Author: Stephen Blair

Typical VeloRapor Sheltering In Place

VeloRaptors Sheltering- In- Place

We have suspended our group rides until the Shelter-in-Place order is rescinded.

One very nice local rides is the Dublin Grade-Foothill-Sunol-Calaveras-Sunol-Palomares route. This ride is especially good in Spring when the hills are green and wild flowers are blooming.  Susan T. – one of our members – had not done this ride, and as she is leaving us at the end of the month, it seemed quite appropriate.  It evidently was a good choice, as we had 17 riders at the start!

The weather was quite cooperative with temperatures in the low 50’s at the start.  This route begins with a climb over the Dublin Grade from Eden Canyon Rd. and the mild temperature made the climb quite comfortable, and we enjoyed cruising the rollers as we headed south along Foothill Rd, enjoying views of Pleasanton Ridge.

Further south we passed the lush golf courses on our left and the posh homes in the hills on our right. Rolling into Sunol we noticed the contrast in cultural and affluence.

From Sunol we headed south on Calaveras Rd toward Sunol Regional Park and the Calaveras Reservior and just before the side road to the park we stopped for a minute at the bridge over what must be part of Calaveras Creek. 

Just beyond the bridge is where Calaveras road begins a long winding climb through the trees and grassy hillside until you reach an overlook to the reservoir. 

After 25 miles we stopped for a pic and turned around to head back to Sunol.

We stopped at the local general (liquor) store for a snack break.  While most of us were scarfing down chips and packaged cookies, Susan and Manali were approached by a guy passing out 20oz bottle of beer. Not just any beer, but Buxom Blonde Ale!

A few of us shared the contents, momentarily disregarding our Corona Virus hygiene training.

Our trip down Niles Canyon Rd (Hwy 84) to Palomares Rd was somewhat less terrifying than expected, as the Wednesday mid-day traffic was light.  Our rides on this route have often been on weekend days, and with heavier traffic, this road is terrifying on a bike – as it is two lane with stretches of no shoulder, and steep drop offs into Alameda Creek.

The last leg of this route is Palomares Road which climbs through a steep canyon for 5 miles before descending for another 5 miles to the start.  The guard rail at the top provided a pleasant respite before the descent.

A few weeks ago 8 VeloRaptors cycled and hiked the deserts of Southern California, including Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and Anza-Borrego. The trip was arranged through Black Sheep Adventures with guides Fred and Dave. You can view a short video from our adventure by clicking this link, or visit the Bay-Bikes-Bakery-Blog at this link https://biketobakery.blogspot.com/

The VeloRaptors Annual Marin Headlands ride on was on Sunday – January 12.  30+ Raptors cycled from the Embarcadero to the top of the Headlands.  One of the highlights this year was the ability to cycle back to the East Bay via the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, and a lots of riders took this option.

Double click the image for a better look!

Additional Photos from Paul L. can be found under the Gallery Tab – 2020 Photos

Congratulations to VeloRaptor Joe Shami for completing his 600th consecutive weekly climb up Mt. Diablo.  Moreover, Tom Steinstra – Outdoor Writer for the SF Chronicle – has inducted Joe into his 1% Club!

Joe’s picture and a brief description of his feat were published in Steinstra’s Outdoor column, in the Sporting Green section of the SF Chronicle on Sunday, December 29, 2019

See the article here

A new bike path just opened on the Richmond – San Rafael Bridge.  30+ VeloRaptors and friends made the clubs initial ride across the span.

Read more about the ride at here

The ride on Saturday, Nov 9, was a little different.  The ride was a combined VeloRaptor/Rotary ride to Treasure Island.  The start time was set for 10 am, hoping the fog would be burned off by then, but no such luck.  The temperature wasn’t bad (52 deg), but the fog was thick enough that we couldn’t see the bay.  Dennis showed up with his 89 Toyota 4Runner, and was impressed that Mark had a 92 version.  Dennis didn’t ride, but decided to meet us at the restaurant on TI.

Seven of us pedaled out into the gloom from the Brickyard pavilion and stopped to give our respects to the Bridge Troll along the way.

I got a call from Dennis just as we reached the end of the bridge path.  He wanted to let me know that the power was out everywhere on Treasure Island.  While I was taking the call, the others passed me and headed up the Yerba Buena Island hill.  Dennis decided to hang around the closed Mersea restaurant for a few minutes until we arrived.

We rendezvoused with Dennis at the restaurant, but realsized that one rider (Mark from Rotary) wasn’t with us.  I called him and learned that he was at the nearby Aracely café where Carla (another Rotarian) was waiting to meet us.  We cycled the short distance over to Aracely and found that it was open, albeit without power. As we rode up a group of firemen were leaving  with what turnd out to be the last few cups of coffee. Fortunately, Aracely still had pastries and hot water for tea. We had had nice snack break and somehow Carla ended up volunteering to SAG for one of our rides!

The return ride was uneventful and several of us stopped for coffee at the Blue Bottle on Broadway.  Herb brought Kate along on the ride and I learned that she teaches 6^th grade math.  I asked was subjects she covered during the year and our discussion led to me volunteering to come to her class and do a brief show and tell about my career. Basically, these kids have little exposure to career opportunities beyond service industries, etc. I think my 3 minute Rotary self-introduction can be expanded to 10-15 minutes and expose them to career paths in science.

-Steve Blair

The new bike path on the Richmond-San Raphael (RSR) bridge is scheduled to open soon (Nov 16).  VeloRaptor’s inaugural ride on this new bike path is set for Nov 20.

Nineteen VeloRaptors did the Marin Headlands ride on January 12!  We met at the foot of Market St, and then rode along the Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf.

We made a stop at the Dolphin Club to look at the vintage boats, and watch the hardy Dolphin members emerge from the chilly water.

Then it was on to the beautiful Marina Green with fabulous views of SF Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge

Biking across the Golden Gate Bridge is always an exhilarating experience, due to being on this fabulous structure, crossing the Golden Gate, and the speeding cyclists, rookie cyclists on electric bikes, going in both directions, as well as the bridge maintenance equipment.  Once across, most of the group made the long slog up the Marin Headlands, and posed for our annual picture at the top.

Then comes the truly terrifying descent down to Ft Cronkite. The scenery is fabulous, but the road is STEEP and NARROW with several sharp CURVES.

It was then on to Sausalito where the group splintered.  Several riders caught a ferry back to SF. A few others cycled back over the GG Bridge, or cycled out along the headlands for a closer look at the ocean.

Six of us (3 Steves along with Paul, Kevin and Dale) pedaled our way to Tiburon and took a ferry to SF from there.

It was a fabulous day for cycling and riding ferries on SF Bay!