I’m back in town, sorry the Livermore wine ride fell through but I’ll try to redo it in a few weeks [if you’re interested, let me know if Sat 4/28 or Sun 4/29 would work…] But, this Saturday, a modest 29-mile ride in Oakland (route courtesy Adam, with some uphills and then ridge riding on nice roads)…ending at Beer Revolution in Jack London Square for food and a drink. Friendly pace, no rider left behind, meet at Rockridge BART at 11.
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Today was my 4th or 5th Port Costa / Carquinez Scenic Drive ride over the past four years and it was a good one (and with no flats or infected bee stings). Seven of us met up at Pleasant Hill BART and headed out for a late afternoon casual-pace 29-mile ride and picnic. For variety, we took what looked like a side path along Alhambra– but it rapidly rose above the road and turned into a rough dirt path. ...
Riding back from Port Costa.
Two “probably” rides (as usual, let me know if you’re interested, in case details change, or check the blog the night before). Saturday: fun headlands loop / luggage test ride A roughly 22-mile scenic Headlands ride (see photos from a past ride). For variety, let’s meet at Mojo Bicycle Cafe at 10AM. Casual, friendly pace, and also intended to be a “luggage test ride” – anyone who’s been interested in bike camping (or is coming camping in Point Reyes in a few weeks): this is your excuse to put on a rack, pump up your tires, strap on your bags and camping gear, and get comfortable with how your bike handles on some flat roads, a steep uphill, and a steep downhill, without worrying about pace or being too far from the city. And to stretch your biking legs after the rain if you haven’t already. ...
Biking by scenic oil refineries in Rodeo.
Taking a break after a very steep hill.
The rain has fled. Time for the twice-postponed hilly 53-mile East Bay ride this Saturday. Tentative plan is to meet outside the Berkeley BART at 9AM. I’m a little sluggish due to less recent riding, and it’s no-rider-left-behind enjoy-the-scenery as always, but I’d also like to do it without too many stops (maybe Port Costa, maybe not), to see how feasible it is to do in a half-day (in preparation for a potential Grizzly Peak Century in May). Bring some food, a spare tube, etc– it’s unclear how “civilized” the route will be.
No scheduled ride this weekend, but next Saturday 3/19 a few of us plan to ride this 53-mile Grizzly Peak / Pinole / Port Costa Loop (rain cancelled the last attempt), probably meeting at the Downtown Berkeley BART at 9AM (time could change depending on responses). There probably won’t be a free motorcycle gang spaghetti dinner in Port Costa this early in the season, so bring a sandwich or some other food and we’ll stop halfway in for a break.
Two social rides organized by others this week: Wednesday: Butterlap (7pm at the Ferry Building, a friendly 17 miles around the city with a few dozen people, mostly flat but two notable hills, Bender’s afterwards for a bit). [edit: was raining at 6pm, didn’t go] Friday: SF Bike Party (12-mile ultra-casual bike party with music, a few stops, and 400+ cyclists). This month, in Potrero/Dogpatch/Bayshore. And this weekend, something more ambitious I’ve talked to a few of you about: ...