In the parking lot of CA Sport Touring

In the parking lot of CA Sport Touring

We couldn’t have asked for a nicer Spring day for our first “official” ride of the 2003 season.  The weather was fabulous… almost like Summer - sunny and warm with clear blue skies.  By the time we reached California Sport Touring (CST) in Martinez, I was ready to remove my jacket liner and open all of the vents. 

Kim Leong, COG member and owner of CST had an open house complete with coffee, juice, bagels and yes… donuts (place cop joke here (smile)).  The open house made for a good meeting spot. It gave some riders the chance to shop for gear and/or daydream about future upgrades… and it provided time to converse with fellow riders.  

Speaking of riders - the turnout was great, each ride seems to get better and better. I don’t know the official count, but there were two main groups and about 15 bikes in my group. There were a variety of bikes, but mostly Connies.

Chad Olson, the ride host and SW AAD for NorCal, selected some fine Contra Costa County back roads for this year’s Spring Roundup.  The routes featured some great vistas of Bay Area waterways.  My favorites were the Cummings Skyway and Skyline Blvd. 

Along the summit of the Cummings Skyway (West bound) you can look left and see down into the San Pablo Bay or look right and see down into the Carquinez Straits.  The foreground was filled with lush green rolling hills and the surface on this stretch of road is sweet.

Our rest stop was located right across the street from the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park.  This garden features every plant that is native to California.  If you or someone you know has a green thumb you’ll enjoy visiting this garden. 

The view from Skyline Blvd. in the Oakland Hills was also spectacular, looking west you could see over most of the S.F. Bay Area and way out past the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately there weren’t many places where a group of cycles could stop all together to appreciate the view… but I was riding sweep and there are no cars behind me so I slowed down to enjoy the Vistas. 

The balance of the ride was filled with a variety of water-front, canyon and valley roads… some twisty - some not so twisty, but they were all a blast.  The ride ended in San Ramon at TGIF for lunch. A few riders opted out of lunch and kept cruising.    

My wife, Avis, Silverado (our Connie) and I navigated a 125 mile loop on this adventure - there were no accidents, injuries or breakdowns… just good miles, another great COG ride.  Take a look at the ride schedule for up-coming rides in your area, get out and go sport touring.   

Pre-ride bench racing

Two of our riders begin their attack on the far side of Sonora Pass.

Taking a break, Tilden Park