Aug 26 - The Official Scharffen Berger ride-lunch-tour thread
Here's the new official Scharffen Berger Ride-Lunch-Tour thread (aren't I obedient, SK?)
Ride list (updated 8/22)
SadieKate and Bubba
BikerZ
Dachshund
Jobob and Leebob
Snapdragen
Candy
Marty
Ada (Marty's son's SO)
Nicole and Mary (BZ's friends)
Ride maybes:
BikeMomma [+ kids?]
Lunch list (updated 8/22)
SadieKate and Bubba
BikerZ
Maillotpois and PetitePois
Snapdragen
Jobob and Leebob
Dachshund
CindySue
Candy
Marty
Ada (Marty's son's SO)
Nicole and Mary (BZ's friends)
Lunch maybes:
BikeMomma [+ kids?]
Tour list as of 8/22
SadieKate and Bubba
Maillotpois and PetitePois
Jobob and Leebob
Dachsund
Snapdragen
BikerZ
Nicole and Mary (BZ's friends)
CindySue
Candy
Marty
Tour maybes:
Ada (Marty's son's SO)
BikeMomma [+kids]
Ride details:
So far the working plan has been to ride the Bay Trail between Emeryville and Richmond, with a little loop out and around the Berkeley Marina - it is essentially totally flat (20-25 miles of paved multi-use bike trail with a grand total of 100 ft of climbing!). The main benefits of this route are that it is impossible to get lost, gorgeous views, and no car traffic. Drawbacks are the usual multi-use trail issues (dorkus oblivii with offspring in their natural habidat), and the wind.
However, CindySue has provided me with an alternate route - basically straight up into the Berkeley hills to Inspiration Point and back - about 14 miles and 1340 feet of climbing. I've never ridden this route, and as we all know, BikerZ is never is in the lead when going UP hill! I know a few of the people on the ride are newbies who are more comfortable with a flat route, so one option would be two rides - hills and flats - but we'd need a volunteer from the studio audience to lead the proposed hill ride.
Lunch details:
The working lunch plan was to pick up sandwiches and eat picnic style out at the Richmond end of the trail - we can easily keep an eye on our bikes, and it will be easy for the lunch-only participants to meet us there. I was going to inquire of the cafe this week if they would like us to pre-order sandwhiches - in which case I'll post a menu and ask for sandwich orders ahead of time.
An alternative would be lunch at the S-B factory cafe, but I know nothing about it - any thoughts on this alternative? And if we do two rides, lunch logistics get a little more complicated.
Timing:
Since the tour is at 3:30, we should probably start the ride at noon or thereabouts - lunch will be a little on the later side so there's less of a ride to do after eating. Sound OK?
ETA (after reading MP's post below): Maybe the S-B cafe or a place closer to the factory would be better, so everyone on the tour can also eat lunch together? It would mean a later lunch
If I may make a suggestion ?
Having gone on many rides with the TE gang in the past ... :)
Our rides often takes longer than planned - some time is spent catching up with old friends, photo opps, bathroom breaks, there's the occasional flat, that sort of thing - plus, if we do have lunch elsewhere, it'll take us a while to pack up, head over, park, regroup, and get seated for lunch.
Should we consider starting a little earlier, perhaps 11:30 ?
That way we might even roll out by 12 ;)
HEP! Need logistical input!
OK - I'm having trouble thinking this through. It looks like everyone on the ride is having lunch, and CindySue, MP and PP are the only ones definitely having lunch and definitely not riding. BikeMomma, BikeKids, and Dachshund are up in the air...
Option 1:
Park at the SB factory or near by, leave on the ride from there, eat lunch partway through the ride, finish back at the SB factory.
*We will need to be in cell phone contact with the lunchers so they know when to meet us at the sandwich place in Richmond.
Option 2:
Same as Option 1 except we eat lunch at the SB factory after the ride
* Later lunch for everyone, but easier logistics for the non-riding lunchers. I don't know anything about the SB cafe, but as CindySue pointed out in the original thread, there are plenty of restaurants around there.
Option 3:
Park and meet in Richmond, eat there after the whole ride, all caravan the few miles back at the SB factory in time for the tour.
* Driving and parking happens twice, we still need to be in contact with the non-riding lunchers, a little more time in cars for everyone. There is plenty of parking at the Richmond Marina.
Thoughts, ideas? I'm just spinning around on this one... I'm having GRE logic problem flashbacks! Ack!
Oh - and no matter what, does everyone have a way to secure their bike in or on their car?
The Official Scharffen Berger ride-lunch-tour thread
Hi BikerZ. Can you tell me the location of the parking lot where the ride begins in Emeryville? Marty and I will be coming from Sac. Thanks, Candy
Better late than never...
Um, is there room for one more?
I've been watching the Scharffen Berger threads for a while, and they combine three really cool things: Bikes, Chocolate, and TE folks. I would have jumped at the opportunity, but was pretty sure I'd have to work this weekend.
It looks like I won't have to work this weekend after all, so I'd be interested in the ride, lunch & tour.
-- Melissa
Just saw this and thought it might be terribly appropos
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...95912140&itm=1
We could make our own version... "Amici Veloci Chicks Go to a Chocolate Factory." Would certainly be just as crazy and much more entertaining. We'd just have to make sure that SK edits so all the commas are in the right place. ;)