(Last modified Thursday, September 02 2010, @ 11:53 PDT)
In addition to the rides listed below, we also have weekly rides.
See our ride rating system to decode the secret markings 3/TM/50 etc.
Sat Oct 2 4/LTMB/18.7
Individual Time Trial
Meet at the corner of San Pablo Dam Rd and Bear Creek Rd by 9:40
a.m. for a race against the clock. First rider is off at 10:01 and
a rider a minute after that. The ITT is the only GPC ride where you
have to be a member of the Club (insurance reasons), but you can
join or renew right there at the start for $15/year.
Pre-registration is appreciated. Chip Scarborough, (510) 222-4592,
or <dubose3 at msn dot com>.
Sat Oct 2 4/M/108
Mt. Hamilton Loop From Pleasanton
With over 4000' of climbing from its base, panoramic views of the
south bay and its hinterlands and hidden valleys, historic
observatory buildings at its summit, and passage through a number
of distinctive plant communities, the "Mt Ham" ride is one of the
best in the Bay Area. Meet at Neal and Railroad Ave in Pleasanton
(between First and Main Streets; best access is to take I-680 to
the Bernal Ave. exit) at 7:45 for a prompt 8:00 departure.
First-rate public restrooms are available in the park just south of
the meeting place. Coffee is available at Tully's, 2 blocks away at
349 Main St between W Angela St and Abbie, but don't let it delay
your meeting time with the group! We'll ride a counter-clockwise
loop skirting San Jose and returning via Mines Rd. and the "back
way" through the Livermore Valley. We'll include the Felter -
Sierra Rd loop, which goes down (not up!) the steep stretch of
Sierra Rd. You can bypass that loop if you want - the bypass saves
4 miles and some climbing. We suggest bringing a sandwich (or
similar) for lunch plus your usual energy bars (or similar). We
will stop for food but the pickings are slim: a 7-11 (mile 30); the
observatory at Mt Hamilton summit (mile 52: vending machine sodas
and snacks, water); and the Junction Cafe (mile 70: optional slow
sit-down food, snacks, water, but little take-away food). Other
than those, no supplies are available on the route, so come
prepared. This is a wonderful route but it should not be your first
century. Once you start climbing Mt Hamilton, there are no
shortcuts. We will maintain the M pace but will not leave anyone
behind without checking they can continue by themselves. Sunset is
at 7:35 p.m., so lights should not be needed if we maintain the M
pace (14-16 mph usually, but expected return around 4:30 for this
climb-fest). Carpooling is encouraged - contact the leaders if you
need suggestions. Any chance of rain (see NOAA-NWS website,
www.weather.gov) cancels - call the leaders if in doubt. Raindate
#1 is Sun Oct 3 and raindate #2 is Sat Oct 16. Mark Homrighausen
(510) 528-9339 <homrighaus at aol dot com>, Mark Abrahams (510) 524-1294 <dma at abriz
dot net>.
Sun Oct 3 4/M/108
Raindate #1 for Mt. Hamilton loop
See the Mt Hamilton Loop listing for Sat Oct 2. Contact ride
leaders to find out whether it rained yesterday.
Tue Oct 5 1/Clinic/0
The Squeaky Wheel gets the grease: but how?
Third of four bicycle repair clinics. Your bicycle has nearly 100
ball bearings, and if you ignore them long enough one will make
itself known to you in a rather embarrassing way! Join Jeff Kurtock
and Melarie Johnson while we remove the ball bearings from a
participant's wheel. He'll clean, check and repack that set of
bearings, and then delicately readjust the cones for an effortless
ride. We'll just talk about (with show and tell) headsets and
bottom brackets, including loose-ball bearings and cartridge
bearings. Everything will be supplied, or bring your own wheel for
practice. We'll be on comfy chairs in Jeff's garage, so dress
warmly, in clothes suitable for work. Class runs 7:00 p.m. to 8:30
at 15000 Broadway Ter, Oakland (0.4 down the hill from Skyline).
Six cars in the driveway, and more parking 1 2 block up the hill on
Gwin Rd. Secure bicycle parking provided. (510) 653-1771
<JKurtock at sbcGlobal dot net>.
Sat Oct 9 4/LTMB/23,40,55,65,77
Alex's Second Saturday All-Club Ride
This is the GPC monthly all-club ride. Meet at Orinda BART lot at
9:00 a.m. for a prompt 9:15 departure. The first 7.5 miles all pace
groups ride together at a social pace...you'll ride with club
members you might not see for the rest of the month. After that, we
split into five separate pace groups: LT pace group (total distance
about 23 mi); T pace group (total about 55 mi); TM pace groups
(totals of 40 or 65 mi); M pace group (total 75+ mi). A TM group
for the 75+ mile route will be organized if enough riders are
interested. All routes are pretty hilly. More information about
this ride, including route details, is posted on-line at
www.grizz.org/series/ssr.html. Rain cancels. If weather is
questionable, or for other questions, contact ASSR Coordinator John
Buenfil, (925) 686-9077, <eleganttype at
earthlink dot net>. Leaders TBA.
Sat-Sun Oct 9-10 3/LT/35 each day.
Santa Cruz Beach Crawl Weekend Campout
Join me for a relaxing weekend of leisurely unloaded riding on the
backroads of Santa Cruz county. Saturday's ride heads inland
through the redwoods to Pinto Lake near Watsonville; Sunday we ride
through the Santa Cruz foothills to Natural Bridges State Beach and
then return along the waterfront. Camp at New Brighton State Beach,
with restaurant meals in town. Optional camping and karaoke on
Friday night. You're also welcome to come down and join us just for
either day. Camping fee $25. Space is limited, so contact Doug for
details or to sign up. Co-listed with Golden Gate Cyclists and
Hikanbyke. Doug Baker (510) 658-5941 or <DougBaker2 at earthlink
dot net>
Sat Oct 9 1/TM/74
Amtrak Special Day 1
Catch the Amtrak Capitol Corridor at 7:34 a.m. (Berkeley) to
Suisun/Fairfield (arrives 8:28). We'll ride out Hwy 12 to Shiloh
Rd, then through the Montezuma Hills to Rio Vista for a snack. Next
we'll take the ferry over to Ryer Island, and follow the Sacramento
River up to Sacramento. Overnight accommodations at the Sacramento
Youth Hostel, the Llewellyn Williams Mansion, a wonderful old
Victorian building. If you want to ride only one day, you can catch
the train home at 4:40, 5:40 or 7:10. Or, you can stay the night
and ride with us as far as Davis on Sunday, then catch a train
leaving at 10:55 for Berkeley (or Richmond or Jack London).
Reservations at the hostel are your responsibility (916) 443-1691.
http://www.norcalhostels.org/sac/ Emily Kenyon and David Lipsky,
(510) 528-5343 or <mlekenyon at gmail dot com>. RSVP to leaders by Friday 10/1 for possible Amtrak
group discount.
Sun Oct 10 3/TM/54-75
Amtrak Special Day 2
After breakfast in Sacramento, we'll head out across the Yolo
causeway bikepath, through Davis and Woodland, back to Suisun.
Those who want to keep it shorter can head back over Pleasants
Valley Rd (with or without a leader) and catch a train at 12:49,
2:54 or 4:14 p.m., depending on their speed. The main group will go
thru Muskowite and Mankas Corners on their way back to Suisun for a
5:19 train. Emily Kenyon and David Lipsky, (510) 528-5343 or
<mlekenyon at gmail dot com>.
Sat Oct 16 4/M/108
Raindate #2 for Mt. Hamilton loop
See the Mt Hamilton Loop listing for Sat Oct 2. Contact ride
leaders to find out whether it rained on the first two dates.
Tue Oct 19 1/Clinic/0
You're all a bunch of shiftless cyclists
Fourth of four bicycle repair clinics. Your bicycle has at least
four cables running from the front to the back, to control the
brakes and shifting. If your derailleur cables get out of
adjustment, you may find that you just can't keep the bicycle in
the necessary gear (or it may suddenly shift out of gear at the
wrong time). If your brakes get out of adjustment, well, shifting
may be the least of your worries! Jeff Kurtock and Melarie Johnson
will take a shiftless participant's bicycle, and carefully go
through the steps to make it shift near-silently. We'll also
replace the brake shoes as our way of getting to brake cable
adjustment. (We might even do the almost-impossible: replace the
shoes on cantilever brakes!) We'll demonstrate the tools of the
trade, including the legendary Third Hand, and if we're lucky, we
might find the rarer Fourth Hand. Everything will be supplied, or
bring your own bicycle for practice. We'll be on comfy chairs in
Jeff's garage, so dress warmly, in clothes suitable for work. Class
runs 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 at 15000 Broadway Ter, Oakland (0.4 down the
hill from Skyline). Six cars in the driveway, and more parking 1 2
block up the hill on Gwin Rd. Secure bicycle parking provided.
(510) 653-1771 <JKurtock at sbcGlobal dot net>.
Thu Oct 21 2/M/16_30 and 4/TM/40
Mt Tam B-day Ride
This is an annual event for me. On my birthday I play hooky from
work and ride up Mt Tam. Off weekend is wonderful for this as
traffic is quite low and the weather at this time of year is great.
There will be two segments to this ride and you are welcome to join
me for either. Segment one: M paced pre-ride from Richmond/El
Cerrito to Oakland (Jack London Square), board the 8:00 a.m. ferry
to SF, then SF to Mill Valley. Segment two: the main segment will
start at 10:00 a.m. at the Mill Valley Safeway on Miller and Camino
Alto. We will ride up and over the Corte Madera grade, through Ross
to Fairfax where the real climbing starts. We'll go up past the
dams and reservoirs and then on to the summit. Optional summit hike
up to the actual peak to take in the view. Then, a fast descent to
Mill Valley and on to burritos in Mill Valley. Contact me if you
can offer car pooling to/from Mill Valley, and/or if you want to
meet for the pre-ride segment. Rob Hawks, <rhawks at gmail
dot com>, or (510) 526-2653.
Sat Nov 6 4/LTMB/18.7
Individual Time Trial
Meet at the corner of San Pablo Dam Rd and Bear Creek Rd by 9:40
a.m. for a race against the clock. First rider is off at 10:01 and
a rider a minute after that. The ITT is the only GPC ride where you
have to be a member of the Club (insurance reasons), but you can
join or renew right there at the start for $15/year.
Pre-registration is appreciated. Chip Scarborough, (510) 222-4592,
or <dubose3 at msn dot com>.
Sat Nov 6 3!/TM/55
Calistoga loop
All the fun of the traditional Calistoga Classic without Hwy 29 or
Aetna Springs. Meet at Calistoga Spa at 9:00 a.m., roll out at
9:15. Phil Morton 510-852-WOOF/(510) 852-9663, <pmorton.cal at gmail dot com>.
Sun Nov 7 5/TM/50
Geysers loop
Meet at Jimtown at 9:30 a.m., roll out at 9:45. We'll do the
Geysers counterclockwise. Janet Monks (510) 534-7621 and Phil
Morton 510-852-WOOF/(510) 852-9663, <pmorton.cal at gmail
dot com>.
Comments to: webmaster@GrizzlyPeakCyclists.org.