Dam Corners and Valley road ride - Sat, May 20

[SadieKate]

To entertain any drivers and friends while some people are riding the Davis Double, we'll try this ride again. In keeping with tradition, this ride will be a relaxed ramble through the countryside.

Starting in Winters, we’ll climb northwest toward Lake Berryessa, up the canyon alongside Putah Creek over the Monticello Dam and Cardiac Hill to the store at Moskowite Corner. From there, one little bump and then we fly down Wooden Valley to Mankas Corners and on to Fairfield where we'll take a food break at the coffee house. We’ll turn north, climb a few short rollers and then have a couple options:

• One group can have a nice smooth ride all the way north back to Lake Solano Park via Pleasants Valley Rd.
• Those who want more miles and hills can head east a few miles so they climb Gibson Canyon Road and up the rolling east side of Cantelow Hill. This group will come back over the ridge rejoining everyone midway through that nice smooth ride all the way north back to Lake Solano Park.

From Lake Solano, we'll spin around the south side of Lake Solano back to Winters.

Start: the town of Winters (Rotary Park parking lot at Railroad and Main across from the Buckhorn and Steady Eddy's Coffee House)
When: TBD, but it has to be really early to beat the boat traffic
Length: 62-72?
Climbing: shorter ride 2,780 / longer ride maybe another 800-900 ft
To get to Winters: Interstate 505 goes north right into Winters from I-80 or your can take Russell Blvd east out of Davis. http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ed...=10&qty=9&ds=n

Map of the route where you can kind of see the route.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sadiek...0d.jpg&.src=ph

Food after - Pizza Factory or the Putah Creek Cafe

[bikerz]

OK - it's on the calendar - let's hope I'm in shape by then! Looking forward to seeing you then, SK!

It's hard to imagine that it won't still be raining then....

[Veronica]

Well some people have decided to not do Davis. Some people do not saddle time at this point in their training, they need to do hard climbs for TT and will be heading up to Sonoma County that weekend.

Have fun!

V.

[snapdragen]

Everytime you post this ride - I see Damn Corners.......and I think, gee, why is sadiekate so mad at the corners.

[cindysue]

hmmmm, graduation ceremony or bike ride? Darn it! I wonder if anyone has booked their flights yet? Ahhh, well. Next time!

xxoo

[maillotpois]

Everytime you post this ride - I see Damn Corners.......and I think, gee, why is sadiekate so mad at the corners.

YES!! Boy that SK sure gets mad at inanmate objects. Short fuse or something.

I'll be doing Davis - its my one double with DH and our friends. I hope to beat our time from last year now that I know I can ride a flattish double fast and not flame out (DH tends to go out fast and that worried me last year because it was our first).

Do you think there's any chance we'll see you? As I recall, Winters is relatively late in the ride - but I am going off memory and also confusing it a bit with Knoxvillle. Where are those damned corners? Should I wave at them if I go by? I'll bet they're sad that SK is so mad at them...

[slinkedog]

I would really like to do this ride with you guys. Gotta check with the hubby and see if it's doable in the schedule, and then I gotta start training my hiney off to get ready!!

[SadieKate]

Slinke, if it helps you to know this (w/o using Krebs) all of the climbing on the shorter route is at the beginning.

[slinkedog]

Yes, it would definitely be the shorter route for me. Do you honestly believe that I haven't looked at my Krebs? Get real, Woman.

[aka_kim]

Some other people need to get the their hineys on a bike, hills or flat (no Slinke, I am not referring to you - my hiney hasn't been on the bike much this year). I'll be there, corners be damned.

[SadieKate]

Do you honestly believe that I haven't looked at my Krebs? Get real, Woman.

No, but just in case . . .

MP, using the 2001 DD map, Winters is between RS#1 (Plainfield) and RS#2 Markley Cove. Markley Cove is after you've climbed the Dam and are on your way to Moskowite Corner, where our group will turn south down Wooden Valley to Mankas Corner. The map I have is a very poor repro so I can't tell how many miles you wander around the fields of Davis and Plainfield before getting to Winters. It looks like the top of Cardiac is at mile 50 for you and probably mile 8 or 10 for us. If you've ever done the 100 mile Foxy Fall, is almost the same but we've cut out the boring stuff between Winters and Davis (and we do it in reverse).

[maillotpois]

MP, using the 2001 DD map, Winters is between RS#1 (Plainfield) and RS#2 Markley Cove. Markley Cove is after you've climbed the Dam and are on your way to Moskowite Corner, where our group will turn south down Wooden Valley to Mankas Corner. The map I have is a very poor repro so I can't tell how many miles you wander around the fields of Davis and Plainfield before getting to Winters. It looks like the top of Cardiac is at mile 50 for you and probably mile 8 or 10 for us. If you've ever done the 100 mile Foxy Fall, is almost the same but we've cut out the boring stuff between Winters and Davis (and we do it in reverse).

Okay- it is all coming back to me now. Well, its possible we see you at the beginning point or at Cardiac. We will most likely be starting before you guys, though. I expect a 5:30 - 6 am start so we get on the road and maybe home before Em's bedtime. I'd still love to get a jamba or something with you the night before so I can meet you, though!

Hey, guess what? It's raining here! Shocking, I know.

[Bike Goddess]

Nice ride- did this one with you all last year. I'll be working this time so no go for me!

I suggest you swing through Gordon Valley on the way to Mankas Corner. Less traffic and beautiful scenery. At the rate we are going, it should be green and beautiful for the whole dam ride!

[DrBadger]

Pencil me in as a maybe.... would love to do the ride and meet a few more of you, but I fly back from Wyoming on Friday, and Sat is a roommate's graduation and friend's birthday, and I don't know if they are making plans or not. If not, I am there!

[SadieKate]

Tell them you have a priority appt.