Dharmawheels - Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage

The following are sample rides assembled by the 2007 Training Ride Coordinators (Moses Ma and Leon Sun) that we have included for consideration when hosting rides for this upcoming 2008 season.

Following is the schedule of rides. We've selected some of the most beautiful routes in the Bay Area, alternating between South Bay, East Bay and North Bay. We include one Buddhist lecture and a qigong break in a couple of the rides, but we're looking forward to integrating some serious pre- and post-ride stretching or yoga. Any volunteers to help us do that? More specific details for each ride (start location, ride leader, etc.) will be provided at least one week ahead of time. Looking forward to seeing you on the road! --Moses Ma and Leon Sun

• 6/23/07 - Palo Alto ride, Start time: 9 am (10 am for short route) We're going to start near Canada Rd and Hwy 92 and ride to Palo Alto

• 7/8/07 - Spirit Rock ride, Start time: 9 am We'll start with a lecture at the Spirit Rock and then head through Nicasio to Point Reyes Station, through some really lovely countryside, with a long distance option that winds over some more challenging hills and through Olema. The return route includes a dedicated bike path through the redwoods!

• 7/21/07 - Mines Road (Livermore), Start time: 10 am (for all riders) This route very popular with the locals as a country road with almost no traffic. After passing vineyards and farms, we'll see the dramatic geography of the canyon. The beginner group turns around before the final 2000 ft climb!

• 8/11/07 - Pescadero Loop (Peninsula), Start time: 9 am (10 am for short ride) Arguably the most beautiful biking route in the Bay Area. Starts in the town of Pescadero along Old Stage Road, where you can imagine stagecoaches sharing the road!

• 8/19/07 - Mt Tam (Marin) with a qigong break, Start time: 9 am (10 am for short ride) Mt Tam is a rigorous ride, but the beginners will start at Mtn Home Inn, halfway up the mountain. We gather and do qigong on top of the mountain! Doesn't that sound swell? A pic of the group doing qigong during last year's ride is shown below!

• 8/25/07 - Big Basin and Castle Rock Loop (South Bay), Start time: 9 am (10 am for short ride) This is reputedly one of the most beautiful rides in the South Bay. 'Nuff said!

• 9/8/07 - The Mystery Ride, Start time: 9 am (10 am for short ride) Details to be announced, but rest assured it will be a great route! 9/16 - Join the Tour d'Organics (Sebastopol) (www.tourdorganics.com), Start time: 8 am We'll form a Dharmawheels group and ride together through the wine country. There are various mileage options, with bike pilgrims urged to choose the 100k route.

• 9/23/07 - San Francisco to Palo Alto (and back by train), Start time: TBD This is something every road biker should do once... ride from SF to Palo Alto and take Caltrain back! A great conclusion to our summer of training!