Best of the Bay, October 4th, 2025

Need to Know

All information provided on this website may be subject to change. Calculated information may vary with individual measurements and devices. The route sheet provided at check-in will prevail.

GENERAL RIDE RULES

  • Obey all California Vehicle Code rules.
  • Personal SAG vehicles ARE NOT ALLOWED.
  • All riders who abandon the event must call the emergency number located on the bottom of the route sheet.
  • ALL RIDERS must check in with the time-keeper at each rest stop or be disqualified.
  • Required by law under CVC 21201 are lights and reflectors. Before sunrise (7:47 am) and at sunset (7:28 pm) cyclists must have a front headlight (white) visible from a distance of 300 feet. A rear red non-blinking taillight visible from a distance of 500 feet and reflective ankle bands on both left and right legs that are visible from a distance of 200 feet.
  • It is highly recommended to have reflective tape on your body, bike (crank arms, wheel rims, forks and seat stays) and helmet facing in all four directions.
  • All riders must wear a helmet.
  • All riders must display their rider number on the helmet facing all four directions so it is visible to time-keepers, SAG drivers and rest stop volunteers.
  • Any rider who does not follow the above rules will be disqualified (DQ) from the event.
  • Any BOB double century rider who does not follow the above rules, or does not check in at each rest stop, will be disqualified (DQ) from the event, and will not receive CTC credit.

ROAD HAZARDS

Wet roads!

In the morning, both dew and fog will make the roads wet and slippery. You must take that into account on all of the descents.

Gravel and rocks on the roads

Be alert for this on every sharp corner. The roads on these routes are subject to frequent rockfalls.

Heavily trafficked intersections

  • Grizzly Peak at Claremont/Fish Ranch Road - Be watchful of the cross-traffic.
  • Grizzly Peak at Marin - Marin Avenue is extremely steep, so cross-traffic often does not stop.
  • San Ramon Valley Blvd/Foothill Road Overpass - Extremely busy where this road crosses the 580 freeway; be aware of on and off ramps.
  • Paloma Way/Calaveras Road stop sign at the 680 freeway off ramp - Watch for fast cars; they have the right-of-way and do not stop.
  • Schaefer Ranch Road at Dublin Canyon Road - Fast cross-traffic, and you'll have to brake hard for the stop sign.

Other hazards

  • Descent of Mt. Diablo - Sharp corners, gravel, vehicle and bike traffic.
  • Diablo Road - Traffic and no bike lane (be alert although motorists are generally use to cyclists on this road).
  • Crow Canyon (westbound between San Ramon Valley Blvd and Bollinger Canyon Road) - No bike lane; be vigilant, and use the rightmost lane.

RIDE TIPS

Best roads and views

  • Experience both nighttime and sunrise panoramas of the bay, the bridges, and the city - from miles 15 to 20 on the route sheet, and miles 32 to 37 as you return from the Island rest stop.
  • Wildcat Canyon, after you turn off Grizzly Peak Blvd. - This is a wonderful cycling road and you experience the sunrise as you ride Wildcat Canyon Road.
  • Norris Canyon - Just a very enjoyable country back road.
  • Mt. Diablo - Epic 360 degree bird's eye views of the bay area.Mt. Diablo - Epic 360 degree bird's eye views of the bay area.

Momentum conservation opportunities

  • The Norris Canyon descent.
  • Blackhawk Road - North and west along the golf course and after the saddleback bump.
  • Vineyard, southeast from Pleasanton into Livermore, after the short steep descent (it is rare for the traffic light to be red).

On a double century you need to maximize your speed but also conserve your energy. The most important concept is to remain constantly aware that every time you slow down or come to a stop, you then must expend a lot of energy to get back up to speed. In addition, there are certain road situations that you can use to good advantage to achieve greater speed with less energy. You do this by harnessing gravity to increase your speed, then utilize the established momentum to maintain a higher than normal speed until the momentum is expended. The best situation in which to use this technique is on a steep downhill followed by a long straight stretch of just one or two percent downhill, or followed by a level road, or even a very short uphill. With a little extra effort, you can build your speed on the downhill, then, rather than coasting or slowing on the straight stretch, shift into a higher gear and pedal with moderate pressure to maintain a greater speed for a longer distance. The results realized by employing this technique vary according to your weight, strength, wind, and road surface but, in general, you can save significant effort over the entire ride by being aware of your momentum and using it whenever possible.