Riding in Marin

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Today I rode Miwok, Bobcat, Marincello, Tennessee Valley, and Old Springs Trails in the Marin Headlands. I also detoured to Haypress campground, but given the sogginess after the all-day rain, I opted to go over the big hill back to the warmth and excellent coffee of the Marin Headlands Hostel. I'm glad I did, because the climb up the stair-stepped Old Spring Trail and the Miwok hillside descent were incredible.

The bike I'm riding is a Surly Disc Trucker with hydraulic disc brakes and Rohloff. It has some non-Rivish attributes, of course, but it's steel and traditional geometry and has ample clearance for my 26x2.0 Schwalbe Mondials and fenders. Anyway, after coming down the long descent of the Marincello trail, which is basically a narrow, fairly smooth gravel road, not single track, I took shelter from the downpour under a big tree. A couple minutes later a man and a woman on full-suspension MTBs came down the same trail. They carried on for several minutes in the parking lot, punctuated by hoots and hollers and repetitive use of a new word for me "crazeballs", about how "intense" their descent had been. Grant has written about how extreme equipment tends to make mundane experiences seem more extreme - like the high adventure of driving a Land Rover to pick up the groceries. I thought the Marincello descent was fun and beautiful, but never for a second did I feel that I was having an extreme experience or pushing the limits of my old-fashioned, unsuspended steel bike.

[cyclotourist]

What a great day! How do you like the MH hostel? I've thought about staying there before. Kid friendly?

On Tue, Dec 25, 2012 at 5:48 PM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thil...@gmail.com> wrote:

Today I rode Miwok, Bobcat, Marincello, Tennessee Valley, and Old Springs Trails in the Marin Headlands. I also detoured to Haypress campground, but given the sogginess after the all-day rain, I opted to go over the big hill back to the warmth and excellent coffee of the Marin Headlands Hostel. I'm glad I did, because the climb up the stair-stepped Old Spring Trail and the Miwok hillside descent were incredible.

The bike I'm riding is a Surly Disc Trucker with hydraulic disc brakes and Rohloff. It has some non-Rivish attributes, of course, but it's steel and traditional geometry and has ample clearance for my 26x2.0 Schwalbe Mondials and fenders. Anyway, after coming down the long descent of the Marincello trail, which is basically a narrow, fairly smooth gravel road, not single track, I took shelter from the downpour under a big tree. A couple minutes later a man and a woman on full-suspension MTBs came down the same trail. They carried on for several minutes in the parking lot, punctuated by hoots and hollers and repetitive use of a new word for me "crazeballs", about how "intense" their descent had been. Grant has written about how extreme equipment tends to make mundane experiences seem more extreme - like the high adventure of driving a Land Rover to pick up the groceries. I thought the Marincello descent was fun and beautiful, but never for a second did I feel that I was having an extreme experience or pushing the limits of my old-fashioned, unsuspended steel bike.

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Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA

**
"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it." -Mark Twain

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

It's nice and the staff are super friendly and helpful. I'd bring my kids here.

[Don]

Advice - don't take shelter under a tree. Lightening strikes trees frequently. That's how golfers get kill on a golf course. It happens.

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

I didn't see any lightning this time, but I'll keep that in mind. Luckily I have no fear of death, which is kinda fun.

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

I'm posting a bunch of photos in real time to Facebook. If you're interested in seeing them and/or tracking my tour, feel free to add me. If you're not interested, feel free to not do that!

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

www.facebook.com/jwthill

[Hetchins52]

You might want to do some gorgeous road miles by getting on Panoramic Highway and climbing up to Pantol Ranger Station then climbing some more and follow the ridge line (Ridgecrest) and then Bolinas-Fairfax Rd. down to Alpine Lake. From there, climb up toward Pine Mountain and descend into Fairfax. You can experience some more Marin ambience at the Fairfax coffee shops and eateries.

Wander back through Ross, Corte Madera and Mill Valley. You can take fire roads back to the Headlands.

This may take some help from passing cyclists but most would be happy to lead you if they are going the same direction.

Western Marin County is a wonderland for biking!

On Tuesday, December 25, 2012 5:48:58 PM UTC-8, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery wrote:

Today I rode Miwok, Bobcat, Marincello, Tennessee Valley, and Old Springs Trails in the Marin Headlands. I also detoured to Haypress campground, but given the sogginess after the all-day rain, I opted to go over the big hill back to the warmth and excellent coffee of the Marin Headlands Hostel. ....

[Philip Williamson]

Not in Marin. I've seen lightning in the Bay Area... Five times in 38 years?

Philip
www.biketinker.com

[Phil Brown]

Ah, yes. Ridgecrest, Fairfax-Bolinas Road, Alpine Lake. Back when I
was young and strong that loop was one of our normal rides. I chased
many now famous names up and down those roads. And I mean chased. I
was always shot off the back.
Phil Brown

[Brewster Fong]

On Tuesday, December 25, 2012 5:48:58 PM UTC-8, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery wrote:

Anyway, after coming down the long descent of the Marincello trail, which is basically a narrow, fairly smooth gravel road, not single track, I took shelter from the downpour under a big tree. A couple minutes later a man and a woman on full-suspension MTBs came down the same trail. They carried on for several minutes in the parking lot, punctuated by hoots and hollers and repetitive use of a new word for me "crazeballs", about how "intense" their descent had been. Grant has written about how extreme equipment tends to make mundane experiences seem more extreme - like the high adventure of driving a Land Rover to pick up the groceries. I thought the Marincello descent was fun and beautiful, but never for a second did I feel that I was having an extreme experience or pushing the limits of my old-fashioned, unsuspended steel bike.

 

I think this interpretation of Grant's thinking is misplaced. Your Land Rover example should be compared to airport policemen riding FS bikes at the airport. That seems extreme.

 

Here, riding in the *pouring rain* on a "narrow fair smooth gravel road," may be exactly what the FS is made for!  It sounds like these "crazeballs" were having a great time. What's wrong with  that? How fast were they  going ? Perhaps gettng up to speed on a FS bike going down this gravel road in the pouring rain is what made the ride fun and the cause for all the hoot and hollering?

 

You sound like a very experience cyclist, but where these two "newbie" riders? If so, then their bikes did exactly what they wanted. Despite what many, including myself believe, alot of newbies or the "general public" find cycling on *gravel roads in the rain* intimidating and may not even try it, save their FS bikes.

 

Instead of looking down on those with FS bikes, if it gets these folks out and riding, especially in pouring rain, then I say go for it!  Good Luck!

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Not looking down on them at all. I rode trails today for which a FS bike would have been more appropriate. If you live in this area and just have one bike, a FS bike is a reasonable option for some. I still think that "extreme" equipment makes mundane experiences seem more exciting sometimes, but there's nothing wrong with that.

Today I saw a dude with a purple Riv custom on top of Mt Tam. The Riv had leather tape, acorn bags, and Paul center pulls. I tried to engage the guy in conversation, but he hurriedly left without saying much. His buddy was on a steel bianchi with berthoud bags.

[Joe Bernard]

Don't take the lack of conversation too personally. I have Asperger's Syndrome (or whatever they're calling it these days), and discovered during my flirtation with recumbents that riding a bike people want to talk about can be a little unsettling if my brain isn't in the right place for socialization. Some people just aren't built for easy small talk.

 

Joe Bernard

Vallejo, CA.

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Decided to stay in an inn in Bolinas last night for the much needed shower and a chance to wash/dry my clothes and other gear. Now I'm camping at Steep Ravine with Manny Acosta and his buddies. Manny paid me a nice compliment when he said, "I'm glad you didn't turn out to be a creep." Little does he know...

Anyway, Steep Ravine is an amazing place. Why most of the campsites are vacant right now is a mystery.

[Joe Bernard]

Because it's been raining and freezing cold the last week? :)

[David Yu Greenblatt]

Jim,

That is one thing I noticed after moving to California from Wisconsin -- most Californians are total creampuffs when it comes to weather. A little rain keeps most of them indoors. I spent a weekend camping in Big Sur two weeks ago and the place was almost deserted, which was great! (I highly recommend campsite #1 at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, perched right on the cliffs over the ocean; the officially-closed-but-not-really Tanbark trail across the road is also a nice hke.) 

David G in SF

PS: Sorry for not joining you and Manny on rides but I've had my kids with me. 

On Sat, Dec 29, 2012 at 8:57 PM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thil...@gmail.com> wrote:

<snip>

[ted]

Jim writes "... most Californians are total creampuffs when it comes
to weather".
Yes we are. I moved here from Mi. 20 odd years ago, and I still find
it remarkable.
Of course sometime during those 20 years I seem to have become just
like the rest of us here.
I'm glad you are having a good vacation out here. Perhaps I'll see you
at the 1/1 Diablo ride.

On Dec 30, 7:18 am, David Yu Greenblatt

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

David G said that thing about the creampuffs, not me!

I actually have been having trouble coming to terms with the damp cold while locals buzz past in shorts.

[dougP]

I'm a second generation California creampuff, & proud to be so. :)

40 degrees & humid is more uncomfortable than 20 degrees & dry.  Mark Twain famously said that one of the most miserable winters he faced was a summer in San Francisco.  It's not an afterthought that Rivendell treats the frames with Boeshield. 

dougP

[Esteban]

I love Steep Ravine.  Now keep it quiet!  The tent sites are kinda secret...  The primitive cabins are a hot commodity. 

[ted]

Oops. Terribly sorry about the misattribution.

On Dec 30, 8:59 pm, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thill....@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Christian]

Speaking of biking and camping and Steep Ravine: check this photo out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cwmcmillen/7707743088/in/set-72157630891654458.  I took it last summer.  

The tent sites there are some of the most spectacular I've ever camped in.  And getting a reservation in July was easy.  The cabins were all full but only two the sites had occupants.

Happy New Year! 

Christian