Training Ride 8/8: Grizzly Peak Cyclists Monthly Ride

GPC has an all-club ride every month on the second Saturday.  We all start together at the Orinda BART station. All routes ride together at a social pace down San Pablo Dam Road to Castro Ranch Road and then break into various groups based on pace and distance.   

Cyclists gathering for the ride.

 Several friends from the arthritis training group wanted to do the 50 mile route, so to get some extra miles in, I rode over to the BART station from home.  That adds about 11.5 miles each way.  

We had a cool start in Orinda, despite temperatures being predicted to be in the mid-80s on that side of the tunnel.  Of course, it was only 9 am.  

We had a group of 8 on the 50 mile route, which is always the same, so the details will be similar to last month's club ride. We went over Pig Farm Hill (not too bad today, probably because it wasn't too hot), down Alhambra Valley Road (wee!) and continued on to Reliez Valley Road.  We took a break at the golf course on Grayson before the climbing.  The temperature was going up, but still pleasant.  

At the top of Pig Farm Hill, looking back toward the climb.

Looking the other direction at the top of Pig Farm Hill.

 We did the climb on Reliez.  It is a bit tricky.  The road is narrow with no shoulder and a honking curb.  It can be a bit unnerving if there is a fair amount of traffic.  Fortunately, as a residential road, the amount if traffic is lighter.  But that's not the tricky part.  The tricky part is that there are several false tops.  You keep thinking you are almost at the top, and then you're not.  I've done it often enough lately to be familiar with its tricks and not be disappointed to find more climbing ahead.  The climb isn't so terribly long, but it is steep.

We continued through Walnut Creek neighborhoods to arrive at Danville Blvd.  Danville Blvd is a very long street that starts in Walnut Creek and continues to Sunol, changing its name a number of times.  It is pretty highly traveled by cars as well as bicycles, but at least the bike lane is wide.  In this direction, it is ever so slightly uphill, but not enough to make a real difference, so you can make some real time here.  And so I did, all the way to Danville Peets. Where we took a lunch break.

Unlike last month, there was plenty of space outside and we could grab a table and chairs under an umbrella and park our bikes in the rack (mostly).  We had a relaxing time.  Temperatures stayed pleasant, perhaps because of a strong breeze. 

Arthritis training group ladies at Peets: (L to R) Kim, me, Mary and Rita

 We returned the way we came through Danville and Walnut Creek.  This time, ever so slightly down hill on Danville Blvd, so you can really go quickly.  After a brief stint on the multi-use trail at the end of Olympic Blvd., we continued into Lafayette to take Happy Valley Road.  The lower part of the road isn't bad at all, but as it gets higher, it becomes more difficult.  Last month was the first time I had been on this road in quite a long time, and didn't remember it well, so I hit the more difficult part in the wrong gear and then barely dragged up it. Lesson learned.  I definitely used a lower gear this time and was much happier.  

We turned off before the hardest part, and went down Sundown Terrace and several other residential roads in Orinda to return to San Pablo Dam Rd and the BART station.

It is good to see this sign.  It means the climbing is done and time to head down hill (wee!) [corner of Sundown Ter. and Happy Valley Rd.]

 From BART Sherrie both headed over Wildcat Drive to return to our homes.  By the time I arrived in Kensington, the wind was really blowing and the temperature was noticeably lower.  

It takes a long time to go 75 miles.  It was good to be home.

Stats:
75.08 miles
4,229 feet of elevation gain