Colfax to Drum Power House Ride

This week we have an adventure taking us to the Gold Country area East of Colfax for a ride up the PG&E's Drum Hydroelectric Powerhouse.

The ride begins at the Colfax Railroad Station at 7 North Main Street, Colfax, Ca, 95713. (The Picture above is the statue of Schuyler Colfax Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant near the start, he was Speaker of the House of Representatives under Lincoln and led the passage of the 13th Amendment)

We did this ride two years ago and it was popular and were unable to do this last year due to road repairs.

After the ride we will convene at a local pizzeria for lunch, there are some really good ones in Colfax.

Since most of us will not be familiar with the roads I will describe the terrain. For the first 2.4 miles we descend significantly more than we climb. At mile 2.4 we begin a section where we climb about 1800 feet over about 11 miles. The average grade in this section is about 2.7%. At mile 13.6 we pass Lake Alta. At mile 13.9 We turn onto Drum Powerhouse Road which we follow up to the gate to the powerhouse at mile 19.9. This road is heavily wooded and has about equal amounts of climbing and descent, about 500 feet of each. After reaching the powerhouse we return on the same road and take a break at mile 26.3 at the Alta Store. After leaving the alta store we head out a 3.4 mile journey to Casa Loma. This section has about 600 feet of ascent and 300 feet of descent. We then turn around in Casa Loma (at the railroad tracks). Casa Loma is the highest point of the ride at about 3925 feet of elevation. (Colfax is at about 2425 feet) Retracing backward we proceed back by Lake Alma and descent the same route we ascended until taking an alternate route along Rollins Lake Road and continuing on Norton Grade Road again rejoining our original road out of Colfax for the final 1.5 miles.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52682290
Rating: C+,B-, B, 47.5 Miles, 4597 feet of elevation gain

NOTE: Check posting 2 hours before ride time for weather-related and other changes. Helmets are required and bikes should be in good working order. Please no ear buds or headphones. Be prepared with a spare tube and pump. Class 2 E-Bikes are not permitted.

BECOME A MEMBER: Your membership on Meetup is not a membership in the Procrastinating Pedalers Bike Club. Join the Club to support bike advocacy and recreational cycling in the Reno-Tahoe area. Memberships are $35 (single) and $60 (joint). Club benefits include insurance on all rides (provided for first ride only for non-members), summer picnic, winter holiday party, other members-only events, and local bike shop discounts. Click here for a Membership Application Form. http://www.pedalers.org/member_app_April_10_2016.pdf

RIDE RATINGS: Unless the ride is posted “no drop,” you will be expected to maintain the pace set as stated in the ride description. It is important to confirm your ability to do this ride. Review the map/route sheet provided, and the ride rating as stated in the Ride Rating Sheet - ([http://www.pedalers.org/RideRatingSheet2018.pdf. If you have questions contact the ride host.](http://www.pedalers.org/RideRatingSheet2018.pdf.%20If%20you%20have%20questions%20contact%20the%20ride%20host.)

CYCLING ETIQUETTE: If you have any questions about what a group ride
with the Procrastinating Pedalers entails, please refer to our Ride Etiquette Sheet. http://www.pedalers.org/PP_Group_Ride_Etiquette.pdf

DISCLAIMER: Bicycle riding comes with inherent risk. All maps, rides and other documents listed here are for informational purposes only. The Procrastinating Pedalers Bicycle Club and the authors of any maps assume no liability for the information provided. Research the local riding conditions before you embark on a ride. Road conditions, weather conditions, and traffic densities vary constantly.