4/BC/59/Occasional
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40934515
Arrive at 8:50, rolling at 9:00
Subscribe to the topic for updates, but everything looks
good! Should not be too hot.
Breaks/Regroup:
Chalk Hill/128 (mile 10); 128 & Franz Valley (“rolling regroup” at
mile 16.5 to make sure everyone makes the turn); Pioneer Park in Calistoga
(mile 27 - water and restrooms available); loose regroup at top of Old Lawley
(I’ll likely be the last one to go down, I recommend you descend Hwy 29 with at
least one other person in sight), and then a slow rolling regroup on Bennett
Lane (the right turn off Tubbs) to make sure everyone made it down.
I did not incorporate a meal break. We will be at Pioneer
Park in Calistoga around 11:00 for water and snacks – typically spending 15
minutes or so there. Please
remember: There is a sign prohibiting
bullwhips in the park. Leave them at the house for this ride. If you want prepared
food, you can ride ahead to Bella Bakery on Lincoln or CalMart – the supermarket
on Lincoln and we’ll pick you up as we ride up Lincoln toward 29.
Some quick ride notes for anyone who hasn’t ridden all or
parts of this route:
Franz Valley School Road is an absolute joy to ride. Both Sonoma and Napa sides have relatively
new pavement. A steady crawl up the
Sonoma side leads to a glorious descent into Calistoga. At the end of Petrified Forest Road, follow
the route forward, across Hwy 128, to catch the bike path off
Cedar St.
Old Lawley Toll Road – lots of pavement work in the past 2
years and there are some grand views of the Napa Valley to be had! If you haven’t been on this road in over 2
years, it’s not the pothole infested,
stagecoach trail it once was. At the top
of Lawley, Garmin tells you to take a “slight right onto Hwy 29.” Don’t do that – it’s a left turn (downhill)
at the intersection. The descent on
Hwy 29 is a “flow of traffic” descent, so prepare yourself. Best practice is to head downhill at the
intersection to the clearing on the side of the road and watch and listen for
traffic. You do not want to start your
descent too closely ahead or behind vehicles – if you’re behind them, there’s a
good chance you will catch them and be frustrated.
John Hendrickson
707-849-7439