Note: This page is updated weekly on Tuesdays for the next day’s Weekly Wednesday Ride. Check back here for info on what’s new each week!

Sunset is at 8:02pm this Wednesday 08/13/08.

We moved the rides back 15 minutes to give us enough time to enjoy the trails before dark; note new times below. Please make an effort to be ready to launch; the waning days of summer are bringing on the post-work ride scramble.

Please remember to put a light on your handlebar and have a blinky ready for the ride back to the shop! CA vehicle code requires it. Don’t get caught out on the streets in the dark!

Special theme this week: Poker Ride!. This week we will bring a dose of ridiculousness to all the rides! We will have several decks of cards on hand at the start to distribute among riders and ride leaders and sweeps. Each rider will start with two cards. During the ride, the leaders will be trading and distributing additional cards along the way according to some arcane “rules” established by master dealer Charles and whispered to the ride leaders. The “rules” such as they are, have to do with things like crashing or drawing blood, cleaning technical trail elements, passing other groups, passing trail junctions, and so forth. At the end of the ride we will have a table set up where you can draw one final card and show your hand. Awards to winning, losing, and “other” hands; the awards might even be worth taking home. Come equipped with a pocket to hold your hand of cards during the ride.

Below is a list of the usual variety of rides we do in small groups on the twisty narrow singletrack that makes Waterdog famous. Click on the ride name to jump to details below. All rides start pedaling from the shop: Passion Trail Bikes, 415 Old County Road, Belmont, CA 94002 650-620-9798

The EARLY ride will go out at 6:00 PM.
The FAT BOTTOMED GIRL ride will go out at 6:05 PM.
The WHITE SOCKS ride will go out at 6:05 PM.
The BIG BIKES ride will go out at 6:10pm.
The RIDICULOUS ride will go out at 6:13 PM.
The REGULAR ride will go out at 6:15 PM.
The STRAGGLERS ride goes out at 6:30 PM.

Details on what these rides are typically like are below:

The EARLY ride generally consists of people who have been doing a lot of riding and have some juice in their legs. It starts earliest to get the most mileage in. Note this is not a “fast” ride, but our leader is usually feeling frisky, rides a light bike, and it shows on the quick climbs. Regroups will occur, but maybe only at critical intersections. Occasionally riders may be dropped or handed off to other ride groups in passing. Expect to cover most of the trails in Waterdog, some maybe even twice.

The REGULAR ride is an intermediate level social ride for enjoyable, not painful, riding. Sometimes stronger riders join this ride when their legs are feeling heavy. Usually the leader will enforce a social pace through trickery or other devious methods. The regular ride is a good group for people with a solid base level of fitness and skills who enjoy talking while climbing and perhaps enjoying a moment at the top to take in the views before getting grins on the descents. Expect several loops of the sweet singletrack that defines Waterdog Park. Frequent regroups and maybe even a sweep rider will help keep the pace manageable for all. Not really appropriate for beginners; try the FBG or White Socks ride if you are unsure about your fitness or singletrack skills. Extra large groups will split up to reduce the repetition of saying “Howdy, howdy, howdy” when we pass other trail users.

The BIG BIKES ride typically features long-travel bikes and usually hits up the dirt jumps at Carlmont, although sometimes it travels to Shells. Body armor and full face helmets are a good idea if you ride with this group. Expect to catch some air and drop a steep or two. Usually the group sessions various sets of features out on the landscape and works on skills. Not a fast or high-mileage cross country ride. Dirt jumping or BMX style bikes can also fit in with this group. Bandaids are available at the shop for skin not covered by protective gear.

The RIDICULOUS ride is for people who want to have fun and try to increase their trail riding skills. The ride leader may take you on little-used tracks, that are little-used for a good reason: too steep, don’t connect with other trails, or are ridiculously difficult to ride cleanly. Sometimes riders supplement the mood with jokes, or wear strange clothes, or ??? you name it. Singlespeeds are often seen on this ride, sometimes being pushed uphill. Pushing or walking, FUN is the name of the game.

The FBG ride is oriented towards beginners. Usually Patty, our resident Fat Bottomed Girl, leads the ride. Sometimes the ride leader is Charles, or another Flabby Bellied Guy. No matter who takes responsibility for this most relaxed outing, you can be assured that we enjoy taking out unfit, unsure, unskilled, or uncompetitive mountain bikers to experience a taste of trail riding. Our mantra is Equal Fun for Everyone! The FBG ride goes about half as far as the regular ride, usually only doing a single short loop. More than just a pleasant pedal in the woods, the FGB ride usually involves coaching, tips, tricks, and laughter. It may include practicing “Hike a Bike” techniques when the trails get challenging. It may also feature a chance to practice skills playing around the area next to the dirt jumps. The FBG ride will get back at about the same time as the other rides, so we all get to socialize together once we are off the bikes.

The White Socks ride is a novice/intermediate level ride named in memory of our late good friend Rodney Johnson, who wore white socks. Rodney loved to help beginners progress and have fun on their way to becoming intermediate level riders. This ride is between the FBG ride and the Regular ride, and is where riders can begin to sample some of the more difficult trails in the park, in small quantities and in a supportive group. “Do overs” are encouraged so that riders can work on their skills. Also good for intermediate riders who just want to go slower, or riders who are on hybrid bikes, hand-me-down hardtails, or other older and heavy, or high-geared bikes that might make you work too hard to keep up with the Regular Ride. This is a no-drop ride that waits at each intersection.

The STRAGGLERS ride group is available for those that can’t sneak out of work on time, or are habitually late. We don’t usually provide a leader for the stragglers so typically they are on their own. We have maps of the park at the register if you need one. Usually the stragglers meet up with other groups at some point on the trail, so don’t feel bad if you start out alone. Come on down and join the party in the park, even if you are running late you don’t have to miss out! Sometimes stragglers launch their ride from the trailhead at the end of Carlmont Drive, or at the corner of Lake and Lyall.

About the blinky light warning above: You need one for the back of your bike, and a white handlebar light for the front. We will be returning on paved roads at dusk and you want to be seen by drivers and Belmont’s fine Police officers who look out for our health and welfare. Speaking of which, all Passion Trail Bike rides will obey all traffic laws, stopping at stop signs and red lights; and all park rules, yielding to other trial users and riding as courteously, safely and predictably as possible.

All groups will meet back here at Passion Trail Bikes shortly before dark (up to 30 minutes after the sunset time listed above) for the usual story telling & beverage enjoyment. We will have stuff for the BBQ along with some carbo laden side dish, chips and fatty snacks and EANABS to pair up with the Devil’s Canyon Brewery’s Full Boar Scotch Ale, Silicon Blonde Ale, and Backpack Babe Root Beer. Sometimes we also have tequila, limes, agave nectar, and salt. Poke around and help yourself, the customer lounge is for your post-ride pleasure! We will hang out until about 10pm, so come on down, even if you can’t make the ride! Passion Parties are better with YOU in the mix!

Visit our website for directions to the shop, etc. www.PassionTrailBikes.com

Reminder: Even if you don’t join the ride, the shop is basically open until really late. Like, 10:00pm! So if you want to shop, or drop off or pick up a repair, we will be here LATE on Wednesday nights, although there’s a strong possibility there will be a frothy cold pint o’ beverage on the counter. Yes, you can have one too. Please bear with us if you have to go into the lounge to find the help. Yes, you can have some chips too.