On Sunday our standard ride is a tour of the East Bay hills in Oakland and Berkeley, followed by a cruise through Orinda and Moraga, ending with a climb up Pinehurst. We leave from the Paddington Cafe (formerly Nelly’s), next to the Post Office in Montclair, wheels roll at 8:45 am sharp! Total distance if riding from Montclair is 33 miles with a bit less than 3000 ft of ascent.
Route Summary – for those familiar with the East Bay cycling routes – we ride from Montclair to Caldecott field (regroup), up Tunnel to Sibley (regroup), Grizzly Peak to Steam Trains (regroup), Grizzly Peak to Shasta then Wildcat Canyon/Orinda/Moraga (coffee and snack in Moraga), return via Pinehurst through Canyon.
A bit more detail
Starting from Montclair, ride North to Lake Temescal and take the bike path above the lake over to Broadway. Right onto Broadway and spin up to Caldecott field (regroup at Caldecott).
Cross the freeway and turn right onto Tunnel road and enjoy the views of the bay on your ascent. Stop at Sibley Park for a long regroup.
Leave Sibley and ride North on Grizzly Peak Blvd up to Steam Trains in Tilden Park for another regroup.
From Steam Trains continue north on Grizzly Peak to Wildcat Cyn – brief regroup just as we enter the park. We take a right on Wildcat Canyon, continue past Inspiration Point, descending to Camino San Pablo, and regroup again at the intersection.
South (right) on Camino San Pablo, to Orinda where we stop at Starbucks (near the theater) for coffee and snacks. We then continue on to Moraga.
We return to Montclair from Moraga by going west on Moraga Road to Pinehurst, then right on Pinehurst, through Canyon and up the Pinehurst climb to Skyline.