Mt. Tam, Here I Come!

I am heading out west for a week to work at my employer's national meeting.

Fortunately, the weather looks excellent. 60s and sunny. I don't believe a word of it. After all, it's San Francisco, so I fully expect to find 50s and fog with a smattering of gale-force winds (that's reverse-weather-psychology, see...).

So, to take advantage of the potentially excellent weather, I am planning to rent a bike for Saturday and Sunday. My ambition is to ride across the Golden Gate on Sunday morning and explore the climbs and descents around Mt. Tamalpais.

BCB used to live there, and she tells me it is gorgeous. And all the online ride reports rave about it, particularly the uphill routes out of Fairfax (CA, not VA, for you DC locals).

I Have a Plan

I spoke with a pleasant fellow at Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals and Tours, and he is going to set me up with a Kestral Talon SL. It's the bike closest to the geometry of my beloved BMC. They are also going to set me up with a route.

THAT geometry looks familiar...we'll see how she rides ⇒

I'll be bringing my pedals, clothes, helmet, and saddle (never travel without your saddle!). They tell me they have everything else I'll need—from a saddle bag to CO₂—which will save me a lot of trouble with packing! I hate to consider what our charming NTSB officers would think of a carry-on that held a multi-tool, inner tubes, and a pump. "There's something nefarious afoot!"

Excitement, adventure, and really wild things await!

The advance plan is to do a 60-ish mile loop. The mountain is 2,574 feet in elevation, so I will be spending a lot of time with my granny. 60 miles will be a sufficient effort. I seek an adventure—not a sufferfest.

I will leave my hotel at around 0700, to catch sunrise from near the bridge. Beyond that, I have no itinerary. I do plan to get back to my hotel by 1500, so I can have a nap before my evening duties on the conference floor.

Whatever happens in-between will be an adventure...