Ride Host: Randy Simpson
Cell Phone: 925-980-9304
Name of Ride: Livermore and up Mines Road
Type: Conditioning and endurance. No drop with periodic regroupings
Starting/ending location: Livermore’s Ernie Rodrigues Softball Field
Start time: Rolling at 10 am
Estimated mileage: 42.5 miles, or less
Elevation gain: 2613 ft
Ride rating: 4 M. A few steep grades along a gradual climb up Mines Canyon.
Ride Details:
We’ll start in Livermore and ride to Mines Road (mile 1.3). From there we will ride up Mines Road as far as the Alameda-Santa Clara county Line (mile 21). This is an out-and-back ride. Riders need not go all of the way to the county line before turning back.
This route goes through a sparsely populated region with long road sections of just one lane. Cell service is limited.
Make sure to leave the start with two-full water bottles on your bicycle and some energy snacks, there is no drinking water on the route.
The weather is currently predicted to be nice and sunny. It will be cold in the morning and we will be riding in a canyon that is shaded much of the way so please wear warm kit.
All participants must register online on the VSBC website or via the Wild Apricot app. You do not need to be a VSBC member, but we’d appreciate your support and you’ll appreciate the many benefits in being a member.
History nuggets: Why is Mines Road called Mines Road? Because there was significant mining activity from ~1900 until 1945. Magnesite (magnesium carbonate) was the sought after ore. The metal magnesium and its oxide was sought after for a variety of specialty uses.
Rancho Los Mochos is at mile 14. This is a Boy Scout Camp that was donated to the Scouts in 1944 by the Automotive Machinists Union No. 1546. The camp is a little over 1 sq. mile. 10s of thousands of Boy and Girl Scouts have camped there in the last 80 years.
Last September the Valley Spokesmen Racing Team held a cyclocross race at Rancho Los Mochos. Here's a link to some of their photos VSRT
Link to the ride ‘turn by turn’ instructions (RidewithGPS):
