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 73, 101 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, February 27 through April 24, 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 73-mile (metric century) north loop of our Century on Sunday May 1, 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. 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 Feb 27 2.5/L/25 SPDR and Wildcat, Century Prep 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 a.m.
at N Berkeley BART and ride to San Pablo Dam Rd and climb Wildcat Canyon to
Spruce and return to BART. Optional post ride stop @ Peet's before returning
to NB BART. No Drop. Helmets required. Rain cancels; if weather is dubious
contact ride leader: Leaders: Ronald Levine, rl at ronaldlevine dot com,
Estella, (510) 540-6449, and Esta Brand estabrand at sbcglobal dot net.
Sun Mar 6 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. Leaders: Janet Monks (510) 534-7621, Janet Noble,
janetnoble at yahoo dot com, Sherie Reineman, (510) 526-8087 bikedive at mac dot com.
Sun Mar 13 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; Barb McQuinn,
(510) 915-2287 bmcquinn at earthlink dot net; Estella, (510) 540-6449; Eric,
emagnusr at yahoo dot com, Note: DaylightSavings begins today.
Sun Mar 20 3.5/T/35 Ride #2 -- East Bay Hills.
Meet 9:00am at Orinda BART in the west parking lot. We will ride north on
Camino Pablo, climb Wildcat Canyon, Grizzly Peak Blvd, Skyline Blvd, descend
Redwood Road, then return via Pinehurst, Canyon, Moraga Way. Optional lunch
in Orinda -- bring your own or $ to buy. No drop. Helmets required. Rain
cancels; if weather is dubious contact ride leader. Leaders: Estella, (510)
540-6449, Janet Noble, janetnoble at yahoo dot com, John Alexander,
jalexand2usa at netscape dot net.
Sun Mar 27 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; Sherie Reineman, (510) 691-3435
bikedive at mac dot com, Ross Simkover, rsimkover at yahoo dot com.
Sun Apr 03 3.5/T/39 Ride #4--Century, South Loop, from Orinda BART.
Meet 9:00am at Orinda BART. Ride to Redwood Rd. and the Grizzly Peak Century
South Loop through the zoo, past Chabot Park and back. Leaders:
Barb McQuinn, (510) 915-2287 bmcquinn at earthlink dot net; Elia Racah,
eracah at lmi dot net; Ross
Simkover, rsimkover at yahoo dot com, Charlie Quaid chasquaid at gmail dot com.
Sun Apr 10 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:
Eliah Racah, eracah at lmi dot net; Jeff Kurtock, (510) 653-1771
jkurtock at sbcglobal dot net; Estella, (510) 540-6449.
Sun Apr 17 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:
Janet Monks (510) 534-7621; Phil Morton, (510) 852-WOOF/9663 pmorton at lmi dot net,
Estella, (510) 540-6449. After this ride, Phil is eligble for senior discounts.
Help Celebrate.
Sun Apr 24 (Easter) 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: Sherie
Reineman, (510) 691-3435 bikedive at mac dot com; Estella, (510) 540-6449; Jeff
Kurtock, (510) 653-1771 jkurtock at sbcglobal dot net, Nancy Whitlach,
nwhitlatch at gmail dot com. After the ride we are invited to post-ride
refereshments and a shopping opportunity (20% discount) at
Sports Basement in the Ygnacio Plaza Shopping Center.
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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