September’s here and there’s a lot going on, first and foremost, of which is Cherry City Cyclists’ annual picnic and rides. Mark your calendar for September 18! It will take place at the Pleasanton Sports Park (one longish block north of the intersection of Hopyard Road and Valley Avenue).

We’ll start the day off with two rides—a long one going up Mount Diablo starting at 8:00 AM, and a shorter ride through Livermore Valley starting at 9:30. (And no, you don’t have to ride to come to the picnic!) The picnicking festivities will begin at 12:30. The club will buy the meat for grilling, and club members are encouraged to bring potluck dishes.

Non-members can join the fun for $20, but if they join the club at the picnic then we’ll waive the $20 fee. The picnic and rides make for a great day of fun, food, and exercise, so make sure to come out.

September is also the last month for Eva Fallis’ Thursday night Cull Canyon training rides this year. They’re a great way to get some mid-week riding in. See the ride listings for more details.

On a completely different note, have you ever taken a night ride through the countryside? No? Then you should have joined Gil Hopkins on his Sunrise Spin Sunday, August 29. I had my doubts (who would want to start a ride at four in the morning?), but I joined in—and loved it!

Aside from the very different experience riding in the dark provides (the quiet, the smell of the night air), there is another benefit that can be summed up in two words: NO CARS! We saw a total of two or three cars going from the Hopkins’s house in Dublin to the bottom of the Wall on Calaveras Road—and all of them were on Foothill. Not a single car for the whole length of Calaveras. Awesome!

Of course, traffic picked up as the day brightened and we moved into more populated areas, but it was still very light compared to later in the day. Two more bonuses: the ride was over by 9:45 AM, and the riders were treated to a mega-breakfast generously provided by Cheryl Hopkins. The people who were on the ride are already clamoring for another ride with a very early start time; keep an eye on the CCC ride listings to see what pops up!

Even if you don’t feel like getting up before the crack of dawn to go on a ride, get out there and spins those wheels! I can’t believe how short the days are getting already!

Mike N.

mnagorka@aol.com

Stephanie & Tom Dipalma, Eva Fallis, Gil Hopkins, Michael Jay, Vicky Ma, & Mike Nagorka.

Coming back after a year hiatus, the club newsletter is starting to roll again. Plans are currently to publish a quarterly newsletter, tentatively starting in mid to late April (yeah, I know, Its not the start of the first quarter, but hey, we gotta publish sometime) So this is where you, dear reader, come in. Plain and simple, I need your help. Have any rides that you've ridden that you want to tell people about?

This is your chance! Product reviews? Bring them on. (even ones that go meh, not sure if I'd buy it again, those are useful reviews as well!) Got a rant? A creative scratch to itch? Hey, nows the chance!

Email your contributions to: ccc-newsletter@fluid-code.com .doc (ms word), .txt (plain text), .rtf (rich text), .pdf (acrobat), .odt (open office) files are acceptable. More than likely I can use others, just let me know what you're writing in. -- Sean Gould 510-384-9943

Sean Gould has been so generous to volunteer in the creation of the pdf version of the newsletter with some different articles than this online version. Here is the first of many editions.

• PDF: Newsletter

Yes, spring is in the air, the sun is out later and with it comes our seasonal Cull Canyon training rides every Thursday starting on April 29th. Eva Fallis has been so kind and engergized (so watch out) to lead one of the club's favorite rides.

I, your webmaster, wish I could attend but my schedule does not permit me to, but I have ridden the route in the past, and the ride is quiet with rolling hills and only residents of the road out there.

An addition, the road has sweeping "S" turns and half mile straight aways and all within 6 miles to a dead end, and then return. A total of 12 miles.

Just think, instead of sitting in traffic, you could be out riding, and recalling what it was like to be a kid on a bike again and always, the social climate is friendly so come up and invite your friends.

Questions: Contact Eva Fallis: emfallis82@yahoo.com

More Cull Canyon info

Google Map to Cull Canyon

Saturday, October 16, 2010

2nd Annual Wheels for Meals Ride

Registration opens June 1st!

Join Alameda County Meals on Wheels for a ride through the Livermore Valley un support of homebound seniors.

www.wheelsformealsride.com

Nikki Grimes of Grimes Getaways Bicycle Tours will be presenting a 15-20 minute program sharing photos of cycle tours in the Glacier National Park area and in the Sierras from Groveland to Yosemite . Come and see what great areas you can access on your bicycle! You will also learn more about the camping tours being offered. This is a great time to get your questions answered if you have ever thought about taking a cycling vacation. There will be a drawing for a $50 coupon good toward any of the 2010 tours. Grimes Getaways Bicycle Tours is one of the club sponsors.

Order your club jersey, vest, arm warmers, etc. today.

• Club Jersey (Download a PDF document)
• Club Vest (Download a PDF document)
• Clothing Order Form (Download a PDF document)

• How to Buy a Bike
• Build Your Core and Ride Stronger (Updated12/15/08)

• Since we are refining your new fixed routesheets, occasionally
• there may be some errors. Please inform us so we can
• correct these errors.
• Download route sheet 200901V2 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200902 rev 2 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200903 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200904 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200905 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200906 (PDF document)

• Monthly Rides ( Download a PDF document )
• Monthly Rides
• Weekly Rides
• Cull Canyon Show'n'Go (Ends in Oct. Returns next Spring)
• Special Events & Rides (click on to see all SER rides)
• How to lead a ride & ride routes for New Ride Leaders
• Ride Rating System
• Leaderless & Route Sheet Library

• 07-14-10 General Meeting Minutes
• 05-12-10 General Meeting Minutes
• 03-10-10 General Meeting Minutes
• 11-11-09 General Meeting Minutes
• 09-09-09 GeneralMeeting Minutes
• 06-10-09 General Meeting Minutes
• 05-13-09 General Meeting Minutes
• 03-11-09 General Meeting Minutes
• 02-11-09 General Meeting Minutes

• Ride Mileage
• Ride Rating System

Announcing the Impromptu Rides

The Problem: Due to busy schedules, many people who would like to lead a ride cannot plan 1 or 2 months in advance in order to get their ride(s) into the newsletter.  Nearly everyone enjoys watching their club mileage increase every month, however, you can only attain club mileage on “impromptu” rides, i.e., those that appear in the newsletter.

The Solution:

Announcing the Impromptu Rides.  Here is how it works

• Why should I attend?

• To be informed, be heard, get involved, and make a  difference.

• When are meetings held?

• 2nd Wednesday of the month: 6:30pm – Board Meeting;  7:30 General Meeting, which now ends at 8pm.

• Where are meetings held?

• Meetings are at the San Leandro Manor Library on  Manor Blvd.

• (March and April meetings will be held at the Manor  Branch).

• Where are meetings held?

• Yes, attend 5 out of the remaining 9 meetings and get 1/2  off your 2010 membership fee.