Berkeley Tuesday Evening Ride

Mark Abrahams
<dma -at- abriz -dot- net>
Last updated 22 March 2012

For 2012, the ride is scheduled for every Tuesday from the beginning of April through the last Tuesday in September, except for rain-outs. Occasionally, I will be unable to make the ride. On such days, I will try to find an alternate leader.

Here is the description, excerpted from the weekly ride schedule:

TUESDAYS 5/M,B/32 Berkeley Tuesday Evening Ride
Quick-paced hilly workout ride — focus is on intensity, hillclimbing, sprinting, positioning, and drafting. NEW THIS YEAR: separate M and B groups, usually with separate leaders. Meet 5:30pm at Spruce and Grizzly Peak Blvd, at the benches next to the reservoir (not the bus stop benches). We arrive at Grizzly/Skyline approx 45 and 50 minutes after the start time (for the B and M groups, respectively) for those who want to join there. To keep each group together yet still give everybody a good workout, we have explicitly defined parts of the course for easy, medium, hard, drafting, and regroups. This ride runs from the first Tuesday in April to the last Tuesday in September. Rain cancels. Mark Abrahams (510)524-1294.

ROUTE. Here is the route:

	Meet at benches next to the reservoir at top of Spruce St.
	Start at Spruce / Grizzly Peak Blvd.
	R (south/uphill) on Grizzly
	L at Skyline Blvd
	L at T-junction with Joaquin Miller Rd (name stays Skyline)
	L at Redwood Rd
	L at Pinehurst Rd
	R at Skyline (retrace outward route)
	R at Grizzly
	Return to start

It's a simple route — please memorize it. No route sheet or route map is supplied at the ride start.
It's a hilly route — about 3100 feet of climbing in 32 miles.

Here are maps, with mileages. They all show the same route; chose the map site you like the best.

	ridewithgps.com
	strava.com (with times)
	gmap-pedometer

The maps look pretty cool if you select the Satellite view, but for more info about the hills select the Topo or Terrain view.

WHAT TO BRING. As the ride is only 32 miles, we don't stop for water. Bring what you need. For most people, that means two bottles. There's a fountain at the ride start. Put anything else you might need (armwarmers? wind vest?) in your pockets for easy access while riding . . . not buried away somewhere that you'll have to stop to get it.

PACE — CHANGES IN 2012. This year (2012) there will be two pace groups, M and B. M group riders will typically have average ride speed 14.5 - 16mph. Given the hilliness, that is a solid M pace by GPC standards. B group riders will typically average 16.5 - 17.5mph; some may go faster. For more information about GPC ride paces, see our page on ride ratings.

The division into two groups is new this year — the purpose is to allow more people to join in than in the past. We'll see how this goes.

RYTHM. Over the years, this ride has developed a set of natural sprint points, regroup points, paceline/drafting areas, etc. So that everybody knows what to expect, here they are.

Warmup. A good warmup is important. We don't start out hard.

Warmup pace from start to Shasta. Somewhat faster from Shasta to Centennial.

Intervals / Sprint Points. Intensity is the heart of the workout.

Grizzly, climb from Centennial to summit. Sprint for summit.
Grizzly, approaching the last hump before Skyline. Sprint for Skyline.
Skyline, past Chabot Space Science Center, up to the yellow gates just before the crest at Roberts (and just before the descent to Joaquin Miller). Note: We stop and regroup before starting the descent to Joaquin Miller. That's so people who want to turn back there can tell us.
South Pinehurst, climb to summit. Sprint for summit.
North Pinehurst from the lower hairpin to Skyline.
Skyline from Huckleberry to Grizzly.
Grizzly from Claremont to summit. Sprint for summit.

Regroups. Because people of different strengths and speeds attend, these are the most important to observe, in order to keep the ride together. These are quick regroups — just long enough to get back together in a group.

Grizzly, just past the summit, at the pull-out opposite South Park Rd: full regroup. (Slow descenders: check-in with someone, then keep riding.)
Grizzly at the overlook 0.3mi after Claremont (just before Marlborough): full regroup — form a paceline.
Grizzly/Skyline: full regroup.
Skyline at crest in road after Chabot Center, about 0.1 mi before entrance to Roberts park: full regroup. (Slow descenders: check-in, then keep riding.)
Start of south Pinehurst climb: rolling regroup
Pinehurst/Canyon: full regroup — form a paceline.
Top of north Pinehurst climb: full regroup.
Skyline/Grizzly: full regroup.
Grizzly near Marlborough: rolling regroup.

Paceline/Drafting Areas. Few surprises here: Most anywhere the road is level enough (or straight enough) we'll draft and/or paceline. That way the entire group moves faster and we all develop our skills.

Grizzly, from Marlborough to the sprint point before Skyline.
Skyline, from Grizzly to the sprint point before Roberts.
Redwood, descent from Skyline to Pinehurst. Note: This is a fast downhill (30-35mph) that requires extra caution in positioning; you should draft in a line here only if you're amply experienced.
North Pinehurst, from Canyon to lower hairpin turn.
Skyline from Pinehurst to Huckleberry.
Grizzly, from Skyline to the hump at Marlborough.

PACELINE RIDING WRITEUPS. These are always worth review.

If you would like to learn or practice paceline riding in a ride which is specifically designed for that, consider trying our occasional Grizzly Peak Group Rides.

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