Ninja 250 Bay Area Ride - Sunday, 10/26/08

SV-Mark · September 5th, 2008, 03:34 PM

I have PM'd Alex and have been tossing around the idea of "Ninjette" Group Ride, A Sunday would work best for me, A standard loop through the Santa Cruz mountains and out to the coast would be fun or perhaps northbay, Marin & Sonoma. Depending on the level of interest we could possibly break into multiple groups to keep things orderly and fun while still newbie friendly. I'm just throwing this out there to see if there is any level of interest, please feel free to chime in.

Thanks, Mark

Alex · September 5th, 2008, 05:16 PM

Hi Mark!

The dates that work best for me (and give us some time to prepare this) would be Sunday, Oct. 19th or Sunday, Oct. 26th. Santa Cruz mountains may work best, only because a start location like Alice's means fewer freeway miles for more folks (compared to a Marin start). The weather will likely still be decent at that time of year, but it could be getting a little cooler in the morning, so maybe a mid-morning start and end the ride for a late lunch. Let's see what other folks think...

donnamatrix · September 8th, 2008, 01:41 PM

Count me in!

SV-Mark · September 8th, 2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donnamatrix

Count me in!

Cool Donna, looking forward to it.

Dez · September 30th, 2008, 03:38 PM

I'm definitely interested in this. Please let me know what day it's confirmed.

Thanks!

Alex · October 1st, 2008, 04:13 PM

How about we shoot for Sunday, October 26th. Here's a first suggestion for the route that I'm thinking about:

We can meet at STP, maybe around 10 AM, so folks can grab coffee as needed. 10:30ish ride start, head south on 35, and make a right at Four Corners onto 9. We'll work our way out toward Empire Grade (couple choices here, all of them good), eventually popping out at Davenport on the coast for some food. After some nourishment, head back north on the coast before heading east at either Gazos, Pescadero, or 84, and ending up back at Alice's STP. Decent loop, enough fun to keep folks interested, but not so long that it discourages newer riders. With some good food and views along the way. What do folks think?

I'd plan on a pre-ride during the week prior to the actual ride, just to make sure there aren't any gotchas out there that can jump out and bite us.

SV-Mark · October 1st, 2008, 04:55 PM

The 26th of October sounds great for me Alex, I have written it on the Calender and around here that is like stone. Are you going to cross post on the other forums? If you need any assistance, lead/sweep let me know, any position is fine with me other than leading an "A" group. Mucho looking forward to it

Alex · October 1st, 2008, 08:55 PM

Thx Mark! Definitely going to cross-post on the usual suspects. We'll set up leads/sweeps as necessary depending on how many folks start responding to the posts. I'm heading on a 4-day m/c trip tomorrow, so won't be able to get back online until after the weekend. But I should have some neat pics to post when I do get back...

Alex · October 13th, 2008, 09:31 PM

Cross-posted on SBR and BARF. Let's cross our fingers for some great weather and a great turnout of fun little bikes.

Alex · October 21st, 2008, 01:21 PM

Just checked the weather for this Sunday, and it looks like it's going to be just about perfect. Sunny, no chance of precipitation, and a high of 80 degrees. Will likely be a little cooler than that mid-morning, but I don't think we could have hoped for a more perfect day in late October.

Alex · October 24th, 2008, 09:08 AM

Looks like a final route! I'm going to take a test-ride today to make sure everything is A-OK for Sunday.

Here's a link to the route on Google Maps. A GPX file of the route is also attached in case people would like to load it to their GPS's ahead of time.

Quote:

1. Head southeast on CA-35/Skyline Blvd toward CA-84/La Honda Rd
- go 13.6 mi
2. Turn right at Big Basin Way/CA-9
- go 6.1 mi
3. Turn left at CA-9/Central Ave
- go 10.9 mi
4. Turn right at Alba Rd
- go 3.8 mi
5. Sharp left at Empire Grade Rd
- go 2.0 mi
6. Turn right at Pine Flat Rd
- go 112 ft
7. Turn right to stay on Pine Flat Rd
- 3.7 mi
8. Slight right at Bonny Doon Rd
- 3.7 mi
9. Turn right at CA-1/Coast Rd
- go 28.0 mi
10. Turn right at CA-84/La Honda Rd/San Gregorio Rd
- go 15.0 mi

total 86.7 mi

If we leave at 10:30, I'd expect us to be back at Alice's somewhere near 12:30 for lunch. After lunch, people who have some more time for riding can head back West and take other interesting roads nearby like Pescadero, Cloverdale, back up to Stage, etc.

SV-Mark · October 24th, 2008, 04:59 PM

Great work Alex, I'm all over it, depending on time constraints and levels of interest, Pescadero, Stage, Swanton, could be interesting.. I am hoping for a good turnout, see you there, Kickstands up at 10:30 I believe I read somewhere?? Good Times..

Alex · October 24th, 2008, 07:48 PM

Pre-ride went great! Left STP at 10:45, and pulled back in to Alice's at 12:30. Was trying to keep to a moderate pace, and even stopped a time or two for some pics. If we leave at 10:30, even with a larger group and some stops we should be back at Alice's for lunch by 12:30, give or take 15 minutes.

Here's what the ocean looked like today:

(link to gallery with more pics, and a quick video of the coast)

Nothing too concerning on the ride. Alba is a little tight and twisty, but the road surface is fine and I didn't see any gravel or any other serious hazard all day. The turn from Alba to Empire is a bit steep, so we should warn folks about that. The easiest way to tackle it is to keep going and make that left, then stop on Empire to wait for folks rather than waiting right on Alba.

There are so few intersections/road changes on this route that almost every one of them naturally turns itself into a rally point to make sure the group has made it. If it turns out we have a large amount of folks on Sunday, or we have some groups that want to go at widely different paces, we can always split up into 2 or more groups as needed. I'm game for lead and/or sweep, perhaps we can even share those duties over parts of the ride.

SV-Mark · October 25th, 2008, 04:12 PM

Oh, If I am needed to lead /sweep, let me know, I am familiar with the route

Alex · October 25th, 2008, 07:46 PM

It's going to be a fun day tomorrow! Last MotoGP race of the year at Valencia from 6 AM - 7 AM, bike and rider prep until 9 AM, get myself to STP for some coffee by 10, and then riding with a bunch of fellow ninjettes. Should be a good one!

Alex · October 26th, 2008, 05:13 PM

Fun ride! Weather was just about perfect. A little chilly on the coast, but it warmed up as we went further north, and was perfectly comfortable once again when we went inland only a mile or two. Mark and I changed the route up to add some more twistied, the final route we took is in the attached GPX file. Here's a link to some pictures from the ride...

SV-Mark · October 26th, 2008, 07:31 PM

Thanks for coming out to play Alex, perhaps we can get a bigger turnout for future events, to all those who missed the ride, well, you missed a good ride the weather was perfect, the company was great and the riding was great as well, nice brisk Ninja 250 pace, nice mix of roads, 84, pescadero, Skyline, Highway 9, Alba road, Empire Grade, Pine Flat, Swanton, Tunitas. All good stuff, no unfortunate instances, A great day of riding

sccerpro01 · March 1st, 2009, 05:12 PM

i im going to get a bike real soon, and live in the bay area (san jose) do you guys still go on any trips, once the weather gets better?

Alex · March 1st, 2009, 05:16 PM

Absolutely! I try and ride a couple times per week. I hope you can pick up a bike soon. Have you taken the MSF yet?

sccerpro01 · March 1st, 2009, 05:18 PM

no i haven't, im still in school and i play soccer for san jose state as well. so i need to find a time that works.

September 5th, 2008, 03:34 PM	#1
SV-Mark Never enough time Name: Mark Location: San Mateo, CA Join Date: Aug 2008 Motorcycle(s): 690sm, ex250, kdx200, nc50, z50 Posts: 73	Ninja 250 Bay Area Ride - Sunday, 10/26/08 I have PM'd Alex and have been tossing around the idea of "Ninjette" Group Ride, A Sunday would work best for me, A standard loop through the Santa Cruz mountains and out to the coast would be fun or perhaps northbay, Marin & Sonoma. Depending on the level of interest we could possibly break into multiple groups to keep things orderly and fun while still newbie friendly. I'm just throwing this out there to see if there is any level of interest, please feel free to chime in. Thanks, Mark __________________________________________________ "It's a lot of fun"

September 5th, 2008, 05:16 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Hi Mark! The dates that work best for me (and give us some time to prepare this) would be Sunday, Oct. 19th or Sunday, Oct. 26th. Santa Cruz mountains may work best, only because a start location like Alice's means fewer freeway miles for more folks (compared to a Marin start). The weather will likely still be decent at that time of year, but it could be getting a little cooler in the morning, so maybe a mid-morning start and end the ride for a late lunch. Let's see what other folks think... __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

September 8th, 2008, 01:41 PM	#3
donnamatrix ninjette.org newbie Name: Donna Location: Sunnyvale Join Date: Aug 2008 Motorcycle(s): '03 Ninja 250 Posts: 8	Count me in! __________________________________________________ -------------------------------------- \|X\|B\|O\|X\|3\|6\|0\| ... my antidrug -Donna, COD4 Junkie

October 1st, 2008, 04:13 PM	#6
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	How about we shoot for Sunday, October 26th. Here's a first suggestion for the route that I'm thinking about: We can meet at STP, maybe around 10 AM, so folks can grab coffee as needed. 10:30ish ride start, head south on 35, and make a right at Four Corners onto 9. We'll work our way out toward Empire Grade (couple choices here, all of them good), eventually popping out at Davenport on the coast for some food. After some nourishment, head back north on the coast before heading east at either Gazos, Pescadero, or 84, and ending up back at Alice's STP. Decent loop, enough fun to keep folks interested, but not so long that it discourages newer riders. With some good food and views along the way. What do folks think? I'd plan on a pre-ride during the week prior to the actual ride, just to make sure there aren't any gotchas out there that can jump out and bite us. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 1st, 2008, 04:55 PM	#7
SV-Mark Never enough time Name: Mark Location: San Mateo, CA Join Date: Aug 2008 Motorcycle(s): 690sm, ex250, kdx200, nc50, z50 Posts: 73	The 26th of October sounds great for me Alex, I have written it on the Calender and around here that is like stone. Are you going to cross post on the other forums? If you need any assistance, lead/sweep let me know, any position is fine with me other than leading an "A" group. Mucho looking forward to it __________________________________________________ "It's a lot of fun"

September 30th, 2008, 03:38 PM	#5
Dez ninjette.org newbie Name: Dez Location: West of SJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Motorcycle(s): '05 250 Posts: 1	I'm definitely interested in this. Please let me know what day it's confirmed. Thanks!

October 1st, 2008, 08:55 PM	#8
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Thx Mark! Definitely going to cross-post on the usual suspects. We'll set up leads/sweeps as necessary depending on how many folks start responding to the posts. I'm heading on a 4-day m/c trip tomorrow, so won't be able to get back online until after the weekend. But I should have some neat pics to post when I do get back... __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 13th, 2008, 09:31 PM	#9
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Cross-posted on SBR and BARF. Let's cross our fingers for some great weather and a great turnout of fun little bikes. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 21st, 2008, 01:21 PM	#10
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Just checked the weather for this Sunday, and it looks like it's going to be just about perfect. Sunny, no chance of precipitation, and a high of 80 degrees. Will likely be a little cooler than that mid-morning, but I don't think we could have hoped for a more perfect day in late October. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 24th, 2008, 04:59 PM	#12
SV-Mark Never enough time Name: Mark Location: San Mateo, CA Join Date: Aug 2008 Motorcycle(s): 690sm, ex250, kdx200, nc50, z50 Posts: 73	Great work Alex, I'm all over it, depending on time constraints and levels of interest, Pescadero, Stage, Swanton, could be interesting.. I am hoping for a good turnout, see you there, Kickstands up at 10:30 I believe I read somewhere?? Good Times.. __________________________________________________ "It's a lot of fun"

October 24th, 2008, 07:48 PM	#13
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Pre-ride went great! Left STP at 10:45, and pulled back in to Alice's at 12:30. Was trying to keep to a moderate pace, and even stopped a time or two for some pics. If we leave at 10:30, even with a larger group and some stops we should be back at Alice's for lunch by 12:30, give or take 15 minutes. Here's what the ocean looked like today: (link to gallery with more pics, and a quick video of the coast) Nothing too concerning on the ride. Alba is a little tight and twisty, but the road surface is fine and I didn't see any gravel or any other serious hazard all day. The turn from Alba to Empire is a bit steep, so we should warn folks about that. The easiest way to tackle it is to keep going and make that left, then stop on Empire to wait for folks rather than waiting right on Alba. There are so few intersections/road changes on this route that almost every one of them naturally turns itself into a rally point to make sure the group has made it. If it turns out we have a large amount of folks on Sunday, or we have some groups that want to go at widely different paces, we can always split up into 2 or more groups as needed. I'm game for lead and/or sweep, perhaps we can even share those duties over parts of the ride. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 25th, 2008, 04:12 PM	#14
SV-Mark Never enough time Name: Mark Location: San Mateo, CA Join Date: Aug 2008 Motorcycle(s): 690sm, ex250, kdx200, nc50, z50 Posts: 73	Oh, If I am needed to lead /sweep, let me know, I am familiar with the route __________________________________________________ "It's a lot of fun"

October 25th, 2008, 07:46 PM	#15
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	It's going to be a fun day tomorrow! Last MotoGP race of the year at Valencia from 6 AM - 7 AM, bike and rider prep until 9 AM, get myself to STP for some coffee by 10, and then riding with a bunch of fellow ninjettes. Should be a good one! __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 26th, 2008, 07:31 PM	#17
SV-Mark Never enough time Name: Mark Location: San Mateo, CA Join Date: Aug 2008 Motorcycle(s): 690sm, ex250, kdx200, nc50, z50 Posts: 73	Thanks for coming out to play Alex, perhaps we can get a bigger turnout for future events, to all those who missed the ride, well, you missed a good ride the weather was perfect, the company was great and the riding was great as well, nice brisk Ninja 250 pace, nice mix of roads, 84, pescadero, Skyline, Highway 9, Alba road, Empire Grade, Pine Flat, Swanton, Tunitas. All good stuff, no unfortunate instances, A great day of riding __________________________________________________ "It's a lot of fun"

March 1st, 2009, 05:12 PM	#18
sccerpro01 ninjette.org member Name: Tyler Location: san jose Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): none "yet" Posts: 16	i im going to get a bike real soon, and live in the bay area (san jose) do you guys still go on any trips, once the weather gets better?

March 1st, 2009, 05:16 PM	#19
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Absolutely! I try and ride a couple times per week. I hope you can pick up a bike soon. Have you taken the MSF yet? __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

March 1st, 2009, 05:18 PM	#20
sccerpro01 ninjette.org member Name: Tyler Location: san jose Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): none "yet" Posts: 16	no i haven't, im still in school and i play soccer for san jose state as well. so i need to find a time that works.

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