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L’Etape California by Le Tour de France
I recently participated in the Le Tour De France L’Etape California in Folsom, California.
L’Etape California by Le Tour de France challenges cyclists on a course comparable to an Alps Mountain Stage.
There were two route distances: riders chose 90 miles 7,500 feet of climbing, or the short ride 60 miles and 4,000 feet of climbing in the Sierra Foothills.
I was motivated to participate because of my enjoyment of watching the Tour on TV each summer or attending four different Tour de France races. This summer I am attending four stages the 2019 Tour de France in the Pyrenees and plan to pre ride Tourmalet before Stage 14.
Also, Folsom is a bike friendly community and I wanted to experience riding and training in this cycling friendly community.
My cycling goal was to win two KOM Stages in the 60 mile course. I knew from SBC weekday rides, I could increase my training routines, train with a stronger rider and win two KOM stages for my age category, 60-64.
The two KOM segments were KOM 1, Salmon Falls Road, a 3.5 mile climb, 5% average gradient, 960 ft elevation gain, and KOM 2, Foresthill Road, 3 mile climb, 5% average gradient, 850 ft elevation gain.
(The KOM segments timed results for 500 plus cyclists, ages 17-76, ranged from 14 minutes to 60 minutes.)
My KOM times; KOM 1, 20.57 and KOM 2, 19.06. I won first place by 8 seconds over the second place winner. There were twenty-five men in my age group who raced in the 60 mile route.
I trained for eight weeks with SBC BikePals, Walt Ebbett, Keith Smith and one special ride with SBC Member Frank Oligaray. My training rides included weekday SBC rides, several Sonora Big Hill rides, and Coach Keith dragging me around Folsom and El Dorado County at “his speed and pace”. We didn’t stop much to eat bagels or drink coffee! On my first 50 mile, 4000 feet of elevation ride with Keith I told him I was feeling a bit overwhelmed! I was tired and my legs screaming to stop.
While riding in Folsom, I learned the value of bike advocacy and how one person can make a difference in promoting cycling as a healthy and safe activity. The cycling lanes and share the road signs make cycling safer. I heard repeatedly that the former City Manager of Folsom created the Johnny Cash Bike Trail system and was responsible for creating cycling lanes and posting Share the Road signs.
My time at Folsom Bikes Coffee Shop, the Grinder with other cyclists was pure bliss. The City of Folsom is a bike friendly city and has a strong bike advocacy community. It is no wonder the Amgen Tour and Tour de France Organizers sponsor bike events in Folsom.
The 90 minute drive to Folsom to ride bikes is clearly worth the time commuting!
Participating in the E’Tape California reminded me that I’m not too old to have fitness goals and my role as Co-Founder of the Motherlode Bike Coalition.
I learned how important bike advocacy is and how I’ve failed to be more active as Co-Founder of the Motherlode Bike Coalition. During the last two years I spent more time writing a blog rather than organizing bike rides in the Motherlode. And, thinking ahead to 2020-2025 I realize there is an opportunity to make the Motherlode a Cycling Destination like Folsom. Most cyclists are not aware, Cal Trans awarded Calaveras, Toulumne, Alpine, Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties Cycling Tourism Grants. These grants are to identify popular cycling roads, needs and determine how to promote cycling in Cal Trans District 10.
And, my cycling experience in Folsom has motivated me to take action and sponsor Tuesday bike rides starting and ending in Valley Springs to promote cycling tourism in Calaveras and surrounding Foothills Counties.
The MBC Ride Series Is to Ride Locally, Ride Local Bike Events, and Set a Challenging Ride to Accomplish. This series officially begins Tuesday, January 8, 2019.
Gold Rush Towns of the Motherlode
RideandWalk4Art 2019
Please join us on March 17, 2019 for Ride & Walk4Art in the beautiful California foothills in West Calaveras County. Choose from 2 bicycle rides—25-miles or 45-miles—or an easy 4.5-mile walk skirting New Hogan Lake.
Afterwards, the Tri-Dam lions will prepare a Chicken-in-a-Barrel lunch and corned beef in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
This is the fourth year the Calaveras County Arts Council has held Ride & Walk4Art. Past participants say that this event is the best local bike and walk event, and serves a sensational lunch along with a friendly community atmosphere.
We’re accepting no more than 290 participants—250 cyclists and 40 walkers—making this an intimate ride with a community vibe. You’ll traverse rolling California foothills along roads that rarely see cars, past scenic views of oak forests and pastoral meadows and the blue waters of three reservoirs.
Your participation will help raise funds for the Calaveras Arts Council Arts in Education program, a program designed to bring art, music, dance, and theatre to the schools of Calaveras County. In the last two years we have supported watercolor classes, collage instruction, ceramic classes, and school murals. The kids are creative; they are hungry for art. In 2019 the CCAC plans to offer even more art. Simply by having fun, you can help us help the children of Calaveras County.
Registration: January 1-March 15.
Registration closes at 250 riders and 40 walkers.
Fees: $40 for bicyclists/$50 on day of event
$20/age 16 and under/$30 on day of event
$20 for Walkers
To register: www.rideandwalk4art.com
To support, nourish, and awaken the arts in our community.
Popular Bike Rides in Foothills
Most Popular Rural Cycling Roads in Gold Country
Pardee, Comanche and Hogan Three Lakes Loop
The Three Lakes Loop is a 35 mile, 3,000 elevation gain bike ride that starts in the the historic railroad town of Valley Springs and then beside the historic Pardee Reservoir. This part of the route features a ride across the Pardee spillway and a historic 1920’s bridge before riding to the Pardee Overlook Rest Stop. The ride continues to Stoney Creek Road, a fast downhill section taking cyclists into Historic Buena Vista. The route then heads out to Comanche Reservoir and then returns to Valley Springs along Burson Road and Rancho Calaveras. The final climb of this ride is up to Hogan Dam Reservoir and returns to Valley Springs. There are several local restaurants for post ride lunch or coffee at Starbucks.
The Three Lakes are hardly a secret in the cycling community! The California Amgen Tour held a KOM Stage at Pardee Lookout in May 2018. And, cyclists boast of the rural country-lined-roads and hill climbs. Valley Springs is a perfect start location to ride in Gold Country.mThe Three Lakes Main Route can be extended with rides to Paloma, Campo Seco, Mokelumne Hill, Jackson, Plymouth, Volcano and Sutter Creek.
Three Valley Springs Route Options
– Tri Lake Loop, 40 mile, 2,884 elevation gain
– Jackson and Mokelumne Hill Loop, 37mile, 3,360 elevation gain
– Ione to Sutter Creek, 50 mile Loop 4,000 elevation gain
Why it’s the best
Some of the States most scenic Gold Rush Rural Roads are a short drive from Central Valley, Sacramento and Modesto and 2 hour drive from most Bay Area communities.
How to get there
West Calaveras County offers an never-ending supply of hill climbing in the Foothills, just a short drive from the Central Valley, Sacramento and Bay Area.
From Stockton take CA 26 for 30 miles to Valley Springs.
From Highway 49 take Highway 12 or 26 to Valley Springs.
Best bike shops in Motherlode
Jackson Family Sports 275 CA-88 Jackson, CA
Mountain Pedaler Bicycle 352 S Main St, Angels Camp, CA
Sonora Cyclery 13867 Mono Way Sonora CA
For more information call The Motherlode Bicycle Coalition Founder Rob Williams, 209-531-5844 or email rbwilliams72@gmail.com. Check Meetup: Valley Springs Cyclists
End of Year 2018 Wrap Up
Motherlode Bicycle Coalition
2018 End of Year Newsletter
Dear Cycling Friends,
Facebook has sent me several notifications to post a newsletter to keep friends updated on the Motherlode Bike Coalition. Frankly, I have been in a Bike Advocacy Slump. Instead of writing monthly newsletters I built a River Water Park for my family and grandchildren. And, naturally out riding my bike.
However, there are so many important cycling related events occurring in the Motherlode!
A small group of like minded bike advocates from Lodi and Sonora are helping each other to address issues related to bike riding, tourism and safe roads in the California Foothills. This small group includes former District 10 Cal Trans Supervisors, Carl Baker and Kent Kibble, Former Executive Director of the Bakersfield Bike Coalition and Certified Bicycle Educator, Jack Becker, and myself. Kent has been addressing Rumble Strips at Clements and Highway 88! And, Carl helped keep cyclists involved in all road work construction plans in District 10 for several years before retirement.
Two Calaveras County Foothill Communities, Murphy’s and Valley Springs are now engaged in public meetings to develop Complete Street Plans. The plans are a necessary step to apply for road improvement projects from Cal Trans. At the first Valley Springs meeting on Monday December 3, 92% of all persons attending voted yes, to prioritize bike lanes in the Valley Springs Transportation Plan. Also, cyclists attending this meeting placed priority stickers on the bike lanes taking cyclists to two main recreational roads leading to Lake Hogan and Lake Pardee. The Murphy’s Plan is Complete and lending County Supervisor Review and approval.
Five District 10 Counties received Cal Trans Active Transportation Sustainable “Cycling Tourism” Grants: Calaveras, Alpine, Tuolumne, Stanislaus and San Joaquin. The grant supports making bike routes safer and to promote cycling tourism that creates economic benefits for local communities.
The Motherlode Bicycle Coalition is hosting Tuesday Bike Rides in Valley Springs in December and next year in 2019. The rides are designed to promote the Three Lakes surrounding Valley Springs as well as Foothill Communities above Highway 49. The rides are designed for experienced cyclists comfortable riding on County Rural Roads. Lisa Boulton, Executive Director of Calaveras Visitors Bureau & Film Commission is featuring the Tuesday Series in Spring 2019. Over 50,000 people belong to this Facebook website and call Lisa asking where to ride bikes or hike in Calaveras County.
A Tuesday Ride Route
I have ridden from Valley Springs to Jackson, Campo Seco Turnpike near Mokelumne Hill four times in December and simply love this 35 mile ride. In one hour the ride climbs 1,800 elevation feet up Stoney Creek, out of Lake Pardee and then another 1,500 elevation feet up Highway 49 to Mokelumne Hill. And there are no Rumble Strips on Highway 49.
At the Campo Seco Turnpike I spoke to several Cal Trans workers about installing Rumble Strips on Highway 49 and they shared…We heard you! And, we want you to ride safely, No More Rumble Strips.
As expected with the increase in bike riding on rural roads and in Foothill towns cyclists are being confronted by people upset about sharing the road. Cyclists have been flipped off, yelled at and cars/trucks driving too close for comfort. Last year, several cyclists met with the San Andreas CHP to talk about cycling in Motherlode. This meeting is being planned for mid-December 2018.
I have received many calls about how to find a local bike club or informal cycling group that rides in the California Foothills and Sierras. The following is a current list and way to learn more details.
Stockton Bike Club SBC http://stocktonbikeclub.org/
Erma’s Diner jrovaneandkrovane@volcano.net Ride Coordinator or see Yahoo Group
Golden Chain Summer Tuesday Evening TIme Trials Series.See Facebook page
Foothill Group See Facebook Page for Amador County. No Ride Calendar
Project Hero San Joaquin Group trekkiedad@comcast.net
Motherlode Bicycle Coalition rbwilliams72@gmail.com and Meetup Valley Springs
Alpine Alta www.altaalpina.org
Bear Valley Bike Club /www.bearvalleybike.com/
Sonora Bikes for Tykes work day held in early December to repair approximately 60 donated bikes to be given to local youth at the Sonora Community Holiday Party at the Motherlode Fairgrounds on Saturday December 8. This is a long-standing tradition in Sonora. The used bikes are supplemented with new bikes and helmets purchased with donated funds.
Sonora High School and Sonora Bike Store are sponsoring a Mountain Bike Race Team
Sonora High School is holding a club fun ride on First ride December 15.
For more information contact:
Ben Howell bhowell@sonoras.k12,ca,us (209)591-8236
2019 Cal Bike Legislation Agenda
Topping Cal Bikes 2019 Legislation agenda is the Complete Streets Bill, which will require all projects using the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) funding to include bicycle and pedestrian safety facilities if reasonable. If successful, this bill will tap into this over $17 billion dollar funding source for bike lanes, crosswalks, safe transit stops, and other enhancements on some of our communities’ most dangerous streets. This will be the strongest requirement in the nation and a game changer in improving safety for people biking, walking, and using transit on state-owned surface streets that cut through our communities.
For more Cal Bike Legislation https://www.calbike.org
2019 Local Organized Ride Events To Calendar
Peddling Paths to Independence Linden and Calaveras County
February 23, 2019 https://www.pedalingpaths.com/
RideandWalk4Art Calaveras and Amador Counties
March 17, 2019 https://www.rideandwalk4art.com/
Pardee Party Amador and Calaveras Counties
April 6, 2019 http://www.bikehikers.com
Mr. Frogs Ride Calaveras County
April 13, 2019 https://www.mrfrogswildride.org/
The Motherlode Bicycle Coalition is a fiscally sponsored project of the California Bicycle Education Fund.
Rob Williams
CoFounder of the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition
209-531-5844
Rbwilliams72@gmail.com