Touchstone Blog Archive
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Pipeworks Riders Take on Sierra to the Sea
On October 1, Dan Weintraub and Nicole Dolney rolled into Bodega Bay at 7:30 pm- exactly as they had predicted. Their accuracy was especially impressive as they biked for fifteen hours and 210 miles to Bodega.
Taking advantage of the fact that the Pipeworks Bike Club annual camping trip to Bodega Bay coincided with his 50th birthday, Dan Weintraub, a professional writer, decided to ride from the Sierra to the Sea in one day with Dolney, a member of the Touchstone Women’s cycling team and only other rider who biked the entire course.
Weintraub, Dolney, and Mark Murray began the 210 mile ride at 4:30 am in the dark on Donner Summit. After a short shuttle to avoid dangerous riding along Interstate 80 in the dark, the riders took off from Baxter, where the temps had gone from 40 degrees to 70. Five hours after they began, they reached mid town Sacramento.
Riding through 90 degree heat, the crew of riders headed up Cardiac Hill, passing Lake Berryessa and nearly getting teased into swimming in the cold water. They passed up temptation, headed through Napa Valley and north to St. Helena. They rode through the town of Occidental and caught a beautiful sunset before cruising down the last stretch of their ride.
They rolled to the campsite right on time and were met by a large dinner and awesome company. Congratulations to the riders who took on the 210 miles and 15 hour ride!
Taking advantage of the fact that the Pipeworks Bike Club annual camping trip to Bodega Bay coincided with his 50th birthday, Dan Weintraub, a professional writer, decided to ride from the Sierra to the Sea in one day with Dolney, a member of the Touchstone Women’s cycling team and only other rider who biked the entire course.
Weintraub, Dolney, and Mark Murray began the 210 mile ride at 4:30 am in the dark on Donner Summit. After a short shuttle to avoid dangerous riding along Interstate 80 in the dark, the riders took off from Baxter, where the temps had gone from 40 degrees to 70. Five hours after they began, they reached mid town Sacramento.
Riding through 90 degree heat, the crew of riders headed up Cardiac Hill, passing Lake Berryessa and nearly getting teased into swimming in the cold water. They passed up temptation, headed through Napa Valley and north to St. Helena. They rode through the town of Occidental and caught a beautiful sunset before cruising down the last stretch of their ride.
They rolled to the campsite right on time and were met by a large dinner and awesome company. Congratulations to the riders who took on the 210 miles and 15 hour ride!
Labels: Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club, Sierra to the Sea, Touchstone Cycling
¶ Thursday, October 14, 2010 0 Comments
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Pipeworks Bike Club Annual Scavenger Hunt
On Sunday, fifteen Sacramento Pipeworks bike club members, got together to compete in the annual 4th of July scavenger hunt. Put together by club member and extraordinarily skilled organizer Scott Clark, the event is the highlight of the summer riding season. Five teams of three people were given one hour and forty-five minutes to ride around downtown/midtown Sacramento getting photos of random items on a list of fifty six possibilities.
Items ranged from common (Aquarium, Bed, Bell, Candy dispenser, Coat of Arms, First aid kit) to vague (Center of Attention, Claustrophobia, Not so neighborly, Oh-Snap!). A pot luck food competition, with riders voting for their favorite food, rounded out the day.
Some of the winning photos can be viewed here: At the Third Annual Fourth of July Scavenger Hunt
Items ranged from common (Aquarium, Bed, Bell, Candy dispenser, Coat of Arms, First aid kit) to vague (Center of Attention, Claustrophobia, Not so neighborly, Oh-Snap!). A pot luck food competition, with riders voting for their favorite food, rounded out the day.
Some of the winning photos can be viewed here: At the Third Annual Fourth of July Scavenger Hunt
Labels: Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club, Scavenger Hunt, Scott Clark
¶ Tuesday, July 06, 2010 0 Comments
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club Camp Out
On a recent unseasonably warm weekend, the Sacramento Pipeworks bike club held their annual Bodega Dunes ride and camp-out. 16 people showed up armed with sleeping bags, a strong desire to ride and as usual with this club, a ton of food and drink. The easy ride was around 35 miles, including the gorgeous Coleman Valley Road, while the hard ride covered over 55 miles and ascended the imposing Marshall Grade Road (over 10% climb). Dinner was a hours long affair and saying that no one went to bed hungry would be an understatement! If an event like this appeals to you, or even if you'd prefer a ride closer to home, check our online message board under the "cycling" or "ride schedules" tab.
-Vaughn Medford
On a recent unseasonably warm weekend, the Sacramento Pipeworks bike club held their annual Bodega Dunes ride and camp-out. 16 people showed up armed with sleeping bags, a strong desire to ride and as usual with this club, a ton of food and drink. The easy ride was around 35 miles, including the gorgeous Coleman Valley Road, while the hard ride covered over 55 miles and ascended the imposing Marshall Grade Road (over 10% climb). Dinner was a hours long affair and saying that no one went to bed hungry would be an understatement! If an event like this appeals to you, or even if you'd prefer a ride closer to home, check our online message board under the "cycling" or "ride schedules" tab.
-Vaughn Medford
Labels: Coleman Valley Road, Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club, Touchstone Cycling
¶ Thursday, October 01, 2009 0 Comments
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club 4th of July Scavenger Hunt
The Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club had its annual 4th of July Sacenger Hunt last week. The highly anticipated cycling event brought together more than twenty people who competed in a photo scavenger hunt, which relied heavily on creativity and teamwork, and kept the physical hardships to a minimum.
Each team of three or four, was given a checklist, and an hour and forty-five minutes to collect as many photos from the list as the could. Some of the items were slightly abstract and so an open mind was necessary.
Below is a just a sample of items asked for:
1776
5 mph miles per hour posted speed
American Flag clothing
Apple Pie
At least $10 cover charge
$1000 reward offered for missing pet
At least 10 bicycles in one image
Backhoe
Baseball
Cannon
Circle, triangle, square (all in one shot)
Community garden
Eagle
FitCore workout station
Gargoyle
Gravestone
He shoots! He scores!
Horse
Hot dog
Invisible
It’s ok to color outside the lines
Jimi Hendrix
Lion
Midnight
Pimped my ride
Pink slip
President on Mt. Rushmore
Prickly pear cactus
Rotary phone
Shiny
Skate or die
Solar panel
Some assembly required
Something old, something new
Truck nuts
View from the second floor or higher
Weather Vane
What is Scott doing here?!
When animals attack
Bonus points for figuring out a foreign language item:
German: Blumengarten
German: Trinkwasserbrunnen
French: Écureuil
French: Distributeur automatique
Italian: Isola rotatoria
Italian: Tazzina da caffè
After the hunt, there was a food-related challenge. This years theme celebrated that which makes American great - party affiliation. Participants were asked to bring a dish that highlights the glory of partisanship. Members were encouraged to do anything from life-sized butter sculptures of Rush Limbaugh, to an empty plate symbolizing the zero electoral votes earned by 2009 Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader. Luckily, the food turned out to be far better than those two suggestions.
Check out some of Scott Clark's photos.
The Sacramento Pipeworks bike club meets every Saturday for rides of varying lengths.
To join, check our message board and then show up for a ride!
Stay updated with The Touchstone Cycling Club by checking their Blog Site.
Each team of three or four, was given a checklist, and an hour and forty-five minutes to collect as many photos from the list as the could. Some of the items were slightly abstract and so an open mind was necessary.
Below is a just a sample of items asked for:
1776
5 mph miles per hour posted speed
American Flag clothing
Apple Pie
At least $10 cover charge
$1000 reward offered for missing pet
At least 10 bicycles in one image
Backhoe
Baseball
Cannon
Circle, triangle, square (all in one shot)
Community garden
Eagle
FitCore workout station
Gargoyle
Gravestone
He shoots! He scores!
Horse
Hot dog
Invisible
It’s ok to color outside the lines
Jimi Hendrix
Lion
Midnight
Pimped my ride
Pink slip
President on Mt. Rushmore
Prickly pear cactus
Rotary phone
Shiny
Skate or die
Solar panel
Some assembly required
Something old, something new
Truck nuts
View from the second floor or higher
Weather Vane
What is Scott doing here?!
When animals attack
Bonus points for figuring out a foreign language item:
German: Blumengarten
German: Trinkwasserbrunnen
French: Écureuil
French: Distributeur automatique
Italian: Isola rotatoria
Italian: Tazzina da caffè
After the hunt, there was a food-related challenge. This years theme celebrated that which makes American great - party affiliation. Participants were asked to bring a dish that highlights the glory of partisanship. Members were encouraged to do anything from life-sized butter sculptures of Rush Limbaugh, to an empty plate symbolizing the zero electoral votes earned by 2009 Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader. Luckily, the food turned out to be far better than those two suggestions.
Check out some of Scott Clark's photos.
The Sacramento Pipeworks bike club meets every Saturday for rides of varying lengths.
To join, check our message board and then show up for a ride!
Stay updated with The Touchstone Cycling Club by checking their Blog Site.
Labels: Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club, Touchstone Bike Club
¶ Saturday, July 11, 2009 0 Comments
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Clubs 5th Anniversary!
Can you believe it has been FIVE years since the very first Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club ride?! FIVE years! Well my friends, believe it as just this last Saturday the members of the Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club commemorated the awesome event with a very special group ride.
On Saturday, the members of the SPBC braved the 40 degree weather to ride the very same route they rode 5 years ago to kick off the amazing club. While the route was 16 miles and probably seemed long back then, for the members today it seemed altogether brief. The Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club now averages 40-50 miles for a typical bike club ride. How far they've come!!
Vaughn sent us in this information and was quick to tells us all just how tight-knit a group they all are. According to him, their riding ability is equaled to only one thing...their ability to eat. Keep in mind, if you're in their area, the SP Bike Club is open to anyone who has a road bike and can comfortably handle riding 40-50 miles in a single ride. They'd welcome you with open arms, so if you're into it, get with them and who knows, we might see you in the next 5 year anniversary photo!
Can you believe it has been FIVE years since the very first Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club ride?! FIVE years! Well my friends, believe it as just this last Saturday the members of the Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club commemorated the awesome event with a very special group ride.
On Saturday, the members of the SPBC braved the 40 degree weather to ride the very same route they rode 5 years ago to kick off the amazing club. While the route was 16 miles and probably seemed long back then, for the members today it seemed altogether brief. The Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club now averages 40-50 miles for a typical bike club ride. How far they've come!!
Vaughn sent us in this information and was quick to tells us all just how tight-knit a group they all are. According to him, their riding ability is equaled to only one thing...their ability to eat. Keep in mind, if you're in their area, the SP Bike Club is open to anyone who has a road bike and can comfortably handle riding 40-50 miles in a single ride. They'd welcome you with open arms, so if you're into it, get with them and who knows, we might see you in the next 5 year anniversary photo!
Labels: 5 Year Anniversary, Road Bike, Sacramento Pipeworks, Sacramento Pipeworks Bike Club, Touchstone Bike Club
¶ Monday, January 12, 2009 0 Comments
