2016-10-01 - Grizzly Century

After last year's last-minute, but very necessary and accepted cancellation, the North Fork's Grizzly Century was back for 2016.  It was welcomed by about 400 riders, covering four routes.  Most of the riders chose the regular Century (100 mile) or Metric Century (100 kilometer) routes.  There was an optional, eight-mile, unpaved portion to the Century which gave riders the opportunity to see a different route without additional mileage.

In late 2015, North Fork, Ca. and surrounding communities were threatened by devastating wildfires.  Many reminders were seen throughout the day.  Much of the first 30 miles of the course was left scarred, or otherwise completely changed where whole forests were leveled either by the fire itself, or by the clean-up and more recent restoration efforts.  It was a stark contrast to the virtually untouched portion along the last 30 miles of the route.

The day was nearly perfect for a ride with a clear sky, light breezes, and temps between the high 50s to low 70s.  Most of the SAG duties were nothing more than tire issues and water.  I personally fixed four flats, two of them before 8:10 in the morning.  There was one relatively bad spill near the end of the day that required EMS; a mix of tree-root produces pavement undulations and downhill speed.

Ride pictures below... 

Three SAG motos in the parking lot prior to the start of the event.  Kevin's Honda ST1300, with Chuck BMW K75 and Bryan BMW R1200 GSA.

The Yosemite Bicycle & Sport SAG rig is a staple at the Grizzly.  Better service & experience cannot be found anywhere.

Lion's Point Rest Stop.

Fresno Cycling Club President Dennis Ball at Lion's Point Rest Stop.

Reminders of the 2015 fires that threatened North Fork and forced the cancelling of the 2015 Grizzly Century. This is less than a mile from North Fork.  The pavement is still red in places from the fire retardant which was dropped from air tankers in an effort to control the fires.

Parked along Minarets Road. Reminders of the 2015 fires that threatened North Fork and forced the cancelling of the 2015 Grizzly Century along Minarets Road between Lion's Point Rest Stop and Mile High Rest Stop.

2013-05-04 - Kirch Flat Century

The Kirch Flat Century is presented by the Fresno Cycling Club.  It is generally a members only ride, but used as a recruitment ride as well. Anyone who signs up to be a Club member can ride.

The ride starts in the valley but has a number of short, steep climbs peaking to an elevation of just under 2000 feet.

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This year's ride was held in near perfect weather.  There were few issues that required SAG support.  Many riders used it as their first Century ride.

Tutu Archuleta climbs the big hill on Riverbend Road (at McKinley Avenue) while Jessica Jurado waits. View north.

Tutu Archuleta get to the top of the big hill on Riverbend Road (at McKinley Avenue) where Jessica Jurado was waiting. View north.

Tutu Archuleta claims she's lost. Kevin points to her location on the route sheet.

Clovis Big Hat Century - 6 April 2013

Saturday was the first annual Clovis Big Hat Century, a Fresno Cycling Club sponsored event held in conjunction with Clovis Big Hat Days.  The ride started at the Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis, Ca.

There were four rides: a Century (100+ miles), a Metric Century (65+ miles), a half Metric (35+ miles), and a Family fun ride (10 miles.)  The event was attended by about 170 riders.

There were 11 SAG vehicles spread out over the course, including 2 motorcycles.

It was a great day for a ride with perfect weather, from 50°-65°, and a light breeze.

A Big Hat Century organizational meeting on 4 April 2013 in a Starbucks parking lot (as Starbucks was packed with nowhere for us to sit).  Attended by Jen Collins (Registration), Mike Quiroz (Fresno Cycling VP), Nancy Sumaya (Fresno Cycling Board Member At Large), Dennis Ball (Fresno Cycling Club President), Rob Mavis (Radio Communications), & Doug Handy (Ride Director)

SAG vehicles at the beginning of the day.

SAG briefing with the Clovis Amateur Radio Pioneers - SAG drivers: Rodney Lawrence, Kevin Nehring, Nancy Dooley, & Bill Asselin

Climb to Kaiser - June 25, 2011

Painted on the road at the Wildcat Rest Stop at the crest on Watts Valley Road.

Cyclists at the Tollhouse Rest Stop at Sierra Elementary School in Tollhouse.

My Honda ST1300 at the top of the Four-Lane on Highway 168.

Grizzly Century - Oct. 3, 2009

At a turn out along Mammoth Road, overlooking Redinger Lake. (N 37°10.471', W 119°26.144')

A group of cyclists climbing Mammoth Road. (N 37°10.471', W 119°26.144')

Central Valley BMW Riders Supports the Climb to Kaiser

By Paula Landis

Jon Mergan snaps a photo at the Shaver Lake Rest Stop
with his special mounted video camera.

The volunteer participation in the 34th annual Climb to Kaiser bicycle ride was something to be proud of. Twenty-three people turned out to assist with SAG, 10 motorcycles and 13 vehicles. Well over half of the SAG drivers were CVBR members.

SAG drivers started work at 5:30 am and many were still going strong at 10 that evening. Besides all the help, the BMW riders showed off their ingenuity.  Check out the custom racks that Kent Baucher and Terry Mergan built to haul cycling supplies (page 2).

Following are some thoughts from a few of the SAG drivers.

Ralph Tonseth: I volunteered to work the "late shift" (1PM to 10:30PM) with my pickup truck to assist riders who were beginning to realize, or had already confronted, the enormity of the task they had undertaken. As near as I can tell only Bruce Butterfield, Rodger Wagner and I had brought trucks to the event. Bruce had been tasked with hauling supplies and equipment for the rest stop personnel.  There were, however, several cars and SUV's (all environmentally friendly) from the cycling club also present on the circuit.

Grizzly Century, North Fork, Ca - October 07, 2008

I have sort of a running joke with my wife in that she'll let me go in a 12 hour bicycle ride on a Saturday, but my motorcycle ride time on Saturdays is limited to about 20 minutes. Of course it's not really true, but I think she'd rather have me on the bicycle. When I'm on a bicycle, I'm getting exercise and helping the environment. A motorcycle just burns fuel and tires. The latter is justifiable for commuting, not so much for weekend free time.

I've learned that if I use the motorcycle for a bicycle purpose, I can get out the door rather easily. Saturday the 4th was one of those days. The North Fork Chamber of Commerce had its 16th annual Grizzly Century bicycle ride. One hundred miles of some of the most beautiful Sierra Nevada scenery there is. It is an unbelievable bicycle ride that I've done a couple of times. I really think that the ride is one of the best in the State, due to the route, scenery and support. I was able to help them out with rider support (aka SAG) as I have in past years. Carry some water, spare tubes, a first-aid kit and strap a floor pump to the bike, then ride the course and help any riders who may need it.

Most of the SAG drivers drive a truck or car. I ride my motorcycle. In professional cycling events, particularly road racing like the Tour de France, motorcycles are everywhere. In recreational events, they're a rarity. A motorcycle has some serious advantages over a larger vehicle on this type of event. A motorcycle can cover more ground quicker, it can pull off the road in less space, and it needs less space to pass the cyclists, and it can get closer to the cyclists safer (if you need to talk to them) than a car. One big advantage a car has is the ability to carry a rider down the mountain if there is a mechanical failure or injury. For the most part though, most SAG drivers only help with flats, hand out water, and head back down at the end of the day without carrying a cyclist. Theoretically, this is the goal of EVERY organized bicycle ride; to get every cyclist home on their own power.

Climb to Kaiser - July 31, 2005

There's not much to report about the SAG activities this year.  At least, my SAG activities.  This was the only picture taken of me, or any of the other SAG vehicles this year.  I didn't take any, but it wasn't for the lack of trying.  I DID have a camera with me.

The day started well, with no problems to speak of.  The ride began at 5:30am at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District building in Old Town Clovis.  I chased the group on my 1993 BMW R100GS.

By 7:30am, I was working the group up Watts Valley Road and toward the first rest stop at the summit known as Wildcat.  A few hundred yards below the summit there was an audible "click" in the Beemer's transmission and I was immediately unable to shift. It came out of gear, but wouldn't grab a gear - any of them - to go forward.  The motor ran fine, but with nothing seeming to connect the motor to the rear wheel, the GS was effectively dead.  I turned around and coasted down Watts Valley Road nearly a mile and a half to the intersection with Pittman Hill Road (Map Link).

When I got to the intersection, there was a husband & wife team on a tandem who needed some SAG support.  They were already having a bad day and had decided to abandon the ride.  I called in another SAG to transport the her back to the start so she could get their truck.  Meanwhile, I was contemplating my situation.  As I waited with the husband for his wife to return, he explained that he had a truck.  A big one.  Big enough that my motorcycle might fit.  When his wife showed up in their Ford F250 long-bed, 1-ton, I knew they had room for their tandem AND my motorcycle.  He also had enough tie downs to properly lash my GS to the truck bed.

The trick was getting the GS into the truck.  It was tall.  We didn't have a ramp.  The GS is 475 pounds of Big Pig.

We looked around and on one side of the road, the natural grade was fairly level, while the pavement descended toward the intersection.  I pushed my GS back up the hill about 150 feet to a point where the road bed met the natural grade, then pushed it up onto the dirt.  I walked it along the grade, between a drop off to the road and a barbed wire fence.  Not much room, but enough.

Meanwhile, the husband dropped the tailgate of his truck and backed it up so the tail gate hit the natural grade of the dirt adjacent to the fence.  It took some doing, but we were able to roll the GS right in the truck.  After that, they drove me all the way home, some 20+ miles away.  They dropped me off and headed home.  For their trouble, I sent them both volunteer shirts for SAGging the SAG.

I jumped in my truck, and after a few hours, was able to get back on the course, helping the riders.  I forgot my camera in the transfer from bike to truck though.

As for the GS, it ended up being the return spring on the toe shifter.  A $14 part.  However, it's located inside the transmission housing.  Labor was $1200 for the install.  Ouch.

Early in the morning, between 5:00-5:15am.  If I'd have known what lay ahead for me, I probably would have stayed home.