Date: Saturday, October 22Meet time: 9:45 a.m.
Ride-out time: 10:00 a.m.
Meeting place: New location! Parking lot at Villa and Franklin streets, Mountain View (across from the Tied House) (map)
City: Mountain View
Rain policy: Rain cancels
Category: 3 - moderate-fast pace (12-15 mph)
Terrain: 2 - rolling hills
Miles: 42
Description:
Entering its fifth season in 2012, the AIDS/LifeCycle Distance Training rides have become a Peninsula and South Bay institution. These rides start in January each year and culminate in mid-May with the Altamont Pass Double Metric. Although the rides are designed to train ALC riders, they're open to anyone who seeks the challenge.
Join me this Saturday for a preview of the 2012 rides as we "test-ride" the first route. From our (new!) meeting location in downtown Mountain View, we'll head around the Arastradero Nature Preserve, Portola Valley, Cañada Road, and Edgewood Road with an easy return on Alameda de las Pulgas. No surprise stupid climbs; this is all comparatively tame stuff. About 1,800 feet of climbing total.
We'll follow the usual ALC rules on this ride, but there won't be a sweep rider or a SAG vehicle. This ride is presented through Different Spokes San Francisco, so we will sign the DSSF waiver, not the ALC one.
This ride is Caltrain- and VTA-friendly. The first southbound train of the day leaves SF at 8:15 and arrives in Mountain View at 9:29. We're about a four-block walk from the station.
Meet time is 9:45 a.m., and we ride out at 10 a.m. sharp.
RSVPs are requested but not required. 
