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 http://bikemaster.org/road-history/metcalf/metcalf-road-history.htm |
| results? | Right Here! |
| profile |  |
| distance | 1.72 miles (2.78 km) |
| climbing | 942 ft (287 meters) |
| grade | 10% |
| where? | See below |
| when? | 20-21 Nov 2021 |
| what time | 10 a.m. Saturday, or anytime from Saturday to Sunday, 6 a.m. - 4 p.m |
| how? |  |
| how much? | free! |
| why? | Ask not why; just do! |
| coordinator |  |
| weather |
 Bay area winds |
| deja-vu? | 2008(7) |
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Format: This climb will be in Self-Ride Default Start format. A group may meet at Metcalf and Coyote Ranch Rd (not far from 101) by 10:00 a.m., and start the climb at 10:10. You may also ride in a small group or alone between 6:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday. There are toilets and water at Metcalf Park and at Motorcyle Park at the finish. If you have not been vaccinated against Covid, or have any suspicion that you are infected, please ride alone.
Metcalf is probably best described by quoting Dan's description from the first time we climbed it in 2008(7):
The Metcalf Mauler; a 1.8 mile launching-pad custom made for the bulging quad, testosterone oozing, power mongers who would like nothing better than to trounce the skin and bones endurance climbers for a change. This road is short but relentless. It is Jamison minus the wimpy flat start. Oh, and minus the trees since it clings, butt naked, to the side of the cliffs; the only scenic vista here is an unobstructed view of the torment to come. Come prepared to max out your HRM and to peg your power meter; this road is too short to worry about lactate thresholds or functional power levels – if your ride doesn't end in cerebral apoplexy you weren't trying.
Metcalf was well described by Thomas Hobbes in his Leviathan: nasty, brutish, and short. A key feature on this year's Livestrong Ride led by Lance Armstrong, "The Metcalf Mauler" is a classic challenge for San Jose cyclists. There's nothing subtle about this one, start hard, ride hard, and finish hard. Who knows? Maybe Lance will show up for another shot at it.
Good luck!
Rule 1 is be safe and stay healthy!
Join the Strava Low-Key Hillclimbers Club to get your time recorded "automatically". Or message/email your time to Andy or Frank, or post it on Facebook LKHC group.
The Facebook LKHC group is also a good place to get the latest announcements and discussions.
LET'S CLIMB!
If you have not been vaccinated or have indications that you might be positive, please ride alone, and do not come to the mass start or ride in any groups!
Sorry, folks! We require all riders wear helmets during the climb, and we follow the USA Cycling rule against ear buds or other head phones. Rock to tunes before the climb, perhaps, but we need riders to pay attention to what's happening during the climb...
Low-Key is all about a group of friends riding up a hill together. It's like any other informal group ride, except we time you to the top and report the results on our web site. But we have no road closures, no lead vehicle, no follow vehicle. We are traffic, sharing the roads with other traffic, following the laws and courtesy which applies to traffic. This includes riding to the right of the road when practicable, and not crossing double yellows to pass riders or to get through corners faster. We're each responsible for our own actions out there, on and off the bike, both as users of the road as as courteous visitors to the neighborhoods we pass through. "Ceci n'est pas un race".