So, you're comfortable on bike rides of up to 25 miles, and you've always wanted to ride a century, but weren't sure you could? Or maybe you've ridden longer distances in the past but you've been dormant for the winter and now you'd like to get back in shape? If yes, this ride series is for you!
Grizzly Peak Cyclists is a recreational road-riding bicycle club based in the East Bay. We have members of all ages and levels, from family riders to fanatics. We are dedicated to the principle that cycling is fun, social, and friendly. Our unofficial motto is `ride to eat, eat to ride.' We do plenty of both--most rides include hanging out and eating, either at a lunch stop or after the ride proper.
Our club's annual highlight is the Grizzly Peak Century, held the first Sunday in May each year with routes of 71 and 109 miles. Our century is every bit as well known for its superb food and support as for its spectacular route. Additionally, there are one or more club rides nearly every weekend day throughout the year. Rides vary from very easy family-oriented (child-friendly pace and distance), to advanced unsupported 100+ milers, to everything in between. The current schedule, and other information, are on the club's web site www.GrizzlyPeakCyclists.org. Other impromptu rides and a wide variety of bike related topics are discussed on the club's e-mail list, which is open to club members. Club members receive discounts at a number of local bicycle stores.
This spring, GPC is giving a series of two warm up rides followed by seven rides for intermediate bicyclists who want to build stamina and increase range. The rides will be on nine consecutive Sundays, March 2 through April 27, and will gradually progress in distance from about 25 to about 55 miles. All are over moderately hilly terrain, similar to that of our Century, and they cover many of the classic loops of the East Bay. Those who complete the series should be well-prepared to ride at least the 71-mile (metric century) north loop of our Century on Sunday May 4, as well as many other great club rides.
The two warm up rides start at 10am and the remaining seven rides in the series start at 9am, and almost all start at BART stations to encourage auto-free transit. It's easy to take a bike on BART; we recommend you learn how. Using BART can greatly expand your riding area and give you the flexibility of beginning and ending a ride at different places.
Everyone is welcome at the ride series. There is no fee and no need to sign up in advance. All participants will be offered a copy of the excellent booklet Street Smarts: Bicycling's Traffic Survival Guide by John S. Allen. Later this year we will give a gentler series of `Novice Rides' aimed at encouraging less experienced cyclists to stretch themselves a bit.
Each ride will have several club members designated as leaders. They will have planned the route, printed cue sheets or maps, and will have everyone sign in. The ride leaders will guide people through the route, make sure no one is left behind due to mechanical or physical problems, and/or suggest a `bail-out' route to those unable to complete the ride. We encourage calling the leaders in advance with any questions about the ride. In addition, other GPC members will be on the rides to offer assistance, helpful hints, or just moral support.
Each rider is responsible for bringing a suitable bicycle. For the century-prep rides, a road bike is recommended but not required. No safety inspection will be performed, but riders with obviously unsafe bikes will be discouraged from participating. Bicycles should be lubed and tires fully inflated to the pressure marked on the side of the tire. Riders are encouraged to carry a basic tool kit with at least a spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, and pump. Assistance from GPC members will be available for roadside flats and adjustments.
Bicycles are vehicles operating on public roads and must obey all traffic regulations, including traffic signals, pedestrian and other right-of-way rules, lane indications, and plain common sense. Riders should remain single file unless conditions clearly permit otherwise. Ride series and Century participants must wear approved bicycle helmets. The first two rides are preceded by optional safety sessions.
Riders should carry at least one water bottle and drink regularly, and also carry an energy bar or similar small snack. Longer rides usually have a food stop, so bring money or lunch. Clothing is a matter of personal preference. Lycra is not required; however, riders should choose clothing that won't chafe and should dress in layers to be prepared for all reasonable temperature extremes. Rain cancels the ride. If weather is questionable, call a ride leader.
Sun Mar 2 2.5/L/25 SPDR and Wildcat-Warm Up Ride #1.
Wipe off the Winter dust and join us for the first of two Warm Up
Rides that will help get you ready for the Century Prep Ride Series.
Meet at 10:00 AM at N. Berkeley BART and ride to San Pablo Dam Rd, and
climb Wildcat Canyon to Spruce and return to BART. No Drop. Helmets
required. Rain cancels; if weather is dubious contact ride leader.
Ride leaders Sara Atkins, atkins dot atkins at sbcglobal dot net,
(510) 520-4834, Frank Carothers, (510) 528-7048, frank_c at berkeley
dot edu.
Sun Mar 9 3.5/LT/25 Tunnel Rd and Pinehurst-Warm Up Ride #2.
Get ready
for the Century Prep Ride Series with the second of two Warm Up Rides.
Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Rockridge BART. Climb Tunnel Rd to Skyline,
continue to Redwood, then climb back to Skyline via Pinehurst, which
is the first big challenge of the Grizzly Peak Century! Descend
Shepherd Canyon back to Montclair Village. Optional coffee stop before
return to BART. No drop. Helmets required. Rain cancels; if weather is
dubious contact ride leader. Ride leaders Toshi Takeuchi, (510)
919-7876, ttoshi at gmail dot com and Sara Atkins, atkins dot atkins
at sbcglobal dot net, (510) 520-4834. Note: Daylight Saving Time begins
today.
Sun Mar 16 3.5/T/27 Ride #1 -- The Bears and a Bit.
Meet 9:00am at Orinda BART in the west parking lot. We will ride north
on Camino Pablo/San Pablo Dam Rd, then clockwise around the hills
known as The Three Bears, then counterclockwise on the little-traveled
El Toyonal loop. Finish with optional lunch in Orinda -- bring your
own or $ to buy. No drop. Helmets required. Rain cancels; if weather
is dubious contact ride leader. Leaders Jeff Kurtock, (510) 653-1771,
jkurtock at sbcglobal dot net and Melarie Johnson, (510) 237-5265,
melariej at sbcglobal dot net.
Sun Mar 23 (Easter) 3.5/T/39 Ride #2 Century, South Loop, from Orinda BART.
Meet 9:00am at Orinda BART. Ride to Redwood Rd. and the Grizzly
century South loop through the zoo, past Chabot Park and back. Leaders
Brian Aldrich (510) 748-0603, brianaldrich at comcast dot net, Janet
Monks (510) 534-7621, and Nancy Yu at nancyyu7 at hotmail dot com or
(510) 697-7736.
Sun Mar 30 3/T/40 Ride #3 -- Three Small Walls.
Meet 9:00am at El Cerrito Del Norte BART, east side station entrance.
Ride San Pablo Dam Rd to Appian Way, through Pinole and Crockett,
climb McEwen (small wall #1). Return via Martinez, Alhambra Valley,
Pig Farm Hill (s.w. #2), El Sobrante, and Hillcrest (s.w. #3). Picnic
lunch on the lawn at Swett School in Martinez -- bring or buy
something you can carry there. No drop. Helmets required. Rain
cancels; if weather is dubious contact ride leader. Leaders Mike
Briggs, (510) 236-1698 and Bill King, poubelle00 at yahoo dot com
(510) 601-1404.
Sun Apr 06 2.5/T/50 Ride #4 -- Embarcadero, Headlands, and
Tiburon.
Meet 9:00am at Embarcadero BART in San Francisco, on the
plaza at California/Drumm just north of the station entrance. We'll
ride through Fisherman's Wharf, the Presidio, over the Golden Gate
Bridge to the Marin Headlands and Sausalito, lunch in Tiburon, then
return. Possible shortener for those who wish: return via ferry from
Tiburon or Sausalito. Bring lunch or $ to buy. No drop. Helmets
required. Rain cancels; if weather is dubious contact ride leader.
Leaders Chuck Wunderlich chuckwun at speakeasy dot net, (510)
526-7670, and James Thompson, (925) 933-8449, bigpudl1 at comcast dot
net
Sun Apr 13 3.5/T/52 Ride #5 -- St Marys, Danville, Norris Canyon,
Redwood Loop.
Meet 9:00am at Orinda BART, rollout at 9:15. We will
tackle the biggest hill first (Rheem), as it is on the century, then
take the St Marys Bike path, and find more hilly terrain before
proceeding south along Danville Blvd. For our return we will take
Norris Canyon through to Redwood Road, similar to the SSR rides.
Bring lunch or $ to buy. No drop. Helmets required. 30% chance of rain
cancels; if weather is dubious contact ride leader. Leaders Brian
Aldrich (510) 748-0603, brianaldrich at comcast dot net and Steve
Mendelson, steven.mendelson at gmail dot com
Sun Apr 20 2.5/T/56 Ride #6 -- Bovine Lasso.
Meet 9:00am at Mill Valley Safeway (Miller and Camino Alto). We will
ride through Fairfax and Nicasio to Pt. Reyes Station. Return via Bear
Valley, Samuel P. Taylor and Fairfax Bring lunch or $ to buy. No drop.
Helmets required. Rain cancels; if weather is dubious contact ride
leader. Leaders Veronica Tunucci (415) 927-7665, veronucci at comcast
dot net, Janet Monks (510) 534-7621 and Mark Sapiro (415) 388-8910,
mark at msapiro dot net.
Sun Apr 27 4/T/55 Ride #7 -- Mr Morgan Meets the Devil.
Meet 9:00am at Pleasant Hill BART, east side station entrance. We will
ride clockwise around Mt. Diablo via Morgan Territory. Lunch stop at
Blackhawk, then climb Mt. Diablo Southgate Rd to the junction only,
with an option to bypass this climb. Bring lunch or $ to buy. No drop.
Helmets required. Rain cancels; if weather is dubious contact ride
leader. Leaders Chris Witt (510) 548-5790, and Pat Greene (415)
566-6637, greene at cgl dot ucsf dot edu, and Bill King, poubelle00 at
yahoo dot com (510) 601-1404.
For general questions not answered above, contact our Ride Series Coordinator, Toshi Takeuchi, (510)919-7876, RideSeries2 at Grizz dot org. For questions about specific rides, contact the ride leader(s) listed.
GPC rides are rated by terrain/pace/distance. Terrain ratings are: 1) nearly flat; 2) somewhat hilly; 3) moderately hilly; 4) hilly; 5) very hilly, considerable climbing. Pace ratings are: XL) extra-leisurely, child-friendly; L) leisurely, easy pace with frequent stops; T) touring, steady pace, fewer stops, for experienced riders; M) moderately fast pace, for strong experienced riders; B) brisk, for very strong riders. Mileage follows the first two factors. Pace letters may be combined to show intermediate ratings. For example, 3/LT/35 is a moderately hilly ride at pace between leisurely and touring of distance 35 miles. Riders are expected to check ratings in advance and choose rides appropriately.
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