Alameda Creek Trail - Saturday April 29

[bikerz]

Hi all!
Looks like we have a nice group lining up for a ride on Saturday (forecast is clear and sunny!)

Current count (I think):
BikerZ
Jobob
Snapdragen
Winddance
Trek420
PABadger (?)

anyone else? Mel?

Jobob suggested the option of adding on a little more mileage (8) to the ATC 24 round-trip, and "not too hard" hill (Mission) and a snack at the Mission Coffee house - how does that sound?

Finalized details:
Meeting place: Niles Canyon staging area - see excellent instructions below

Meeting time -10:00 am


This will be really fun - I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!

[jobob]

Hi gang -

There are a bunch of places we could meet to ride the AC trail. For those not familiar with it, it runs from Niles Canyon eastward to the bay.

I suggest we meet at the east end of the trail, at the Niles Canyon staging area (directions below). In that way, we could ride the length of the trail out to the bay (~ 11 flat miles) and loop around Coyote Hills park (~ 3 miles with gentle rollers ).

[ side trip: If anyone would like to do a side trip up my nemesis hill, which is about a half-mile total, with a gradient of 8-12% followed by 3-5% followed by 10-14% followed by 0% and then a final kick of about 8-10%, you're welcome to give it a try but it's competely optional. :D ]

Then we could ride back along the trail towards Niles Canyon, and near the end of the trail we'll get on to Mission Blvd (or, if anyone want to bail at that point, we'll be very close to where we started). We'll go a few miles up Mission Blvd which will include a shallow climb of a mile or so at about 3%. But once we get to the top, near Mission San Jose, we hang a right onto Washington Blvd. and have a well-earned snack stop at Mission Coffee - you didn't think I'd go on a ride without a snack stop, did you???. Then it's a shallow but fun descent back to where we started.

This arrangement has the advantage of missing out on the inevitable west-to-east headwinds which whip up in the afternoon. :D

I'm guessing the total mileage will be on the order of 35 or so, ~ 25 if you just do the AC trail. But I'll double-check that.

Here is a link to a Google map of the location of the Niles Canyon staging area, with a small parking lot, picnic benches and porta-potties*.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=500+Old+Canyon+Rd+Fremont,+CA+94536&om=1&ll=37.578789,-121.967679&spn=0.04884,0.107803

The general location is 700 Old Canyon Rd Fremont, CA 94536 if you want to map-quest directions. Or feel free to PM me.

10 am sounds good to me.

How's that sound to you all?

( *No guarantees as to the quality of said porta-potties, but there are quite a few at various places along the trail so we're bound to find acceptable ones. And I don't live very far from the mid-point of the trail if the need arises.)

[winddance]

This sounds great! Thanks for posting the directions. I'm really looking forward to riding with you all.




This arrangement has the advantage of missing out on the inevitable west-to-east headwinds which whip up in the afternoon. :D



But bikerz and I love headwinds...! :p

[snapdragen]

Egg cell ant! :D :rolleyes: :D

I'm looking forward to it....mmmmm Mission Coffee......

[bikerz]

Jo - thanks for great directions!

[Trek420]

spazzdog? any chance you'd meet us at the mission cafe? we'd like it best if you ride, ACT is a nice route but if you really don't want to ride come to the meal after puhleeze?

[jobob]

I've never actually driven to the Niles staging area so I thought I'd do a recon on my way home from work tonight.


From I-880, take the Mowry Ave. exit in Fremont.

Head east on Mowry Ave until it ends, at a T-intersection with Mission Blvd.

Turn left onto Mission Blvd.

Cross over the bridge and take a right at the first stoplight, onto Niles Canyon Road.

Very soon after you turn onto Niles Canyon, take your first right onto Old Canyon Road.

You'll cross a small bridge, then soon thereafter you'll see a sign low to your left which says Niles Staging Area*. Drive into the driveway.

(*Unless you're like me and drive past it. :o Here's a hint: the entrance is directly across from a small side street on the right side called Canyon Oaks. It's also near the 700's, not the 500's as I said before. Not that it makes that much difference.)

There aren't a whole lot of parking spaces there but I've never seen it filled. If I'm proven wrong, it looks like you can park along the street.

- Jo.

[jobob]

Spazz, if you can make it, here's the address:

151 Washington Blvd., Fremont, CA

http://www.fremontcoffee.com/

mmmm, check out the menu.... :D

[bikerz]

Jo - you are extremely thorough!

(Oh, and your directions make me feel a little better about getting completely lost when I last tried to find that staging area!)

[DrBadger]

Hello all-
I just might have to join you.... put me down as a tentative yes (have to see how much work I get done tomorrow and Friday). Hope to see and meet you all on Saturday!
Ellen

[bikerz]

Great - we'd love to have you!

(I'm editing th first post to keep it up to date)

[Trek420]

yes, because we will check attendance at the staging area :) :p :D

[jobob]

someone else can bring the clipboard. :cool:

[bikerz]

Yes, but who's got the whistle on the lanyard?

[SadieKate]

Who is wearing those sans-a-belt polyester shorts the football coaches seem to think are so sexy?

[Melody]

How many miles is this ride? I may try to show up if I can and if I finally get enough sleep tonight. I have dinner with a friend who's in town from out of state at 5:30.

Mel who's operating on < 6 hours of sleep a day the last several days and it's taking its toll...

[jobob]

25.8 miles if you do just the AC trail, 34.6 miles if you add in the loop to Mission Coffee. Give or take. ;)

( I checked the mileage on gmaps pedometer. I am so anal sometimes it scares me. )

- Jo.

[Trek420]

Melody, and it's flat! C'mon, you can sleep on the ride and there's coffee and food after!

[jobob]

OK Trek, it's your job to make sure she doesn't veer off the road if she falls asleep. :cool:

[Trek420]

Don't you have a tandem we can strap her onto?

Mel can put her feet up and rest, or just kick back and drink coffee ;)

[Melody]

Ultimately it depends on if I can get enough sleep tonight... Oh yeah and I need to replace a tube in a tire and I have to finally put the new wheel magnet on the rear wheel (stupid specialized magnets) or I'll lose it and and and....

but I will try to be there. :) Trek keep watch for me calling frantically on the phone because I'm lost. :p

Mel

[Trek420]

go to sleep. who needs the magnet :)

[bikerz]

Hey - we're all going to be cycling together in less than 12 hours!!

(Can you tell I'm excited to be back in cycling mode???:D )

OK - one more spin through my Seven catalog, then it's time for my beauty rest...

[snapdragen]

Decisions, decisions. Water bottles or hydration pack, sport beans or lara bar......can't decide, can't decide!:D

[Trek420]

walked the mutt, whole wheat bagle with peanut butter....and too much coffee.

[bikerz]

Wow was that fun!!! And I am a little SUN-BURNED! Because it was SUNNY! Is it safe to say winter is over?

We had a big turnout - the Bobs (Jo and Lee), Snapdragen , Trek420, Mel, Winddance, PABadger, and me. It was a great ride - I haven't checked my data yet (I bailed on the last 8.? miles up and back Mission Blvd -dratted saddle! :mad: I think I over-adjusted it at our last stop...)

A lovely post-ride lunch at the coffee shop, and not too much traffic on the way home - an excellent day!

I can't write anymore right now because I have dinner guests arriving soon, and haven't even decided what to cook yet, much less purchased the fixings! :eek: Gotta get moving!

It was really great to ride with everyone, fun to see familar faces, and to meet PABadger!

[Trek420]

what bikerz said except I did the extra out and back. Good company, good ride, good food (I think I've found a new fave hang out). Let's do this again soon.

much thanks to mr. leebob for tech support with Mel's low tire.

[jobob]

It was great seeing people I haven't seen in ages (Z, Trek, Melody, and yes, snap!) and meeting the new gals PABadger & winddance.

The wind kicked up surprisingly early, so the first leg involved a bit more wind than I had counted on! Still, everyone gamely pressed on out to the bay.

I introduced everyone to my trusty nemesis hill. Some took it on, others felt discretion was the better part of not blowing out one's knees. I felt pretty good going up it so it looks like I'm finally regaining my climbing legs (be that as it may :rolleyes: )

It started out kind cloudy and kind of funky but eventually the sun came out. It was very pretty along the trail, especially on the way back as we were looking towards the hills along Niles Canyon.

http://i3.tinypic.com/wsnr7b.jpg

Mission Coffee was fun and tasty and I think lived up to its billing. Neither snap nor I could decide what flavor of fruit freeze to get so we both opted for half raspberry, half peach. Yummers.

Here we are as we're about to head back, photo courtesy of Mr. Bob.

http://i3.tinypic.com/wsnrif.jpg

L to R: winddance, Z, jobob, snap, PABadger, Melody and Trek.

A quick ride back with a bit of downhill (and quite a bit of wind, the afternoon wind was really kicking up, argh), some goodbyes, and Lee and I headed home. Into the full brunt of the afternoon wind, I might add. :p

This was a lot of fun. Let's do it again sometime. Maybe I could take ya'll out to Cafe Romeo in Milpitas sometime.

[bikerz]

Great pictures Jobob, and Leebob!

(except - :confused: what's with my strange posture - I think I'm trying not to fall into the flower bed...)

[Trek420]

getting ready to do some line dancing?

[winddance]

The ride was beautiful, even with the mysterious shifting headwind, and Mission Coffee was the perfect destination for afterwords. I really had a good time!

It was so great to meet you all. We should do this again soon!

[DrBadger]

Hey all-
What a wonderful ride and company! It was great to meet you all and put faces (and real names :-) ) with the screen names. The weather was really nice, though I wished I had worn my knickers in the morning...

We should definitely do it again!

Have a great rest of the weekend.
E.

[shadon]

I'm looking for a ride tommorow and it occurs to me that this might be a nice one...if anyone is still up...is there a way to get to it from the Freemont BART?

[bikerz]

Hi Shadon - yes - It seems to me we passed very near to Fremont Bart - maybe PM trek420 - she knows the area well - its a great ride - we had a blast!

[shadon]

Blast!

My goal is to ride every single day this week!

[jobob]

I'm still up, sort of :)

Here's how to get to the Niles Staging Area from the Fremont Bart station:

From the BART station, head EAST on Walnut Ave until you reach Mission Blvd. - dagnabit, I shouldn't do this kind of thing while I'm half asleep!!! :p

Take a left onto Mission.

Go about 1/3 of a mile, then take a right on Pickering.

Go to the end of Pickering, and take a left onto Canyon Heights Drive.

Take a left onto Clarke Drive, where you will almost immediately go over some railroad tracks. Take a left onto Old Canyon Road.

Look for the driveway on the right side which takes you into the Niles Staging Area, where the AC Trail begins.

Here's a map I drew on gmaps pedometer:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=154218

[shadon]

yay! I'm gonna try to do this tommorow!

[Melody]

So, as predicted, it's just after 11pm and I *just* got home *sigh* At least I get to sleep in tonight. ;)

It was great seeing everyone and meeting the new faces. :)

Jobob, if you can let Lee Bob know thanks from me for 1) helping me with my flat and 2) staying with me at my slooooooooooooow pace. It really was much appreciated. :) I'm not fast (as you could all see. heh) but having someone there in the event I had a problem really made me feel better. :)

Only problem I have now is all of those calories I burned I gained back at dinner (and probably then some). Oh well, guess more mileage then ;)

Mel who hopes (*crossed fingers*) to go to bed soon

[jobob]

Shandon, I messed up on the directions from the BART station I gave you last night :o

See the correction in my post above, I had you going the wrong way on Walnut. D'oh. At least the map is correct. :o

(I also sent you a PM - hope you see this in time.)

- jo "half asleep" bob

[Trek420]

Shadon, dayuhm these brunch plans I have for today. But I get to see the Spazzdog plus some of my friends. It's so hard being popular, heh.

Have fun! And let's do this again. Shadon, I just RSVP'd for the Jonathon Pon 2-day ride. Out and back to the Russian River. The schedule says registered riders only but if they'll let a training ride leader in....now I'M nervous.

[shadon]

your directions make more sense than those I found on Mapqest...who I always say would direct one from SF to LA by way of Salt Lake City.

Off to some good breakfast, them I'm setting off...with a stop at Mission Coffee!

[jobob]

If you see a couple out there, she with a pinkish bike, he with a light blue bike (our bikes resemble a freakin' Hallmark easter card), both with big canvas saddlebags on the back, then give out a holler, that'll be me & the Mr.

We're heading out in that general direction today, out to Cafe Romeo, then maybe on to Alum Rock Park, and possibly then on to Grant Ranch Park which is about 1/4 of the way up Mt. Hamilton (um, or not - I'm still recuperating from reading about V.'s exploits ;) ).

[shadon]

Shadon, dayuhm these brunch plans I have for today. But I get to see the Spazzdog plus some of my friends. It's so hard being popular, heh.

Have fun! And let's do this again. Shadon, I just RSVP'd for the Jonathon Pon 2-day ride. Out and back to the Russian River. The schedule says registered riders only but if they'll let a training ride leader in....now I'M nervous.

Okay...if you'r nervous, I'm sweating bullets! I'm gonna ride every single day for the next two weeks...and then I'm not gonna worry about it!

and you get to see Spazzdog!...so your brunch plans are perfect! Enjoy the good food and friends!

[snapdragen]

Damn - I'm sore today! Not too bad though, pretty much what I expected since I've not ridden since.........Feb? :eek: It was great fun, great company, I add my vote to do it again. I'm tempted to drive to the park closer to Jo's nemisis hill and practice, practice practice!

Some pix from me:
Start of the ride
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/snapdragen/act001.jpg

Courting ducks:
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/snapdragen/act005.jpg

Made it to the bay, in spite of the wind!
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/snapdragen/act004.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/snapdragen/act003.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/snapdragen/act002.jpg

[winddance]

I'm tempted to drive to the park closer to Jo's nemisis hill and practice, practice practice!


Great pictures, snap!

I think this is going to be a frequent ride for me because of the nemesis hill. I really want to see what it's like to zoooom down!

[bikerz]

Snap - thanks for the pictures! I think I have one or two from the parking lot that I'll try to post too.

[Veronica]

Looks like you guys had a great day. That nemisis hill of Jo's is a bear.

V.