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Recommendation: Bay Area to Yosemite ride?

Oh My Sack! said:
Were you on the NEW grade (120) or the OLD grade (right next to it)? The NEW one has had awesome pavement with it's only draw back being the traffic. The OLD grade was nasty last year and has been for yars but they were redoing it last year. Don't know if they just did a partial or the whole thing, though.
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Yeah, the New grade! Never been on the old grade. Someday I'll do that one.


SlideSF said:
All right, I stand corrected. I have never ridden Priest Grade, but it looks awesome. Will have to try it this summer. I think the main point I was trying to get across was doing Mt. Hamilton/San Antonio Valley right off the bat rather than spending the morning trying to cross the Valley on 680/580/205 whatever bullshit, getting your blood pressure rising before you get to the good parts. Often when I slab it across, by the time I get to the foothills, all I want to do is park it and have a few drinks.

When you take 130, you get into some real tight twisties right away, and no traffic to speak of. It's boring but a breeze getting across from Patterson to Turlock almost any road you take. There's a stop sign almost every mile, but traffic is sparse and visibility excellent. Just watch out for big farm tractor/trailers pulling out in front of you. Leo action is minimal ;):shhh cuz they're all working the freeways.

Have a great trip! I envy you, but I will be there as soon as I get my baby some new shoes. :ride
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No correction, I thought your map was great. I agree going through the valley sucks. Flat, buggy, and boring.

Check out PG, I bet you'll love it. It's fairly short, but super fun.:thumbup
 
old grade is STEEP. its smooth now but im not a huge fan. once summer kicks in ill do laps, up New and down Old. good way to round out the tires ;)
 
I almost always take the Old Grade up, especially if I see a bunch of cars and tour buses heading for the New Grade. It's a great way to beat the traffic to the top. Personally, I don't think the turns on the New Grade are worth the traffic and CHPs on it.
 
i never get any trouble from LEOs on the twisties. from what ive seen, if you are acting like a fool in neighborhoods and on straights, they leave you be. it does seem to be worse if your dressed like a squid.
 
GrizFyrFyter said:
old grade is STEEP. its smooth now but im not a huge fan. once summer kicks in ill do laps, up New and down Old. good way to round out the tires ;)
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I'm not a fan of the Old Priest Grade (either), because the blind corners are just too blind.

I love the New Priest Grade, because the road allows a rhythm in the corners that works right.

Being a local myself....I can hit the grade at times of the day (and days of the week) where there is no traffic to screw up the rhythm, and...those no traffic times, mean no cops either. :thumbup

I (as far as I can see) think locals have a respect of the twisties (for one thing we see what the flat landers do wrong)..and cops don't bother with me either. In fact they cut me breaks like crazy.

Maybe a flash of headlights, or roll the orange strobes a couple times.
It also helps that I know where they are, when they are hunting for fresh $$$ meat.
 
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louemc said:
I love the New Priest Grade, because the road allows a rhythm in the corners that works right.

Being a local myself....I can hit the grade at times of the day (and days of the week) where there is no traffic to screw up the rhythm, and...those no traffic times, mean no cops either. :thumbup
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That's it for me, too. "Rhythm" is a good way to describe it. Admittedly, I also have done it during weekdays.


I'd likely never go anywhere near Yosemite on a weekend. You're so lucky to have all that on your doorstep Lou.:thumbup
 
Brown81 said:
That's it for me, too. "Rhythm" is a good way to describe it. Admittedly, I also have done it during weekdays.


I'd likely never go anywhere near Yosemite on a weekend. You're so lucky to have all that on your doorstep Lou.:thumbup
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It's like I've died and gone to Heaven (for me). Every minute of the day. :thumbup / :ride
 
From a "tourists" point of view, this is about the BEST time to be there. I generally always go before the Memorial weekend as there is far less traffic in and around the park.

I've used Bass Lake as my base camp as you can ride in a get a spot without a reservation before memorial weekend. After that, forget it in or nearby the park.
 
louemc said:
It's like I've died and gone to Heaven (for me). Every minute of the day. :thumbup / :ride
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where do you live?



for those that havent been there. this is a little of 49 (north of coulterville) and new priest grade (3:06).
[youtube]V0XYpSlAx_o[/youtube]
 
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:laughing:laughing

im currently in manteca for a few months but i call Twain Harte home. im commute through copper a few days a week to change things up.
 
GrizFyrFyter said:
for those that havent been there. this is a little of 49 (north of coulterville) and new priest grade (3:06).]
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Great video and very representative of how nice it is there....now, please remove it before the entire Bay Area decides to head over there! :laughing :twofinger
 
I live in Sonora and we will ride straight to new priest grade go up and down it five to ten times and go home. It's that good.

The road to mariposa is great as well. But we have so many good roads up here it's hard to decied where to ride.
 
i lived in sonora and worked in groveland one fire season...best season of my career!

tires barely lasted me a month at a time.
 
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