Carl's Bike Blog: My first training ride with Team Kaiser Thrive for NCAC

Saturday, March 23, 2013

My first training ride with Team Kaiser Thrive for NCAC

So, a week and a half ago Sarah and I showed up for our first ride with our uber-orgainized team. I'm used to the Monsanto Mavericks, where we show up, decide where to ride and fend for ourselves. So imagine my shock and awe when I realize this group has printed maps, and full SAG support for a 38 mile training ride...Wow!

We start in Folsom so I know I'm in for a nice ride, oaks and foothills, I'm all in. We have a beautiful spring ride through the foothills between Aubrurn and Folsom, with Jason our team leader lapping us on the big hills.

On the last 10 miles back to folsom, Jason our fearless leader, says he needs to take off quick to make it back for a family hike, so he spilts on down the road. Tara, the ride organizer challenges a few of us to chase him down, this is what I call fun; 3 person chase team after a solo breakaway. We catch him after a long chase a couple of miles from Folsom. When he sees us he looks back, gives me one of those Lance Armstrong "the look" moves and takes off on me. I'm done chasing so I circle back and ride in with Sarah.

I'm going to like this team,

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NCAC

The 2013 NorCal AIDS Cycle Route!

The NorCal AIDS Cycle route has been designed to allow the participants to experience some of the best scenery of Northern California by traveling through the service area of many of our benefiting agencies. Not only does the route pass through some of Northern California’s most stunning country side but it also encompasses many of the beautiful small towns that lay nestled in the foothills and northern valley. Each day will bring you new sites and introduce you to new areas.

Day 1 (101 miles) Begins in Folsom where the first half of the day is spent exploring the rolling terrain of the foothills near Lincoln, Loomis, and Linda. Riders will travel up the first climb of the 4-day ride, Sierra College Boulevard. Lunch is served in the town of Marysville. The afternoon takes our riders back into the foothills to enjoy the scenery of many small farms and ranches before finishing the day at Gridley in the heart of the Northern Valley.

Day 2 (103 miles) Sends our cyclists up the middle of the Northern Valley to the bottom of the famous Table Mountain in the small town of Oroville. From there, cyclist will travel back into the foothills before ending up in Durham for lunch. The remainder of the day is spent cruising along the banks of the Sacramento River with the last rest stop at the Sacramento National Wild Life Refuge. The day ends in the agricultural town of Williams.

Days 3 and 4 – The Weekender

Day 3 (79 miles) Begins on the flats and breaks away into rolling hills followed by a seven mile climb out of the valley. From there, it’s a mostly-downhill ride along Cache Creek as it empties out into the Capay Valley. We’ll ride by the newly expanded Cache Creek Casino Resort before stopping for the night in Woodland.

Day 4 (50 miles) The easiest day of the ride and final stage is completed with a flat 50 miles from Woodland to Winters to Davis and then back to Sacramento where are cyclist will be met at the State Capital of California by a roaring crowd of friends, family and supporters.