What we’re about
The Hammerin' Wheels are all about being active on your bicycle. Our club is divided into 3 separate group sites. You are currently on the Mountain bike site. We ride mostly on the dirt trails around Folsom, Granite Bay, Auburn and surrounding areas of northern California and Tahoe. Paved trails/roads are ridden when necessary for trail connectivity.
Each event may indicate a specific level of skill and fitness that is required to participate. Members should always review the event details to make sure he/she meets the skill and/or fitness requirements before participating and for any last minute updates. Out of respect for your Event Hosts, RSVPs are required to participate in all ride events.
Please note that due to the skill and fitness levels of our more active core members, most events are geared to Budding Intermediate to Advanced riders. Occasionally we have rides for novice or beginners when members volunteer to Host them. We ask that all new and long time members HOST A RIDE EVENT ONCE A YEAR to keep our group active. To be an Event Organizer (EO), please reach out to the Group’s Organizer to ask for your member role to be changed to EO.
If you want to hit the pavement at a "casual" pace you will want to visit https://www.meetup.com/Hammerin-Wheels-Casual-Bikers. Here you will find rides that very from 10-30 miles usually on flat paved roads or trails where speed tends to be in the 8-12 mph range.
If you want a little more "spice" in your pavement ride you will want to visit our road bike site at https://www.meetup.com/hammerinwheels. Here you will find rides that vary in length and speed, this site is meant for cyclists who have combination of experience and/or some sort of athletic ability.
Listed below are our Club Sponsors. These are the people who help to keep this a FREE group!! Your patronage of our Club Sponsors are greatly appreciated. Please stop in or call to say "Thanks for sponsoring the Hammerin' Wheels!!!"
Mark Van Biber, a Hammerin’ Wheels member, and Branch Manager of the Rocklin branch of American Pacific Mortgage has been helping families with their home mortgage related needs for over 24 years. Just recently Mark was named one of Sacramento Magazine’s Five Star Top Professional Real Estate Lending Professionals. The Five Star award went to fewer than four percent of Sacramento area residents holding a real estate lending license. Its Mark’s goal to provide the smoothest loan transaction you’ve experienced with kind, friendly and professional service. American Pacific Mortgage is a Direct Lender, with over 115 branches in 15 States and over 1300 employees to help insure you get great pricing and special products to meet your desired needs. Call (916-824-8700) or email Mark Van Biber (mark@mvblending.com) today and let his experience and friendly team help you with your next mortgage. NMLS 227505 / 1850. CA BRE 01114608 / 01215943. Equal Housing Opportunity. You can also click the logo for additional information. http://mvblending.com/
So who are we and what are we about? Simply put we are a growing group of cyclists in the Sacramento area who enjoy the company of others while riding bikes. We try to cater to everyone on some level. It doesn't matter if you are a hardcore cyclist, or if you ride purely for the social aspect. We welcome riders of all levels on all terrains. However, for beginner and novice riders, we ask that you come well prepared and comfortable navigating the trails on your own if there are no volunteer ride leaders to guide your groups.
Safety
This group is all about having fun and being safe while riding. Due to health and safety reasons, please observe and adhere to the following:
*A HELMET IS REQUIRED for all our rides! We reserve the right to turn you away from riding with the group if you do not have one.
*Pets are not allowed to accompany you while riding with our group during an organized Hammerin' Wheels event. Pets (if well behaved) may be permitted during "pre" or "post-ride" activities if approved in advance by Event Host.
*Kids under 18 are not permitted to join any Hammerin' Wheel event unless accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
*Smoking/vaping around others in the group before, during, or after a ride is NOT permitted.
*Due to COVID issues, we respectfully ask that you refrain from spitting while riding with the group. If you absolutely need to clear your nasal passages (we get it), out of respect for others, please use a hanky or step far away from the group and do so discreetly off the trail.
*Organizers reserve the right to turn people away before or turn them back during a ride if they feel a rider is in over their head. If you have any questions for whether a ride is right for you, please feel free to contact the ride organizer.
*If your profile has not been filled out, you may be contacted by a ride organizer to determine your skill level fits the posted event.
Courtesy on the trails
Yield: Yield means slow down, establish communication, be prepared to stop, and pass in a safe and friendly manner. Hikers yield to horses, and bikes yield to hikers and horses as shown by the arrows on the multi-use yield sign.
Respect. It's a simple concept: If you offer respect, you are more likely to receive it. All trail users have rights and responsibilities to each other, and to our trails.
Smile. Greet. Nod. How are you perceived by other trail users? Even if you are a caring and friendly individual, with your helmet, sunglasses and a facial expression concentrating on the trail, you may appear intimidating to other trail users. Smile, say "Hi!" and ring your bell if you have one. It will promote goodwill on the trail and happiness to the trails community that we are a part of.
· Ring your bell before you approach so as to not startle them.
· Scan the trail ahead for other trails users.
· Anticipate other trail users and ring your bell around corners or in blind spots.
Don't block the trail. When taking a break, move to the side of the trail. Don't stop or lay a bike or backpack on the trail, especially on a blind comer.
Don't tune out. If you need to listen to music wear earbuds. It is best to only wear one earbud at a low volume so you hear any communications of other trail users.
Ride in Control Speed, inattentiveness and rudeness are the primary sources of trail conflict among user groups. If you need to pass, slow down, ring a bell or verbally announce yourself, and wait until the other trail user is out of the path. Use extra caution around horses, which are unpredictable. Be extra aware when riding trails with poor sight lines and blind corners, and make sure you can hear what's going on around you.
Encounters with Equestrians Stop your bike and ask equestrians if it is ok to pass. Horses are easily startled. Horses recognize the human voice more so than bells. In general, if you meet an equestrian on a trail,
· Stop and move to the downhill side to let them pass.
· Talk to the rider and respect how they prefer to pass with their horse.
The rider will appreciate your courtesy.
Encounters with other Cyclists: When approaching other cyclists, the biker going uphill has the right-of-way. This courtesy is extended to not break the climbers momentum and because it is easier to restart when going downhill if there is a need for someone to stop for a safe pass. Note that the person with the right-of-way can choose their path. They may not follow the convention of staying to the right if that is not their best path, even on fire roads!
Keep singletrack single Ride thru puddles, not around them.
RSVPs
Please remember that the members of the Leadership Team of this group are all volunteers. They do this for nothing more than their love of riding. They put a lot of time and effort into setting up these events, with that said please show them the courtesy and keep your RSVP up to date.
If you choose to RSVP "Yes" for an event, Please follow through and show up. It is not fair to the rest of the group to sit around waiting for someone who is never going to show. If you develop a pattern of this behavior you will be removed from the group. We understand that "life happens" and you may need to change an RSVP at the last minute. In this event please try to contact your event organizer to let them know.
Attending events
When attending events you will be given a time to meet. Rides are normally scheduled to leave 15 minutes after the meet time. As an example if the calendar indicates a 9am meet time the ride is scheduled to begin at 9:15am. If you need additional time to unload, set up, warm up, etc, please arrive early. Rides will leave as close to on time as possible. If you show up 5 minutes before the start of the ride you risk being left behind. Please don't be "that guy", it is extremely disrespectful to those who took some personal responsibility to get there on time. Again, please arrive early!
Information about email and your settings
If you are not a fan of email you will want to update your settings at the following link. Click here to update your email settings! There are a number of options that can be turned off to help ease your pain. I would highly suggest you leave the "Special announcements from Organizer(s) to members" checked so you can receive important messages from the group Organizer(s)
Post event survey
If you attend an event please take 30 seconds to fill out the post event survey. This is a valuable tool for the Organizing team as it allows us to make the events better in the future. This is your chance to provide feedback you may have about the group, both good and bad. Please try to keep your criticism constructive.
Assistants
We are ALWAYS seeking people who are interested in setting up and leading rides, for all level of riders (especially the slower paced rides!!) and in all surrounding areas. If this sounds like something that may interest you, please let me know.
Photos
This is a public group and we take lots of pictures. In regards to ownership, once photos are uploaded to the site they become property of the club. If you are at all concerned with property rights please do not upload anything to the site.
Fees
While there are no fees to join this group, this group is not free to operate. This group runs strictly on donations, sponsorship from local businesses and clothing sales. If you like what we do please take a second to visit the donation center and make a donation to the club. We are asking for a minimum of $5 a year. Once your donation has been received you will earn the "Group Supporter" badge!
Any money received in excess of the operating costs will be placed back into the group for value add items like door prizes, official HW event support costs and of course the now world famous Hammerin' Wheels Birthday Bash (summer BBQ). You can use the Paypal link on the home page or you can use the button below.
If you would rather use standard mail to donate please email the organizer directly. We will also accept any donations in person if you are not comfortable using standard mail or the online method. Thank you in advance!
Liability Disclaimer
Please take a moment to read our liability waiver as it is required that you read it and digitally agree to it, via your profile questions, in order to be a member. It is important to understand that you are responsible for your own safety.
