King Ridge

Community Ride

What

Come join Steve (Comova Cycling) and Jenny (cycling jenny) for a lap around the classic King Ridge loop in Sonoma’s West County. Everyone is welcome, but we would especially like to support riders who have not yet ridden King Ridge. The ride’s motto is “persistence over pace.” It’s a tough route, but with a solid level of fitness and some persistence we’ll get it done together.

Following the ride, hang out at Comova’s Bike Barn, share stories of the adventure, and enjoy some refreshments.

For questions or more info, contact Steve (steve@comovacycling.com) or Jenny (cyclingjenny@outlook.com)

When

Saturday, August 17

9:30am meet up

10:00am roll out

Essentials

If possible, RSVP through our Eventbrite listing. It will help us anticipate the group size and plan accordingly. But last-minute arrivals are ok as well!
Ride Start/Finish Location: Comova Cycling (23430 Old Duncans Grade Rd., Cazadero, CA)
Parking: Please park along the shoulder near the Cazadero Hwy/Old Duncans Grade Rd. intersection and then ride the .5 miles up to Comova for the start
Cost: FREE

The Nitty Gritty

Parking

We have very limited parking at Comova. If you arrive on time (or a bit early) you can try coming up the driveway to see if there is space. The better option is to park on the shoulder of Cazadero Highway near the intersection with Old Duncans Grade Rd. Another popular parking location is in Duncans Mills along Moscow Rd. From here it is a 2-mile ride to Comova (and you’ll pass your car two miles before the finish).

Break-ins are rare but it’s a good idea to leave NO valuables in your car.

The Route

Here’s the Ride with GPS link (starting from Comova): King Ridge Classic (51 miles/5,200′ elevation gain)
The King Ridge Mystique is an article diving deep into what makes King Ridge special
There will be no SAG but we will do our best to support riders on the full route with ride leaders riding at different paces
There are no options for a shorter loop, but the ride can be shortened by turning around at any point along King Ridge Rd. for an out-and-back
If you make the turn onto Hauser Bridge Rd. at 23 miles, you are committed to the full route
If you opt for the out-and-back you will need to navigate yourself back to the start

Preparation

Body & Mind

If you’ve been completing 40-50 mile rides and are comfortable on steep climbs (and descents) of 1-2 miles, then you are ready for King Ridge! But do not underestimate the difficulty of this ride.

Along with an adequate level of fitness, a Comova state of mind will go a long way. “¿Como va?” means “How’s it going?” A Comova state of mind is the ability, no matter how tough things get, to laugh at the question “How’s it going? It’s the ability to detach from the “suck” (and maybe even laugh at it). It also means accepting that the ride will be tough, giving yourself permission to stop when needed, but also committing to continuing on.

Bike

Gearing: a 1:1 gear ratio is recommended. This means your biggest rear cog and smallest front chainring should at least have the same number of teeth (e.g., 38×38). A rear cog that is bigger than your smallest chainring is even better.

Tires: Slick tires are a fine choice as the route is entirely paved. As for width, 32mm or wider is ideal.

King Ridge can be ridden on skinny tires. But wider tires at lower pressures smooth over the sections of rough pavement and potholes; and, if run tubeless, also eliminate the chance of pinch flats.

What to Carry

You’ll want a minimum of two 24-oz water bottles. More if it is a hot day.
- Between Cazadero and Jenner (38 miles) there are no services except for a fountain for refilling water 21 miles past Cazadero).
The ride will take most people 5+ hours. With a 10am start, you’ll be riding through lunch. Most will need more than bars and gels. Consider bringing a sandwich or other “real” food.
- We will have loaner handlebar bags if you are worried about where to carry extra food or other items.
You’ll want a minimum of two spare tubes (even if you are running a tubeless set up).
- If you are running tubeless, add sealant before the ride and bring plugs and spare tubes because…
- Tubes fail. And sometimes mistakes are made installing a tube. Redundancy is worth it!
- Don’t rely solely on CO2. Carry a pump.
A chain tool is a good idea
- You never know if you’ll wind up with a bent derailleur or chain and need to shorten your chain to a single speed set up.
Carry all the calories you’ll need for 4-6 hours

The Finish

There’s no shame in walking up the “Comova Wall.” That’s what we call our driveway. It’s actually only about 100 yards long, but it is STEEP!

Once at the finish, celebrate your achievement on the Bike Barn deck. Refreshments will include Old Caz Beer as well as a selection of other beer and nonalcoholic beverages. We’ll also have some chips, pretzels and other snacks.