Training Ride Schedule
Check back often. Dates, times and locations subject to change. Also see the note below on how to import the ride schedule to your personal calendar.
In addition to the riding and training everyone should be riding on their own to be prepared to do 200 miles this Fall, these volunteer led Training Social Rides are intended to be fun, social rides, with the intent of keeping your training going. That said, we are open to adding a faster group and leader towards the end if we have enough interest.
Please note that these rides are unsupported. You are responsible for you. Bring all your own food, drinks, tubes and pumps, patch kit, etc.
More details, starting locations, and routes are below. If you need instructions on how to load the GPX file into your bike’s computer, click here.
If you will be attending a ride, please text me, Chris (831.227.1749) and/or the ride leader to let us know. And, of course, feel free to ask questions.
Let's Ride!
Chris Benkert
2025 Training Ride Coordinator
(831) 227-1749
ChrisBenkert@gmail.com
Rides Schedule Overview:
Click to view a Google Calendar containing the always up-to-date schedule of training rides.
And, here are instructions on how to subscribe to this calendar so you can see the training ride events right on your own personal calendar.
Upcoming Rides:
Every Tuesday UCSC Hill Repeats and Every Thursday UCSC Gravel Adventure (Starts Tuesday June 10). Ride Leader: Chris Benkert (831-227-1749). Meet at Parking Lot 116 at 5:30 for a 5:45 start (parking is free after 5:00p).
--> On Tuesdays we will ride the big loop on Coolidge and Hagar as a warmup and then we'll do repeats on the bike path up to Performing Arts and back down.
--> For Thursday's Gravel adventure, we will ride up the bike path toward the Water Tanks (rt on Heller Dr to the top of North Perimeter Parking Lot 150) and then free form it (I'd start from Parking at Lot 150 but it's only free after 8:30p). Both rides will be for 60-90 minutes with the possibility of dinner in town. Mission St. BBQ? Taqueria? Jacks?
--> Please note that Chris will be out of town 6/19, 7/3, 7/8, 7/22, &7/24.
Ride #1. Saturday June 21 @ 8:30am, Ride Leader: Chris Benkert (831-227-1749). Aptos-Manresa Uplands Campground/Beach, 18mi, 1147ft. Meet at 8:15 for an 8:30 start at Mar Vista/Soquel Dr (please park on Mar Vista). Length may be extended to 24mi to Sunset Beach dependent on experience of who shows up. This isa a pretty simple ride along frontage road and then San Andreas. Route on Google Maps.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362272420539436738
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2frfxJBRrxxV1ipPA
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HTB5LLV6Lim4a09SMoqc0qOzI8Skcj6a/view?usp=drive_link
Ride #2. Saturday June 28 @ 8:15am. Ride Leader: Chris Benkert (831-227-1749). Swift St to Swanton Loop, 21mi, 1506ft. Meet on the bike path (@820 Swift Street, westside of Santa Cruz) by Humble Sea and leave at 8:30. Park on Swift Street or nearby. We will take the bike path from there up to Wilder. Then up Hwy 1 to Swanton Road, up to the top then turn around and go back the same way. Humble Sea opens at 11a, so we can consider and after ride beverage if so inclined.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362272657335858882
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TNMPcAL8ZbWGkNBt5
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ZXtVD7QcVMnRuGYKnA19OSglPk_5iE2/view?usp=drive_link
Ride #3. Thursday July 10 @ 9:30am. Pedal The Pacific ride, El Vaquero winery > Wilder > Cycle Sport > El Vaquero winery, 40mi, 1846ft. You are all cordially invited to a truly FUN and AMAZING training ride which involves riding with a group of young ladies who call themselves “Pedal The Pacific.” They are doing a fundraising ride which involves a ride of the entire coast of the western United States, They have already entered California and will be HERE in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, July 9. They are riding to raise funds to wipe out sex trafficking and this is their 13th year! Feel free to text Tom McCullough so we know who is coming!!
Ride Leaders:
Jim Cumming 831 331 3999
Brent Dunton 831-247-4936
John Martinelli 831 332 5629
Rob Morse 831 801 8871
The Plan:
1. 9:00 am: Meet at El Vaquero winery in Corralitos. El Vaquero winery is at the junction of Freedom Boulevard and Corralitos Road. 9:30am: Leave for 1.5 hours (approx.) to Wilder Ranch in North County and meet the girls at that location about 11am
2. 11:30am: Ride back to 41st Avenue, meet at Cycle Sports (formerly Family cycling)
3. Your FREE lunch is provided by Togos, Greg Wimp, owner! HUGE SHOUTOUT TO GREG!! Also: Jim Cumming has organized the Cycle Sport techs to tune up the girls bikes during lunch, so they will be ready to ride to San Diego!! Thank you JIM!!
4. 1:30pm: We will then all ride together back to El Vaquero, and the girls themselves will continue on to the Martinelli home, where they will spend the next two nights.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362273154845718628
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yp9RBdzxf3Uta6sz8
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13ZyZAy-uVeav5VcyCtvptJ9Bi_3mMaDt/view?usp=drive_link
Picture yourself having fun with us!
Ride #4. Saturday July 19 @ 8:00am. Leader: Chris Benkert (831-227-1749). The Pie Ride, 36mi, 1388ft. Leave from Corralitos Market (569 Corralitos Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076)
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362273478101506754
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jGAWiApsEBxa1MrY8
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DVGpphLdL08BF3ent4GpuKb7SKVaJt5h/view?usp=drive_link
Don't miss the fun and opportunity to get in shape! join us for an upcoming ride!
Ride #5. Saturday August 2 @ 8:30am. Ride Leader: TBD. Scotts Valley Post Office, 26mi, 2057ft. Meet at 8:30 am and ride by 8:45 at the parking lot by the transit center. Ride start/end at the Scotts Valle transit center (304 Kings Village Rd) and ride in the mountains. Bean Creek up to the top of Glenwood Drive then down to Granite Creek and then back up via Glen Canyon.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362273838120258242
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oCE2hZ1j3zXdiozG9
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DJMxtGnyn89Pvek_rjN3bNEInD3hpG7S/view?usp=drive_link
Ride #6. Sunday August 10 @ 8:15am. Ride Leader: TBD. The Pie Ride in reverse via Hazel Dell, 40mi, 2098ft. Meet at Corralitos Market (569 Corralito Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076) at 8:15 for an 8:30 roll.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362274032688199780
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PVnuE1wkY8Qknzj26
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19wAWQfLS41-EY22RA0VEioenWBhMxpMC/view?usp=drive_link
Ride #7. Saturday August 16 @ 8:15am. Ride Leader: Chris Benkert (831-227-1749). Swanton via Empire Grade, 46mi, 4172ft. If you like climbing and/or downhill, this is your fun slog! Meet at the corner of Delaware and Swift St. at 8:00 for an 8:15 start and an enjoyable climb to Empire Grade and then over to Bonny Doon Rd via Ice Cream Grade, down to HWY 1, up the Coast to Swanton Rd where we will exit Swanton at its North End and continue south on HWY 1 into Wilder Ranch, and take the Bike Path back to Delaware and Swift St. For those who want additional climbing (and a quieter ride), Swanton awaits you to take it back to HWY 1.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362274297559862372
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Novg6ssuUUgM87hw5
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DJMxtGnyn89Pvek_rjN3bNEInD3hpG7S/view?usp=drive_link
Ride #8. Sunday August 24 @ 8:30am. Ride Leader: TBD. Castroville-Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, 38mi, 1351ft. Meet in Castroville on Salina Street behind Burger King (11290 Merritt St, Castroville) at 8:15am - leave at 8:30, and riding to Monterey probably Lovers Point or Pacific Grove for Brunch?. This ride is almost flat with no big hills and very little climbing so it’s bout 4.5-5 hours total.
Note: Due to foot traffic in Monterey, we need to leave at 8:30.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362274604497968228
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Muv8TX2ASRcEJjch9
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oz0LbJQMoL_qa79VmxGmhms4XUcdvGKx/view?usp=drive_link
Another super fun training ride!
Ride #9. Saturday August 30 @ 8:00am. Ride Leader: Chris Benkert (831-227-1749). San Juan from Corralitos Market, 48mi, 2565ft. Meet in Corralitos by the market at 8am for a ride through Aromas to San Juan Bautista and Vertigo coffee. This has been a highlight of our training rides for a few years now as it is a fun ride and a great spot to get some good food. It’s a little under 25 miles one way and will be out and back. It has one climb that is a little challenging, but is only a mile long.
Our goal is to have a fun ride and not drop anyone. We will try to regroup and keep people together. Oh and the Rotary Ride is less than a month away! Get your miles in!
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362274791694372546
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AYajgQEzPoqZ2Cja9
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19kkLH-IP4-YYYLtcklJdrUO681UgwaQX/view?usp=drive_link
Great turnout for a Rotary training ride!
Ride #10. Sunday September 6 @ 8:00am. Ride Leader: TBD. Strawberry Fields, 58mi, 2779ft. We will meet in Corralitos by the market at 7:45 for an 8am start and then head up Browns Valley Road, down to Riverside Rd, over to San Miguel Canyon Rd, over and up the eastern side of Elkhorn Slough, over to La Selva Beach, up to Aptos to take Valencia and Day Valley to Freedom Rd and then back to the Market (as an alternative, Hames Rd off of Freedom is a great ride offering a couple of rollers and great views.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362275004349865666
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/teYNZyA53UX9svv9A
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hkGmJ70rWe7EoS6ZCk9fcTIxY-DBmKbD/view?usp=drive_link
Ride #11. Sunday September 14 8:00am. Ride Leader: Tom McCullough (831-707-4348). Humblesea Pescadero Out and Back, 65mi, 3307ft. Our last training ride of the year! At 7:45 for an 8am start, meet Tom McCullough (831-707-4348) on the bike path by Humble Sea on 820 Swift Street (park on Swift or Mission) and ride up to Pescadero to the store with the great loaves of fresh baked hot sourdough amongst other things and then back to Humble Sea for post ride refreshments.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362275386812409956
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7nogGoR8bymppBMM8
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mEFFSxLrwVT8EI67UsC2s3UKCMRjaoU7/view?usp=drive_link
Bonus Ride: Saturday September 20 @ 8:00am. Ride Leader: Chris Benkert (831-227-1749). Seabright to Granite Creek to Glenwood to Bean Creek to Glen Canyon, 20mi, 1540ft. We will meet at Chris Benkert’s house (206 Clinton St./Seabright Ave) and head over to Branciforte and connect with Granit Creek Rd., which we will then take up to Glenwood past SVHS and up to Bean Creek, which we will take back down to Scotts Valley Drive to Mt Hermon so that we can connect with Glen Canyon and ride it all the way back to Seabright & Clinton St. This ride offers a long climb with a rewarding descent and a chance to park your bikes in Chris’ garage and head to Linda’s Seabreeze Café for brunch!
Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3362278857510306916
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KVjMDXGhFBGnjDmR6
GPX File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mb4lHEacX2vX-_jTugyTMBUt_pl8dSCQ/view?usp=drive_link
