January Rides & Events
Helmet & gloves required on all rides.
Rain cancels unless otherwise noted
LEVEL: A = casual B = moderate C = strong moderate D = strenuous
HILLS: A = Flat B = Rolling hills C = Moderate hills D = Moderate hills, 1 or 2 steep
E = Steep hills
East Bay Wednesday Ride, 10:00 am, 30-40 miles
This is a moderate social ride that usually starts in Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek. Watch for email announcements on:
GoldenGateCyclists@yahoogroups.com listserve. For more information contact:
Trish (thewison@att.net)
Joan Friedman (joanmfriedman@aol.com)
Tuesday, January 1, Walk, 10:30 am, New Year’s Day Marina Green/Crissy Field San Francisco Bay Walk
Start the New Year the right way with your friends with some (not too much) exercise. Meet across the street from Safeway in the Marina Green parking lot for a leisurely walk along San Francisco Bay. We'll wander through Crissy Field to Fort Point returning through the Presidio with a stop at the Log Cabin, where we'll share snacks and perhaps say a toast to our good fortune of having such wonderful friends. We will continue the walk through the Presidio back to our cars. Bring food/drink to share. If you don’t want to carry your dish, come ½ hour early and Diane will take your dish to the Log Cabin.
Start: Parking lot across street from Marina Safeway, SF. Niels Povlsen 510-375-1521
Tuesday, January 1, Jazz House Concert, 4:00 PM, Jeff Sanford's Cartoon Jazz Sextet, $25
Reservation required!
https://chezhanny.com/
Saturday, January 5, Road Ride, 10:00 am, Orinda 3 Bears, 25 miles/level B/pace 2/hills C-D
Meet at the west end of Orinda BART parking lot. We will ride down San Pablo Dam Rd. then back around Briones and the 3 Bears. Lunch in Orinda Square after the ride.
Start: Orinda BART West Parking Lot. Take Orinda exit off Hwy 24. From West, left at end of ramp and immediate right into Bart entrance, drive left over freeway and park to the far right. From East, take 2nd exit road and right into BART entrance. Judy Schiller 415-298-0825
Sunday, January 6, Road Ride, 10:00 am, Paradise Loop from Larkspur Ferry, 27 miles/2 hours/pace 2/level A/hills C
We’ll start at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal and head thru Corte Madera and Seminary Dr, stop in Tiburon for a quick rest, then around Paradise Drive and back to the Ferry Terminal. After the ride we can meet up at Marin Brewing for lunch.
Start: Larkspur Ferry Terminal, the end of Row N, across the street from the pedestrian walkway over Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Hwy. 101 to Sir Francis Drake exit. Head east about 1/4 mile. Turn right at the first stop light into the Larkspur Ferry Terminal area. Turn left at the first entrance into the parking lot. Turn left again and head back toward Sir Francis Drake Blvd. until you come to Row N. Turn right. Park at the far end. Jeanne Bush (707) 939-2912; cell (707) 529-8550
Sunday, January 6, Walk, 10:00 am, Berkeley Indian Rock Urban Walk, 4 miles
Join Niels and Diane as we continue a series of Urban Walks featuring hidden stairways and walkways taking us through great neighborhoods in Berkeley and Oakland. This walk will take us into the Berkeley Hills above Solano Avenue, featuring iconic Indian Rock as well as other well-known Berkeley rock formations. The walk has wonderful views of the SF Bay Area. The walk encompasses several staircases & hidden walkways. The walk is a little over 4 miles and has about 300’ of elevation. We can go to lunch along Solano Avenue afterwards if everyone wishes.
Start: We will meet at the corner of Los Angeles Avenue & The Alameda between Marin Avenue and Solano Avenue. It’s right in front of NorthBrae Community Church. DIRECTIONS: Coming from the Freeway (I-80 or I-580): Exit Albany/Buchanan street and go up Buchanan street which changes to Marin Avenue when it crosses San Pablo Avenue. Go up Marin Avenue about another mile until you reach The Alameda, where there will be a signal. Turn left onto The Alameda. Go right at the next street which will be Los Angeles Avenue. The chapel is on your left, the parking lot is behind it. You may also exit University Avenue in Berkeley and follow that east to Martin Luther King. Turn left there, Martin Luther King will turn into The Alameda after about a mile. Diane Savard (925) 864-7141
Saturday, January 12, Road Ride, 10:00 am, Nicasio Loop, 28 miles/level A/pace 2/hills C
Come on out for our traditional loop from Nicasio, thru Pt. Reyes Station with stop at Bovine Bakery, over Olema Hill and thru Samuel P. Taylor Park and over Nicasio Rd. We will meet for drinks/lunch afterwards at Rancho Nicasio.
Start: Take Hwy 101, Lucas Valley Rd exit and head west for about 10 miles. Park ¼ mile past town of Nicasio along the side of road. Francine Prophet (415) 902-4104
Sunday, January 13, Road Ride, 10:00 am, Vacaville-Winters Loop, 42 miles/4 hours/pace 2/level B/hills C Cancelled
Let's enjoy a lovely relaxing day in the country. This is a great ride that goes through walnut orchards, passes a lake, and includes a lunch stop in the cute little town of Winters. Bring lunch to eat in the park there, or buy lunch at Steady Eddie's. There are no killer hills. Here is link to ride https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19462974 Rain cancels. Threat of rain, call ride leader.
Start: Lagoon Valley Park, Vacaville. Take Hwy 80 east. Exit at Pena Adobe Rd. At the stop sign, go straight thru the intersection and into the park and circle to the right to the parking lot by the lake. The good news is that there are restrooms here at the park. Be ready to support our parks with a small entry fee ($3 to $5.00) or park outside the park and then cycle in for the meeting spot and restrooms. Jane Maxwell 510-548-2286 (home), 510-335-5810 (cell).
Sunday, January 13, Jazz House Concert, 4:00 PM, Bill Gerhardt Trio, $20
https://chezhanny.com/
Saturday, January 19, Road Ride, 10:00 am, Point Reyes Loop Clockwise, 40 miles/4 hours/pace 2/level B-C/hills D
Let's ride out to Pt Reyes via Nicasio, Platform Bridge and Olema hill. Rest stop at Bovine Bakery. Return by Nicasio. Meet at Marinwood Community Center.
Start: Marinwood Community Center. 101 North, Exit Lucas Valley, left to Miller Creek, Right to street parking near community center. Carol Feagles 510-834-7575 c_feagles@yahoo.com
Saturday, January 19, Hike, 10:00 am, Fernandez Ranch Hike, 5-6 miles
Fernandez Ranch was purchased by the Muir Heritage Land Trust and opened in June 2010 to the public. Its pastoral beauty with green rolling hills is inhabited by cows who are not yet accustomed to humans and give you a wide berth when they see you. The railroad whistle sounds as you traverse the meadows and shaded woods spotting deer, turkeys and quail who are also skittish and duck for cover. Bring adequate water and snacks to nibble on as we meander this undiscovered wonderland. We will be doing a new woodland trail that we haven’t done with the group in the past. Hiking boots and poles, if you have them, are recommended mainly because the terrain is uneven. Optional late lunch in Martinez after the hike.
Start: From I-80: Head east on Highway 4. * Take the first exit AFTER the Franklin Canyon Golf Course onto Christie Road. (There is a sign for Fernandez Ranch) It is a minor road and if you blink, you can miss it so turn RIGHT when you see the small train trestle overpass ahead of you. Fernandez Ranch is well marked .7 miles down Christie Road on your right. From Martinez: Head west on Highway 4. Take the Franklin Canyon exit. Turn LEFT and carefully merge onto Highway 4 eastbound. * Follow directions above. Diane Savard (925) 864-7141
Sunday, January 20, Road Ride, 9:30 am PROMPT, (we leave at 9:45 - no waiting), Castro Valley to Sunol, 38 or 48 miles/4-5 hours/level B/pace 2/hills B
We'll start the ride at the Castro Valley BART station, bike over the Dublin Grade, and on to Sunol for lunch. Return against headwinds on the Dublin Grade will make you work. Picnic lunch in Sunol – limited cafe options. Those that want more of a workout can continue to Sunol Regional Park (about 55 miles total) and return from there. There’s always the BART option from West Dublin station too. Rain cancels. Light rain means we’ll do a hike instead.
Start: We'll meet at the Castro Valley BART station. Take 580 East, exit at Redwood Road, turn left onto Redwood Road, then a few blocks more, and turn left into the BART parking lot. Helen Herzberg 510-537-9109 home/510-909-1863 cell or hherzberg@earthlink.net
Saturday, January 26, Road Ride, 10:00 am, Cotati-Chileno Valley-Petaluma Loop, 39 miles/level A-B/pace 2/hills C 1800 feet
Another beautiful Chileno Valley ride, this time heading in the easterly direction from Cotati. We will stop at the Petaluma Creamery at mile 29 for a rest stop - ice cream perhaps? I will bring cue sheets, but here is the gps link https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25455336. Libations/lunch at Redwood Cafe in Cotati after. Rain cancels. Threat of rain, call ride leader – rain date 12/9..
Start: Veterans Building Lot, 8505 Park Ave, Cotati, CA 94931. Hwy 101 to West Sierra exit, then right/south on Valpariso, continue straight onto Myrtle and immediate left onto Park Ave. Go to the 1st lot on your left. There is a porta-potty in lot. Jane Maxwell 510-548-2286 (home), 510-335-5810 (cell, day of ride only)
Saturday, January 26, Road Ride, 10:00 am, Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline 19 miles/level A/pace 1/hills A
If you want an easy ride with fantastic views, then this is the one. This is an easy and nearly flat bike ride, about half on paved trails free of traffic and nearly all with bay front views! And we have short cuts if 19 miles is too much. We’ll follow the ML King path around the San Leandro Bay and then shoot down to the San Leandro Marina where you can almost reach out and touch the jets landing at OAK. We'll return via the Oyster Bay regional shoreline bike path and then circle Bay Farm Island, completing our loop by crossing over to Alameda briefly before completing our loop back to the start. See: http://www.regionalparksfoundation.org/document.doc?id=263 for a description and map.
Start: We begin at the Tidewater Boating Center. From I-880 in Oakland take the High St. exit and drive west towards the bay. Just before the High St. Bridge, turn left on Tidewater Avenue. Look for the Tidewater Boating Center sign 1/8 mile ahead on the right. Turn right and continue to the end of the street. There is no charge for parking, there are restrooms and water. It is also a short distance from the Fruitvale BART station. Diane Savard 925-864-7141
Sunday, January 27, Jazz House Concert, 4:00 PM, Anne Sajdera Quintet, $20
https://chezhanny.com/
Sunday, January 27, Road Ride, 10:00 am, Pleasant Hill BART & Blackhawk Plaza, 35 miles/level B/pace 2/hills B
Meet at the fountain in the Pleasant Hill BART plaza. We will start the ride on the Iron Horse Trail and mix in some public roads with wide bike lanes, ride south of San Ramon before heading over to Blackhawk Plaza. The pre-lunch portion of the ride is 21 miles with an after-lunch return of 14 miles back to Pleasant Hill BART. The planned route has about 600’ of climbing. Bring a snack or money to buy something to eat at Draeger’s Market in Blackhawk Plaza, where we will stop for a break.
Start: Pleasant Hill BART at the fountain. Greg Norman Cell (925) 407-6322