Northern California - 2/28, Cothrin Ranch Loop, Ride Report

Nachomc, RyDaddy, VaultGuru, and I met up at Jackson Elem. in El Dorado Hills this morning at 9am for a ride. http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/el-dorado-hills/470660476314

I was glad Vaultguru showed up. When I went to turn on my Garmin, it was already on. I must have left it on yesterday and the battery died right after we left. So I didn't have access to the route! VaultGuru knows it well and saved us.

VaultGuru on left, Nachomc on right:
http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/ridephotos/09-02-28/1.jpg

We set off South and were rapidly into the hills. We ended up with 3332 feet in 35 miles with an avg. speed of 15.6. When I did this ride early in January, my avg was 14.1. Big difference! Anyway, we suffered up the first hill and took time out for 2 pictures.

Here's rydaddy:
http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/ridephotos/09-02-28/3.jpg

Here's rydaddy, nachomc, and myself:
http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/ridephotos/09-02-28/2.jpg

It was a lot of fun, thanks for coming along.

Great ride today, guys. I suffered quite a bit, but it will be good for me.

The route:

http://cycling.mattandjosey.com/Cothrin%20Ranch%20Loop%202-28-09/images/Cothrin_Ranch_Map.jpg

Elevation:

http://cycling.mattandjosey.com/Cothrin%20Ranch%20Loop%202-28-09/images/Cothrin_Ranch_Elevation.jpg

I got one of Rydaddy:

http://cycling.mattandjosey.com/Cothrin%20Ranch%20Loop%202-28-09/images/dsc04822.jpg

And I like this one looking down the road:

http://www.cycling.mattandjosey.com/Cothrin%20Ranch%20Loop%202-28-09/images/dsc04823.jpg

Excellent ride you guys glad you had a good time. weather was great for you guys.
You're like the Northern chapter of the "Gladiators"!:thumb:

Great riding with you guys! It was nice to finally hit some hills... and beautiful they were! VaultGuru knows this area well. I'll be jumping in on more of these foothill rides.

The timing worked out perfect for me. I was able to get back to work and get a few things done. Great weather too. See you next time :thumb:

Excellent ride you guys glad you had a good time. weather was great for you guys.
You're like the Northern chapter of the "Gladiators"!:thumb:

What is the criteria to become a "Gladiator?" Maybe I could start the Eastern NorCal Chapter :rolleyes:

Enjoyed meeting you Rydaddy and Nachomc. You guys are incredible riders. Thanks for dragging the old guy up the hills. Fun ride. I have some other ones in mind, but have to wait for snow and runoff to end.

Nice report guys.

gpelpel and I did a quick impromptu ride down here in the East Bay - 3 bears reverse direction, pig farm, Reliez Valley and for me, the little corkscrew up Glorietta heading back into Orinda. 31miles all in - it was so nice to be able to get in some more miles for what has been an awful month for mileage. Also my backside and my new saddle are still on good terms. :thumb:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Beaker-gpelpel-ThreePigs

Beaker, those hills bring back a lot of memories. I used to ride those hills in the 60's when I lived in Montclair (sorry, I'm dating myself). They were great then. They are probably stuffed with houses now. There was nothing around Reliez Valley and the pig farm. You could smell it coming for miles.

Beaker, those hills bring back a lot of memories. I used to ride those hills in the 60's when I lived in Montclair (sorry, I'm dating myself). They were great then. They are probably stuffed with houses now. There was nothing around Reliez Valley and the pig farm. You could smell it coming for miles.

Hey Vaultguru - nice to know there's a connection. I'm not sure how much has changed since you left - I've only been in the bay area for just over 8yrs, but most of the 3 bears and pig farm still appear undeveloped. Reliez does seem to go through some development, but it doesn't look recent to my mind - where it goes through Pleasant Hill, Lafayette. There are also so many great climbing options over the Berkeley/Oakland ridge - I'm sure you know most of them well if you used to live in Montclair.

It'd be good to come up to the Sacto region some time and check out some of these loops that Joel and you have been riding.

You are welcome anytime. I used to ride up in Tilden too. Rode up Shepard Canyon Rd and turned left on the ridge road.There was a merry g-round up there. I remember dropping into a canyon past that sucker and continuing on down to the Valley. We went right and up around the lake and down to the pig farm. Can't remember the names now. Too long ago. I just remember that there were very few cars. Don't think that is the case anymore. Come on up here and ride the hills. A long drive from Orinda however.
VG

Great report and pics. Looks like beautiful countryside.

My legs are feeling it today. Mission accomplished :thumb:

nice. Mine were hurting last night but fine today.