Northern California - Start a calendar of organized rides suitable for kids?

It would really be a service to parents with children (let's say, to make a point, ages 0-to-12) to have a Norcal calendar of organized rides short & flat enough to trailer the little ones and have the older ones ride along. There a lot of such rides, but they tend to not have enough publicity to make it on the well known ride calendars. Many of them are fundraisers and would welcome more participants.

Does anybody have any ideas on how to get such a calendar (perhaps as a sticky thread here) set up and ongoing?

I'd be game for a family ride. I'd tow my little guy in the Burley and my wife could ride alongside whenever possible.

What conditions would make a ride amenable to kids, in your opinion?

Tour d'Organics in Sebastapol has a 10 and 35 mile option - I've done the 100 mile ride and a lot of that was flat and even on trail. DD and I are signed up with our Bike Friday tandem.

Check out the San Francisco Sunday Streets program: http://sundaystreetssf.com/
One Sunday every month from May through September with several different routes.
Short distances. Few hills. Roads are closed to car traffic. Suitable for families and kids. Free.

http://sundaystreetssf.com/wp-content/gallery/april-26th-sunday-streets/3478582613_767722f270_o.jpg

I'm going to take my son for a ride later on this afternoon. Anyone in the Sac area is more than welcome to come along.

Perhaps a bit too far south for many of you to make on a weekday evening, but Ghost Tree Racing has been sponsoring a ride one night a month this summer at the Laguna Seca Raceway. My wife and son attended this past Wednesday--good low key fun on a breezy summer eve. Here is the text of the email they sent out:


The Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Twilight Bicycle Ride Series returns this Wednesday evening, June 17. There will be two hours of open riding at the at the world famous raceway. This month's event is co-hosted by the Ghost Tree Racing local cycling club, and during the evening there will also be an informal circuit race and a one-lap kids race.

Signup opens at 5:00 PM in the Lakebed area of the track. The track opens at 5:30 PM for bicyclists of all types to enjoy riding the beautiful circuit with its silky-smooth pavement and lack of cars! At 6:00 PM kids seven-and-older will have the opportunity to race one lap of the track, and at 6:30 PM a one-hour circuit race will take place. This month the circuit-race field will run in two groups-- a stronger and more experienced A group, and a B group for less-experienced riders.

During the race, the track will remain open for everyone, even if they don't choose to compete. Riders of all ability levels are encouraged to come out and enjoy this treat that the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula has made available to central coast bicyclists.

There is a $10 fee for insurance, and proceeds will be donated to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca charities. See you Wednesday evening at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

www.GhostTreeRacing.com

As I mentioned it was a low key event with about 200 friendly people in attendance during the course of the evening. My 7 year old son had a blast on the 2.2 mile course--he now knows what the "cork screw" is and loved "attacking" on the three climbs, even if he had to walk up one of them.

http://gallery.me.com/rockyshores/100344/IMG_9888/web.jpg?ver=12455399810001


stan

I think this thread is worthy of a calendar - the suggestions already are great, but any web-wizards with a way to create an updatable calendar? or- a club or bike shop that could maintain it?

Here are a few more contributions of my own for the mid-Peninsula this summer:

Giro di Peninsula
The shortest one here (they have routes up to a century) starts at the old Bay Meadows race track, and goes (via bike lanes) over 101, then rides around the bay front:
http://www.festafoundation.org/giro.html
EASIEST ==>>> 30KEZ - Ride along the San Francisco Bay to Foster City (most of the ride is on a trail) and the Sea Cloud Park Rest Stop.
(If you could sign up, then drive over 101, park, and do part of the ride, then drive back for the pasta lunch - that would probably work best for the littler kids, but I don't know if that is feasible)

Toue de Peninsula
This famous ride attracts huge crowds, but used to make everyone climb steeply up Ralston Ave. Now I am pretty sure(?) it starts with flatter routes (various lengths, up to metric century).
http://www.supportparks.org/tdp/
http://www.supportparks.org/tdp/ride.html
==>>> 1. Kids/Family Route - 1-3 miles on bike trail in Coyote Point Park
This easy trail is ideally suited for young children and families. Cyclists will ride on paved paths throughout the park, with no steep hills or sharp turns.

Bike for Breath
Here is one (routes up to metric century) that starts with a route only 10 miles long, by the bay:
http://events.ggbreathe.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Bike_for_Breath_Event_Details_2009b
==>>> Mini Breath Ride, a flat ride ideal for beginners and children, travels the beautiful bike paths along the San Francisco Bay.

-- Fritz
http://stevenscreektrail.org/

In Burlingame (http://www.betterburlingame.org/Family_Bike_Ride/page109.htm):

Family Fun Bike Ride

Join us ever 2nd Saturday from May to October for the Family Fun Bike Ride
Next Bike Ride: July 11th 10:00 am - Noon

For kids of all ages (3 yrs-83 yrs), including those using tricycles or training wheels.

Gather in the parking lot of the Broadway CalTrain station across the street from the Summit Bicycle shop on California Drive.

We bike over the new Broadway Bicycle-Pedestrian Overpass, and cruise along the Bayfront bike path for about a mile to the small City park next to the beautiful Anza Lagoon.

Return trip: We retrace our route, ending up at Preston’s on Broadway for FREE ICE CREAM for all the kids.

Our shorter ride on the Primavera is 25 miles. Goes from Union City out to Coyote Hills and back. The only steep sections would be coming back up after you cross under a road on the Alameda Creek Trail.

Our shorter ride on the Primavera is 25 miles. Goes from Union City out to Coyote Hills and back. The only steep sections would be coming back up after you cross under a road on the Alameda Creek Trail.

That's a particularly easy & pleasant ride with a wonderful tour through the Coyote Hills regional park on the Bay just north of the Dumbarton Bridge. (I especially like the homemade goodies & hospitality at the refresh station there). However, the 1st half (or 2/3's) is all bike lanes. An alternative suggestion for those families with small children might be to just go out to the park and back along the Alameda Creek Trail. I am guessing that is under 15 miles round trip, and you can picnic in the park.

- Fritz

www.stevenscreektrail.org

I think this thread is worthy of a calendar - the suggestions already are great, but any web-wizards with a way to create an updatable calendar? or- a club or bike shop that could maintain it?


It would really be a service to parents with children (let's say, to make a point, ages 0-to-12) to have a Norcal calendar of organized rides short & flat enough to trailer the little ones and have the older ones ride along. There a lot of such rides, but they tend to not have enough publicity to make it on the well known ride calendars. Many of them are fundraisers and would welcome more participants.

Does anybody have any ideas on how to get such a calendar (perhaps as a sticky thread here) set up and ongoing?

Alright folks, I put together a calendar of the events listed so far. The calendar is on my MobileMe site and can be viewed there, subscribed to, or downloaded.

The link: NorCal Bike Forums Family Rides (http://ical.mac.com/WebObjects/iCal.woa/wa/default?d=1&u=rockyshores&v=1&y=2009&m=5&n=NorCal%20Bike%20Forums%20Family%20Rides.ics)

To see event info click on the text in the calendar.

As for updating events, post new events in this thread, or PM/email me with info and links and I'll add the event to the calendar.

Also, send feedback about how effective a solution this may or not be.

cheers,

stan

This is great! I appreciate your offer to maintain it, also. Do you mind if I post a link in my neighborhood newsletter, and perhaps the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition forum, too?


Alright folks, I put together a calendar of the events listed so far. The calendar is on my MobileMe site and can be viewed there, subscribed to, or downloaded.

The link: NorCal Bike Forums Family Rides (http://ical.mac.com/WebObjects/iCal.woa/wa/default?d=1&u=rockyshores&v=1&y=2009&m=5&n=NorCal%20Bike%20Forums%20Family%20Rides.ics)

To see event info click on the text in the calendar.

As for updating events, post new events in this thread, or PM/email me with info and links and I'll add the event to the calendar.

Also, send feedback about how effective a solution this may or not be.

cheers,

stan

This is great! I appreciate your offer to maintain it, also. Do you mind if I post a link in my neighborhood newsletter, and perhaps the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition forum, too?

Hi Fritz,

Glad you liked it. I don't mind at all if you post the link; perhaps it will lead to listing more family-friendly events.

stan

Bump -- calendar has new events listed through December...

stan


Alright folks, I put together a calendar of the events listed so far. The calendar is on my MobileMe site and can be viewed there, subscribed to, or downloaded.

The link: NorCal Bike Forums Family Rides (http://ical.mac.com/WebObjects/iCal.woa/wa/default?d=1&u=rockyshores&v=1&y=2009&m=5&n=NorCal%20Bike%20Forums%20Family%20Rides.ics)

To see event info click on the text in the calendar.

As for updating events, post new events in this thread, or PM/email me with info and links and I'll add the event to the calendar.

Also, send feedback about how effective a solution this may or not be.

cheers,

stan

Bumped with new event listings for those who have not subscribed.

stan

ps. mods, sticky-worthy?

New events added:

Wine Country Ride To Defeat ALS - Napa
Princess Promenade - Sacramento
Wheels for Meals - Pleasanton/Livermore Valley

The link: NorCal Bike Forums Family Rides (http://ical.mac.com/WebObjects/iCal.woa/wa/default?u=rockyshores&v=1&n=NorCal%20Bike%20Forums%20Family%20Rides.ics)

stan

This is a great idea. Thanks for the calendar. I think we'll go this Sunday.

Here is a great website for these with really small children
http://www.strollerhikes.com/
Click on the EVENTS tab for a variety of events (a few are bike oriented), and the BIKE tab for general tips. The comparison tables of local parks & open spaces, and trails are very detailed, including a guide to difficulty and amenities.