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SBAY Geek Ride The next SBAY Geek Ride is Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 3PM The SBAY Geek Ride started in August 2001 as a monthly bicycle ride event (weather permitting) held from March to October. The event has been discontinued indefinitely after most of the core participants moved out of town within a few months of each other in late 2002. Discussions should be held on the if anyone wants to coordinate the event and re-start it. Previous information about the Geek Ride... (This is all up for discussion.) It takes place on the Sunday 8 days after the monthly SBAY Pizza meetings at 3 or 4PM. So you can determine the date as the Sunday following the 4th Saturday of the month. (On months starting on a Sunday, it's the 5th Sunday of the month. Otherwise it's the 4th Sunday.) If that's too much to figure out, make a point of checking the calendar here. ;-) Note that the date may change each month due to mitigating circumstances, so you may want to check here anyways to make sure the day, time, and location are what you expect. Routes and starting points may vary each month. But they can be found on the sbay.general newsgroup and at http://www.sbay.org/geek-ride.shtml This is meant as a social/recreational event among sbay.org participants, their friends and others with similar technical interests. For serious bikers there are more appropriate club rides and events in the area. Discussion about the SBAY Geek Ride can be found on the SBAY Social mail list at http://www.sbay.org/mailman/listinfo/social

On this page...

• Getting to the Geek Ride by Light Rail
• SBAY Geek Ride Schedule
• Local Cycling Info
• Cycling Tips

Getting to the Geek Ride by Light Rail

VTA Light Rail runs on 15-minute intervals on Sunday afternoons. Note that VTA allows 6 bicycles per light rail vehicle (trolley) and 2-4 bikes per bus, depending on passenger load. Trolleys may be at or near capacity for bikes going through downtown San Jose, even on Sunday afternoons. If you board a trolley in downtown, plan your trip to the rendezvous point to allow missing a trolley if it's full.

SBAY Geek Ride Schedule

Sunday, May 24th 2009, 3PM

• Route: TBA
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, June 28th 2009, 3PM

• Route: TBA
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, July 26th 2009, 3PM

• Route: TBA
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, August 23rd 2009, 3PM

• Route: TBA
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, September 27th 2009, 3PM

• Route: TBA
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Past SBAY Geek Rides

Sunday, August 27th 2000, 3PM (first SBAY Geek Ride)

• Route: Los Alamitos Creek Trail, Almaden Valley, South San Jose
• Starting Point: Almaden Light Rail Station
• Ending Point: Santa Teresa Light Rail Station
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-alamitos-creek.html

Sunday, September 24th 2000, 3PM

• Route: Baypointe to Sunnyvale Baylands
• Starting Point: Baypointe Light Rail Station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: Borregas Light Rail Station, Sunnyvale
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-baypointe-baylands.html

Sunday, October 29th 2000, 3PM Standard Time

• Route: Stevens Creek Trail, Shoreline Park
• Starting Point: Mountain View Transit Center (Light Rail/CalTrain)
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-mv-shoreline.html
• Rain: Meet at the transit center anyway. We'll hang out at the nearby Dana Street Roasting Company ( http://www.live.com/danastreet/ ) at 744 Dana St in downtown Mtn View, which has an 802.11 wireless LAN somewhat similar to the SBAY Wireless Network.
• Note: Daylight Savings Time ends early on this day. If you forgot to set your clock to Standard Time, be there at 4PM instead. :-)

Sunday, March 25th 2001, 3PM Standard Time

• Route: Los Alamitos Creek Trail, Almaden Valley, South San Jose
• Starting Point: Almaden Light Rail Station
• Ending Point: Santa Teresa Light Rail Station
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-alamitos-creek.html

Sunday, April 29th 2001, 3PM

• Route: Baypointe to Sunnyvale Baylands
• Starting Point: Baypointe Light Rail Station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: Borregas Light Rail Station, Sunnyvale
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-baypointe-baylands.html

Sunday, May 20th 2001, 3PM (note non-standard day)

• Route: "Milpitas Loop" Route - Coyote and Berryessa Creeks
• Starting Point: Cisco Way light rail station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: I-880/Milpitas light rail station, Milpitas
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-milpitas-loop.html
• Note: The new stations at Cisco Way and I-880/Milpitas open May 17. This month's ride was moved one week earlier due to the Memorial Day weekend.

Sunday, June 24th 2001, 3PM

• Route: Stevens Creek Trail, Shoreline Park
• Starting Point: Mountain View Transit Center (Light Rail/CalTrain)
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-mv-shoreline.html

Sunday, July 29th 2001, 4PM (note later time)

• Route: Coyote Creek Trail
• Starting Point: Coyote Hellyer County Park, near the Velodrome.
• Ending Point: Coyote Hellyer County Park, near the Velodrome.
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-coyote-hellyer.html
• Note: Later time to avoid the heat. This ride does NOT start at a light rail station. Note that you can reach the north end of the Coyote Creek Trail by biking east along Capitol Expressway. See the directions. We will be able to arrange for a "shuttle" from Capitol station to Hellyer park for those unable to reach this non-light-rail starting point. Let us know ahead of time if you need us to arrange a light rail shuttle for you, preferably via the SBAY Social Mail List ( http://www.sbay.org/mailman/listinfo/social ).

Sunday, August 26th 2001, 4PM (note later time)

• Route: Los Alamitos Creek Trail, Almaden Valley, South San Jose
• Starting Point: Almaden Light Rail Station
• Ending Point: Santa Teresa Light Rail Station
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended for
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-alamitos-creek.html

Sunday, September 23rd 2001, 3PM

• Route: Baypointe to Sunnyvale Baylands
• Starting Point: Baypointe Light Rail Station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: Borregas Light Rail Station, Sunnyvale
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-baypointe-baylands.html

Sunday, October 28th 2001, 3PM

• Route: "Milpitas Loop" Route - Coyote and Berryessa Creeks
• Starting Point: Cisco Way light rail station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: I-880/Milpitas light rail station, Milpitas
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-milpitas-loop.html

Sunday, March 24th 2002, 3PM

• Route: "Milpitas Loop" Route - Coyote and Berryessa Creeks
• Starting Point: Cisco Way light rail station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: I-880/Milpitas light rail station, Milpitas
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-milpitas-loop.html

Sunday, April 28th 2002, 3PM

• Route: Baypointe to Sunnyvale Baylands
• Starting Point: Baypointe Light Rail Station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: Borregas Light Rail Station, Sunnyvale
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-baypointe-baylands.html

Sunday, May 26th 2002, 3PM Standard Time (note Memorial Day weekend)

• Route: Los Alamitos Creek Trail, Almaden Valley, South San Jose
• Starting Point: Almaden Light Rail Station
• Ending Point: Santa Teresa Light Rail Station
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-alamitos-creek.html

Sunday, June 23rd 2002, 3PM

• Route: Stevens Creek Trail, Shoreline Park
• Starting Point: Mountain View Transit Center (Light Rail/CalTrain)
• Ending Point: Mountain View Transit Center (Light Rail/CalTrain)
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-mv-shoreline.html

Sunday, July 28th 2002, 4PM (later start time to avoid Summer heat)

• Route: "Milpitas Loop" Route - Coyote and Berryessa Creeks
• Starting Point: Cisco Way light rail station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: I-880/Milpitas light rail station, Milpitas
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-milpitas-loop.html

Sunday, August 25th 2002, 3PM (time changed back to 3PM to accomodate evening SVLUG event)

• Route: Baypointe to Sunnyvale Baylands
• Starting Point: Baypointe Light Rail Station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: Borregas Light Rail Station, Sunnyvale
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-baypointe-baylands.html

Sunday, September 29th 2002, 3PM

• Route: cancelled
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, October 27th 2002, 3PM

• Route: cancelled
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, March 23rd 2003, 3PM

• Route: cancelled
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, April 27th 2003, 3PM

• Route: Baypointe to Sunnyvale Baylands
• Starting Point: Baypointe Light Rail Station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: Borregas Light Rail Station, Sunnyvale
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-baypointe-baylands.html

Sunday, May 25th 2003, 3PM

• Route: "Milpitas Loop" Route - Coyote and Berryessa Creeks
• Starting Point: Cisco Way light rail station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: I-880/Milpitas light rail station, Milpitas
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-milpitas-loop.html

Sunday, June 29th 2003, 4PM (Summer start time is one hour later at 4PM)

• Route: Los Alamitos Creek Trail, Almaden Valley, South San Jose
• Starting Point: Almaden Light Rail Station
• Ending Point: Santa Teresa Light Rail Station
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-alamitos-creek.html

Sunday, July 27th 2003, 4PM (Summer start time is one hour later at 4PM)

• Route: Stevens Creek Trail, Shoreline Park
• Starting Point: Mountain View Transit Center (Light Rail/CalTrain)
• Ending Point: Mountain View Transit Center (Light Rail/CalTrain)
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-mv-shoreline.html

Sunday, August 24th 2003, 4PM (Summer start time is one hour later at 4PM)

• Route: cancelled
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, September 28th 2003, 3PM

• Route: cancelled
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, October 26th 2003, 3PM

• Route: cancelled
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, March 28th 2004, 3PM

• Route: cancelled
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Sunday, April 25th 2004, 3PM

• Route: Los Alamitos Creek Trail, Almaden Valley, South San Jose
• Starting Point: Almaden Light Rail Station
• Ending Point: Santa Teresa Light Rail Station
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-alamitos-creek.html

Sunday, May 23rd 2004, 3PM

• Route: Baypointe to Sunnyvale Baylands
• Starting Point: Baypointe Light Rail Station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: Borregas Light Rail Station, Sunnyvale
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-baypointe-baylands.html

Sunday, June 27th 2004, 4PM (Summer start time is one hour later at 4PM)

• Route: Stevens Creek Trail, Shoreline Park
• Starting Point: Mountain View Transit Center (Light Rail/CalTrain)
• Ending Point: Mountain View Transit Center (Light Rail/CalTrain)
• Equipment: Mountain and road bikes.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-mv-shoreline.html

Sunday, July 25th 2004, 4PM (Summer start time is one hour later at 4PM)

• Route: Cancelled
• Starting Point: N/A
• Ending Point: N/A
• Directions: TBA
• Note: route selection tentative based on opening of Capitol light rail extension

Sunday, August 29th 2004, 4PM (Summer start time is one hour later at 4PM)

• Route: "Milpitas Loop" Route - Coyote and Berryessa Creeks
• Starting Point: Cisco Way light rail station, North San Jose
• Ending Point: I-880/Milpitas light rail station, Milpitas
• Equipment: Mountain bikes recommended.
• Directions: http://www.sbay.org/ride-milpitas-loop.html

Sunday, September 26th 2004, 3PM

• Route: TBA
• Starting Point: TBA
• Directions: TBA

Local Cycling Info

"Bikes on Transit" info at the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

http://www.vta.org/bikes.html

"Bicycling Safety" at Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC)

http://www.svbcbikes.org/bked/

"Bicycling Rules and Safety" at California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/bicycle.htm

"Bay Area Biking" by Ron Horii

http://pages.prodigy.net/rhorii/baybike.htm

Almaden Cycle Touring Club (South Bay Area bike rides)

http://www.actc.org/

Cycling Tips

• Wear a bike helmet.
• Don't get dehydrated. You can't just judge this by when you feel thirsty because you're already dehydrated before that point. Even for a recreational ride, dehydration will affect how well you can ride and can lead to discomfort like muscle cramps or exhaustion. So have water before, during and after the ride.
• When on roads, keep your speed up and ride like a vehicle. Follow the rules of the road. Since we can travel 10-15mph easily, bikes move more like cars than pedestrians. The law requires bikes to use the same rules as cars (road signs, right side of the road, etc) except in cases where there are specific rules for bikes.
• If necessary to avoid an obstacle, you're allowed to "take the lane" on the road.
• Avoid doing anything drivers would find unpredictable. Use hand signals (or just point where you're going) to state your intentions, especially before "taking the lane".
• Ride single file in bike lanes or other areas that aren't wide enough to ride side-by-side.
• Give the right of way to pedestrians and equestrians.
• State your intentions, such as "passing on your left", when passing pedestrians or other cyclicts.
• Consider whether you'll need sun block before the ride.
• Be alert for idiot drivers who might pass you on the left before making a right turn.
• When riding past parked cars, try to leave room for opening doors. If that's not possible, remain alert for them.
• If you're not comfortable with your cycling skill level, consider enrolling in the ACTC Academy. With that behind you, the routes we pick for the Geek Rides will be easy.

Last updated: October 20, 2007