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Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: Meet up at 9:15 AM for a 9:30 departure
Distance: 40 miles
Pace: B/C (moderate to brisk, few stops)
Terrain: 3 (Moderate hills with some challenges)
Estimated elevation gain: 2,200 ft.
GPX Link: RWGPS
The Bay Area has no shortage of dramatic hills, bike-friendly bridges, scenic waterfront parks and recreational areas, and good food. Today’s ride will cover them by exploring roads less traveledby this club for a 40 miles loop ride from Pleasant Hill BART, crossing the Carquinez Strait twice on 2 different bridges.
We will meet up and start at Pleasant Hill BART. On the outskirts of Martinez, we will climb though Franklin Canyon Road at a gentle 2% grade and McEwen Road at 3-4% before dropping sharply onto Carquinez Scenic Drive. From Crockett, we will head north on the Zampa Memorial Bridge to get to Benicia’s waterfront area. We will then break for snack/lunch at One House Bakery (918 1st Street, Benicia, CA 94510). We will return by crossing south on the Benicia-Martinez Bridge for a relatively flat trip back to Pleasant Hill.
As always, bring sunscreen, water, and a snack, along with your helmet, and an extra tube and tire changing kit.
We'll check the weather in the morning and if there's a 30% chance of rain, we will cancel and let those who are registered know. So please preregister.
Sweeps? No
Is this a "no rider left behind" ride? No, but we will have a few regroups. We will keep an eye out for each other but if you are a new rider, please either know the route or bring a map in case you get dropped from the group.
Did you know…? Benicia was one of the first incorporated cities in California and served as the capital of the state from 1853 and 1854.
Photos by Nancy Yu of Ride Chronicles.
Lunch: One House Bakery. 918 1st Street, Benicia, CA 94510.