View Full Version : Marin Ride to Breakfast - Sunday, 4/19/09


Alex
April 13th, 2009, 10:33 PM
Hi all -

Wanted to invite folks on a Sunday ride up in Marin. The ride start is at the Big Rock Deli, 1500 Lucas Valley Rd, in Marin County about 2 miles west of the junction with US101. (Here's a link to the ride start on Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lucas+valley+and+mt.+lassen,+san+rafael,+ca&sll=38.025174,-122.568734&sspn=0.003102,0.006952&ie=UTF8&ll=38.02536,-122.568712&spn=0.012001,0.027809&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr))

Meet time is a little before 8, and we'll get on the road just a few minutes past 8. The ride goes through all of those fun roads you've heard about (Lucas Valley, Nicasio, Hicks Valley, Chileno Valley, and much more), lasts about an hour, and we'll grab breakfast in Occidental just a little past 9. After breakfast, the ride back includes Coleman Valley, a large chunk of 1, and some more fun roads out near Dillon Beach. The standard route will have you back down Lucas Valley and at the 101 freeway around 11:30 - 11:45 AM. Pace is moderate to "moderate-plus", but no matter what your preferred speed there will be someone waiting at the next corner (as long as you've let me know that you don't know the route). Total mileage is about 55 miles prior to breakfast, about 70 miles after breakfast. Helps to come with a full tank, as there aren't a ton of gas stations en route (though there is one in Bodega Bay about 15 miles into the after-breakfast route). I usually get off 101N at the Freitas exit right before Lucas Valley Road to fill up prior to ride start; there are several gas stations right on the west side of 101 there.

Weather looks to be simply gorgeous this Sunday; sunny with highs in the 80's. Might be just a little chilly before breakfast, but with the sun out it will be plenty warm afterwards. Last few weeks several ninjette.org folks have joined us, and I've really enjoyed showing folks some new roads. :thumbup:

Here are some pictures (http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5448) from the same ride awhile back, and here are a few more (http://www.ciurczak.com/gallery/7814900_9aRVK#P-1-16).

http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/358305879_nPW2B-L.jpg

Alex
April 17th, 2009, 08:48 PM
No takers yet? Looks like the weather will be just about perfect this Sunday, come on folks! :ride:

Angel-be-Good
April 18th, 2009, 10:04 AM
I'll be taking my fiancee to a thing in Japan town Sunday, sorry Alex :(

Alex
April 18th, 2009, 08:34 PM
No worries Ryan, catch you next time! :)

Alex
April 19th, 2009, 04:49 PM
Fun (and warm!) SMR today... A whole pile of folks at the deli:

http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516050100_mAXKp-L-1.jpg

(Link to full-size group pic (http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516050100_mAXKp-O-1.jpg))

I brought the 10R this morning, as it hadn't been on an SMR in quite awhile. A fast group took off from the ride start and didn't slow down until we hit Howard's. :thumbup: Had great fun riding with Rick Rockey, Rick Sullivan, Nick (from Marin BMW), and Lisa Kaiser. The weather was pretty much perfect! I didn't bring any liner under the jacket, and while it was slightly chilly coming up the freeway, it was comfortable from the very beginning of Lucas Valley Road and it only warmed up the closer we got to breakfast. Perfect vision, great road conditions, with the only nit being a whole pile of bugs out there to squash.

At Howard's they already had a few large tables saved for us, so we were ordering and then eating not long after our arrival. After breakfast a significant contingent headed west over Coleman Valley and ended up at the familiar overlook for some pictures...

http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516051061_4AcWh-L-1.jpg

http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516051301_CANac-L-1.jpg

Lisa was in a posing mood...

http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516055291_UZ6CY-L-1.jpg

http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516054728_Y2itm-L-1.jpg

The ocean was reasonably calm. Was still warm right out there by the water as well.

http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516056829_h5mVH-L-1.jpg

Rick & Nick:

http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516057572_m9hge-L-1.jpg

After a fun ride back down the coast, we ended up in the same place across from the Big Rock Deli.

http://www.ciurczak.com/photos/516059064_TSboN-L-1.jpg

All of these pics as well as a few more are up in full-res right in this gallery (http://www.ciurczak.com/gallery/7949642_jhxoF/4/516059064_TSboN#516050100_mAXKp).