
> but 34 miles later, I wasn't turning down an offer to shuttle back to
> the WPI!!! Wish I could have dragged this weekend out and gone for
> more rides with you folks up there! Even with the heat, it was
> fantastic!
>
> My pics from the weekend in mostly chronological order:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/albums/72157667635974003
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 12:32 PM, Hugh Smitham 
> wrote:
> > Thanks Joe for a spot on accounting of this past weekend...like you I'm
> > still processing what a magical time I had with all of you. Need to do
> this
> > again.
> >
> > Here are my photo's sorry it's a huge dump and kinda out of order.
> >
> >
> > ~Hugh
> >
> > “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep
> moving.”
> > ― Albert Einstein
> >
> > http://velocipeedemusings.com/
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 2:07 PM, Joe Bunik  wrote:
> >>
> >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bunik/sets/72157667527929894
> >>
> >> I don't think there could have been a weekend any better - my mind
> >> will be replaying this one on repeat for the foreseeable future! What
> >> a GREAT time and particular thanks go out to the Jacquie P. / David E.
> >> / Jim W. / Hugh S. quad-fecta for making this thing happen in the
> >> first place.
> >>
> >> I thought I'd only be able to swing up there for a short visit
> >> sometime Saturday at best but, thanks to both my fabulous wife's
> >> enablement and Esteban's encouragement, I knocked off early Friday,
> >> got my bag together, and hit the road for Marin.
> >>
> >> The West Point Inn is a 1904-era alpine lodge high up Mt. Tamalpais
> >> and only accessible by trail. Individual accommodations can be
> >> arranged, but thanks to incomparable WPI member Jacquie Phelan, we had
> >> the entire facility at our disposal. As the gang drifted into camp on
> >> Friday night, we enjoyed a great feed, good imbibement, and fine
> >> company.
> >>
> >> I dare say if the evening ended warm, Saturday dawned HOT - and, early
> >> - most of the cabins and the main building are eastward-oriented
> >> facing the SF Bay and thus little shelter from a 5:30am sunrise. Where
> >> was the fog, and why had it been replaced with a breeze that felt like
> >> a hot hair dryer?
> >>
> >> The best thing about having 25-30 people ready to go, a quiver of
> >> bikes available, and no hard agendas whatsoever was that splintering
> >> into 4 or 5 different riding groups felt totally fine. I had brought
> >> my Legolas, which I am always happy with on fire roads but a bit less
> >> sure of on technical/MTB-level descents (x42 Conti "Cross" tires just
> >> grazing the chainstays when the frame flexes) - so, I will need come
> >> back on something else to test the run-out on Eldridge Grade (though I
> >> heard afterwards it may have recently been leveled out some).
> >>
> >> Jim W., Esteban, Joe #2, and myself (all of us mid-size tire riders)
> >> opted for the ridgeline, ocean views of the Seven Sisters / BoFax
> >> pavement descent to Alpine Dam, where we branched onto the old flume
> >> road in the Lagunitas Creek canyon heading down towards Kent Lake.
> >> This fine track had some major mojo, and we agreed we'd made the right
> >> choice! The bill for all that descending came due upon arrival at the
> >> junction w/ Old Vee Rd., which was a triple chevron death march
> >> up-and-out to the next ridge. Throw in some stretches of blasting sun
> >> and those goddam biting horse flies only adding to the fun.
> >>
> >> Finally, we reached the open roads which would take us north into a
> >> more rolling hilltop and valley terrain, with several stretches of
> >> exposed boulder gardens for good measure. We left a decision of
> >> whether or not to pursue the Pine Mountain Truck Rd. loop TBD upon
> >> arrival. Far off across the valley, we spotted at least 3 suspicious
> >> characters (isn't that Manny wearing his red onesie?) climbing - or
> >> wait, are they walking? - up the grade we surmised must be PMTR. Dang,
> >> they'd beaten us to the next crossroads - and hence our paths wouldn't
> >> cross until later on in Fairfax. It was only getting later and hotter,
> >> so 

Re: [RBW] Re: RBW List takes over West Point Inn

[cyclotourist]

Great to read the ride reports from the other groups. We split into an
initial three groups Saturday morning, based on
speed/distance/terrain. I ended up going with the last group on what
was billed as the shorter/smoother ride. I don't know about all that,
but 34 miles later, I wasn't turning down an offer to shuttle back to
the WPI!!! Wish I could have dragged this weekend out and gone for
more rides with you folks up there! Even with the heat, it was
fantastic!

My pics from the weekend in mostly chronological order:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/albums/72157667635974003



On Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 12:32 PM, Hugh Smitham  wrote:
> Thanks Joe for a spot on accounting of this past weekend...like you I'm
> still processing what a magical time I had with all of you. Need to do this
> again.
>
> Here are my photo's sorry it's a huge dump and kinda out of order.
>
>
> ~Hugh
>
> “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
> ― Albert Einstein
>
> http://velocipeedemusings.com/
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 2:07 PM, Joe Bunik  wrote:
>>
>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bunik/sets/72157667527929894
>>
>> I don't think there could have been a weekend any better - my mind
>> will be replaying this one on repeat for the foreseeable future! What
>> a GREAT time and particular thanks go out to the Jacquie P. / David E.
>> / Jim W. / Hugh S. quad-fecta for making this thing happen in the
>> first place.
>>
>> I thought I'd only be able to swing up there for a short visit
>> sometime Saturday at best but, thanks to both my fabulous wife's
>> enablement and Esteban's encouragement, I knocked off early Friday,
>> got my bag together, and hit the road for Marin.
>>
>> The West Point Inn is a 1904-era alpine lodge high up Mt. Tamalpais
>> and only accessible by trail. Individual accommodations can be
>> arranged, but thanks to incomparable WPI member Jacquie Phelan, we had
>> the entire facility at our disposal. As the gang drifted into camp on
>> Friday night, we enjoyed a great feed, good imbibement, and fine
>> company.
>>
>> I dare say if the evening ended warm, Saturday dawned HOT - and, early
>> - most of the cabins and the main building are eastward-oriented
>> facing the SF Bay and thus little shelter from a 5:30am sunrise. Where
>> was the fog, and why had it been replaced with a breeze that felt like
>> a hot hair dryer?
>>
>> The best thing about having 25-30 people ready to go, a quiver of
>> bikes available, and no hard agendas whatsoever was that splintering
>> into 4 or 5 different riding groups felt totally fine. I had brought
>> my Legolas, which I am always happy with on fire roads but a bit less
>> sure of on technical/MTB-level descents (x42 Conti "Cross" tires just
>> grazing the chainstays when the frame flexes) - so, I will need come
>> back on something else to test the run-out on Eldridge Grade (though I
>> heard afterwards it may have recently been leveled out some).
>>
>> Jim W., Esteban, Joe #2, and myself (all of us mid-size tire riders)
>> opted for the ridgeline, ocean views of the Seven Sisters / BoFax
>> pavement descent to Alpine Dam, where we branched onto the old flume
>> road in the Lagunitas Creek canyon heading down towards Kent Lake.
>> This fine track had some major mojo, and we agreed we'd made the right
>> choice! The bill for all that descending came due upon arrival at the
>> junction w/ Old Vee Rd., which was a triple chevron death march
>> up-and-out to the next ridge. Throw in some stretches of blasting sun
>> and those goddam biting horse flies only adding to the fun.
>>
>> Finally, we reached the open roads which would take us north into a
>> more rolling hilltop and valley terrain, with several stretches of
>> exposed boulder gardens for good measure. We left a decision of
>> whether or not to pursue the Pine Mountain Truck Rd. loop TBD upon
>> arrival. Far off across the valley, we spotted at least 3 suspicious
>> characters (isn't that Manny wearing his red onesie?) climbing - or
>> wait, are they walking? - up the grade we surmised must be PMTR. Dang,
>> they'd beaten us to the next crossroads - and hence our paths wouldn't
>> cross until later on in Fairfax. It was only getting later and hotter,
>> so we decided to forego this latter half of Hugh's "Dirty Middle
>> Route" and instead explore the northern San Geronimo Ridge fireroads
>> that lead up to nice singletrack on White's Hill.
>>
>> Passing Repack Rd., a cryptic chalk mark was placed in hopes of
>> greeting/baffling Hugh's Rough Riders when they eventually made their
>> way around the loop. Moving northward out of MMWD lands, more rocks
>> encountered until finally we were back in the woods and the soil. We
>> could almost smell lunch cooking at the brewery just over the ridge.
>> Skirting Tamarancho on a nicely groomed, steep trail descending
>> through redwoods closed out the first half of the day as we rolled
>> into 

Re: [RBW] Re: RBW List takes over West Point Inn

[Hugh Smitham]

Thanks Joe for a spot on accounting of this past weekend...like you I'm
still processing what a magical time I had with all of you. Need to do this
again.

Here are my photo's

sorry it's a huge dump and kinda out of order.


~Hugh

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep
moving.” ― Albert Einstein

http://velocipeedemusings.com/



On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 2:07 PM, Joe Bunik  wrote:

> https://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bunik/sets/72157667527929894
>
> I don't think there could have been a weekend any better - my mind
> will be replaying this one on repeat for the foreseeable future! What
> a GREAT time and particular thanks go out to the Jacquie P. / David E.
> / Jim W. / Hugh S. quad-fecta for making this thing happen in the
> first place.
>
> I thought I'd only be able to swing up there for a short visit
> sometime Saturday at best but, thanks to both my fabulous wife's
> enablement and Esteban's encouragement, I knocked off early Friday,
> got my bag together, and hit the road for Marin.
>
> The West Point Inn is a 1904-era alpine lodge high up Mt. Tamalpais
> and only accessible by trail. Individual accommodations can be
> arranged, but thanks to incomparable WPI member Jacquie Phelan, we had
> the entire facility at our disposal. As the gang drifted into camp on
> Friday night, we enjoyed a great feed, good imbibement, and fine
> company.
>
> I dare say if the evening ended warm, Saturday dawned HOT - and, early
> - most of the cabins and the main building are eastward-oriented
> facing the SF Bay and thus little shelter from a 5:30am sunrise. Where
> was the fog, and why had it been replaced with a breeze that felt like
> a hot hair dryer?
>
> The best thing about having 25-30 people ready to go, a quiver of
> bikes available, and no hard agendas whatsoever was that splintering
> into 4 or 5 different riding groups felt totally fine. I had brought
> my Legolas, which I am always happy with on fire roads but a bit less
> sure of on technical/MTB-level descents (x42 Conti "Cross" tires just
> grazing the chainstays when the frame flexes) - so, I will need come
> back on something else to test the run-out on Eldridge Grade (though I
> heard afterwards it may have recently been leveled out some).
>
> Jim W., Esteban, Joe #2, and myself (all of us mid-size tire riders)
> opted for the ridgeline, ocean views of the Seven Sisters / BoFax
> pavement descent to Alpine Dam, where we branched onto the old flume
> road in the Lagunitas Creek canyon heading down towards Kent Lake.
> This fine track had some major mojo, and we agreed we'd made the right
> choice! The bill for all that descending came due upon arrival at the
> junction w/ Old Vee Rd., which was a triple chevron death march
> up-and-out to the next ridge. Throw in some stretches of blasting sun
> and those goddam biting horse flies only adding to the fun.
>
> Finally, we reached the open roads which would take us north into a
> more rolling hilltop and valley terrain, with several stretches of
> exposed boulder gardens for good measure. We left a decision of
> whether or not to pursue the Pine Mountain Truck Rd. loop TBD upon
> arrival. Far off across the valley, we spotted at least 3 suspicious
> characters (isn't that Manny wearing his red onesie?) climbing - or
> wait, are they walking? - up the grade we surmised must be PMTR. Dang,
> they'd beaten us to the next crossroads - and hence our paths wouldn't
> cross until later on in Fairfax. It was only getting later and hotter,
> so we decided to forego this latter half of Hugh's "Dirty Middle
> Route" and instead explore the northern San Geronimo Ridge fireroads
> that lead up to nice singletrack on White's Hill.
>
> Passing Repack Rd., a cryptic chalk mark was placed in hopes of
> greeting/baffling Hugh's Rough Riders when they eventually made their
> way around the loop. Moving northward out of MMWD lands, more rocks
> encountered until finally we were back in the woods and the soil. We
> could almost smell lunch cooking at the brewery just over the ridge.
> Skirting Tamarancho on a nicely groomed, steep trail descending
> through redwoods closed out the first half of the day as we rolled
> into Fairfax. While Jim Warren intercepted Doug P. @ the Mountain Bike
> museum, Esteban and I quaffed multiple iced espressos where I hear it
> was pinging 95° in the shade of town.
>
> Lunch! A mighty lunch it was!!! Right on queue, Hugh's Rough Riders
> appeared fresh off their Repack Rd. descent just as the beers were
> served. It all becomes hazy until I awoke in the air-conditioned
> recovery room of the MMB/MBHOF where the Breeze family hosted our
> filthy mob for quite some time. An amazing collection which I will
> definitely return to and peruse even closer. And then, Phil Williamson
> rolled in the door...
>
> I won the underdog vote for leading a B-route return to camp, going
> back 

Re: [RBW] Re: RBW List takes over West Point Inn

[Joe Bunik]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bunik/sets/72157667527929894

I don't think there could have been a weekend any better - my mind
will be replaying this one on repeat for the foreseeable future! What
a GREAT time and particular thanks go out to the Jacquie P. / David E.
/ Jim W. / Hugh S. quad-fecta for making this thing happen in the
first place.

I thought I'd only be able to swing up there for a short visit
sometime Saturday at best but, thanks to both my fabulous wife's
enablement and Esteban's encouragement, I knocked off early Friday,
got my bag together, and hit the road for Marin.

The West Point Inn is a 1904-era alpine lodge high up Mt. Tamalpais
and only accessible by trail. Individual accommodations can be
arranged, but thanks to incomparable WPI member Jacquie Phelan, we had
the entire facility at our disposal. As the gang drifted into camp on
Friday night, we enjoyed a great feed, good imbibement, and fine
company.

I dare say if the evening ended warm, Saturday dawned HOT - and, early
- most of the cabins and the main building are eastward-oriented
facing the SF Bay and thus little shelter from a 5:30am sunrise. Where
was the fog, and why had it been replaced with a breeze that felt like
a hot hair dryer?

The best thing about having 25-30 people ready to go, a quiver of
bikes available, and no hard agendas whatsoever was that splintering
into 4 or 5 different riding groups felt totally fine. I had brought
my Legolas, which I am always happy with on fire roads but a bit less
sure of on technical/MTB-level descents (x42 Conti "Cross" tires just
grazing the chainstays when the frame flexes) - so, I will need come
back on something else to test the run-out on Eldridge Grade (though I
heard afterwards it may have recently been leveled out some).

Jim W., Esteban, Joe #2, and myself (all of us mid-size tire riders)
opted for the ridgeline, ocean views of the Seven Sisters / BoFax
pavement descent to Alpine Dam, where we branched onto the old flume
road in the Lagunitas Creek canyon heading down towards Kent Lake.
This fine track had some major mojo, and we agreed we'd made the right
choice! The bill for all that descending came due upon arrival at the
junction w/ Old Vee Rd., which was a triple chevron death march
up-and-out to the next ridge. Throw in some stretches of blasting sun
and those goddam biting horse flies only adding to the fun.

Finally, we reached the open roads which would take us north into a
more rolling hilltop and valley terrain, with several stretches of
exposed boulder gardens for good measure. We left a decision of
whether or not to pursue the Pine Mountain Truck Rd. loop TBD upon
arrival. Far off across the valley, we spotted at least 3 suspicious
characters (isn't that Manny wearing his red onesie?) climbing - or
wait, are they walking? - up the grade we surmised must be PMTR. Dang,
they'd beaten us to the next crossroads - and hence our paths wouldn't
cross until later on in Fairfax. It was only getting later and hotter,
so we decided to forego this latter half of Hugh's "Dirty Middle
Route" and instead explore the northern San Geronimo Ridge fireroads
that lead up to nice singletrack on White's Hill.

Passing Repack Rd., a cryptic chalk mark was placed in hopes of
greeting/baffling Hugh's Rough Riders when they eventually made their
way around the loop. Moving northward out of MMWD lands, more rocks
encountered until finally we were back in the woods and the soil. We
could almost smell lunch cooking at the brewery just over the ridge.
Skirting Tamarancho on a nicely groomed, steep trail descending
through redwoods closed out the first half of the day as we rolled
into Fairfax. While Jim Warren intercepted Doug P. @ the Mountain Bike
museum, Esteban and I quaffed multiple iced espressos where I hear it
was pinging 95° in the shade of town.

Lunch! A mighty lunch it was!!! Right on queue, Hugh's Rough Riders
appeared fresh off their Repack Rd. descent just as the beers were
served. It all becomes hazy until I awoke in the air-conditioned
recovery room of the MMB/MBHOF where the Breeze family hosted our
filthy mob for quite some time. An amazing collection which I will
definitely return to and peruse even closer. And then, Phil Williamson
rolled in the door...

I won the underdog vote for leading a B-route return to camp, going
back via Bolinas-Fairfax Rd. to Lake Alpine, closing the balloon we
began earlier. Heading west on BoFax makes for a long steady climb,
but hey- it's closed to cars (for now), is in the shade, and is just
totally beautiful the whole way up. Back past all the famous locations
we finally made it to Pantoll camp where the trail back to WPI breaks
off. This now-familiar, flowy homestretch was the icing on the cake to
a great day in the saddle.

Dinner and refreshment were had and then it was quick to bed - much
earlier than the previous night. Unfortunately I was completely wired
(those goddam coffees!) and my room upstairs in the main lodge was