NorCal Century, 5/23. Now for a route....
 

Based on the previous responses, it looks like May 23 is going to be the date for the NorCal Century ride.

ADDED: Please note that MapMyRide has the elevation/climbing wrong. It's much closer to about 6000 feet total, most on rollers. Total length will come in around 96 miles. Also, there is a short option for those interested. It's the less interesting side of the route, and there's one of the two hills. About 50 miles.

Here's the route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...m/102484260913

Rolls out at 9am at the parking lot (on the right) just before entering Hagan Park.
Directions from 50:
Exit on Mather Field Rd. and head North
- left if coming from the West (Sac/SFO/etc.), Right if coming from the East (Folsom/etc.)
Turn RIGHT on Folsom Blvd.
Turn LEFT at Coloma (light just past a Raley's on the left).
Turn LEFT on Chase.
High School on the right and then the parking area just before the park entrance.

Planning to attend:
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JoelS
Bess
MyLilPony
cccorlew
nasv
bigbossman (maybe)
Spiduhman
AllezWeGo
uptight (FH)
Wookie (and some friends?)
tosterbe (fish hatchery)
RedRider and Chris
OrbeaJ

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I'm likely to do a preview ride of this in March or April if anyone is interested.

My fat butt prefers less climbing. No way I'm up for 15k'. 5k is probably borderline and will depend a lot on how my training goes in the next couple of months.

Yeah I think if you try to make it a sufferfest it will limit attendance ;)

Depends on how much time everyone has, 5000 vs 15000ft, is likely a good 3-4 hour difference in total time.
Personally, I wouldn't mind trying for a sub-5 hour century.

The fastest century I've ever done was the Tour de Cure in Napa. Start in Yountville, north on 29 to Alexander Valley, back down to Silverado Trail to Yountville. This is a great course but with much less climbing. Head wind in the afternoon coming back down the valley. Some traffic early on on 29 mid-valley, but otherwise decent shoulders and beautiful scenery.

I'd be all for a wine country century.

Hey Henry, do it on a fixie with me.

You got it... as long as it's not 15k ft of climbing.

Ok, I'm with it. I'll keep the climbing down. I'll work on a route and get back to the group when it's finished.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ca...a/753785879974

93.65 miles
3200 feet

It can be extended a little by changing the start to closer to Sac on the ARBT. But this looks like a pretty good route.

Looks good.

Hey I remember back when they stopped letting cars drive over Folsom Dam after 9/11. Is it still closed? Can bikes ride across it or is that a threat to national security?

Still closed. There is a bridge going up a little downstream of the dam. It should be open soon. If it's open by then, we'll ride across it.

Wow, I remember hearing talk of the bridge but I didn't realize it was actually getting built and practically finished at that. I found some more info here. Looks like March 28 is the target date for opening.

I can probably deal with this.

Auburn Folsom = :(

Any way you can alter that route to the locals route that bypasses that awful road?

BR

We could do the top part of the ride in the other direction so that we can establish a fast paceline going downhill on Auburn Folsom, instead of going uphill on it.

I ride it a lot, it's not too bad. There is at least a good bike lane and a lot of riders use that road.

If you're drivin I have gas money!;)

You know my Honda Odyssey always has room for 3 bikes and riders to come with me.

I am in!

Route looks good!

@rushfan: totally down for a BF wine country century... you sound like you know the area better... want to start a thread? ;)

Let's hold off a bit. We can do a Sonoma/Napa century later in the summer than anything in our neck of the woods...

I'm into it, I've never ridden in that area...

Count me in the ranks of the SF-based carless folks who could use a ride up there :)

La la la, I can't hear you two!

Hmm, if I wanted to get stupid, I could make it a century and a half if I rode from my house... :P

(By the way, if any out-of-townies want to do just that, they're welcome to park at my house. I'm just over the river, about four miles from the beginning of the ARBT.)

I'm on A-F fairly often for work, and I always see cyclists. Tons of (fast!) traffic, narrow or no shoulders, lots of contruction... I don't get it.

Looks like a nice route. Count me in on this ride. It'd be nice to ride with BF folks again.

Once you get about 1/2 mile past Bealls Point (the construction zone), there is a real nice bike lane all the way up to Auburn. I don't think it'll be a problem, so long as we ride a single file pace line.

For those without car, if you take the train to Sacramento, you can catch the light rail up to Mather, which is real close to the ride start.

I also have room for a couple of folks if anyone wants to come up Friday night or stay over after the ride on Saturday. But you'll have to put up with me, my bride (who may join us on the ride), 2 youngsters, 2 dogs (1 of whom weighs more than I do now), and a cat.

Save a spot for me. "shotgun"!!!!

Tentative Honda Odyssey Roster:

Taxi777
Bigbossman
"Me"

Room for one more...