Looking for a good cycling club in Bay Area

[andtckrtoo]

I'm looking for a good cycling club in the Bay Area. I love the Velo Girls, and will be joining them, but I'm also looking for a similar group that is Co Ed. My DH is making noises about wanting to ride with me and I think he would enjoy a group atmosphere and more people to ride with than just me... :D

I live in the South Bay - close to San Jose.

[snapdragen]

Check out ACTC.org -- The Almaden Cycle Touring Club.

[Trek420]

I know the East Bay more than your area, sorry but a couple of clubs that would be totally worth the travel even sometimes for a ride or watch their events calendar. This goes for both of you:

Cherry City Cyclists - Their Best of the Bay Century is well .... one of the best of the Bay. Very nice folks too :D

Oakland Yellow Jackets - Though they tend to not be year round, a little seasonal in schedule all the club members I've met have been very nice. I've observed them :eek: obeying traffic laws on club rides :eek: their main event Bike Against The Odds is an incredible ride.

If you're looking to explore Northern California check the Santa Rosa Cycling club calendar. If you see my cousin and his GF on their rides tell him Trek says hi and to slow down and let's do another ride soon. :cool:

Benicia Bike club is in well .... Benicia, North Bay Area. TE's own BikeGoddess rides with them.

This is an alll day drive but if you want a well run event with great scenery and amazing food .... Chico Velo Bike club's century series.

We should have a separate thread for "which events have the best food". It's been years since I've done their Wildflower Century but as I recall I'd drive there and register just to eat. But it does taste soooo much better after a beautiful and challenging ride.

[melissam]

andtckrtoo,

Besides ACTC (which snap already recommended), here are a few that come to mind:

- Western Wheelers (http://www.westernwheelers.org/main/index.htm)
- Fremont Freewheelers (http://www.ffbc.org/)
- Bike Forums (http://www.bikeforums.net/) Northern California community forum has informal rides in the Bay Area. In fact, a group of us joined them for their ride up Mt. Hamilton yesterday. Lots of fun! (I'd give you the link to the NorCal section, but the site is currently down for maintenance.)

- Melissa

[andtckrtoo]

Thanks everyone! There are some great suggestions here! I'm already planning on a few of those centuries! :P Especially the ones with the good food! I'm cannot wait to investigate thesew groups further. I'm so happy that most are willing to let non-members ride as well. And most membership fees are low. I love living here, I have to tell ya - just wish it were a little less expensive. :D

Side note - ITA that food tastes better after a beautiful but challenging ride. The hands down best meal I've ever had was a peanut butter and jelly bagel at 13,000 feet after about 3 miles of boulder hopping to reach the peak of Mount of the Holy Cross. :p

[Trek420]

Well, it could be less expensive but then .... you'd be living somewhere else :rolleyes: Welcome to CA, where are you from?

You also could start, post or join a ride here. From time to time we've arranged that right on TE. :D

For reviews of the rides with good food check out the "To heck with the ride, how is their ...." thread

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=26323

I have yet to post menus of our rides here ;)

[andtckrtoo]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm originally from Pennsulvania but I've lived all over (PA, OH, VA, KY, TX, NM, MD and now here). I've been here for about eight years, but DH was into hiking and such, so I haven't been riding as much as I'd like to. I finally broke down and bought a new bike, and I don't want to get off of it!! :p

I'd love to do a ride with TE. This week, my company picnic is in Santa Cruz, so a group of us are riding over the mountain into Santa Cruz for the picnic, which will be fun (yes, I work for a company that majorly supports cyclists - we even have cycling uniforms and such - it's pretty cool). But anything after that, I'm up for!