"Typically 10-30 riders, mix of Strada Sempre Duro and non-Duro members".

Beware this description is way out of date I dont think many a Duro rider has ridden the HOP in years! It's also typically 50 to way over 100 riders, some pro's sometimes but mostly Morgan Stanley and Pegasus riders and of course "mr. Fuentes".

Sounds like my kind of suffering!!!

Anonymous wrote:What is the usual route of the House of Pain ride?

Freewheelers site says:
"Typically 10-30 riders, mix of Strada Sempre Duro and non-Duro members, mostly racers - or riders who can keep up with racers Usually 65 miles, out to Livermore up Collier Canyon/Vineyard & back. Fast-paced ride, with one re-group point at the Livermore gas station. Finishes around 1pm." I'd say it was 35-40 racey dudes & dudettes last Saturday, Feb 4.

This is one of flatest 65 milers you can roll in the area, but also one of the most aggressive rides in the East Bay, you've been warned;
Start at Rudgear on 'The Blvd', go south to D-ville, lefty at Pegasus/Peets to cut thru the Brookside 'hood to Sycamore/Tassajara - go Left/SE all the way to the Left on Highland to it's end/'The Trees' (where it's an eazy spot to turn back with some company). Generally heats up on that windy-rolly section midway thru Highland (especailly after the soft left at the collier Y) with potential breakaways forming before the county line just before the T; goes left at the T, becoming North Livermore Road soon - often cross-winds and echelons with chasing to ensue - grab a wheel when you can because no gauranteed re-grouping - thank Allah fpr the random flat - on into Livenomore toward Vineyard, etc. & back somehow, but I'm unclear of the details after that because by that point I'm usual cooked and hanging on for dear life, or already have turned back at the Trees to save something for a long sunday ride. Enjoy, repeat!

What is the usual route of the House of Pain ride?

Guest wrote:The Fremont Freewheelers website has a fairly extensive list of regular group training rides on can join in the Bay Area:

http://www.fremontfreewheelers.org/RaceTeam/Useful/TrainingRides/ByName....

The East Bay is long and wide - before you burn gas to get to a ride, try riding or burning les gas to to these saturday 9 am rides: the House of Pain (WC) and Wheels of Thunder (Plsnton) are highly recommended by this reader/racer; both are accurately listed on the Freewheelers site. Both will simulate race conditions and have friendly/extended warm-up time - so don't hammer until someone else does first.

The Spectrum info is correct. Every Saturday. You can't miss the group of cyclists pouring out onto Homestead right at 9:00.

Many thanks for all of the helpful and thoughtful replies to my original query which are most appreciated!

I was a little vague about the Saturday ride(s) I take, because I did not want to indirectly cast aspersion on anyone. But the Saturday group training rides I take are probably fairly typical I imagine. Most who show up regularly used to race long ago but no longer do, some race very occasionally and then most of the others are weekend warriors, sometimes on super-expensive bikes. There are usually one or two guys actively racing and getting results who come along also, but for the most part this is a social ride for them and there's a certain chic to never seeming to push yourself in training, n'est pas? We're talking 25 miles out to coffee and back (50 total), sometimes a few guys taking a longer variant (60/70). Average pace is 15/16 mph usually.

There are different "philosophies" out there about training rides, but I find that I benefit from struggling to keep pace with higher level cyclists. The more I am able to train with them, the closer I come (at least in training).

I will try to check out the Sacramento ride as 10am is late enough to get there easily from the East Bay. I have not heard about the bad roads per se, but I have heard about some car/bicycle crashes or at least issues on that ride (American Canyon?) which does seem nerve wracking...

I will also plan to ride the Spectrum ride. Can anyone who rides it confirm the time & location listed on the Fremont Freewheelers list?

Spectrum Ride, The
Day: Saturday
Time: 09:00 AM
Meet: Starbucks at Hollenbeck and Homestead

A Bay Area classic, cribbed from the Alto Velo website:
The Spectrum Ride officially starts at the Starbucks at the corner of Hollenbeck and Homestead in Sunnyvale, but often picks up additional riders as it motors along Foothill expressway towards Palo Alto. The route has changed somewhat over the years, and now winds its way through Portola Valley, and out Canada road through Woodside. Riders typically contest hot spot sprints at the Woodside town line, and the end of Canada road.

This local classic can attract over 100 riders and starts each Saturday at 9 am, and typically rolls past downtown Los Altos around 9:15.

As mentioned, Spectrum and the River Ride are both good options. I have found the road conditons on the River Ride to be pretty lousy, that coupled with the very aggressive pace may not make you happy.

Local pros turn out for the Spectrum ride every week, as well as several Cat. 1, 2 and retired pro racers. I don't want to name drop in a feeble attempt to protect their privacy, but if you can stay up near the front and go with the attacks, you are riding at the level of some elite riders. Well, maybe you aren't riding at their level, but you are keeping up with them. Your effort of 9.5 may only map to 7.5 on their scale.

The Valley ride, which resumes when the time changes, is even more intense, as the route includes a decent hill. The Valley ride happens mid-week, so it may not fit into your parameters.

I would definitely say Sacramento River Ride from City Bicycle Works on Saturdays at 10am. Fast pace, attacks, a half dozen Healthnet guys the last few weeks.

Spectrum and Sac River ride. Unless it is both cold and raining, Spectrum has a pack bigger than many races. OTOH it's hard to know if anything is higher level than your local group ride if we don't know what your local group ride is.