Northern California - B&B Slowpoke Ride #3 - Sunday March 29

I'll edit this post to give more detailed information, but mark your calendars and line up those baby-sitters: The next B&B Slowpoke ride will be this coming Sunday, March 29. As of now, start time will be 11:00 a.m.

We will meet in Martinez, ride over the back side of the famous Pig Farm Hill, have a great descent all the way to Pinole, follow San Pablo/Old US 40 to Cummings Skyway, go up and over that, and finish off with another great decent down the second part of Cummings and Franklin Canyon Road. Lots of pretty country scenery on this one, a couple of pretty good but very do-able climbs, a few rollers between Pinole and Cummings Skyway, and a couple of the kind of downhills we all live for. Roughly 33 miles [EDIT: make it more like 28] - more accurate estimate to follow. EDIT: Instead of turning onto Cummngs Skyway from San Pablo Ave, we will ride into Crockett, regroup there, climb up Crockett Blvd, and latch into Cummings Skyway at the top. See map below for details.
Of course, the "no drop-frequent reforms" ethos is still firmly in place.

Yes, the thought was to have the B&B rides on the first Sunday of each month. We're still going to try to do that, but it wouldn't work in April (long story, but it involves bigbossman having a standing date with turkeys in Oklahoma).

More to follow. Check back here over the next few days for trivial details like a route map and the meeting spot.

NEW AND IMPROVED BB#3 INFO:

Here is a link to the map, courtesy of MapMyRide:
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/CA/Martinez/842123791863417251

We will meet at 11:00 a.m. at John Swett Elementary School, 4955 Alhambra Valley Road, Martinez, CA. Get onto Highway 4 either westbound from I-680 or eastbound from I-80. Take the Alhambra Avenue exit. Turn south (I will leave it to you to figure out which way is south). In approximately half a mile, bear right onto Alhambra Valley Road. John Swett Elementary is at most a quarter mile on the left.

The forecast is for gorgeous weather this weekend, the hills are green green green, and there is plenty of good scenery on this ride. The climbs are not bad, and the descents are great.

So lemme know who's in.

NEWER AND IMPROVEDER BB#3 INFO

Apres-ride chow-down will be at Mountain Mikes Pizza, 1160 Arnold Drive, Martinez. It's an easy five to ten minute drive from the start-finish line. Yes, I am open to other suggestions, but Bulldog BBQ is closed on Sundays. Darn.

So who's in? As of 9:35 a.m. Sun. 3/29:

YES

bikingshearer
bigbossman
jobob
leebob
x136
Lanceoldstrong
Midland
Peddle Pusher
hs845
bentpebbles
kedosto (and thanks for giving Mr V. a ride!)
Mr. Vagabond
spingineer
knotty
brentley

MAYBE

taxi777
xa0o
redsail
jinws

NO

pohlf
huytheskigod
Britpower
MarkoPolo
Clan Oldstrong
Clan Bossman
BlankCrows
yqduf
Siu Blue Wind
ahpook and Co.
jonathanb715
red rider
cantdrv55
overthere

D*MN! I will be out of town - but the route sounds wonderful! BBM's SP#2 fell on a bad date, as well. Next time!

I can't ride solo. Cgallagh is working and can't ride the tandem.

:cry::cry::cry:

Life, why must you be so cruel? Why must you mock?

/end rant

Have fun, dammitall. ;)

Put me down as a maybe, Rich. I haven't done Pig Farm in a while. This'll be a challenging ride for me.

Entirely possible. :)

Dang, I'll still be in Big Basin. i guess I'll have to say next time yet again.

I might be able to make this one, particularly with the late starting time (my ex. has the kids that weekend, but I'm watching them overnight and I'm not sure what time I'll be dropping them off at her house).

JB

Wow, does this mean I might actually get to ride with you two days in a row, JB? :eek:

Jo,
Will you be riding your new toy? If so, I'm in.

I'm thinking a 'yes' if that weekend isn't too crazy for me. Darnitall, Deb, we could've all signed your cast!! ;)

Hey, JoBob - maybe - looks like our ride groups on Saturday both start @7:30. Not sure yet if my new bike will be done in time for this weekend......

JB

Can't make this one, I will be travelling back from Solvang after riding the double. Hope to make the next one.

In.

Let me check my social calendar, and I'll get back with you. I'll have my people call your people.

D**N i have duty that day and will be stuck on base watching the prisoners opps i mean "student population"

I'm going to miss this one. I'll be down in Carmel with some turk... uh, I mean my in-laws. :innocent:

I'm thinking of putting grippy-tape on my left handlebar and doing this ride in my small chainring.

Yeah, I know, but seriously...

I might be in!

Shameless bump to draw attention to the newly added info in the OP. It's going to be a beautiful day, so y'all ought to come along.

I'm thinking of putting grippy-tape on my left handlebar and doing this ride in my small chainring.

Yeah, I know, but seriously...

Maybe you could get that Taxi fellow to captain the tandem for you. :innocent:

OK, change me from a definite "maybe" to a definite definite. My ex. has the kids, so I can do this.

JB

Roughly 33 miles [EDIT: make it more like 28] - more accurate estimate to follow. EDIT: Instead of turning onto Cummngs Skyway from San Pablo Ave, we will ride into Crockett, regroup there, climb up Crockett Blvd, and latch into Cummings Skyway at the top. See map below for details.

Route suggestion: Instead of Crockett to Cummings, continue on Pomona/Carquinez, right on McEwen, and take that out to Franklin Canyon.

:D

I'm in sans clan Oldstrong this time. Just moi

Route suggestion: Instead of Crockett to Cummings, continue on Pomona/Carquinez, right on McEwen, and take that out to Franklin Canyon.

:D

If you and Pete want to tackle that bee-yotch of a climb that is McEwen and join the rest of us on Franklin Canyon, be my guest. As for this tub-o-lard, Pig Farm and Crockett Blvd will suit me just fine, thankee kindly.

For those of you who don't know McEwen Road, it is a beautiful, lightly trafficked road that climbs along side a lovely little brook, and then goes past a farm/ranch that has, or at least used to have, some Clydesdales (the horses, not the cyclists) and/or Percherons, some of the biggest damn horses you will ever see. You pay for the pretty road with a really steep climb. It's about like going up the west side of Cantelowe (maybe a little longer) or Sierra Road (but a lot shorter). It is not particularly long, but then neither is The Wall at the top of Mt. Diablo, if you catch my meaning.

Getting from Crockett to McEwen Road also involves some rollers/low hills that you don't have to deal with if you go up Crockett Blvd. Going via McEwen should be roughly the same distance - it may add a mile or two due to twistier roads, but not more than that. McEwen tops out on Franklin Canyon a little dowhill from where Cummings Skyway hits it.

Just so we are clear: I am not doing McEwen, at least not this time around. Anyone who wants to is more than welcome to go for it. If you don't mind the climb, it should be absolutely gorgeous there.

I'm in sans clan Oldstrong this time. Just moi

Yeah, this one probably isn't the best idea for the young'uns. I have a couple of future B&B Rides in mind that could be just the ticket for them, but this one probably isn't on that list.

Looking forard to seeing you, though. And bring that Klein-riding panty-waist Steve with you. :p

Maybe you could get that Taxi fellow to captain the tandem for you. :innocent:

I'd be delighted to captain, but I don't there is that much room for expansion on the front end of your tandem. :(

And yes, I have a goodly amount of tandem captaining experience, I'll have you know.

what does slowpoke mean exactly? averaging 16mph? would this be a good ride for a new rider? i only just got a road bike not too long ago. I have no group ride experience.

also, i will be in shorts and a t-shirt. :D

If you and Pete want to tackle that bee-yotch of a climb that is McEwen and join the rest of us on Franklin Canyon, be my guest.Heh, (first and) last time I did it was about a year ago. I referred to it as the "hill of death", not only due to the climbing involved, but all of the ex-cars that had fallen down the cliff to the right.

I think tomorrow I'm going to head out for the same three bears route from last year. That'll tell me if I want to attempt McEwen again on Sunday. :P

Maybe you could get that Taxi fellow to captain the tandem for you. :innocent:

Now yer talkin!!!!!!:thumb::love:

what does slowpoke mean exactly? averaging 16mph? would this be a good ride for a new rider? i only just got a road bike not too long ago. I have no group ride experience.

also, i will be in shorts and a t-shirt. :D

You will be more than welcome. I don't know about anyone else, but I doubt if I'll average as high as 16 mph for this ride.

Bigbossman and I started this series for folks who feel a little, shall we say, intimidated about going out on the 117 mile, 28,000 feet of climbing hammer-fests that some folks in these parts like to do as recovery rides. (That's not a knock on those riders - I've met many of them, and they are great people who are very welcoming - it's just that not everyone can or wants to ride like that.)

For some folks, these Slowpoke rides are casual, laid-back affairs. For others, they are a challenge. But either way, the order of the day is always to have fun, with no pressure as to speed. No one gets dropped (except me as soon as the road tilts upward, which is why I usually assume the role of sweeper :p), we regroup regularly, and we have a good time. And if you have never ridden in a group, this is a great place to learn the basics. (They really aren't hard at all.) Last time, we had an eight year old and a ten year old, and they fit in great. I suspect you will, too.

As for garb, I'll be in lycra bib shorts and a snug wool jersey, which in my case is probably a felony in several states. If you stand to look at me, I'll have no problem looking at you.

So, can we count you in?

If I can keep up with bikingshearer on sweep detail then anyone can.

Looks like I'll be out of the state on Sunday so I won't be around to participate in this one. :(

I'm in. Can't refuse that invitation. What's on the menu for this one?

I'd be delighted to captain, but I don't there is that much room for expansion on the front end of your tandem. :(

And yes, I have a goodly amount of tandem captaining experience, I'll have you know.

Why, how nice of you and Pete to offer to captain the tandem. If one or both of you can make your way here we might be able to manage -- I can't lift it off its hooks or onto the bike carrier. I don't want to deal with so much bike when I don't have 100% use of one arm.

I got on the Diva on the trainer and got into the drops to see how challenging it is to brake. Very. And I know this ride has downhills. Pushing my arm forward into the cast was painful, and that was just for a few minutes.

I'll remain a maybe until probably the last minute. As Scotty mentioned, it's a long season and the healing with be (relatively) brief.

I'm in. Can't refuse that invitation. What's on the menu for this one?

Midland: "other wise known as
that Klein-riding panty-waist Steve with you. :p

what does slowpoke mean exactly? averaging 16mph? would this be a good ride for a new rider? i only just got a road bike not too long ago. I have no group ride experience.

also, i will be in shorts and a t-shirt. :D

Slowpoke means slow. No droppped riders. Plenty of re-groups.
Good for new rider? Ideal.

My first group ride I was real nervous I would not fit in. Trust me if you catch the road bike bug you will ride a lot of miles solo. Group rides are a treat.
This is not a bunch of pace line hammer heads. Count on fun, laughs, tips if you want them, and support.

I hope, very much to see you out there.

also, i will be in shorts and a t-shirt. :D

I did a 40-mile BF ride (folders in SF) in jeans once. :innocent:

I checked with LeeBob - we'll both be there. :)

( And yes Ron I'm bringing the midlife crisis bike. :thumb: )

I'll be at this ride. Peddle Pusher

I'll be at this ride. Peddle Pusher

Hey, Jody - it'll be good to ride with you again.

JB

I did a 40-mile BF ride (folders in SF) in jeans once. :innocent:

I once did a double century with walking shorts :eek:

I'll do my best to be there. haven't been on a bike for over 6 months

I once did a double century with walking shorts :eek:

Yooowww! I'm doubled over in pain just thinking about that! :twitchy:

I hope I can make it! Put me down as a maybe.

I'm pretty sure I did my first century in cut off slacks. Every ride I've ever done has been in some type of non-cycling-specific shorts. I commuted for years in jeans.

You can do stuff like this comfortably when you have the right saddle. :)

Hey All.

Haven't been on forums lately, but caught wind of this ride via Pete's blog.

My knees have been a bit better lately and I've been running and riding a bit. I was psyched, thinking this would be the perfect ride for me to get going again. Sadly though, this is the first Sunday I'm going to be stuck at work for the first time in Months.

So, wanted to say "good luck", "best wishes", and all that.

Hopefully I'll latch onto some rides in early April!

I'd love to get out and try a group ride for once. Although I'm new to the area and was wondering a good way of getting out there from San Leandro by BART or bus and maybe a little extra riding? Thanks!

I couldn't find this in the link provided in the OP. can someone give an estimate of total distance and elevation gain.

I'd love to get out and try a group ride for once. Although I'm new to the area and was wondering a good way of getting out there from San Leandro by BART or bus and maybe a little extra riding? Thanks!

PM me. There's a good chance BBM or I or someone else can pick you up and drop you off at a BART station.



I couldn't find this in the link provided in the OP. can someone give an estimate of total distance and elevation gain.

According to the MapMy Ride link, the distance is 28.81 miles with 1665 feet of climbing. The distance sounds about right, the climbing sounds a little light, but what do I know?

If you follow the link and expand the page, the distance and elevation info is at the top right. (You may have to scroll down to the actual map.) There is a "show elevation" button - check it and you get a pretty good elevation graph. It even has color-coded bars (roughly half mile sections) showing the changes in gradient.

I'll be at this ride. Peddle Pusher

Excellent! Good to have you with us again.

Got a tournament this weekend.....

You guys aren't gonna believe I actually own a bike, huh?