Quick note about our holiday hours this week and next:
Tuesday 12/23/08: Open late until 9:00pm Wednesday 12/24/08: Closing early: 1:00pm Thursday 12/25/08: Closed
Friday 12/26/08: 10am to 7pm
Saturday 12/27/08: 9am to 6pm
Sunday 12/28/08: 12noon to 5pm
Monday 12/29/08: Closed
Tuesday 12/30/08: 10am to 7pm Wednesday 12/31/08: Closed for inventory
Thursday 1/1/09: Closed for new years
Friday 1/2/09: resume regular schedule (see right)
Here are some tips on choosing a place to ride in winter
Where to go when it’s ACTIVELY RAINING:
We recommend pavement or gravel surfaces, or very sandy or rocky trails.
Option 1: Paved MUPs
Paved off-road multi-use paths are great if you don’t want to share space with cars when their wipers are wiping and visibility is poor. They also tend to be relatively pedestrian-free at these times, which makes biking much more pleasant and conflict-free.
The San Francisco Bay Trail is great, especially from San Mateo to Redwood shores, and from Palo Alto Baylands to Shoreline Park in Mountain View. The Bay Trail is incomplete, so check their website for what sections are finished in your area. Unpaved sections of the Bay Trail tend to be greasy gooey mud, so be aware. Other paved MUPs include…
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We get a lot of questions about where it is good to ride when the weather turns wet. We could just tell you where it’s good today, but that’s sort of like telling you which way to turn your rebound knob in the middle of the Braille Trail. Recommendations like these are transient, valid one-time only, and depend on current conditions.
Short of going out and actually sampling the trails ourselves, or perhaps having a cadre of trail samplers who would reliably report conditions to us, we instead use local knowledge of geology, topography, microclimates, and past experience to make predictions on local trail conditions.
Soquel Forest rain ride after effects: not so good for your drive train
For a detailed discussion of our weather, soil types, and winter trail conditions, click below to read on.
Here is something to keep you going while the cold and rain is outside…
A group of our customers were up in BC this past summer. One of them (Brian) edited up some videos of their trip. Here are two videos for your viewing pleasure…
Berry has an interesting method for doing some stream crossings, though I am not sure how to describe it. This shot was from Thursday’s Appetite Seminar ride in Marin.
There are not official rides, as there isn’t a ride leader, official departure time, or anything like that. Just mass gatherings where people go to a designated start area and ride a designated route. Routes are pretty easy to find – just follow the mass of people.
There is a bull pen in the town of Fairfax where a few kegs of donated beer are available for your enjoyment after the ride (though it often runs out early, so plan to be there before 11 or so to make sure you get some). And Los Gatos’ tradition has come to include a picnic at the top (so watch for people towing roasted pigs, kegs, etc.) to the top.
I think you may find Charles in Los Gatos, and Berry up in Fairfax…
2 years ago, Charles wrote up a bit about the history of the Appetite Seminar and his experience on the ride and posted it here.
We got word today from the Soquel Demonstration State Forest Managers that repairs to the slide on Highland Way are nearly done. The contractor reported that the paving is done and they will finish ahead of schedule. We don’t know if the K-rails blocking the road have been removed yet, but if not they should be soon.
Guided by dubious forecasts and a lack of faith in the ability of any tool at my fingertips to be able to predict the weather, combined with friends that are either out of town or unusually tied to their desks, I approach this Monday with no ride plan. One thing that keeps me sane and reasonably healthy while working the schedule I do, on the diet of food and drink that I do, is my Monday ride. I have had the support, encouragement, companionship, and abuse of a semi regular cast of characters over these last three years to get out on this day of the week for what I hope is a calorie deficit social event, and to not have that on this day is unusual, and significant, but not unheard of.
Friday night is the night for little kids. This year Saturday night is for big kids! Plan on joining us for a super fun candlelit evening of socializing and scaring each other with our alter-egos. Party starts at 6:30pm and runs until the candles burn down. Healthy finger food to dilute all that candy you ate, intoxicating conversation, boiling beverages, what more could you want? Oh, costumes. Wear one! Bring leftover bags of funsize candy to donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank.
Address: 415 Old County Rd, Belmont Phone: 650-620-9798
Our name says it – we are passionate about bikes and trails. We are all dedicated mountain bikers, and our knowledge of local trails can't be beat. Our mechanics are the best in the business, and we take customer service very seriously. We are committed to making your bike run perfectly. We guarantee great rides.
