GPC Ride Schedule for the Future

(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>.


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