Take a Ride!

You have that bicycle, so get out and show it off. You'll enjoy some fresh air and make a few new friends at one of these exciting events!

We have a regular (sometimes irregular) Saturday morning ride (usually 9:00 am) from the shop.

Typically, the group is "maturing" persons (male and female) numbering 5 to 10.

We ride 20 miles or longer depending on the wishes of the group. It's always out to lunch and back or out and back to lunch. ALWAYS LUNCH!!!!!

It's always a casual recreational ride. No one EVER gets left behind. We agree on a number of stops to regroup during the ride. The cycling term is "no drop ride."

We have a lot of fun and a lot of laughs.

For those wishing more challenging rides, join us on one or more of the "event" rides listed below. We ride most of these rides. We'll be pleased to clarify the details. These are demanding rides.

For those wishing off-road mountain bike rides, call Danny or Robert Beaman (brothers and skilled staff mountain bike riders) at the shop (925-828-8676) for the next scheduled rides.

IN ALL CASES, call if you plan to join us.

RIDE GROUP -

SOME ARE ASKING.

Centuries on our schedule are:

• Marin Century Saturday August 7. On line registration only. May need to go to Craig's List.
• Holstein 100 Saturday August 21. Benefits West Marin Seniors. Some are planning this one. Some day of registrations available.
• Tour of the Napa Valley Sunday August 22. On line reg. also. Some openings still, I think.
• High Sierra Century Saturday September 11. Mammoth Lakes. Some day of registration.
• Riverbank Cheese and Wine Century Sunday October 10. Stanislaus Bike Club. Some day of registration.
• Davis Bike Club "Foxy's Fall Century" Saturday October 16. On line registration opens Sunday August 1. This fills immediately.

A few of us did the whole DEATH RIDE event. Lots of fulfillment in volunteering throughout the days before the event. We experience the whole behind the scene operation getting the truck loads of food, fluids, and equipment together to go out to the 10 rest and lunch stops over the 5 summits.

The day of the event was close to perfect. We started at 3:30am with lights, and arrived at our first summit of Monitor at sunrise - JUST BREATH TAKING (once we got our breaths back from the climb). Three completed the 5 climbs and the 129 mi. their first time out; namely: David Leath, Mark Kovich, and Tony Sheneman. Doing it at all is a significant achievement, but completing it the first time out is fantastically unusual.

Six of us did the "DELTA RIDE" (click for photos) Saturday July 24. It had gotten hot in the afternoon by the time we got to the drop down off the levee roads to complete the last 8 mi. into Old Sacramento, BUT it was close to perfect for the morning and early afternoon. The river is full and flowing strongly. Lots of irrigation going out to the delta farms - orchards, vineyards, and vegetables ALL looking good. Lots of wild life all around.

We did our sufficient amount of frittering along the way enjoying all the sights and sounds - lots of river and levee town activity. Two of the riders experienced the unique enchantment of this ride for the first time.

Here are some more photos from Cliff Oats and John Damiano:

Delta ride folder:

Hamilton ride:

Patterson Pass:

OUR NEXT EVENT will be the Marin Century.

Chuck

SATURDAY AUG. 7 MARIN CENTURY. Lots of routes including The Mt. Tamalpias Double Century. This one is a "no kidding around" register early. VERY VERY popular. The routes take us thru west Marin and Sonoma Counties' Dairy Ranches, vineyards, and mega open country. You'll never forget the infamous "Marshall Wall". www.marincyclists.com.

SATURDAY AUG. 21 The Holestein 100. Benefits the West Marin Senior Services. Multiple routes from 15 mi. to 100 mi. thru "stunning rural scenery" along the costal hills of western Marin and Sonoma Counties.www.wmss.org/holstein

SUNDAY AUG. 22 TOUR of the NAPA VALLEY www.eaglecyclingclub.org details not yet in. These will follow soon.

SATURDAY SEPT. 11 The Yreka Chamber of Commerce's 23rd annual Siskiyou Century. Three routes 37 mi. to 103 mi. You'll ride the scenic back roads of the Scott and Shasta Valleys with spectacular views of Mt. Shasta. (530) 842-1649 www.siskiyoucentury.com

SATURDAY OCT. 16 The Davis Bike Club's Foxy's Fall Century. Multiple Routes 35 mi. and up. You'll ride the less traveled "Big Valley" farm roads thru quaint Elmira, Mankas Corner, Wooden Valley, Moskowite Corners, and along side The Monticello Dam. This is a good "my first century". It's VERY POPULAR and fills early. www.davisbikeclub.org

AS THE OTHER EVENT'S DATES AND DATA come in to us we'll add to this list.

For a complete listing of local rides, pick up a Valley Spokesmen newsletter and a Cycle California magazine in our store. Check them out on-line.