For those who don't know it, this is a popular and scenic East Bay ride that many use to measure their speed and fitness levels. I tried it for the first time in a few years and did the loop in 71 minutes (1:11) in the middle of a longer ride (45 miles and 4000 ft of climbing).

Has anyone else done it and what is your best time?

More info here: http://grizzlypeakcyclists.org/RideRating.html (my time puts me in the M group for the GPC rides; they must be a pretty fast group!)

Hhmm.. never tried it, but I'll put it on my list of rides to do right after hamilton, tam, and OLH.

Is there a google maps or bikely (or something like them) for this loop somewhere?

Is there a google maps or bikely (or something like them) for this loop somewhere?

didn't you complete this loop in 15mins?:D...of course that was after the 45 min ascent of Mt.Diablo.

Don't change your writing style, keep'em guessing....or in my case laughing.

You can see if this works for you: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/The-Bears (I can't see it, so I can't confirm). It is easy because there are only 3 turns you have to make. Start at the corner of Wildcat and SPDR. Go down SPDR (away from Orinda), go right on Castro Ranch (there is a light), R on Alhambra Valley Rd, R on Bear Creek Rd and follow that road back to the corner of SPDR (one final short hill at the end, which is a stoplight). Good luck and let us know how you do. Anyone who can do the ride in under an hour is a BEAST in my book.

For those who don't know it, this is a popular and scenic East Bay ride that many use to measure their speed and fitness levels. I tried it for the first time in a few years and did the loop in 71 minutes (1:11) in the middle of a longer ride (45 miles and 4000 ft of climbing).

Has anyone else done it and what is your best time?

More info here: http://grizzlypeakcyclists.org/RideRating.html (my time puts me in the M group for the GPC rides; they must be a pretty fast group!)

Starting and ending in sproul it was under two hours.

What is "sproul?"

Sproul at UC Berkeley

You rode from UC Berkeley to Inspiration Point, down Wildcat, around the Bears, back up Wildcat to Inspiration Point, and back to UC Berkeley in under two hours? That is a ride of at least 40 miles and 3000 ft of climbing at an average speed of over 20 mph? Sounds superhuman to me! Congrats!

He's pretty fast. Maybe riding with a group helped up the average too.

San Pablo Dam Road? How is that to ride? When I've been on it in a car it seemed narrow, and the cars fast. Or am I just mis remembering?

San Pablo Dam Road? How is that to ride? When I've been on it in a car it seemed narrow, and the cars fast. Or am I just mis remembering?

Cars be many, and cars go fast, but shoulders be wide. Safe to ride on. Not always fun, but safe.

He's pretty fast. Maybe riding with a group helped up the average too.

Oh yeah big time. :D
Could have been longer, it's been couple years at least. All I remember is that there was a lot of pain and suffering involved.

San Pablo Dam Road? How is that to ride? When I've been on it in a car it seemed narrow, and the cars fast. Or am I just mis remembering?

San Pablo Dam is fine with its wide shoulder. Once you turn from Castro Ranch onto Alhambra, the shoulder becomes almost nil and some doofus drivers pass pretty close. Bear Creek Road has decent shoulders too.