A regular Bay Trail rider (starting and ending in Richmond), I’ve often thought about a “century” on the E-ville, Berkeley, Albany, EC and Richmond stretch. Of course, a 100 mile ride is pretty much out of the question, but other combinations might work.
I happened to email Bruce Beyaert of Trails For Richmond Access (TRAC) asking if they would ever sanction such an event. Bruce invited me to their February meeting; I shared my thoughts, and then was told “It’s your baby.” Maybe I should have skipped that get-together!
Bruce encouraged me to contact Bill Pinkam, and Bill suggested I put my thoughts into an EBBC blog and see what happens, thus this epistle.
Although I’ve done a bunch of metric centuries, and 2 ¾ full centuries, I haven’t done so in at least a decade, and have never had a hand in organizing one, thus the need for feedback from knowledgeable cyclists who have been involved behind the scenes.
Richmond’s Homefront Festival will happen in October of this year, and like Gilroy’s Garlic Festival, I was thinking a good beginning for an organized Bay Trail ride(s) would be the weekend before the celebration. Win/win timing. And I think a core ride organized around the Park would be a good place to start. I rode a route Tuesday that included all current park sites, and it was just about 14 miles. I began and ended at the Ford Building at the south end of Harbour Way. Longer rides could be accomplished by adding: south from the split at Meeker Slough (my route took a sharp left there, going back and passing the Rosie memorial again), and north (my route went west on Cutting, left on Canal to Shipyard #3 and the Red Oak Victory, etc., back down Canal and Cutting), over the hill and into Point Richmond, and points north, esp. after more segments of the trail come online, which TRAC is working on.
For the initial event, maybe just the park tour @ 14 miles, and a longer one that splits off at Meeker Slough (~4.5 miles from the start (Ford Building)) and goes as far as E-ville and back, with maybe a loop around Chavez Park, and heading back to the split at Meeker Slough, where it would join the short route. I haven’t checked the mileage, but it’s probably 15-20 miles.
Routes could be added/extended in following years as experience is gained. Sag wagons wouldn’t be needed, most likely, and minimal rest stops because of the easiness of the trail.
Anyway, if anyone has any feedback, I would appreciate it.
Thanks for your time.