Turkey Day Ride
Details
40 miles-no big climbs
Burn a few calories ahead of the big feast, and get a little relief from visiting relatives while you’re at it.
While technically this not an official organized ride, it is a longstanding Thanksgiving tradition usually attracting several hundred riders as long as it’s not raining. Mass start at 9am from California Pedaler 495 Hartz Ave Danville. Approx 30 mile loop, rolling hills no steep climbs. I’ll be riding down there from Rudgear Rd at 8:30 (approx 5 miles away) so this makes for approx 40miles total. The link below shows the route from Danville. It’s a large enough event that you need only follow the crowd.
Due to the mass start, this ride offers the opportunity to experience what it’s like to ride in a peloton. It is fun, but you MUST PAY ATTENTION as it’s also dangerous. I’ve heard the Turkey Ride jokingly referred to as the “Thanksgiving Day World Championships” due to a contingency of riders who are always intent on making it an all-out race. Some of these riders take themselves a bit too seriously in fact. The combination of casual riders v. racer wannabes can make for a dangerous mix. For that reason I don’t recommend this ride for beginners unless you hang out at the back and wait for the main field to go first. I always see at least one crash usually involving a less experienced rider who inadvertently gets caught up in the competitive fray. Don’t let that be you!
If I haven’t totally scared you or killed your enthusiasm, come on out if you’re looking for a quick ride on Thanksgiving. It actually is a lot of fun.