Gravel Riding/Racing in Northern CA

7 replies · 1,137 views

Volnay89
4 posts
#1May 21, 2014, 5:16 PM
Anyone know of any gravel riding groups or races in northern CA? I'm relocating to the San Francisco area for work.
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Highlander
23 posts
#2May 21, 2014, 6:17 PM
Lots of great looking riding on Mount Diablo from the photos I've seen. Walnut Creek is also Rivendell central, if you're interested in connecting with a great shop whose been doing go-everywhere bikes for a wonderfully long time. Enjoy!

With abandon,
Patrick
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Volnay89
4 posts
#3May 24, 2014, 10:32 AM
Excellent Patrick - many thanks.

Doug
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drwelby
531 posts
#4May 25, 2014, 2:03 PM
Near SF I'd look towards the Marin Headlands/Mount Tam area. Further south there's some great fire roads on the coast around Butano and Henry Cowell State Park and also Santa Cruz/Aptos. Further north, Medocino, Shasta/Trinity, and Lassen National Forest have weeks of roads to explore. Dig up the old Bodfish books for some ideas in the North north state.

Races - I'm out of the loop but I'd see if the Grasshopper series is still going on. The SF rando dudes like to explore, maybe ask for some beta at Box Dog Bikes.
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Volnay89
4 posts
#5May 25, 2014, 5:06 PM
Great; appreciate the insight. There is one grasshopper remaining; might do it as it's only a little over an hour away.

Doug
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henrypretz
67 posts
#6Dec 27, 2014, 4:23 PM
Bumping this topic to the top.
So, are there any NorCal(ish .... I'm central CA) dirt/gravel riders here these days?
I'm registered for the Grasshopper Series/Old Caz on 1/31/15.
http://www.grasshopperadventureseries.com/grasshopper-2015/old-caz-hopper/
Anyone else out there ridden/riding this one? It will be my first organized "all roads" ride.
Tips, tricks, prayers appreciated ...

Henry
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Volnay89
4 posts
#7Dec 28, 2014, 10:27 AM
There are a couple of series. There's Gravel Gauntlet (http://superproracing.com/road/2015-california-gravel-gauntlet/), Rock Cobbler (http://www.sambarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Flyer-Cobbler-2015.pdf), Chino Grinder (http://epicgravelrides.com), and Lost & Found (http://lostandfoundbikeride.com), plus the King Ridge later in the Grasshopper series. I'm recovering from a bad leg injury so not sure when my season will start, but am already registered for the Rock Cobbler and Chino Grinder, and am looking to do Lost & Found and at least one of the Gravel Gauntlet. Best advice I can give is run tubeless if possible, and a larger width tire (28, 32, 35) if your bike can take them (I ran at 35 last year, but may go to a 32 this year; a lot of people do run 28's though).

Cheers,
Doug
1
henrypretz
67 posts
#8Dec 29, 2014, 9:16 AM
Volnay89 wrote:There are a couple of series. There's Gravel Gauntlet (http://superproracing.com/road/2015-california-gravel-gauntlet/), Rock Cobbler (http://www.sambarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Flyer-Cobbler-2015.pdf), Chino Grinder (http://epicgravelrides.com), and Lost & Found (http://lostandfoundbikeride.com), plus the King Ridge later in the Grasshopper series. I'm recovering from a bad leg injury so not sure when my season will start, but am already registered for the Rock Cobbler and Chino Grinder, and am looking to do Lost & Found and at least one of the Gravel Gauntlet. Best advice I can give is run tubeless if possible, and a larger width tire (28, 32, 35) if your bike can take them (I ran at 35 last year, but may go to a 32 this year; a lot of people do run 28's though).

Cheers,
Doug

Hey Doug - thanks for your reply.
I'm not set up tubeless, but am running Clement USH 35s on my old Poprad. They have performed well for me so far.

I am in the Fresno vicinity, but my daughter is in the Bay Area, so that will be my base for Old Caz. I want to see how that goes then try the Rumble in the Ranchlands (one of the Gravel Gauntlet rides) since it is semi local to me. If all goes well my plan is to do Lost and Found in late May.

Have been trying to generate some interest in "all roads" riding locally with our club. There is no shortage of great backroads and fire service roads in the Sierras east of us.

Thanks again for your input. I hope that your recovery goes well ~
Henry
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