The Grizzly Peak Cyclists is conducting a series of five rides for beginning riders. The rides will be on consecutive Sundays from October 3rd through October 31st and will begin with an easy 15 mile ride and include two slightly hilly mile rides and end with a hilly 25 mile ride. The first two rides will have optional pre-ride training sessions to insure that riders are familiar with the safe operation of their bicycles.
The Grizzly Peak Cyclists is a bicycle touring club based in the East Bay. We have rides of various levels of difficulty in the Bay Area nearly every weekend of the year, and sponsor the Grizzly Peak Century held the first Sunday of May with routes of 69 and 108 miles. The club has a web site at [old URL removed] where current rides are listed. For general information on the series contact Krehe Ritter [contact info removed]. For specific ride information, call one of the ride leaders listed.
The club holds two ride series each year. In the fall the rides are for new cyclists and the series provides a gradual progression to one of the popular loops along Bear Creek Road (aka "The Bears"). This series is designed to introduce cyclists to our club and to some of the cycling options in the Bay Area. After the series is completed club members may lead rides that build on the series to sustain the progress. The club newsletter and the web site have the details of rides being offered.
In the spring there is a more challenging series of rides aimed to provide training for riders who are already comfortable with the shorter routes offered in the fall series. Details will be published closer to the time.
Each ride will have two club members designated as leaders. They will have planned the route, printed cue sheets or maps, and will have everyone complete a sign-in sheet. The ride leaders will also make sure that no one gets lost or left behind because of mechanical or physical difficulties, and/or suggest a &bail-out& route to those unable to complete the ride. We encourage calling the leaders with questions on the route description. In addition, other club members will be on the rides to offer assistance, helpful hints or just moral support.
Each rider is responsible for bringing a suitable bicycle. 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, and pump. Assistance from Grizzly Peak members will be available for roadside flats and adjustments.
Bicycles are vehicles operating on public roads and must obey all traffic regulations, including traffic lights, stop signs, pedestrian right-of-way, and just plain common sense. Riders should remain in single file unless conditions clearly permit otherwise. Participants are required to wear bicycle helmets that meet ANSI or Snell standards.
Most of the rides end with some socializing at a café, so it's worth bringing a small amount of money, but we usually sit out side and so bringing your own food also works. Riders should carry at least one water bottle and drink regularly. Clothing is a matter of personal preference; Lycra is NOT required; however, riders should choose clothing that will not cause chafing and should dress in layers to be prepared for all reasonable temperature extremes. Rain cancels the ride. If weather is questionable, call one of the ride leaders.
Grizzly Peak Cyclists rides are rated by terrain, pace, and distance. Mileage follows the first two rating factors: 3/T/45, for example is a moderately hilly, touring paced ride of 45 miles. Pace ratings can be combined; an LT ride is both Leisure and Touring. All the rides in this series are rated as L or LT. These rides are all &no-drop&. No one will be left behind. Helmets are required on all rides.
| Terrain ratings | Pace ratings |
|---|---|
| 1-flat | L- Leisurely: easy pace with frequent stops |
| 2-few low hills | T-Touring; steadier pace |
| 3-moderately hilly ones | M-Moderate: faster pace still |
| 4 -hilly, a few steep ones | B-Brisk; on your own, except for lunch |
| 5-very hilly, considerable climbing |
The rides progress in difficulty, but you can ride as many or as few as you choose. Those participating in all the rides will receive a Grizzly Peak Cyclists T-shirt.
The first two rides include optional pre-ride instruction sessions. These will be limited to such things as helmet fit, proper riding position, changing gears while riding, correct braking techniques, and group riding hints.
October 3 1/L/17 Ride Around Alameda. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Fruitvale Bart parking lot with an optional training session at 9:30. The ride will be easy paced and flat. Leaders: Melarie Johnson and Jeff Pelton [contact info removed]. Helmets required.
October 10 2/L20 Orinda, Moraga, and Lafayette. Meet 10:00am at Orinda BART in front of the station entrance (9:30am for optional advice clinic.) The ride will be easy paced and cover some gentle hilles. The total distance will be about 18 miles. We will ride from downtown Orinda to downtown Lafayette to downtown Moraga and return, using the St. Stephens bike trail, the Lafayette-Moraga bike trail, and also regular roads. Finish at Orinda Theatre Square for optional lunch (bring your own or money to buy). Mark Abrahams and Amy Stabler [contact info removed]. Helmets Required.
October 17 2/L/25 Walnut Creek and San Ramon Valley. Starting at 10:00 a.m. at Walnut creek BART we'll head down to the Iron Horse Trail. There's a short climb over the edges of Mt. Diablo, through Blackhawk, before we return to Walnut Creek via Danville. Krehe Ritter and Peter Haight [contact info removed]. Helmets Required.
October 24 3/L/25 East Bay Hills About 25 moderately hilly miles in the East Bay Hills. We'll meet at 10:00 a.m. at Rockridge BART, and ride up Tunnel and along Skyline Boulevard a while before dropping back down to end at the Rockridge BART station. Call Lewis Nusgarten or Emily Kenyon [contact info removed] for details. Helmets Required.
October 31 3/LLT/25 The Bears. This is a chance for you to celebrate the last Halloween of the millennium. Bring your bike at its festive best. We meet at 10:00am at the Orinda BART station. We will proceed down Camino Pablo/San Pablo Dam Road to Castro Ranch Road to Alhambra Valley Road to Bear Creak Road back to Camino Pablo. Afterwards congratulations will be offered and lunch can be obtained in Theater Square. No one will be left behind. Leaders: Mike Cox and Jon Wirth [contact info removed]. Helmets Required.
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