For the first time since my very first Mission ride, the gang went up to Mt. Tamalpais’ East Peak.  We had a huge group at the snack shack – Sara included! – and set out around 9:45. The route started just like any other ride: cross the bridge, descend to Sausalito and head north on the bike path out of town. Before the end of the trail, we took a quick left and rolled through Mill Valley – and that’s where the climbing started.

The climb up to Tam isn’t terrible – not from the Sausalito side, at least. From Mill Valley, you snake up a windy, wooded back-road to an intersection called Four Corners. After regrouping, you set out from the Corners to another intersection – Pantoll.  This bit starts out rough (and steep) but levels off for a while toward the back half.  Then there’s a short segment from Pantoll to the ranger station before you continue going up and up and up to East Peak.  As if ten miles of steady climbing wasn’t hard enough, the last 300 meters up to the trailhead at the top is a dizzying 20% grade.

The gang at 2,400 feet.

I woke up with sore legs and this climb didn’t help matters: I was feeling the burn early and often. I managed to grit my teeth and push through, but it wasn’t easy. I can’t tell you how happy I was to crest that final grade, clip out and lean my bike against a sun-warmed bench at the overlook point. The rest of the gang trickled in and we spent some time debating routes, gear, races – the usual stuff that cyclists debate. By the time I hit the top, I had 25 miles and 3,100 feet of ascent on my trusty odometer.  Good times.

There’s not much to say about the rest of the route – we just turned around to enjoy a well-earned fifteen mile descent.

Yujin on the Tam descent.