Bolinas Ridge Loop

This is a loop we did a couple of weeks ago. We were on our Ibis tandem and our friends Bill and Debbie were riding their Burley with cross tires. This was a tough loop since there doesn't seem to be any flat sections on Bolinas ridge. Claire and I had a small mechanical that we were able to fix. The ride down from the top of Tam was quite chilly and the headwind from Stincon Beach back to our car in Point Reyes was very discouraging. - Posted by Chaz

A good cross loop

Here is a link to a great cross loop out of Forestville. It ended up being around 47 miles with some sweet single track right in the middle. Loop


- Posted by Chaz

A couple of good tandem rides

It is winter time, so time to go a little slower and be a little more adventurous.  Claire and I have been riding our tandem on road and off road for over 20 years, and we love to share that with other tandemist.  Last week we took out our friends Bill and Debbie and showed them a couple of our favorite roads around the West County.  Last Tuesday we started by parking in Duncans Mills and doing the Duncan Road/Old Caz loop.  This loop is the inner loop of the first Grasshopper Race out of Occidental which takes place in late January.  We were able to get across Austin Creek without getting our feet wet which was a first.  There have been times in the past where the water has been almost up to our waists.

Today we drove out to Point Reyes Station and did a 40 mile loop that included about 12 miles of dirt along the Bolinas Ridge.  It was a tough 40 miles taking almost 4 hours.  Bill and Debbie were very excited about the dirt, I think they are addicted now.  Here is a link to that loop.  By the end of the ride we were all pretty knackered.  At one point, about 5 miles from the finish, we could smell something burning, when Bill commented on the smell, Claire pointed out that it was just her legs.  We really missed having Aaron and Melinda along on both of these rides.

2012 Full Vineman

I'm looking for two individuals who are interested in participating in the 2012 Full Vineman Triathlon on July 28, 2012.  The Vineman offers a "3 for the price of 2" discount if people sign up together.  Instead of $350 per person, it would be $233 per person.  Please let me know before Dec. 31.  You can email me at shop@thehubcyclery.com.  Thank you for spreading the word.

Furnace Creek 508

We are just outside of the town of Mojave getting ready to head into California City. Our friend Debbie is doing it solo this year and we are crewing for her. We are at the 70 mile mark.



- Posted by Chaz

Just a little 47 miler out of Occidental

On paper this seemed like a pretty easy ride.  In retrospect, I should have known that if you have to climb Willow Creek Road, Coleman Valley Road, Bay Hill Road, and JOY Road, it is not going to be easy.  I had set up the course on my Garmin, and it had shown 2800 feet of climbing.  It ended up being 4200 feet of climbing, and that is after the initial very flat 20 miles.

Willow Creek Road

The day started off pleasantly enough with a late breakfast at Howard Station in Occidental.  We left from there and dropped down Bohemian Hwy. and headed out towards Jenner.  We did the first 20 miles in under an hour and that was taking it easy.  That was when the real fun started.  Willow Creek Road was a little wet in sections, but beautiful as ever.  We cleaned the two sisters, slow but steady.  Coleman Valley Road was B-E-A-utiful with awesome views of the ocean from the top.  We stopped at one of these lookouts and shared Claire's leftover buttermilk biscuit with some jam on it before plummeting down to Hwy. 1.  Bay Hill Road was a doozy.  I won't bore you with the rest, but suffice to say that Joy Road seems to get steeper every time we do it.  Luckily we got to almost coast the rest of the way back to the car after that.

Half Moon Bay Loop

Descending Pescadero Road
(A1 & Melinda are up ahead)

This was a fantastic loop that Claire came up with. We were joined by Jimmy Neutron, Aaron, and Melinda. It was not the warmest of days, but the sun was shining almost the entire time. After heading down hwy. 1 for about 8 miles, we turned on Stage Road. I would have to rate Stage Road as one if the nicest stretches of pavement I have ever ridden on, at least in the top 20.

Jimmy Neutron

The ride ended up being almost exactly 62 miles with around 6200 feet of climbing. That is the perfect formula for a bike ride, 100 feet of climbing per mile. I would strongly recommend this loop, it was worth the drive to Half Moon Bay.

We CONSUMED DEVOURED a loaf of artichoke/herb bread in Pescadero