Northern California - Davis area laid back ride - Part I, June 28th

So a few of us were chatting about doing some low-key flat rides for the folks who just want to kick back and roll some steady miles. This first one has about 50 miles and is pretty flat, or about as flat as the Central Valley has to offer; being low key, it's a no drop ride with regular regroups and a stop at Steady Eddy's in Winters for at least coffee, if not lunch.

The start/finish is at the parking structure for the Mondavi Performing Arts Center (http://www.mondaviarts.org/aboutus/directions.cfm) on the UC Davis campus, accessed via the main UC Davis exit off I-80.

Route:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Winters-Solano-Lake-Airport

Projected start time: 8:30 AM, PDT.

'Hope to see some of the Vaca/Davis/Sacto BF folks on this ride.


The "I'm in for this ride" list:

overthere
Carolyn - overthere's friend
huytheskigod
Rushfan
Goatbiker
JoelS
bigbossman
Bikingshearer
BentPebbles
Michi
Rob
Thomas
cantdrv55
GiroToGo + friend
Tandem Team Blue Jay (cgallagh & Red Rider ?)
t4mv + 15 YO stoker


The "Maybe I'm interested in this ride" list:

Goatbiker pals from Sacto
Goatbiker pals from East Bay


**Note: There will be another ride that has ~1100 ft elevation involved (Cantelow) featured in another ride in July, listed in a separate thread titled Part II. **

I'll plan on being there...sounds great! And a nice chance to ride with some BF folks... :)

Hmm, that's the same day as the Giro di Peninsula.

As for the other ride, at 1100 feet, that must include every climb in Yolo county! :P

How fast is "laid back"? I'm not going to make the Giro as I haven't been riding but I can do a slow, laid back ride.

Laid back in Yolo County-speak might loosely be described as "bucolic."

You might as well come out and play, you know you want to.. ;)

overthere, we look forward to meeting up with you at last. It'll be fun.

Yeah...I'll probably be one of the ones leading this ride seeing how it's my route :D As for speed, there is going to be no drops with regroups and I'll ride with the slowest rider. WooHoo!...leading from the back!

Yeah...I'll probably be one of the ones leading this ride seeing how it's my route :D As for speed, there is going to be no drops with regroups and I'll ride with the slowest rider. WooHoo!...leading from the back!

I will probably be the slowest rider assuming my bronchitis doesn't turn into pneumonia (fingers crossed, meds seem to be kicking in).

And yes, there are at least 3 Yolo County style climbs on this ride-two overpasses and a small hill leading to Lake Solano.

Two Overpasses? God, I hate mountains.

This would give me six organized rides for June AND the Southern California Recumbent Rally.

Oh yeah, I'm in. I'll be so ready for anything called laid-back. Just my speed.

I have also posted this the link to the Recumbent Riders of Sacramento, and the Recumbents of the East Bay sites.

Tom

By the way, while the few of you were chatting, did you mention a start time? :)

By the way, while the few of you were chatting, did you mention a start time? :)

No, we were going to wait until the 11th hour to preserve the exclusivity of this ride. :D

However, if you'd like to propose a time for the benefit of those interested, now is as good a time as any. What's your preference?

**Edited to add that the real reason there's no time (yet) is because I was trying to get a 1-week forecast for temps out in the Valley. If it's going to be a bazillion degrees out there, we might want to start at 5 AM vs. 9 or 10 AM if it's just going to hang around the 80s, or so. ;)

Early is good, to avoid the late afternoon heat.

There are several people interested in this ride from Sacramento, and Contra Costa recumbent groups.

As local rides go, this one could prove to be very popular.

Earlier the better to avoid the heat. 9am at the latest is my suggestion.

And it looks like I'll be getting on the bike tomorrow, so I should be good to go by the end of the month.

In anticipation that it will probably be hot, I say either 7:00am or 8:00am start time. Would 7:00am be too early for some that have to travel? I'll see if I can ride the course before the 28th to figure out rest/regroup points.

In anticipation that it will probably be hot, I say either 7:00am or 8:00am start time. Would 7:00am be too early for some that have to travel? I'll see if I can ride the course before the 28th to figure out rest/regroup points.

8am should be fine as long as it's not 105...

And huy, let me know when you do your pre-ride. I might be up for joining you in a week or two.

I'm headed up from the south SFBA so I'm OK with 7-8, as long as we give everyone a chance to get to the start and be ready to go. As long as we're not doing this ride in 107 degree temps under a cloudless sky I'll be happy. ;)

Huy, when you go on your scout ride, can you check on the status of the apricots out there? I'm not sure there're any orchards on the planned route, but they sure were one of the things I looked forward to when we went on those summer rides.

Joe, good to hear you're back on the bike. Maybe one of the future BF bike events will be bicycle soccer. ;)

There are people traveling, so lets plan for 9:00 am, with the understand that it could move to 8:00 if the forecast warranted it.

So far, it looks like a 95 degree day in Davis.

Any final thoughts on start time, or is it still too early?


Looking forward to this ride,

Tom

So far, it looks like a 95 degree day in Davis.

Any final thoughts on start time, or is it still too early?


Looking forward to this ride,

Tom

The Monday before will probably be a good date to set the time as the long range forecast will be out by then.

That sounds like fun. I might very well be up for that.

I'm new here. Is everyone a recumbent rider? What's the pace and what does it mean "no drops with regroups"? I hope to be there to meet everyone.

I'm new here. Is everyone a recumbent rider? What's the pace and what does it mean "no drops with regroups"? I hope to be there to meet everyone.

Not everyone is a recumbent rider. I'm not, t4mv isn't (although he might be on a tandem-haven't heard yet), and I think huytheskigod isn't on a 'bent.

Pace from the previous ride I did with t4mv was about 15 mph, on a slightly harder course. I'm guessing we'll be around that this time, with maybe some faster folks and maybe some slightly slower folks possibly breaking up a little.

"No drops" means that no one will be left behind by himself. If someone is going slower, at least one other person will slow down to ride with that person.

"Regroups" means that as people break up into little groups based on speed differences, at certain times on the ride the faster folks will stop and wait for the slower folks, "regrouping."

Post any questions you have and we'll try to answer. Looking forward to meeting you.

Joe

Move me from a "Maybe" to an "I'll be there." I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't been riding long (at least this go round), and 50mi will be the longest ride I've done since '98. Looking forward to meeting you!

Well, if I was a betting sort of person, I'd guess at next week's ride day temps to be in the high 80s to mid-90s, so how long do y'all want to be riding in somewhat cool temps? I'm thinking 8-ish sounds about right. Even if we were to poke along at a conversational pace (which is sort of the point of this ride), and stopped at Steady Eddy's for a recharge, we'd still get done by around 2-ish, or so, which would keep us out of the worst of the heat if it was a toasty day.

Otherwise, does anyone have good friends along the route with garden hoses we can use? :D

Well, if I was a betting sort of person, I'd guess at next week's ride day temps to be in the high 80s to mid-90s, so how long do y'all want to be riding in somewhat cool temps? :D

You just cursed us with 105.
:)

Shhhhh! Don't talk about the weather! At least we can be pretty sure it won't rain....

Wait...Monday?

Wait...Monday?

That would be when we officially set the start time. We were saying either 8:00am or 9:00am depending on the temps but it is looking more and more like 8:00am. the ride will be next Saturday, June 28.

how many people are usually on a ride like this. how many are recumbents. is the meeting time at 8 at mondavi. do we have to pay for parking

Well, it's kind of hard to say how many people show up until you actually get to the day and time of the ride because there's a lot of competition for people's time. 'Hard to say how many 'bents are going to show, unless Goatbiker can jump on and give us some idea of the feedback his x-posts on the 'bent forums has generated. It's looking like 8AM is going to be the start time for the ride. According to our friends at NOAA, this is their take on the forecast for Saturday the 28th -> Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 91. That's almost balmy for Yolo County in the summer. ;)

Yep, the start is at the Mondavi Ctr; parking should be free. I've never paid for parking there, and there's definitely no shortage of parking space, to say the least.

Anyone else coming from east of Sac? I'm off 50 in Rancho and plan to drive over. If someone else in the area is interested, we could save some gas and carpool.

I scoped out the majority of the ride today to find candidates for regroup spots. Would done the whole ride but Fiance was having saddle problems but the end is part of a ride I take all the time and know well. Things I learned: There is really only one hillish part and that out by Solano Lake. I am totally not good at going up hills because that small hill gave me quite a bit of trouble. If I can get over the hill, everyone can! Norman, I found 2 apricot orchards one of which looked like it has good fruit along with peaches. The rest of the orchards looks to be nut trees. Steady Eddies still has amazing coffee! <-I knew that already:D Just reiterating.

Anyways, Give me an opinion on a good regroup interval/distance and I'll cross reference that to the list I have. The majority of the route looks like a pancake if anyone is worried about terrain. Next to the small hill by Lake Solano, The steepest section is one overpass (yolo county mountain).

I scoped out the majority of the ride today to find candidates for regroup spots. Would done the whole ride but Fiance was having saddle problems but the end is part of a ride I take all the time and know well. Things I learned: There is really only one hillish part and that out by Solano Lake. I am totally not good at going up hills because that small hill gave me quite a bit of trouble. If I can get over the hill, everyone can! Norman, I found 2 apricot orchards one of which looked like it has good fruit along with peaches. The rest of the orchards looks to be nut trees. Steady Eddies still has amazing coffee! <-I knew that already:D Just reiterating.

Anyways, Give me an opinion on a good regroup interval/distance and I'll cross reference that to the list I have. The majority of the route looks like a pancake if anyone is worried about terrain. Next to the small hill by Lake Solano, The steepest section is one overpass (yolo county mountain).

For regroups, I suggest we play it by ear and regroup as needed. That worked pretty well on the ride I led back in March.

Did you have any problems with the smoke? I had classes this weekend and by the time I tried to ride tonight, there was no way I could go out.

Here's a vote for 8:30am start time if it's only low 90s next Saturday.

Huy, thanks for checking out the route today; since most of the ride is along rural routes I'm unsure where the "public" watering holes are, so I guess I'd agree with Rushfan on regrouping as needed. I think Steady Eddie's is right around the middle of the ride, so hopefully most folks will be able to go 20-some miles on two bottles. The reason I asked about the apricots is because I used to use them as mid-ride refreshment on hot days, but you can only pick them off the ground, since plucking off trees is bad form.

I'm fine w/ an 8:30 start time if everyone else is OK with it, too. Let's take a look at the forecast tomorrow and set it then, but if it stays in the low 90's it'll be a very comfortable ride.

If we're lucky, once in a while, little personal fruit stands pop up. Last weekend there was one on Pleasant's Valley Road, the week before in the driveway right before the final climb on Cantelow! There's the regular strawberry stand towards Solano Lake from Winters and going into Davis off the bike path at Cactus Corner, he had peaches, cherries and strawberries this last weekend.

8:30 is fine. I'm also going to bring my girlfriend Carolyn. Introducing her to the whole BF world! :)

8:30 is good for me too. I have a bit of a drive to get over there.

OK, just checked the forecast (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sto&smap=1&textField1=38.545&textField2=-121.73944) and it says: Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 92.

So is everyone jake w/ an 8:30 start? :)

Possible Regroup spots, distance from start and their subsequent amenities:

mile 6.7 - Chevron Station/Pedrick Fruit Stand(Pedrick Rd & Sievers Rd)
Water
Food
Restrooms
Fruit (lost of good stuff but ma be too early in ride if you want to buy more than what you're willing to carry and consume)

mile 9.4 - Sievers Rd & Stevenson's Bridge Rd
large dirt spot

mile 13.2 - Sievers Rd & Halley Rd
small dirt spot

mile 17.8 - Putah Creek Road & Railroad Rd(Winter Ave)
If needed, cross bridge into winters for:
water
food
restrooms

mile somewhere between 17.8 and 23.8 - Solano Lake Park secondary gate
Water
Restrooms
Last chance before small climb

mile 23.8 - Pardehsa Gas Station/Solano Lake Primary Gate (Pleasant Valley Rd & Highway 128)
Water
Food
Restrooms at Lake Solano Park (no public restrooms at gas station)

Mile 28 - Steady Eddie's Mandatory Stop (Main Street & Railroad)
Food
Water
Bathroom
COFFEE!!!
Possible last source of supplies before end of ride.

mile 35.4 - Putah Creek Road & Stevenson's Bridge Rd
gravel shoulder

mile 39.8 Country Road 95 & Country Road 29
Near Yolo County Airport and Gun Range
Firestation is nearby if water need is an emergency

mile 42.9 - Country Road 98 & Country Road 29
Another Large dirt spot
Plainfield Station Bar and Grill is hear but I've never been there so I don't know the public access policy.

mile 46.7 - Frontage Road and Covell Blvd
last regroup by hospital and 76 gas station
Everyone should stop here so we can get the whole group together before I (or someone) leads everyone through town/campus back to the parking lot.

That's it. We probably won't use all of them but they're there. If there's interest to do a post ride social gathering at a local eatery, I'll be glad to suggest a (and show the way to the) location depending on the cuisine interest of the group.

Plainfield Station is pretty good. When I go to shooting matches over there by the airport, we often go there after for lunch. Wouldn't want to ride on their food though. It would be better after ride.

Forecast says 98 for Saturday. 8am start?

Whose forecast ya lookin' at, Joe? NOAA's got ~93, and Weather.com or whoever has ~95...

I'm fine with whenever folks want to start, as long as we get the time set before, say, Friday or so.

As of right now, Weather.com says 95, NOAA says 96 for Winters and 93 for Davis , and KCRA says 97. In any case, several people have already said ok to 8:30 so we might as well stick with that. I'll probably be there at 8:00 to wait for and greet people as they come in. everyone park in the large uncovered lot behind the parking structure to make finding each other easier.

Whose forecast ya lookin' at, Joe? NOAA's got ~93, and Weather.com or whoever has ~95...

I'm fine with whenever folks want to start, as long as we get the time set before, say, Friday or so.

KCRA this morning. 8:30 works fine, I live in this gawdawful heat so it's less of a problem for me. I'm going to email the Davis Bike Club listserv to invite them once we've confirmed the time.

So 8:30?

I like 8:30.

Alrighty, then, 8:30 it is.

Joe, go for it, post the ride up on the DBC listserv and let's party. :)

Alrighty, then, 8:30 it is.

Joe, go for it, post the ride up on the DBC listserv and let's party. :)

Done.

OK - so, Bikingshearer and I are in....... assuming you don't call the ride on account of smoke/unhealthy air.

Will you guys start promptly at 8:30? I forgot I have a commitment until 9:30. Maybe I can catch up to you guys somewhere on the route. Just curious, who is riding a recumbent. I'll be riding a Bacchetta Giro 26.

Will you guys start promptly at 8:30? I forgot I have a commitment until 9:30. Maybe I can catch up to you guys somewhere on the route. Just curious, who is riding a recumbent. I'll be riding a Bacchetta Giro 26.

Where are you coming from and are you engaged up until 9:30 or will you be able to depart (on bike) at 9:30. How fast do you ride? Given this information, I can figure out a departure location and abbreviated ride that will get you to the group to finish out the ride. I would say, that your best bet would be to head straight to Steady Eddie's and hook up with the group there for social time and the second half of the ride. Let me know and I can plan a ride for you that will still be good and brings you to the group.

I am a strong "maybe" for this ride. I just have to get out of a party that my wife commited us to. This is a great opportunity for me to get back on my bike. It's been at least 6 months and 12 lb ago. However, the last time I rode this route I almost passed out it was so hot. Are we going up towards Berryessa?

GTG, I believe it's Goatbiker that's coming with a recumbent; if you've got one, this is the ride to do it on, and the more the merrier. Hopefully we'll get a few more from Sac and the East Bay, too.

cantdrv, if you click on the route link back in post #1 of this thread, it'll show you the entire route we'll be covering; it starts off heading south, heads west towards Berryessa until Lake Solano and then heads back east through Winters and then east some more with a north-east-south jog at the end.