Wow all the bikes were out 2/7/21 Berryessa GP in full swing

[OldMadBrit]

Got out early with my buddy and did a loop up 101 and the back down through Hopville, Middletown, Berryessa, Rockfield and Cordelia. The roads were most empty until we got down to 128 headed west and the Wooden Valley Rd., headed east. Then is seemed like every bike in the Bay Area was heading out towards Berryessa.

Seemed like a bit of a fluster cluck. I had to dodge a couple of riders blowing corners and crossing the DY into me on 128 and again on Wooden Valley Rd. Sad to see what looked like a bunch of bikes down in the field at the infamous sharp left hander.

Glad we got out early and missed the crowds :ride :thumbup

 

[atoyf]

i missed my riding today, but at the same time glad i missed crowed roads :afm199

 

[gixxerjeff]

CHP is out in force and has been all day, for very justifiable reasons.

 

[OldMadBrit]

CHP is out in force and has been all day, for very justifiable reasons.

Wow, we didn't see any at all .....



....too busy watching the shift light :laughing

Definitely so really sketchy riders out today.

 

[gixxerjeff]

I had to drive from Santa Rosa to Concord today. I lost count before I got out of town. Hwy 121, Hwy 37 and 680 were loaded up.

 

[Duk748]

OldMadBrit.. good call on starting early and getting the roads to yourself. It was a great weather day to enjoy and looks like you made the most of it.

Seeing the notes about cops everywhere, let me add... I think it had to do with the super bowl weekend

I just made a resolution to NEVER ride on Super Bowl weekend ever!! I thought I had learnt from the last ticket received several years back and had decided not to ride on the Super Bowl day.. not enough, I got one on Saturday.. it needs to be the whole weekend!! I assume they get called for duty for the whole weekend..

Anyway, my calendar is now updated for Feb 5 and Feb 6, 2022!! as blackout days.

 

[CrumpetRocket]

Superbowl Sunday is definitely another drink n drive holiday. I make sure to have the bike parked by half time, I feel like its probably fine enough until then. And the roads are usually empty.

 

[OldMadBrit]

We usually start all of our weekend rides early and aim to be back by 2 or 3 at the latest. To avoid the squids and crowds.

I'm not into NFL at all so Super Bowl Sunday has been a go for a ride day for the last 15 years and the roads have typically been empty. I was really surprised to see waaaay more bikes out this Super Bowl Sunday.

We only saw a handful of other bikes until around 10am but by noon, there were lots and lots of smaller groups and a few extremely large groups (20+ bikes). The really big groups included one group of Hardleys chilling and riding safe and what looked like 3 separate large groups of sprotbikes and squids looking like train wrecks looking for somewhere to happen.

The parking lot at Turtle Rock (128 and Berryessa) was absolutely jammed.

Looks like Berryessa and the surrounding twisties have become over-popular again. I guess we can expect to see a ramp-up of LEO and sadly first responder activity for a while just like in times past.

 

[stever]

Old mad Brit, are you referring to the 90 degree left between Turtle Rock & Nichellini? Seems to catch a few out usually on the way to Sage Canyon as a right turn. Never did like the big group rides, prefer to ride with one or two friends whose habits I’m familiar with.

 

[OldMadBrit]

Old mad Brit, are you referring to the 90 degree left between Turtle Rock & Nichellini? Seems to catch a few out usually on the way to Sage Canyon as a right turn. Never did like the big group rides, prefer to ride with one or two friends whose habits I’m familiar with.

No its the hard left going N on Suisun Valley Rd., at the junction with Williams Rd (38.296586, -122.120475). Its at the end of a long straight at the start of the "Berryessa GP route" and catches people out, especially if you are 3 wide in a group ride.

Same here, I just don't understand group rides. For me the whole point of getting out on the bike is to get way from the crowds. :ride:ride

If I want to take a road trip with a ton of mates, I'd group hire a luxo-bus for a Vinyard tour. arty arty

Whenever I see a big group coming the other way, I always slow and plan for the over-enthusiastic newbie or 3 that will invariably blow the DY into my lane. :afm199

 

[stever]

Oh yeah, that one. I’m usually chillin there as CHP motor guys like to tuck back into the right turn following the left. Also they will sit at the Twin Sisters intersection so I’ll won’t get frisky until closer to Napa county line. Still that’s my ride of choice most days since it’s in my backyard.

 

[OldMadBrit]

Oh yeah, that one. I’m usually chillin there as CHP motor guys like to tuck back into the right turn following the left. Also they will sit at the Twin Sisters intersection so I’ll won’t get frisky until closer to Napa county line. Still that’s my ride of choice most days since it’s in my backyard.

Ha same here. I always consider Suisun Valley Rd., to be the "Pit Lane" and that the "GP Track" starts where it turns into Wooden Valley Rd at the county line. :laughing :ride arty

 

[stever]

Pit lane, exactly!��

 

[cg_ops]

The roads were most empty until we got down to 128 headed west and the Wooden Valley Rd., headed east. Then is seemed like every bike in the Bay Area was heading out towards Berryessa.

If you're talking about the group around 1pm, I ran into them at the Chevron on the corner of Suisun Valley Rd and Rockville Rd. It was a hispanic group ride. I chatted with one of them as we finished up our ride with a final gas top-off. Lots of 2-ups in little/no gear. Made me nervous but they were nice so I wished them well and headed the other direction. It was too wet out there for my taste.

 

[DTM74]

If you're talking about the group around 1pm, I ran into them at the Chevron on the corner of Suisun Valley Rd and Rockville Rd. It was a hispanic group ride. I chatted with one of them as we finished up our ride with a final gas top-off. Lots of 2-ups in little/no gear. Made me nervous but they were nice so I wished them well and headed the other direction. It was too wet out there for my taste.

My buddy tipped me off to a large 'squid presence' as he rode up a few hours earlier. I went up around 2:00pm and there were still alot of "squids" on Knoxville. They were posted up at one of the 25 mph curves and one of the squid photographers was taking pics of them going through the corner...probably to post it on the 'gram.

I went a little further and a CHP had two of the bikers pulled over. I went to the bridge and hung out for a few. On the way back, CHP was still there with the bikers. At the end of Knoxville by Turtle Rock, a flat bed tow truck was heading their way. I can only presume they got their shit impounded.