Training Ride this Saturday, July 21

From Michael Edwards:

Grizzly Peak Cyclists Monthly Metric: Heart's Desire

Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Miller Creek Community Center for 9:15 departure; or meet at 10 at Nicasio for shorter version (45miles). Ride to Heart's Desire Beach, return through Olema and Samuel P Taylor Park.

Start Directions:
Take 101 to Lucas Valley exit, west on Lucas Valley Rd, and right onto Miller Creek Rd;
-or-
Continue on Lucas Valley Rd to Right on Nicasio Valley Rd to Nicasio for start of shorter version. Helmets required. Any questions please contact Ride Leader John Steinberg (510) 207-4951 or minimalist1@sbcglobal.net.

This route is about 65 miles some climbing.

Be sure to bring the following;
- Spare tube and/or patch kit
- Bike Pump
- Helmet
- Water
- Snacks i.e. Banana, Bar, Gels or whatever.
- Money

All are welcome.

Thanks,

Michael

Lodging Update

The Silver Surf in San Simeon is sold out.

Friday Lodging

Saturday Lodging

Please let us know if you have any questions or need any assistance with anything.

Who will win the Tour?

Who do you think will wear the yellow jersey into Paris? Let us know.

Exciting finish today with former World Champion Tom Boonen taking the finish and wresting the green jersey back from Erik Zabel. Axel Merckx , who will he riding in the ABBC: HC on September 8 is currently in 45th place overall, 1'14'' down from Fabian Cancellara of Team CSC.

Look for tomorrow's opening Alpine stage to shake things up. Go Axel!!

Training Ride Tomorrow

Two Best Buddies rides tomorrow:

At 10AM from the Fort Baker/ Bay Area Kids Museum lot - led by Beth Ercolini of Team CA - the plan is for 30 flat to moderately hilly miles (Paradise Loop) with a 12 mph to 14 mph average.

At 11AM from the Forst Baker/ Bay Area Kids Museum lot - led by Dylan Taylor of BB - the plan is for a couple of hours of flat to moderately hilly riding with a steady pace. Late start so we can all watch the end of the Tour stage.

Email DylanTaylor@BestBuddies.org for more information.

More Training Rides

Nancy Yu, of Team T-Mobile, invites everyone to a few Friday rides that she's running.

FRI JUL 13 5/TM/46 Temescal Loop
Meet at the Lake Temescal parking lot off Broadway in Oakland for a prompt 10 a.m. departure. We will ride thru Montclair, up BBR and Skyline. Descend Golf Links Rd into the Oakland Zoo. Lunch stop at the Bagel shop on MacArthur. Continue up Lake Chabot Rd into Castro Valley. Climb Redwood back to Skyline via Pinehurst. Descend Tunnel back to the starting point. Bring H2o, snacks and lunch or $ to buy. Questions: Nancy Yu at nancyyu7@hotmail.com or 510-697-7736.

FRI JUL 20 5/TM/38 Wildcat to S Park and Claremont
Meet at the Park & Ride lot on Castro Ranch Rd/SPDR in El Sobrante for a prompt 10 a.m. departure. We'll climb SPDR, Wildcat and S Park Dr to Grizzly Peak. Descend Tunnel Rd for lunch on Domingo St before climbing Claremont and Grizzly Peak back to Wildcat and SPDR. Questions: Nancy Yu at nancyyu7@hotmail.com or 510-697-7736.

FRI JUL 27 1.5/T/41 Point Richmond
Join me on this easy paced ride out to Pt Richmond for lunch at Little Louie's. Meet at the foot of the pedestrian bridge on Addison in Berkeley (near the Aquatic Park) for a prompt 10:00 a.m. departure. We'll ride out along Frontage Rd to the Emeryville Marina, down University and around Ceasar Chavez Park before looping back to hop on the Bay Trail out to Richmond Marina Bay. Bring H2O, snacks, lunch or $ to buy. Questions: Nancy Yu at nancyyu7 at hotmail dot com or (510) 697-7736.

Hope to see some of you guys out there.

Training Rides - Sunday, July 15

Michael Edwards of Team T-Mobile sent in this info about some upcoming rides:

Best Buddies riders,

THIS SATURDAY, JULY 15 we’re meeting at the Miller Creek Fire Station around 9:00am for a 9:30am start time. This route is about 65 miles—flat with some very good climbs. It’s a chance to get in some distance along with some challenging climbs

Be sure to bring the following;
- Spare tube and/or patch kit
- Bike Pump
- Helmet
- Water
- Snacks i.e. Banana, Bar, Gels or whatever.
- Money

All are welcome.
Directions: Take 101 North to Lucas Valley Road, Left on Lucas Valley Rd to Miller Creek Rd and right on Miller Creek.

Also, on Saturday August 4th, the Marin Cyclist is having their annual Marin Century Ride. If you’ve never done a large organized ride before, here’s a good one to start with. It has different routes for different experience levels.

Here are a couple of other good organized tours (not races) for riders with different riding experience. They have good Sag Support and frequent rest stops.

The Tour de Max is Sunday, August 12, 2007. There are shorter distance options. A rider's account of 50+ miles of the Tour de Max 100k.

The Holstein 100 Bicycle Ride is Saturday, August 18, 2007 (3 weeks before the Best Buddies). We have signed up for the 100k route. There are shorter distance options available

Additionally, all of Team T-Mobile will be meeting Saturday July 28th. This will allow each of us to gauge ourselves a good month before the event. This is a 49 mile route with a 23 mile shorter option. All are welcome to join.

Michael

Let us know by commenting here or emailing DylanTaylor@BestBuddies.org if you’d like more information or a route map/ ride description.

VIVE LE TOUR!!

Watch the Tour de France every morning live at the Velo Rouge Cafe. Velo Rouge is showing Verus coverage of every stage, live, starting when they open at 6:30 a.m. Drop by on your way to work or enjoy a leisurely weekend breakfast while watching all the action.

The excellent cafe is located at Arguello and McCallister right across from Golden Gate Park. Plenty of bike parking out front, even more great food inside (they serve Blue Bottle Coffee).

Vive Le Tour!!

New rider blog, Team Oxy raises $40K in one day!!

Our sincerest apologies for being late in getting this up, but Bill Dykes, captain of TeamOxy, has an excellent blog.

In his words:

"This blog will keep you updated as I prepare for the various bike rides that support those in need. Next on the agenda as far as fundraising rides is the 2007 Audi Best Buddies Challenge-Hearst Castle ride from Carmel to Hearst Castle, California."

Head on over and check it out, great work Bill!

Speaking of great work by TeamOxy, the current number one fundraising team raised over $40,000 for Best Buddies with a great event in Bakersfield on June 23. The event, which featured a BBQ, silent and live auction was organized by TeamOxy member Alan White in conjunction with Taft College's Transition to Independent Living program was held at the home of Stan and Bonnie Ellis. Special thanks to everyone involved! And wait to go TeamOxy!!

Hotels updated

The hotel information has been updated.

FRIDAY NIGHT
- Monterey Travelodge – Group Code: "BEST". When calling please ask for "Carol".

SATURDAY NIGHT
- The Best Western Cavalier has sold out.
- San Simeon Lodge – prices are now $85 - $95
- Orchid Inn – Sold out of Main Building rooms. Rooms available are at $159 + tax.
- Sands by the Sea – prices are now $69 - $79

Axel Merckx to the 2007 ABBC: HC!

Axel Merckx to ride in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle
T-Mobile teammates Aaron Olson, Mari Holden, Kimberly Baldwin and Kim Anderson to join

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olympic medalist Axel Merckx, the son of legendary Eddy Merckx, will wrap up his season at the fourth Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle on September 8 where he’ll be joined by his T-Mobile teammates.

The 34-year-old Belgian is currently competing in his ninth Tour de France, and is the reigning Olympic Bronze medalist and winner of a stage in the 2000 Giro d’Italia. In 1998 he finished 10th in the Tour and in 2005 took a memorable, solo victory in stage five of the prestigious Dauphiné Libéré. His father, Eddy, is widely considered to be the greatest cyclist of all time, winning both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia five times.

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle (ABBC: HC) is a five-star, charity cycling event chaired by California First Lady Maria Shriver that supports Best Buddies International, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. All of the money raised by participants in the ABBC: HC goes directly to Best Buddies programs.

Beginning at the Chateau Julien Winery in Carmel, Calif., participants head 100, 62 or 15 miles down a stunning stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway to the Hearst Castle where a one-of-a-kind celebration awaits them. At the finish riders enjoy a complimentary hot shower, professional massage, and a gourmet lunch with an open bar at the beach below the Hearst Castle. Then, they head up to the Hearst Ranch for a gourmet BBQ that’s followed by a private concert by rock legends Cheap Trick.

Joining Merckx at the event will be his American teammate Aaron Olson. T Mobile will also send members of its world class women’s team, including Mari Holden, Kimberly Baldwin and Kim Anderson. Holden is a past Olympic silver medalist and long-time Best Buddies supporter. This will be her third year participating in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle. Baldwin is a three-time U.S National Time Trial Champion and the talented Anderson is a three-time member of the U.S. World Championship team

For more information on the ABBC: HC or to join Merckx, Holden, their teammates and hundreds of others in making a difference visit www.BestBuddiesChallenge.org or call 800.718.3536.

About Best Buddies
Best Buddies ® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. The organization has accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development. Best Buddies six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e -Buddies® and Jobs – will positively impact more than 350,000 individuals this year.


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