[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
Ted, that is an awesome route from Tracy to Walnut Creek via Diablo. The plan was a friend would drop me in Sonora, but I may ask her to take me to Tracy on her way back to Oakland. But if I cheat like that I may as well go someplace really cool for a start. Not sure yet where, there are lots of choices. Maybe the best thing is to book a few days of leave and decide once I get there. The trip to Sonora should tell me all I need to know about riding the straight and ugly roads. If it is a no-go I could drive back through it to an idyllic start point. But I won't drive to Walnut Creek. This is a great opportunity to bike Northern Ca. I will take pix and be in touch. Thanks to all for helping me think this through. Ed K -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
If you want to ride Ed .. just ride .. the circumstances take are of themselves. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
I've never ridden east of Mountain House Pkw so I won't comment on routes across the central valley. Altamont pass is fine, I think Paterson pass (just a bit further south) is quite nice. If you like suburban multi-use trails the Iron Horse trail is fine, but I wouldn't go out of my way to ride it. I think its about 20mi from the start in Pleasanton to RBW. If you want to go that way from its start you will probably go from west of livermore to pleasanton on the south side of things. In that case Id recommend staying off of Stanley. Look at concannon, wente, marina, wetmore, aroyo, vinyard. Personally I think I would take a different route at least as far as say Danvile. Look at N Flyn (if you take Paterson and like hills). From Altamont pass, take Laughlin, Altamont Creek dr, rt on Garaventa Ranch rd, cross Vasco, rtl lft rt to get to Dalton becomes Ames becomes Raymond, rt on Dagnino, left on May School, rt on N Livermore becomes Manning, rt on Highland (very nice road), rt on Tassajara, which becomes Sycamore Valley. You can catch the Iron Horse where is crosses Sycamore Valley just east of I680, or you could leave Tassajara earlier making a rt at Blackhawk. The south route up Diablo is off of Blackhawk. I think you might enjoy the east bay roads more if you were to stop for the night in Tracy and head into the hills with a good nights sleep and fresher legs. When I google map Sonora to Tracy I see routes on the order of 80 miles, then its another 50 or more to RBW. Two days seems like it would me more fun. When you say local bike clubs have not been helpful are you talking about clubs local to you or ones out here? Have you tried the Davis Bike Club (http://www.davisbikeclub.org/annual_events/ultra-distance-brevets-randonneuring)? I suspect they have members that know every decent riding road in the central valley. On Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 4:17:15 PM UTC-8, ed k wrote: > > I knew the stretch through the industrial ag of the Valley would be hard, > so I was hoping somebody knew a slightly less bad route to Altamont. The > routes going North look just as ugly. > > > The vague plan was to leave Sonora at first light on a Sunday and coast > down the foothills to the valley floor, then hustle across Manteca and > Tracy, hoping for a quiet morning. It looks like once Altamont is behind > you there is somewhat bike-friendly Livermore and Pleasanton, then > something called the Iron Horse Trail to Walnut Creek. Anybody know that? > Is it worth the nightmare? If not I may just do the alternative trips > suggested. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
I knew the stretch through the industrial ag of the Valley would be hard, so I was hoping somebody knew a slightly less bad route to Altamont. The routes going North look just as ugly. The vague plan was to leave Sonora at first light on a Sunday and coast down the foothills to the valley floor, then hustle across Manteca and Tracy, hoping for a quiet morning. It looks like once Altamont is behind you there is somewhat bike-friendly Livermore and Pleasanton, then something called the Iron Horse Trail to Walnut Creek. Anybody know that? Is it worth the nightmare? If not I may just do the alternative trips suggested. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
I second Jeremy on this. Straight, boring, high speed two-lane roads with no shoulder sounds like a lousy place to learn a new bicycle, especially in this age of drivers more focused on their phone screens and keyboards than actual driving. I wouldn't do it. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
There are lots of bike shops that can pack and ship the bike back to your home, so you could ride to just about anywhere from Sonora, but I see the appeal of having Rivendell do it. I also see the appeal of toughing it out, you and the bike, bonding on a journey, chasing grain elevators across the Central Valley. I think you should do it. Strategize the time, so you're exiting Sonora at a low traffic hour, and reserve a hotel room in Walnut Creek so you don't have to worry about reaching Rivendell during business hours. Then you can wake up, visit Riv, go for a ride up Diablo, visit Riv again, and catch BART to the airport. That sounds both heroic and fun. Philip www.biketinker.com On Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 8:08:01 AM UTC-8, Jeremy Till wrote: > > Honestly, most of the ride between Sonora and Walnut Creek would be pretty > much the worst Northern CA has to offer in terms of cycling. The Sierra > foothill roads near Sonora are mostly high-speed two-lane highways with > lots of traffic and little to no shoulder for bicyclists. Once you get > down into the Central Valley it'd be miles and miles of flat riding on > straight roads (more high-speed traffic) through industrial agriculture. > The climb up and over Altamont and through east Alameda County/Contra > Costa county might be pleasant enough, but I think by that point you'd be > tired enough that'd be hard to enjoy. > > If you really wanted to have a great Northern CA cycling experience, I'd > pick up the bike, drive it back to the Bay Area somewhere, and do a ride > there. Having lived and ridden in Northern CA for 13 years, including many > years living in the East Bay, you really realize that Rivs are a product of > the place they are designed and are uniquely suited to riding there. Doing > Diablo from Riv headquarters is fun. Marin also has miles and miles of > fantastic roads. Or riding Highway 1 along the Coast between San Francisco > and Santa Cruz. > > On Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 5:38:45 AM UTC-8, ed k wrote: >> >> I am the guy who bought David Craig's 65cm AHH. You recall that >> because of time constraints he could not ship it, and nobody ran to >> Sonoma CA to get it. Solution: I rented a self-storage locker, David >> dropped off the bike, and now he is free for his sabbatical. The bike >> is waiting for the day when I come from Rockville MD and get it. I >> was scheduled to go to CA in August but I can't stand waiting that >> long. It is time to cash in some Southwest points and head West. >> >> I could rent a car, get the bike, and drive it home to Riv for >> shipping (note Riv content), but where is the adventure in that? I >> want to hitch a ride with a friend to Sonoma and set off on an epic >> trip to Walnut Creek, just me and Homer. >> >> Google maps bicycle option leads me through Manteca, over Altamont >> pass, and to a regional trail starting in Pleasanton that goes to >> Walnut Creek (119 mi): >> https://goo.gl/maps/frPLnYR5jum >> >> I am not sure about the section between Sonoma and Altamont Pass Road, >> but it looks possible. Does anybody know a better route? Local bike >> clubs have not had suggestions. >> >> Multi-day credit-card touring suggestions are also welcome, but 119 >> miles on an unknown bike is probably risky enough. >> >> Thanks for any help >> >> Ed K >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
Honestly, most of the ride between Sonora and Walnut Creek would be pretty much the worst Northern CA has to offer in terms of cycling. The Sierra foothill roads near Sonora are mostly high-speed two-lane highways with lots of traffic and little to no shoulder for bicyclists. Once you get down into the Central Valley it'd be miles and miles of flat riding on straight roads (more high-speed traffic) through industrial agriculture. The climb up and over Altamont and through east Alameda County/Contra Costa county might be pleasant enough, but I think by that point you'd be tired enough that'd be hard to enjoy. If you really wanted to have a great Northern CA cycling experience, I'd pick up the bike, drive it back to the Bay Area somewhere, and do a ride there. Having lived and ridden in Northern CA for 13 years, including many years living in the East Bay, you really realize that Rivs are a product of the place they are designed and are uniquely suited to riding there. Doing Diablo from Riv headquarters is fun. Marin also has miles and miles of fantastic roads. Or riding Highway 1 along the Coast between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. On Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 5:38:45 AM UTC-8, ed k wrote: > > I am the guy who bought David Craig's 65cm AHH. You recall that > because of time constraints he could not ship it, and nobody ran to > Sonoma CA to get it. Solution: I rented a self-storage locker, David > dropped off the bike, and now he is free for his sabbatical. The bike > is waiting for the day when I come from Rockville MD and get it. I > was scheduled to go to CA in August but I can't stand waiting that > long. It is time to cash in some Southwest points and head West. > > I could rent a car, get the bike, and drive it home to Riv for > shipping (note Riv content), but where is the adventure in that? I > want to hitch a ride with a friend to Sonoma and set off on an epic > trip to Walnut Creek, just me and Homer. > > Google maps bicycle option leads me through Manteca, over Altamont > pass, and to a regional trail starting in Pleasanton that goes to > Walnut Creek (119 mi): > https://goo.gl/maps/frPLnYR5jum > > I am not sure about the section between Sonoma and Altamont Pass Road, > but it looks possible. Does anybody know a better route? Local bike > clubs have not had suggestions. > > Multi-day credit-card touring suggestions are also welcome, but 119 > miles on an unknown bike is probably risky enough. > > Thanks for any help > > Ed K > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
Ed, Thanks for buying that bike. That thing was super tempting! If I was coming from out of state to Sonora with plans to ride my bike I'd look into riding east from there. I've always considered Sonora a starting point of sorts for some of the most beautiful country in California. I'm coming from the Bay area heading east when I say that. If I had your agenda I might rent a car and ride into the Yosemite area from Sonora and use the car to drive to Walnut creek when I'm done. Or even better just add a couple days to your trip and take a nice long detour into the mountains. If that's not something you're interested in then out of the three routes shown I think I'd do the one that goes up through the delta. Longer but less congested. On Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 5:38:45 AM UTC-8, ed k wrote: > > I am the guy who bought David Craig's 65cm AHH. You recall that > because of time constraints he could not ship it, and nobody ran to > Sonoma CA to get it. Solution: I rented a self-storage locker, David > dropped off the bike, and now he is free for his sabbatical. The bike > is waiting for the day when I come from Rockville MD and get it. I > was scheduled to go to CA in August but I can't stand waiting that > long. It is time to cash in some Southwest points and head West. > > I could rent a car, get the bike, and drive it home to Riv for > shipping (note Riv content), but where is the adventure in that? I > want to hitch a ride with a friend to Sonoma and set off on an epic > trip to Walnut Creek, just me and Homer. > > Google maps bicycle option leads me through Manteca, over Altamont > pass, and to a regional trail starting in Pleasanton that goes to > Walnut Creek (119 mi): > https://goo.gl/maps/frPLnYR5jum > > I am not sure about the section between Sonoma and Altamont Pass Road, > but it looks possible. Does anybody know a better route? Local bike > clubs have not had suggestions. > > Multi-day credit-card touring suggestions are also welcome, but 119 > miles on an unknown bike is probably risky enough. > > Thanks for any help > > Ed K > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Northern CA riders - help me with route suggestions
I live in Oakland and haven't cycled out that direction but my vote would be to be to go that northern route through the delta area that goes through walnut grove and isleton. Though that area might feel a lot more like chesapeake bay than california (in fact most of the ride no matter what direction you take crosses through the valley where it is fairly flat)! You could make a jaunt up Mt. diablo and down again at the end to get the california experience. On Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 7:22:34 AM UTC-8, ed k wrote: > > Yes! I can't believe I let that auto correct go out. Sonora, not Sonoma. > Sonoma would be great, but the bike is in gold country in the Sierra > foothills. Sonora. Sorry for the mistake. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
