Please remember to RSVP for our free Training Rides!
Ride Schedule
Hazon Training Rides are free, fun rides of varying length and difficulty. We invite anyone to join us – whether you’re already registered for the California Ride & Retreat, considering joining us in May, or just want to get some exercise with fellow bikers on a Sunday morning!
Training Rides will take place most Sunday mornings (~10 am, times subject to change based on routes, etc.) between February and May, starting from different central locations in the Bay Area.
Click on an individual ride for more details and RSVP
Join our Training Ride Listserv to learn about upcoming rides!
Please note that you need a Google account to sign up, or email caride@hazon.org
How to Prepare for a Training Ride
Rides will take place most Sunday mornings, February to May, starting from a central location in the Bay Area. A leader will distribute cue sheets and will be able to guide you while riding, but will not provide water, food, or SAG (support & gear) support. You should prepare for these rides as you would for a ride completely on your own.
What you should bring on a Hazon Training Ride
- A bike (ideally a road bike or hybrid)
- A helmet (mandatory – no one will be allowed to ride without a helmet)
- Water bottles or Camelbak drinking system – with at least 1.5 liters of water for longer rides
- Sunscreen
- Food or money for food – you should have something to eat about every hour – either a few bites from a sandwich, a Powerbar, etc.
- Spare tubes – there are usually people on the rides who can help you fix flats, but you are responsible for having spare tubes.
- Extra layers (recommended)
What you should do to prepare for a training ride:
- Eat a good breakfast with lots of carbs!
- Fill up your water bottles
- Stretch
Please come to the starting location with time to spare.
Training Ride Leaders
Training Rides are led by volunteer Ride Leaders. Ride Leaders are familiar with the route and help direct the ride according to the cue sheet. Ride Leaders are not expected to provide food, water, or mechanical support, but are expected to lend a hand when possible and to provide encouragement and help less experienced riders.
If you are interested in becoming a Ride Leader, please contact Kiki Lipsett.
Training Ride FAQ
What if I’m not training for anything – can I still come?
YES! Everyone is welcome, whether you’re getting ready for the Hazon California Ride, training to do a century ride, gearing up for 30 miles in a day, or just want to ride a bike with new friends. Please respect ride level categorizations – a long ride is not appropriate for a beginner rider. However, there is no requirement that you be ‘in training’ for anything at all.
What if I am training for the Ride – will training rides get me ready?
YES! Training rides are a great way to get in shape, to get used to sitting on your bike seat for long periods of time, and to slowly work your body up to a point where it can ride many, many miles over a two-day period.
If I have not been on a bike this season, can I come?
If you have not ridden in a while, we strongly suggest going out on your own to get your legs back in shape before joining us.
What if I can’t make it to the Training Rides? Is there another way to find biking buddies?
We suggest you join our Training Ride listserv, which is open to both registered riders and anyone in the community. We will be using the listserv primarily to promote our training rides, and also to publicize other events and items of note for the wider bicycling community. This listserv will be the best way to find out details about our training rides and last-minute information about cancellations due to weather.
This is an open listserv, and all those subscribed to the listserv are welcome to post by emailing catraining@list.hazon.org. We encourage you to email the listserv if you are looking for ride buddies, if you are riding to fun destinations, or if you have heard of an event of interest to the Hazon cycling community.
What if I don’t live in the Bay Area and want get in shape for the Ride?
Whether you are looking for riders to join you on a route or you are planning or trying to find cyclists who want a few more people to join them, we encourage you to post on the listserv to let people know you are looking for riding partners in your area. The listserv is not limited to riders in the Bay Area, and we hope that it will be useful for people living in other parts of CA and in other states.
Where can I rent a bike?
If you do not have your own bike, most bicycle shops will rent a bike for a day. Check out a list of bicycle shops in SF.
What if the ride is canceled? How do I find out?
Check our online calendar to make sure that rides have not been canceled or rescheduled. If rides must be canceled last minute due to weather conditions, we will email the listserv and call everyone who has RSVPed for the ride.
Do I need to RSVP for the Training Rides or can I just show up?
While it is not necessary to sign up for rides in advance, we encourage you to RSVP in advance to give us a sense of how many riders to expect.
