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Sunday Ride Protocols |
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Ride notes: This is an informal ride, and as always, remember that this is a social ride; your safety and the safety of your fellow riders is paramount. As a reminder here are some basic group ride protocols which you may also find useful for your own rides. Safe speed: The safe speed for road conditions will differ from rider to rider. You are responsible to pick a pace that is comfortable and within your ability. There will be plenty of opportunities to regroup. Never ride beyond your limits in an attempt to keep up with another rider! Safe distance: Do not follow closely; leave a safe distance between you and the next rider. It is especially important to avoid following closely on secondary roads where you can't see around the next corner and circumstances can change without warning. Passing: If you must ride faster than the rider in front of you, put your blinker on and pass. If you see a rider behind you preparing to pass, move over. There is little point to passing when riding in a group, however. We all get there about the same time... Lane discipline: Never cross the double yellow line! Always stay in your lane, and pick your line accordingly. Passing: If you are prepared to ride faster than the rider in front, put your blinker on and pass. If you see a rider behind you preparing to pass, move over and give plenty of room. Don't speed up! Stopping: If the group stops, pull off the road completely. When the group starts, be sure to look over your shoulder for approaching traffic before you pull out after the person in front of you. Don't assume it is clear just because they pulled out... Breakdowns: The sweeps and riding friends may stop and provide assistance. It is not safe for then entire group to stop for one rider unless there is plenty of room to pull off the road. Taking off early: It is fine to head home early, but it is appreciated if you let the others in the group or the sweeps know so we don't wait around or go looking for you. |
Welcome Friends,
This has been a regular autumn ride for the last 8 years, always in September or October, and has always been popular with experienced riders. This is a very long ride, 500 to 550 miles, depending on side routes, and includes some optional street sections and some easy optional dirt routes as well.
We leave at 7:00 am and run up as quickly as we can to Jamestown and stop for gas at the second service station in town. Do not go into the Old Town of Jamestown, stay on the main road. We take about a 15-20 minute break here, and this is a good place to meet up and collect everybody.
The route is 237 to 880/680 to 84 to 580, then out 205 to Manteca and 120, which we follow to 108 and Jamestown. Be careful, don't take 120turn-off to Yosemite, that's where 108 starts. If you need gas on the way you can stop in Manteca, Escalon or Oakdale, and still catch up to us in Jamestown.
After Jamestown Break we head out on 108 towards Sonora Pass. The next official stop is at Dardanelle, a small complex of cabins with a little store and a place to use the bathrooms. It is on the right, not far after a section of summer cabins, and you have to watch closely for it, as it is not well marked. I'll park a bike at the entrance.
We'll take another 20 minute break here, and recover for the beautiful ride up Sonora Pass to come. We usually stop at the summit (pull over on the right, at the crest of the pass), and take a picture or two. There are some optional dirt routes we might take on the east side of Sonora Pass, it will depend on time and conditions whether we do these or not.
At the bottom of Sonora Pass we turn right on 395 and head in to Bridgeport, stopping for gas at the first gas station on the right as we come into town. We'll collect up at the gas station, and others can ride out the paved road to Twin Lakes while I lead a dirt ride up Aurora Canyon and out to Bodie. These are easy two-track dirt roads, nothing very challenging. We'll return to 395 and all stop for a late lunch at Nicely's, in Lee Vining. This is our traditional lunch spot, and they always seem to accommodate everyone without too much fuss.
The last part of the ride is the return over Tioga Pass (120). This is one of the prettiest parts of the ride, but not for speeding, as the Park Police all use radar. We stop at Lembert Dome in Tuolumne Meadows, and sometimes we climb it. (We did last year.) Then everyone heads for home down 120 on their own. We usually stop for a snack and gas in Oakdale, and then head straight home.
Travel time is at least 12 hours and sometimes 14 or 15 if you do all the routes and the climb. This ride is for experienced touring riders only, and it is not a race! You have to pace yourself; it is no fun to crash on the other side of the Sierras and figure out how to get your bike home! I expect everyone to ride safely and for there to be no crashes. There is absolutely no reason to crash on a ride this long. The pace should be such that you are always in control and are riding with a margin of safety. The ride is very long, you are riding independently, and you will be tired, so take it easy!. We have had a very good safety record on this ride for the last several years and we want to keep it that way.
I hope you can join us. Have fun and be safe! E-mail me if you have any questions or concerns.
Best Regards,
Kari Prager
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