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HomeEvents and RidesWinter/Spring Series #5 - DSSF Velo Love Ride

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Winter/Spring Series #5 - DSSF Velo Love Ride

NOTE: You must preregister to join this ride.

Distance: 61 mi.
Pace: B/C (moderate to brisk, few stops)
Terrain: 1(few low hills but mostly flat)
Total elevation gain: 600 ft.

We like Chico Velo’s Love Ride so much that we’ve decided do it even though Chico Velo seems to have this event on an extended hiatus. So we are getting up early to drive up to Gridley, CA to do it. Why should you do this ride as it is a fair distance to travel? Chico Velo has crafted a really friendly loop out of quiet Gridley into the rice fields and orchards of Butte County going around the scenic Sutter Buttes. There is very little traffic, the roads are in good condition, and there is only one “big” hill just south of the Sutter Buttes. You’ll see a lot of birds too if the paddies are flooded as they usually are this time of year.

You can find the route map and cue sheet here.

The start is about a 2.5 hour drive from SF, so it’s not nearby. But it’s far enough out that it’s a different world from the hyper-urban Bay Area. On the plus side, you pass by Fenton's at Vacaville on the way back to the Bay Area where you can get your Black-and-Tan fix. (You’ll see lots of plus-sized people gorging there, but after doing a metric century you get special dispensation!)

We plan to do it at a B-to-C pace. Although the terrain is ripe for 20+ mph pacelining, this is an early season ride for us and we don’t have a long ride under our belt yet. And we don’t like leg cramps. So we'll go at a conversational pace rather than briskly (but we want to go fast enough to stay warm). We would like to gather at 8:30 AM and be on the road absolutely no later than 9 AM. If you’re coming from SF you need to be on the road by 6:30 AM if you’re a fast driver, even earlier if you’re a regular driver.

In lieu of the usual support, bring a lunch or snacks to eat at the halfway point in Sutter. (There is a minimart in Sutter as well as a Taco Time but they're slightly off route.) After the ride we're getting some great Mex food at Los Charros before hitting the road.

Rain cancels; call the ride leaders if the weather is iffy.

Bring snacks, water and appropriate clothing (it can be chilly).
When:
Sunday, February 12, 2023, 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM
Where:
Butte County Fairgrounds
199 E Hazel Street
Gridley, CA  95948
Additional Info:
Event Contact(s):
Anthony Moy
 
Roger Hoyer
Category:
Road
Registration is required
Payment In Full In Advance Only
No Fee