Ride? or watch the game?

[pkq]

Go Stillers!

[slinkedog]

If slinkedog's riding Sunday - I'm riding Sunday! AND IT WON'T RAIN SATURDAY! (please, please, please).

(slink, I'll be in touch!)

They're saying chance of rain on Saturday morning, so I may have to wait until afternoon to ride, or Sunday afternoon. We'll see what it's like tomorrow, I guess. It would be cool to ride together again!!

[jobob]

What exactly is the Three Bears Loop? Kim talks about it. Everybody talks about it and I know the general geographic area but nothing else. Is there a description on the WWW somewhere?

The Three Bears are on Bear Creek Road - here's a route sheet I found linked to the Valley Spokemen site.
http://home.comcast.net/~prathman/VS38A.htm

Oh, this is interesting - it's the orientation packet for the 2004 Bike Against the Odds:
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/atf/...%20content.pdf (hope the link works)

It contains a route map and the following description of the "Pro/Am" route:
Pro/Am: 65.6 miles with 6000’ of climbing. The Pro/Am route is the same as the advanced route with the addition of the Three Bears loop around San Pablo and Briones reservoirs. This route is not for the faint of heart! The Three Bears loop begins at the intersection of Wildcat Canyon and Camino Pablo. The Pro’s continue straight on Camino Pablo/San Pablo Dam Rd. and ride on gently descending hills into El Sobrante. The route then turns right on Castro Ranch Road and climbs through a residential area and descends to a right turn on Alhambra Valley Road. The next turn is a right on to Bear Creek Road which climbs three hills “the three bears”, and returns to the intersection of Wildcat and San Pablo Dam Road. The Pro/Ams cross San Pablo Dam Road and climb Wildcat to the rest stop at Inspiration Point in Tilden Park. From the rest stop continue on Wildcat to a left turn onto South Park for a very steep climb to Grizzly Peak Blvd. where there will be a water stop. Turn left and take Grizzly Peak back to Oakland following the same route as the advanced riders.

[bikerz]

Good sleuthing Jo -

Straight on Camino Pablo/San Pablo Dam Rd. and ride on gently descending hills into El Sobrante. The route then turns right on Castro Ranch Road and climbs through a residential area and descends to a right turn on Alhambra Valley Road. The next turn is a right on to Bear Creek Road which climbs three hills “the three bears”, and returns to the intersection of Wildcat and San Pablo Dam Road.

The "loop" I have done once, and will do tomorrow (if it's not pouring) is the one you describe but I start and end at my friend's house off Castro Ranch Road - no climbing Wildcat Canyon for me (3 bears and a cat?) or Grizzly Peak (3 bears, a cat, and another bear? )

[Bike Goddess]

SK- That's the route I took Veronica on in Nov or Dec. We did it from Martinez. However, instead of going home by the SF Bay on old HWY 40, we went BACK to Martinez via Pig Farm hill (called this as there used to be a pig farm at the top- sign still says "Pigs for sale"). Doing that hill (18% climb towards the top-short and sweet)requires much determination!!!! But V did it 31lbs of bike and all!!!!

Anytime you all want to do this route, let me know. I'll bet Cindy Sue would do it in a heart beat with us! I willl probably do Bears on Sunday as that is my ride day. Sometimes I'll go to the top of the last long bear and then turn around and come back via Franklin Canyon to the Carquinez Bridge. Many ways to do this ride and very little traffic.

Wish I could come with you- BZ tomorrow, but that just won't happen. Hope you don't get too much rain- forecast says AM showers, clearing in PM.

[Quillfred]

GO




SEAHAWKS!!!!!




There---it just had to be said.

[SadieKate]

SK- That's the route I took Veronica on in Nov or Dec. We did it from Martinez. However, instead of going home by the SF Bay on old HWY 40, we went BACK to Martinez via Pig Farm hill (called this as there used to be a pig farm at the top- sign still says "Pigs for sale"). Doing that hill (18% climb towards the top-short and sweet)requires much determination!!!! But V did it 31lbs of bike and all!!!!

Thanks, everyone. I was trying to figure out which route everyone prefers since there are so many on the web.

Nancy, Pig Farm was on the TopHat. Seemed OK to me. I hated Happy Valley for some reason. Maybe it was just the name. I mtbike at Briones frequently. The hills there make Pig Farm look like a piglet.



Back on topic - Go teams! Trying not to show any bias.

[TrekJeni]

Travelling up to Santa Maria this Friday to meet Bob Roll at a private party. Saturday abd Sunday staying in San Luis Obispo and plan on riding both days and coming home later from SLO after lunch on Sunday. If I miss the Game, I miss it. Riding is better anyhow.

Three pages of responses and not one other person has mentioned your sweet party with Bob Roll! You have to tell me how it went! Someone on bikeforums mentioned he bumped into him and that he's a really cool guy. Was going to be commentating for the Tour de California.

Jeni