Pizza in Downieville exploratory ride 03/20/10

[GreenMachine]

I thought it would be fun to check out the California side snowpack, if any, on highway 49.   The ride to Downieville will be reverse of the typical route: Reno-Nevada City-Downieville.



This is a unsupported North ride and meets at the W. McCarran Starbucks parking lot at 10:00AM.   Departure will be no later than ten minutes later.  We can discuss gas stops for shorter range bikes.  After lunch in Downieville, the plan is to continue eastbound on 49 through Sierra City/Bassetts to see if Yuba Pass is open and slow and go from there.

Forecast high temps range from 61 to 68.  

[MotoPutz]

My wife and I may very well be in...

[bkrblood]

shit would love to go but ive got inventory that morning!

[MotoPutz]

shit would love to go but ive got inventory that morning!

16,489...   there I counted for you

[Justin]

16,489...   there I counted for you

Uahuahuahuahuah!!!!



Good on ya for posting the ride!  Lots of people itching to go.

[zipbyu]

Too early, I think it will be cold and very dirty with a side of wet runoff. I am a wimp though.  I would recommend Red Rock to 395 , to 70 go to Frenchmans and back. There is not much altitude change and weather would stay the same.  Still might be diry though.
I am just giving my opinion, you all have fun.

[Bigcat]

Chad, as it would have it, I have been riding most of the northern routes for the past couple of months or so and just rode that same loop yesterday. Temps were perfect and never needed the heated gear. But then I was on the new C14 with good wind protection. Here is what you can expect as of yesterday. 89 up to Sierraville is a little dirty but not bad. 49 over Yuba pass to Bassets is open but VERY dirty. A slow, tire lane, casual pace for sure. Leave the testosterone at home for that one. Gold Lake is still closed. 49 from Bassets to Downieville is a little dirty and a little slick in only a couple of turns. Downieville to Nevada City gets better the lower you go. Not bad. Can't say about 20 as I went into SAC and back 80. The best road I have been able find this early is hands down hwy 70 all the way to almost Oroville. Cleeean with almost no traffic and surprising lack of our fine uniformed friends (maybe cutbacks?). Maybe i've just been lucky but then I was just cruising and enjoying the ride  That was about a week ago. La Porte says still closed. Didn't bother checking. Bucks Lake is a mees from about 5 miles outside of Quincy (turned around).

Also, VC is not too bad on the lower half but don't even bother with the truck route. Deceptively slick with that really fine gravel/dirt. Mt Rose is surprisingly clean but with alot of snow runoff. Your bike will be filthy.

So there you have it boys and girls. Your friendly road condition report brought to you by ALEVE.

[GreenMachine]

Bigcat.  That's awesome info.  Thanks a ton.

I'll leave it up to the group, but it would appear we could return view Sierraville/Truckee.

[bkrblood]

shit would love to go but ive got inventory that morning!

16,489...   there I counted for you

lol im one of the supervisors at officemax in reno so we got just a few more  things than that lol!

[MotoPutz]

shit would love to go but ive got inventory that morning!

16,489...   there I counted for you

lol im one of the supervisors at officemax in reno so we got just a few more  things than that lol!

meh

[GreenMachine]

Still going?  Maybe!    Temps are forecast even better 68 - 71.

For those daring enough or stuck at work and unable to join us at 10AM, get geared up tonight and reverse our route.  You might even beat us to Downieville.  However, if you eat all the pizza before we arrive, there will be hell to pay!!

[edmunsan]

So. Cal. 2 day will B at Spectrum Motosport Ducati to Demo a Desmosicci. Juust kidding just browsing with my bros. Hve fun SSA riders.

[GreenMachine]

Putz, you made the right decision today.   Too bad you didn't have cold weather gear.  Hwy 20 was shadowy and chilly.  From Nevada City home was very nice weatherwise.  Bigcat and I traded point all day.  Pizza and story telling with the owner in Downieville was very entertaining.  He's a ZX-14 owner and has a reputation with the area LEOs.  I could have gone for another pizza we stayed so long...it was so damn nice hanging outside again!

Slow going from Bassetts to Sattley.   There are patches of gravel, ice run off and some slick silty surfaces, so we just took it slow.  Easy enough that I gazed back at Sierra Buttes.  What a beautiful mountain at this time of year!!

No problems, just fun.  My BT021 front is beat.

[MotoPutz]

Yeah, I'm sorry, I just couldn't make that temp in the gear I was in, I could have bundled up but my wife doesn't have any cold weather riding gear...  I'm glad you guys had a great ride!

[wills]

No problems, just fun.  My BT021 front is beat.

GOOD! Get rid of them and get some PR2's or Angel STs, you will think you have a new bike.

The Mrs. & I went to Markleyville, our sources there say Monitor Pass will be open next week. Icehouse road was great, so was Kingsbury and Rt 50. The truck route is good (looks like the NDOT R'Tards are using the liquid melt now). Geiger grade is mostly clean too. We ran into Ted on his black Connie on Icehouse Rd.

As for today, thinking about a noon departure, 80 to 89 to Grayeagle to wherever? I just want it to warm up a bit.