We left at 10 am and rode into Midtown to 20th St between J & K.
Lots of people and ALL wearing masks. Amal went shopping while Jonathan, Cheryl and I watched the bikes.
This large group came by going about twice the speed we generally ride. We were on the bike trail, they were on the Garden Highway near I-5.
Amal’s fresh veggies got home safely. 20 miles today!
Saturday: many loops in the neighborhood. There were five rides offered all starting at Red Sea & Hovnanian. The first was 2.5 miles, then came a two 4-mile rides and two 6-mile rides. Total = 23 miles. The pace was slower and riders could stop when they wanted. One of our rides had 6 riders!
Sunday: American River Bike Trail, 20 miles out-and-back. We rode to Discovery Park and “turned left” onto the trail. Turning right takes you to Old Sac. This was fun with a group of very strong riders. In this picture, we’d ridden past the trail exit (up and over the levee) to Costco/REI to the curve as the trails goes under I-80 – our turn-around point.
Wednesday: Cherry Island Golf and Soccer = 29 miles. A new route for our riding group. We rode down Del Paso Rd to the Sacramento Northern Bike Trail going north toward Rio Linda. The Dry Creek Parkway Trail took us behind Cherry Island Golf Course to U Street and the Cherry Island Soccer Fields.
Thursday: Tour d’Arlete = 15 miles.
Today: Around the Airport = 17 miles. We were lucky and didn’t get rained on!
Just so you don’t think we slacked off on Monday and Tuesday: 25-mph north winds, gusting to 40, meant no bike riding. Total this week = 104 miles.
I went to help the SABA team hand out free front and rear bike lights at the corner of 39th and T Streets. This was the most successful Lights On give-away that I’ve been to. Many bicyclists already had great lighting on their bikes which was really nice to see. Robert set up on one corner,
Alex set up on another corner.
The first to ride 400 miles, Cheryl:
Monday: Around Hansen Ranch Park = 25 miles. Kathy, Cheryl, Jonathan, Pat, and Dani on the recumbent:
Wednesday: Around the airport = 17 miles. Cindy, Kathy, and Cheryl:
Thursday: To Trek Bicycle = 22 miles. This was fun, we all got to shop a bit, Dani got a quick fix to her stem – that’s great service – and the shop gave each of us a small hand sanitizer which easily attaches to the handlebars.
We rode the R St bicycle over-crossing of I-5 to get back to Old Sac. Kathy, Barbara (also at 400 miles), Dani, Cheryl:
Friday: Tour of North Natomas = 20 miles. The 3 major bike trails and a few smaller ones. Rod, Cindy, Cheryl, Dani, Kathy, Jane, Karen:
Go team! That’s a total of 84 miles in 4 rides.
Does the back cover count?
A week of great bike riding can only be topped by encouraging someone else. I met Aisha and Haris at Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen where Robert from SABA met us. Aisha applied to SABA’s Bike Match program for a bike for her son. Robert had two possibilities, I came to advise and carry the bike back to their home in N Natomas.
Next steps: I am going to teach Haris how to ride that bike. Keep your fingers crossed and send all good vibes our way!
On Tuesday, a group of us rode to Old Sac. But once we got there, someone suggested we ride farther. We turned around at Miller Park.
Dani’s at the front, leading out group back home. Jonathan is our sweep. I followed like a proud mama bird whose babies left the nest for the first time. Consistent use of hand signals, great decision-making at intersections, excellent lane positioning, and so much more.
On Wednesday, we rode the Jackrabbit Trail + two nearby parks with great bike trails.
We looked across Elkhorn Blvd and saw a huge mass of white birds in the harvested rice fields with hundreds more birds getting ready to land.
On Thursday, we rode around the Sacramento International Airport via the Garden Hwy, W Elverta Rd, and Power Line Rd: no bike lanes, 2-lane roads with no shoulder, almost no traffic, and no stopping. It was one continuous pedal – 16 miles.
On Friday, we welcomed a new rider to our group – Rod. We tried a new route via Del Paso Rd, Sac Northern Bike Trail through Del Paso Heights, N Sacramento, and Discovery Park.
Today, we rode to Old Sac then a 5-mile downtown route. It’s always a bit of an adventure – something odd, funny or unique happens on every ride.
Another week of riding in the books … and another high mileage week for me. 107 miles. I might be motivating others to ride, but actually they’re motivating me!
On New Year’s Day, it was Be Kind to Your Bike Day – my decision totally. Bring your bike, lube and rag, preferred beverage and lube your bike in my garage. And there were blueberry scones as a treat.
On Saturday, there was a foggy mist when we left on our ride to Old Sac plus a 5-mile downtown loop to explore the buffered bike lanes (green paint), separated bike lanes, designated bike routes and areas where taking the lane was the only choice.
This was a fun ride. We drove to the Amtrak station in Davis and rode the Davis Bicycle Loop.
And I found three big walnuts.
On Wednesday, we rode 24 miles around Hansen Ranch Park. The farthest point is on the Sacramento Northern Bike Trail near Elkhorn Blvd at the location of “Wally”, a heritage walnut tree designated by the Sacramento Tree Foundation.
On New Year’s Eve, we rode a new loop through Land Park out to Sutterville Rd which turned out to be the longest ride of the year.
From November 12 to December 31, 22 different bike riders rode 3990 miles on 28 scheduled rides. I did all the rides and rode 444 miles. Among those riding the most often, Barbara rode 301 miles. Cheryl, Jonathan and Leo have 200+ miles. Dani, Kathy, and Jane have 100+ miles.
Goodbye 2020. So glad it’s over.
Something decadent for dinner. Toasted slices of focaccia, gruyere cheese sauce, slices of ham, more sauce, more cheese. Bake. In the background, the hardest jigsaw puzzle (so far) of an arm putting together a jigsaw.
About 20 minutes later, cut into squares, and topped with a fried egg. Delicious! A variation of a croque madame, one of my favorite sandwiches.
Happy New Year! 2021 will be better.
