Get Out and Ride the Hills

This years Bike the Bridges offers some great choices to challenge a variety of cycling enthusiasts.  Hills seem to be the common theme for each ride.  Whether you plan to take on the 22 mile mountain, 25 mile road or 64 mile road bike route, it's certain you will be climbing and descending throughout the ride.

In the past few weeks we have been focusing on being bike savvy - smart cyclists with equipment and rules of the road.  While getting amped up to ride your bike you also should have been out cycling as well.  This week's focus is on building some miles and muscle in the hills of Benicia; don't delay as there are only 4 weeks remaining to train. 

For those training for the 22 mountain bike ride, a great local ride in Benicia is the Kinder Care Trail.  This is not just a running and hiking trail, similar to Mr. Toads Wild ride this is a great single track with plenty of ups and downs to hone your skills for gearing and hair pin turns. 

Start at either end of the trail - Community Park or Kinder Care.  At Community Park the trail picks up behind the dog park, turn left and head up toward Barton Way.  Follow the dirt trail along the windy path to Bantry Way, cross the street and pick the trail back up.  The trail continues down to Kinder Care at the bottom of Rose Dr.   Turn around and go back up, round trip is about a 6 miles.  Do a few passes to get more miles in, or drop down into the State Park.  At mile two in the State Park, turn right up the hill and pick up the dirt path for the Bay Trail.  This is a great scenic route to view both bridges. 

For those training for the 25 or 64 mile road ride, Benicia has some great roads for hill for training.  A few of the steepest hills include Rose, Hastings, Panorama, Chelsea Hills and the infamous Cambridge.   My favorite for hill repeats is East Fifth Street.  Ride up to the cemetery turn around and drop back down and repeat.  A great 15 mile route is the Benicia State Park to Columbus Parkway and up Rose Dr.  Turn right at East Second Street, make a left on Hill Crest Avenue and head over to East Fifth Street for 5-6 hill repeats and head back down town toward the State Park.  If you are looking for a longer ride head turn left at East Second Street and head out to Lopes Road.  Turn left at Red Top Road, make a left at the newly paved McGary Road and head up toward Hidden Brook.  At Hidden Brooke there is a great bike trail along Highway 80.  Drop down to Columbus Parkway and head back up to Benicia past Blue Rock Springs Park in Vallejo.  This is about a 30 mile ride.

This week try to get in at least three rides, and don't forget the hills.