Dunqun

Hi, I have plenty of hills around here to practice climbing But I need a relatively flat road course Time Trial route, ideally with no stop lights or road crossings. I'm thinking Alameda Creek Trail in Fremont, but I've never ridden it. Are there any others anyone would recommend?

Thanks,
Duncan

ROJA

I don't know of anything good that goes too far, but here is one you can use if the distance doesn't need to be very long:

Berkeley to Richmond on the Bay Trail. Nice and flat, but there will be some ped and bike traffic that will slow you down. I think this ride is about 20 miles RT, but that includes a few road crossings. There will be sections that you can use of pretty good distance that don't have road crossings.

Also, check out https://oaklandyellowjackets.org/ for lots of East Bay rides, some tougher than others. I think that if you go out to Davis, there are supposed to be some good flat routes.

I think you may be onto something with the sheltered trails. Check out the Iron Horse trail and see what else the EB parks have to offer. Let us know if you find anything good.

jonathanb715

When I joined the TnT Death Ride team last Feb., I was woefully out of shape. Knowing I needed lots of base miles before I even thought of building my climbing legs, one of the coaches suggested doing this ride 2-3 times per week:

https://www.routeslip.com/routes/21009

This is based on a training ride a group that calls themselves the House of Pain uses - the pain part must come from the speed they ride at, because the route is really nice. Lots of rural roads, but you do have to deal with Tassajara (lots of new traffic lights that always seem to go red just as I get there) and downtown Livermore.

I think if you just did the part on Highland Rd (from Tassajara) to Manning, then follow Manning down to the 580 and back you'd get a nice route with no stop lights, one stop sign lots of flat sections and a few rollers - maybe 10 miles in each direction. Just avoid it at rush hour - lots of people use this road to avoid 580 between Livermore and Danville/San Ramon.

JB

PS - I forgot to mention - it gets real windy in the afternoons

kster

Some suggestions in fremont:

1. The trail you mentioned will work but it's not ideal for riding fast since there is foot traffic present

2. There is the road that goes out to Dumbarton bridge from Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge that has no stops and low traffic. The only drawback is that it's not that long.

alainp

Hi Jon, I live really close (actually on) that route and I've always contemplated going out to Livermore via Camino Tassajara and Highland. I've driven Camino Tassajara hundreds of times now and based on the road vibration and the pothole patchwork, it doesn't seem very *arse friendly*. Am I just imagining things or do I need to develop a calloused rump before trying?

jonathanb715

Tassajara is ok, especially now that they put down a new layer of chipseal over some sections. You have to watch the shoulders - they're inconsistent, wide in some places and non-existent in others. It's really not very bumpy, though. If your bike transmits a lot of road buzz to the seat or handlebars, you'll feel it. Highland is similar to worse pavement quality (also freshly chipsealed) and Manning/North Livermore is a pretty good road. Personally, I find these roads fine for riding on, and considered it a good sign when I got to the point where I could keep pedalling over the rougher sections on Highland.

If the buzz really bothers you, try dropping your tire pressure a bit. I ride those roads at 100 in the front, 110 in the back.

JB

Dunqun

Thanks, I like the San Ramon route, it's right over the hill from me. I might have to investigate. The Berkeley to Richmond route looks good too, where do you start? At the Marina? I have heard the the Iron Horse trail has lots of stop lights where you have to cross major streets, and also lots of families. Incidentally, I would be doing the ride early on a Saturday morning so maybe it won't be so crowded on the MUPs?

jonathanb715

My experiences on the Iron Horse Trail, even in the mornings, have not been pleasant. Lots of stops, especially from Danville up to Walnut Creek, lots of walkers, runners, other cyclists - just too much traffic for me - and I used to live right on the trail. Especially if you're trying to ride at a consistent pace. Danville police like hanging out at the crossings too, and will chat with you if you don't come to a full stop (I don't know anyone they've actually ticketed, though). I'm not a big fan of riding on the trail, except with my kids.

JB

backinthesaddle

How much of distance are you looking for? I train on Bay Farm Island. There's a three mile course that's a flat wide road with no lights, no stop signs. Some road crossings but very little road traffic. Best to ride north to south (there's a light if you go south to north) Only problem is it's short. Try this:

https://tinyurl.com/2r9v5c

Alameda Creek Trail is great for a slow recovery ride, but because its a MUP I don't think it's safe for time trial training.

jonathanb715

Another one, not too far from Castro Valley. From Sunol, head down Calaveras Rd. You'll hit one stop sign right after going under the freeway, but that's it. Flat to rolling hills and a really nice ride. I haven't ridden down there since they started chipsealing everything in sight, so I don't know if they've finished yet. If you don't want any climbing, turn around at the road that leads into Sunol Regional Park. Otherwise, there's a sustained but gradual climb up to the reservoir if you keep going.

JB

pelikan

A lot more of a drive, but Canada Road in San Mateo (yeah I know, it's far but....) it's ~5-6 miles each way of rollers with no stops, good pavement and on Sunday part of it is closed to cars. And for an additional aero workout, go in the afternoon and practice in the wind!

Dunqun

I know that road on Bay Farm, 3 miles is perfect for me to start. Is there room to build up to 25mph before you start the 3 mile stretch?

I am going to do the Palomares/Foothill/Sunol loop in a couple weeks so I will check out Calaveras Rd., thanks.

Thanks for the Iron Horse feedback, that's what I heard so I will certainly avoid it.

Duncan

Rincewind8

When I like to ride fast I usually take the Danville Blvd./San Ramon Valley Blvd. instead of the Iron Horse trail. There are few stop lights, but many cars.

backinthesaddle

Just barely. You can warm out by the ferry terminal and then come around and hit it as soon as Harbor Bay Parkway straightens out. As a marker, I usually try to hit max speed by the signpost that reads 35MPH speed limit, that's maybe .1 mile down the course. The problem is that there's an underpass at the end of the course by the airport. Ideally you want to finish clocking your time before you go down the underpass which is probably a 5% downhill grade, followed by 5% uphill. It's really a tight 3 miles if you don't want to include the underpass. But I usually include the underpass in my time, since it's always the same course it remains comparable.

Dunqun

Thanks, that sounds great, I'll check it out.

Duncan

backinthesaddle

Great, let us know how it turns out.

Sparky2

The Alameda Creek Trail should work just fine in the early morning. Use the section from Union City Blvd. to the Bay for your actual time trial (approximately 4 miles one way) as it is virtually deserted. You can get on the trail anywhere from Mission Blvd in Niles to Union City Blvd depending on how much of a warmup you want.

Check out this link: https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...Trail-and-back.

Dunqun

Thanks for the link! looks good. How early in the morning would it be deserted on a Saturday? Also, it looks like there aren't any road crossings or stops, is that true?

Thanks,
Duncan

Sparky2

I would recommend going out about 7 am. There are no road crossings or stops on the entire length of the trail (11+ miles) as there are underpasses at all intersections. There tends to be more pedestrian traffic from Mission Blvd to Union City Blvd. The last mile or so out to the bay is primarily inhabited by ducks and geese.

One word of caution - I have not been on the trail for about a year but I suspect not much has changed.

I am also very familiar with the earlier suggestion of Calaveras Rd from I-680 to Sunol Park. It is also a good one - light traffic, no stops and reasonable rollers. I believe that you will be happy with either route.

Dunqun

Thanks very much! That's a big help.

Dchiefransom

Be careful on the Alameda Creek Trail, the rangers are out there occassionally with a radar gun. Someone reported them waiting at the bottom of Nike Hill once. From Coyote Hills out to the end of the trail is about 2 miles, but it would involve turning around to amke it longer. I've never seen anyone walking in that section.
My club's race team does their time trial from east of 680 to the sunol Regional Wilderness entrance, as someone above suggested. After the race season ends, they post it as a weekly evening ride on our ride schedule.https://www.fremontfreewheelers.org/

ifox

not true. there are two stops (and cops love to nail cyclists over there) near Woodside.

The Smokester

Just to confirm: The Calaveras Rd from 680 east to Sunol Regional Park (refered to above) was relatively newly resurfaced when I rode it on Sunday (August 19, 2007). However, it was very ridable and there many cyclists and no problems.