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March 2008 Ride Calendar
This month we are trying something different for one of the rides. The Calaveras Counter-Clockwise ride is becoming somewhat of a regular monthly ride on the third Sat. of the month. This month, since no one volunteered to lead it and there are no other conflicting rides that day; I have decided to list it as a “Show & Go,” with a destination. Instead of a regular Show & Go, where the route, mileage and paces are decided on by who shows up, this Show & Go will have the route already decided.
This is a well known ride and route sheets should not be necessary. The pace(s) can be decided at the beginning of the ride. Bring a ride sign up sheet and an accident report form. If everyone thinks someone else will bring them, then no one will, and no Pedal Pounder credit will be given. This is an experiment, let's see how it works out.
March Progressive Rides
The 2008 Progressive Rides continues each Sunday. For those of you who may not be familiar with them, this is a series of rides aimed toward developing your endurance for completing a century ride this spring or summer. It’s also a good series in which to jump up a level in riding endurance and/or speed even if you don’t plan to do century rides. The series started January 13 and culminates with the Primavera Worker's Ride on Saturday, April 12th, 2006.
If this is your first time working up to a Century, some of the rides in this month’s list have probably looked really hard or even undoable—each ride from the second week on is basically a Metric Century or more. But now they should look achievable. If you want to maintain your century fitness, rides like those in the first part of the month will probably become your meat & potatoes. After the series, be searching them out every opportunity, and then add a touch of the epics like those at the end of the month and the beginning of April.
The list of originally planned rides has been adapted a little to recover from the weeks lost to rain. It starts with one the same length as the last ride, only with more climbing, and then adds 5 miles each week. I was still able to maintain a small break in mileage increases while we do Mt. Hamilton. We’re sure to have tired legs each week in March, but just pace yourself and know you’re not in it alone.
Eric Dittmar. 510-579-7337 ericdit@gmail.com
1st Week in MARCH
Sat. March 1 Cinderella Training Ride #7
7:30 AM SHARP apx. 40 miles, 3 L-T-M
Sunol & Kilkare Road
Participation in the series is by pre-registration and limited to registered riders. New start time and new start location (7:30 AM - Sunol Train Station - Main Street & Kilkare in Sunol). Rain may delay - check the Cindy yahoo groups for changes.
Today’s ride consists of three different loops using the Sunol Train Station as our start/finish and regroup point. The first loop is out along Calaveras Road to Sunol Regional Park and back to the train station for a regroup. Next we climb Kilkare to the end and then back to the train station to regroup for the third loop which takes us out to Pleasanton for our coffee break.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Sat. March 1 Calaveras Clockwise
8:30 AM 40 miles, 3 M
This is our traditional "1st Saturday of the Month" ride. We will meet in the Downtown Niles Parking Lot and ride up Niles Canyon into Sunol then on to Calaveras. Our traditional route brings us out in Milpitas and we return via a route that stays close to the hills. There will be a ride leader for the pace(s) listed below. Rain or a serious threat of rain cancels. Call me after 7am.
M Pace: Tony Flusche, (510) 247-3220, TonyF@att.net
Sat. March 1 Show and Go
8:30 AM 20-50 miles, 1-4, L-T
Meet at Newark Java in the Raley’s shopping center at Jarvis & Newark Blvd.
Sun. March 2 Progressive #8
8:30 AM 55 miles, 5M
Grant Ranch to Twin Gates Redux
Start at Lucky/Longs shop. Ctr, Mission and Warm Springs.
This ride was moved back because of rainout earlier in the year. I’ve made a small adjustment that increases the miles and adds a little hard climbing to fatigue the legs. Just find a pace you feel like you can maintain all day and grind it out. We’ll get there - I’ll be suffering along with you.
From the start, we’ll follow the usual route down to Alum Rock park for a break and then look to the hills. First we’ll tackle Clayton road, after which Mt Hamilton Rd should feel easy. At least you get to take a break at Grant Ranch before adding the climb up to Twin Gates for the turn around. We’ll stop for a break back down in San Jose (bring $) before going home.
M Pace: Eric Dittmar. 510-579-7337 ericdit@gmail.com
B Pace: Todd Tracey. (408) 685-5470; todd.tracy@comcast.net
Sun. March 2 Show and Go
8:30 AM 20-50 miles, 1-4, L-T-B
Meet at Newark Java in the Raley’s shopping center at Jarvis & Newark Blvd.
Mon. March 3 Monday Morning Recovery Ride
8:30 AM 40 miles, 1-2 M
Let's meet at the Bicycle Garage at 8:30 for an 8:45 start to an easy-going ride down Paseo Padre to South Grimmer. Then it's a flat ride down past Club Sport to the end of Fremont Blvd. We'll turn around and have a coffee break at a local Starbucks and make our way over to Coyote Hills for a trip back on the trail, ending our ride well before 12:30 (on rare occasions we may head directly home after coffee, shortening the ride to about 30 miles and getting back close to 11:30). Elevation gain is 465 feet. Rain or threat of rain cancels. If rain threatens, call me between 7:30 and 8:00 on the day of the ride.
Mike Northrup; gmnorthrup@hotmail.com (510) 796-8832
Tue March 4 Show and Go
9:00 AM 20-50 miles, 1-5 L-M-B
Meet at the Bicycle Garage, at the corner of Thornton and Balboa Way.
Wed March 5 Mid-week Morning Ride
8:30 AM 35-45 miles, 2-3 M/B
Meet at Newark Java in the Raley’s shopping center at Jarvis & Newark Blvd., for a ride across the Dumbarton Bridge to a destination on the Peninsula. This will be a fun ride en route to a coffee/snack stop, so bring $$.
Al Quintana (510) 760-9245; alanq44@hotmail.com
Thur. March 6 Thursday Morning Coffee Ride
9:00 AM 20-40 miles, 2-3M
Come ride with a fun, welcoming group. We meet at Newark Java in the Raley's shopping center parking lot. Sometimes we just go to Union City via Nike Hill. More often, we cross the bridge and ride to Shoreline, Robert's Market, do "Margaret's Ride", or we get adventurous and find new routes. There are no route sheets so we regroup as necessary. We stop for coffee so bring money. Faster riders are welcome to head back early if they know the route. Rain cancels.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Fri. March 7 The Friday Bike Club
8:30 AM 35-45 miles, 3-4 M/B
Meet at the Castro Valley Park & Ride Lot. Bring $$ for a coffee stop.
Al Quintana (510) 760-9245; alanq44@hotmail.com
2nd Week in MARCH
Sat. March 8 Cinderella Training Ride #8
Calaveras Loop
7:30 AM SHARP apx. 45 miles, 3 L-T-M
Participation in the series is by pre-registration and limited to registered riders. Please park across the street at Harbor Light Church (4760 Thornton Ave, Fremont, 94536). Plan to arrive at the church parking lot with plenty of time to walk over to Bicycle Garage with your bike, find your group, sign-in and hear any last minute instructions before we leave at 7:30 AM. Rain may delay - check the Cindy yahoo groups for changes.
This route is a regular club ride and a favorite of many – Calaveras clockwise. We ride through Niles Canyon and Sunol to Calaveras Road. We climb Calaveras to the “False Summit”, past the scenic San Antonio Reservoir before reaching the top of “The Wall”. We descend into Milpitas for our coffee stop. Please bring plenty of water and food as the coffee stop is more than 30 miles into the ride.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Sat. March 8 Show and Go
8:30 AM 20-50 miles, 1-4, L-T-M-B
Meet at Downtown Niles.
[Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 9. It’s time to “SPRING FORWARD” by one hour.]
Sun. March 9 FFBC “Get-To-Know-Us-Ride”
9:00 AM 20-25 miles, 1-2 L-T-M
Please join us on this monthly “Get-To-Know-Us-Ride”. This casual, social ride is always fun and offers everyone the chance to meet other cyclists. Bring your cycling friends along and help us introduce newcomers and guests to the club. Meet at Newark Java in the Raley’s shopping center at Jarvis & Newark Blvd., for a ride through the Fremont area. Don’t forget $$ for a coffee/snack stop. If you have a club jersey or jacket, this is a great time to wear it.
Nikki Grimes 510 793-3648 nikkilee@launchnet.com
Sun. March 9 Prog. #9. Primavera 100K
9:00 AM 60 miles, 5M
Start at Downtown Niles
Our home hills do make one of the nicest natural 100k routes by
combining the Calaveras and Palomares loops. If you haven’t ridden this before, remember to save something for that last mile on the N side of Palomares. No coffee stop, so bring your supplies. Today’s start is a one-time push back to 9AM for all of us to deal with Daylight Savings.
M Pace: Eric Dittmar. 510-579-7337 ericdit@gmail.com
B Pace: TBD
Mon. March 10 Monday Morning Recovery Ride
8:30 AM 40 miles, 1-2 M
See the listing of Mon. March 3 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at the Bicycle Garage
Mike Northrup; gmnorthrup@hotmail.com (510) 796-8832
Tue March 11 Show and Go
9:00 AM 20-50 miles, 1-5 L-M-B
Meet at the Bicycle Garage, at the corner of Thornton and Balboa Way.
Wed. March 12 Mid-week Morning Ride
8:30 AM 35-45 miles, 2-3 M/B
Meet at the Niles Staging Area parking lot located at the east end of the Alameda Creek Trail. We will do a loop around Fremont-Newark en route to a coffee/snack stop, so bring $$.
Al Quintana (510) 760-9245; alanq44@hotmail.com
Wed. March 12 Wednesday Night Training Ride
5:45 PM 15-25 miles, 2-3 B+
Don't be lazy; Come and join us for a mid-week ride. Route TBD at the start. Meet in front of my shop at 45405 #1 Industrial Place, Fremont. I have bathroom and water available. This is a night ride and there will be traffic, so good front & rear lights are needed. Please email (preferred) or call if you're coming, so I know whom to expect. Rain or wet roads cancels, threat of rain does not. We'll just stay close if it's threatening.
Dan Amaral W: 510-656-9354 (try 1st), C: 510-774-9683 danamaral@earthlink.net
Thur. March 13 Thursday Morning Coffee Ride
9:00AM 20-40 miles, 2-3M (M+, flats)
See the listing of Thur. March 6 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at Newark Java.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Fri. March 14 The Friday Bike Club
8:30 AM 35-45 miles, 3-4 M/B
Meet at the Castro Valley Park & Ride Lot. Bring $$ for a coffee stop.
Al Quintana (510) 760-9245; alanq44@hotmail.com
3rd Week in MARCH
Sat. March 15 Cinderella Training Ride #9
Livermore
7:00 AM SHARP apx. 50 miles, 3 L-T-M
Participation in the series is by pre-registration and limited to registered riders. This is a new start time and new start location (7:00 AM - Pleasanton Ridge Park, on Foothill Road, Pleasanton). Rain may delay - check the Cindy yahoo groups for changes.
We ride through Pleasanton and Livermore on several of the roads that are part of the actual Cinderella route. The highlights include Happy Valley, “Bernal Bump”, Wente (no stopping for wine), Cross and Patterson Pass. The coffee stop is at mile 37 so bring enough water and food to keep your energy up for the long ride.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Sat. March 15 Show & Go (Calaveras Counter Clockwise)
8:30 AM 42 miles,3 M , 1900 feet.
This ride will be a “Show & Go,” with a destination. Please bring a ride sign up sheet. See the write-up at the top of this ride schedule.
Start in Downtown Niles, and take the Paseo Padre route south. Suggested regroups: Higuera Adobe Park, top of the wall, the false summit, Sunol. Bring lots of fluids and a snack as there will be no food and drink stop until Sunol. Rain cancels.
Sat. March 15 Slow Pokes & Old Folks
9:00 AM 25-30 miles, 3 T-M
Meet at Sunol School, for a ride out to Livermore. This is a good ride for people beginning cycling, lots of regroups and no one will be left behind. Bring money for coffee. Threat of rain cancels Dan & Susan Lucchesi 510 797-2005 dllucchesi1@aol.com
Sun. March 16 Prog. #10. Mines Road
8:30 AM 65 miles, 4M
Start at Lucky’s parking lot @ corner of Concannon & Holmes in Livermore
Probably my personal favorite ride of this length in the entire bay
area. After the last few weeks, this one is going to feel like a vacation—you probably won’t notice that the amount of mileage is up. The climbing comes early and just after the lunch break, and with all the pretty scenery and the fun road this is always enjoyable. Today’s start is at 8:30 AM to avoid the B’s getting out to the junction too early.
M Pace: Eric Dittmar. 510-579-7337 ericdit@gmail.com
B Pace: TBD
Mon. March 17 Monday Morning Recovery Ride
8:30 AM 40 miles, 1-2 M
See the listing of Mon. March 3 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at the Bicycle Garage
Mike Northrup; gmnorthrup@hotmail.com (510) 796-8832
Tue March 18 Show and Go
9:00 AM 20-50 miles, 1-5 L-M-B
Meet at the Bicycle Garage, at the corner of Thornton and Balboa Way.
Wed March 19 Mid-week Morning Ride
8:30 AM 35-45 miles, 2-3 M/B
Meet at Newark Java in the Raley’s shopping center at Jarvis & Newark Blvd., for a ride across the Dumbarton Bridge to a destination on the Peninsula. This will be a fun ride en route to a coffee/snack stop, so bring $$.
Al Quintana (510) 760-9245; alanq44@hotmail.com
Wed March 19 Wednesday Night Training Ride
5:45 PM 15-25 miles, 2-3 B+
See the listing of Wed. March 12 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at 45405 #1 Industrial Place, Fremont
Dan Amaral W: 510-656-9354 (try 1st), C: 510-774-9683 danamaral@earthlink.net
Thur. March 20 Thursday Morning Coffee Ride
9:00AM 20-40 miles, 2-3M (M+, flats)
See the listing of Thur. March 6 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at Newark Java.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Fri. March 21 The Friday Bike Club
8:30 AM 35-45 miles, 3-4 M/B
Meet at the Castro Valley Park & Ride Lot. Bring $$ for a coffee stop.
Al Quintana (510) 760-9245; alanq44@hotmail.com
4th Week in MARCH
Sat. March 22 Cinderella Training Ride #10
Crystal Springs
7:00 AM SHARP apx. 57 miles, 3 L-T-M
Participation in the series is by pre-registration and limited to registered riders. Please park across the street at Harbor Light Church (4760 Thornton Ave, Fremont, 94536). Plan to arrive at the church parking lot with plenty of time to walk over to Bicycle Garage with your bike, find your group, sign-in and hear any last minute instructions before we leave at 7:00 AM. Rain may delay - check the Cindy yahoo groups for changes.
This destination today is Crystal Springs Reservoir! We cross the Dumbarton, climb Woodside Road and tour along scenic Canada Road. We descend Edgewood Road and stop for lunch at a great deli in Redwood City before heading back. The climbs and descent are a challenge, but you are ready for it after all your training.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Sat. March 22 Show and Go
8:30 AM 20-50 miles, 1-4 L-T-M-B
Meet at Mission Coffee on Washington Blvd, near Mission Blvd.
Sun. March 23 Grant Park
8:15 AM Approx. 50 miles, 4M
Meet at Lucky’s/Longs Shopping Center on Warm Springs for a trip to Grant Park located on Mt. Hamilton Road. We will ascend to Mt. Hamilton Road via Miguelito. Come prepared with snacks and enough water to see you through the climb. There is water and bathrooms once you reach the park but no vending machines for snacks. Once we’ve regrouped long enough to catch our breath and use the facilities, we will descend for hot drinks and snack break at “The Coffee Cup” on Toyon. This ride is listed as an “M” pace but since everyone climbs at different paces we will regroup at Grant and as necessary after the climb to keep the group together.
Karen White (510) 475-0746, (510) 329-9326 Cell kkwh@pacbell.net
Sun. March 23 Prog. #11. Mt. Hamilton
8:00 AM 65 miles, 5M
Start at Lucky/Longs shop. Ctr, Mission and Warm Springs.
Welcome to the highest paved road in the Bay Area. A classic –
if you haven’t ridden it before, be sure to let the others know so they can congratulate you on making one of the benchmark rides for bay area cyclists. You’ll know why when you make it up to the observatory. Most people feel comfortable signing up for Centuries after they can ride Hamilton.
As stated earlier, pick a pace you know you can maintain all day.
We’ll use the normal route down to Mt. Hamilton Rd. Is anyone going to do hill repeats? No rest stop on the way home.
M Pace: Eric Dittmar. 510-579-7337 ericdit@gmail.com
B Pace: TBD
Mon. March 24 Monday Morning Recovery Ride
8:30 AM 40 miles, 1-2 M
See the listing of Mon. March 3 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at the Bicycle Garage
Mike Northrup; gmnorthrup@hotmail.com (510) 796-8832
Tue March 25 Show and Go
9:00 AM 20-50 miles, 1-5 L-M-B
Meet at the Bicycle Garage, at the corner of Thornton and Balboa Way.
Wed. March 26 Mid-week Morning Ride
8:30 AM 35-45 miles, 2-3 M/B
Meet at the Niles Staging Area parking lot located at the east end of the Alameda Creek Trail. We will do a loop around Fremont-Newark en route to a coffee/snack stop, so bring $$.
Al Quintana (510) 760-9245; alanq44@hotmail.com
Wed March 26 Wednesday Night Training Ride
5:45 PM 15-25 miles, 2-3 B+
See the listing of Wed. March 12 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at 45405 #1 Industrial Place, Fremont
Dan Amaral W: 510-656-9354 (try 1st), C: 510-774-9683 danamaral@earthlink.net
Thur. March 27 Thursday Morning Coffee Ride
9:00AM 20-40 miles, 2-3M (M+, flats)
See the listing of Thur. March 6 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at Newark Java.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Fri. March 28 The Friday Bike Club
8:30 AM 35-45 miles, 3-4 M/B
Meet at the Castro Valley Park & Ride Lot. Bring $$ for a coffee stop.
Al Quintana (510) 760-9245; alanq44@hotmail.com
5th Week in FEBRUARY
Sat. March 29 Cinderella Training Ride #11
TBD Makeup/Graduation Ride
7:00 AM SHARP apx. TBD miles, 2-3 L-T-M
The Valley Spokesmen Cinderella Ride is next week! This is the last training ride of the FFBC series. We are saving this date in case rain cancels an earlier ride. If weather isn’t a factor this month, we will add a graduation ride with a route TBD. Check the Cindy yahoo groups for details on the start location and route.
Lori Sommer (510) 794-8624 home, (510) 693-8624 cell; lmsommer@sbcglobal.net
Sat. Mar 29 Los Altos Coffee Ride
9:00 AM 40-45 Miles, 3M
We'll cross the bay, take Alpine, Arastradero and Purissima to Los Altos and return on Foothill and Sandhill before crossing the bay again. Meet at Newark Java. We'll regroup a few times and make sure nobody gets left behind. Bring $ for a refreshment stop. Rain cancels.
Gary Smith 510-797-7809 home, 510-304-0956 cell, GSMITH289@aol.com
Sun. March 30 Prog. #12. Castro Valley to Martinez
8:00 AM 70 miles, 5M
Start at Castro Valley Park & Ride
In my opinion this ride is the most like the typical centuries put
on by clubs, just a little shorter. What with the support and rest stops, what’s another 30 miles? Roads that will be featured include Redwood, Pinehurst, Releiz Valley, Alhambra, and Bear Creek. I just haven’t figured out which direction we’ll do the loop around Briones Park yet. There will be a good stop for refueling in Martinez before returning to Castro Valley.
M Pace: Eric Dittmar. 510-579-7337 ericdit@gmail.com
B Pace: TBD
Sat. March 30 Show and Go
8:30 AM 20-50 miles, 1-4 L-T
Meet at Mission Coffee on Washington Blvd, near Mission Blvd.
Mon. March 31 Monday Morning Recovery Ride
8:30 AM 40 miles, 1-2 M
See the listing of Mon. March 3 for complete details of this recurring ride starting at the Bicycle Garage
Mike Northrup; gmnorthrup@hotmail.com (510) 796-8832
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