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Places to ride

Here are some examples of organized rides that are very popular in California. Click on a link to get more information.

• The Death Ride
• 129 miles!
• 5 mountain passes!
• Over 15,000 feet of climbing!
• Fall River Century
• Views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen!
• Holstein Hundred
• Holsteins, Sheep, and Tomales Bay!
• Tour of Napa Valley
• Ride the Silverado Trail
• Fresh homemade cookies at rest stops!
• Tahoe Sierra Century
• Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake!
• Grizzly Century
• First 75 miles are uphill!
• 10,000 feet of climbing!
• Last 25 miles are downhill!

What to bring

There are certain basics that you should bring with you on your ride. This list will vary according to the type of terrain, weather, and length of ride.

• Water bottle with water or low carbohydrate drink
• Spare tube and or patch kit
• Identification
• Energy food/snack (for rides > 1 hour)
• Small tool kit
• Map or directions

Where do you want to go?

It isn't necessary to know where you are going when starting a bike ride, but having a planned route can make for a more enjoyable time.

Don't know where to start? Resources are almost endless for planning a bike ride. Chances are you have a local bike club in your area. These clubs regularly organize rides for members and others who wish to join in. It could be an early morning cruise at an easy pace or an afternoon sprint to the city limits and back. If you are thinking of moutain biking then a quick trip to the internet or local park can provide you with trail maps and descriptions of the landscape.

If you are a little more ambitious you may want to try a Century Ride. A century ride is to bicycling what the marathon is to running. A century ride is 100 miles long and is completed in 1 day as a single event. You need to be in very good shape and have months of training to finish a century ride without trouble.

You say that 100 miles is no problem? Then you may be up for a Double Century. A double century is 200 miles long and also completed in 1 day as a single event. These rides often start before dawn and many don't finish before sunset. This is a real endurance test of your physical and mental fitness.

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