Dam Corners and Valley road ride - Sat, May 20

[SadieKate]

There's been a lot of hijacking here but I'll try to get us (at least me) re-focused a bit. The "when" was TBD, but I've now had a look at the Davis Double map and rest stop hours (at least on the 2001 map). I think to get us up over the Dam and to the first Corner (Moskowite) before the really horrendous heat sets in and before the idjit boat trailers show up, we need to be on our bikes at 7 am.

The DD has a rest stop at Markeley Cove (after the Dam at the base of Cardiac Hill) from 6 to 9 so we might see a few of the riders. Might even be able to provide some company for Veronica.

Start: Parking lot next to Steady Eddy's Coffee House in Winters
When: On bikes at 7 am
Length: 62-72
Climbing: shorter ride 2,780 / longer ride maybe another 800-900 ft

If anyone is interested in a shorter option, let me know. You could ride the course backwards until you find us. That would reduce the climbing significantly and still be a pretty ride (with no idjit boat trailers). You would have the option of climbing Cantelow on the way back to give you a little climbing.

PS - I know boat trailers don't have any brains, so don't any of you grammar grinches be sassing me about calling them idjits.

[maillotpois]

I believe that's the second rest stop for DD there at the dam. There'll be water there, and I am sure they won't mind sharing. Most riders will hit that pretty early, though. Even though it may be as much as 50 - 60 miles into the ride, the first part goes by very quickly.

[jobob]

What time does Steady Eddy's open ?

Just curious, for coffee consumption planning purposes ...

[SadieKate]

Just called them. 6:30 am on Saturday.

http://www.wintersca.org/steadyeddy.htm

I have no problem setting the start time back even earlier if'ns everyone wants.

[jobob]

Ah, perfect. Gives me a half hour window of caffeination.

[SadieKate]

I've got this little list going. I have no idea of it's accuracy.

Yes
Kim
Jo
Lee
Sarah
Bubba
Patric

Maybe
BikerZ
PABadger
Emerald
Winddance
Ed

If anyone wants a shorter ride than the 62 miles, they could ride the route backward. You could start with us to get pointed in the right direction and use a marked Solano BikeLinks map for the route (I'll provide). You could ride all the way into Fairfield, but a ride into old town Vacaville would prolly be nicer and easy to find on the map. It would be about 38 miles for this option and you could still join us for the short climb over Cantelow. BikerZ may be looking for company on this option.

[snapdragen]

Is Cantelow open yet? The guys on "the other forum" are still talking like it's closed.

[SadieKate]

Oh yeah, I was gonna report in. Oops.

Saturday the Bubbameister and I did a little tootle over it. The road is just fine until half way down the west (and steep) side. There is a cement barricade, then 75 ft of a pavement/gravel section which is about 2 ft lower than when installed, about 50 feet of intact pavement, then around the corner (where you can't see it) another cement barricade. The barricades are just those standard cement divider barricades you see on the highway during construction. You can lift a bike over them. Lots of other cyclists were out doing the same. As long as you are expecting it, it's not that big a deal.

Now that it is dry, it is easy to walk through. We're just treating it as a cyclocross section and since we're riding east to west, stopping and walking is easy. I would not want to stop, walk and try to remount going uphill on the steep side.

I imagine that back in April that it was a mess and it was not appropriate to walk through. They obviously got some equipment in there to dig some drainage and install a drain hose.

I find it very interesting that I can't find anything on local club web sites or on Solano County's site about the closure.