I did the metric century last year. It's a tough ride with more than 5000 ft of climbing, but the Kings Mountain ascent in the morning is truly spectacular.

Here are all the details:

Tour de Peninsula a Fun and Healthy Family Day Out

Online Registration now open for Peninsula's largest cycling event

SAN MATEO, Calif. (June 9, 2011) – The Bay Area's recreational cycling classic, the Tour de Peninsula (TdP), returns Sunday August 7th, once again providing a fun family social gathering of more than 1,500 participants, with its start and finish in scenic Coyote Point Park, San Mateo.

A highlight of the Bay Area calendar for nearly 20 years, and the largest urban-based organized bicycle ride in the Bay Area, the so-called Dirty Shirt ride will begin and end at the Eucalyptus Picnic Area, next to the Coyote Point Park Marina, and again it offers a variety of bicycle routes to suit every type of cyclist, as well as a fun-filled day of outdoor activities for non-cycling family members.

Proceeds from the event benefit the San Mateo County Parks Foundation and Bicycle Sunday – car-free biking on Canada Road for more than 60,000 cyclists annually.

Registration is now open at www.supportparks.org/tdp.

Bicycling

The Tour de Peninsula offers four fully-supported options on popular and beautiful routes through several of the San Mateo County Parks. The courses are designed to suit everyone from young children and first time riders to serious cyclists, and there are built-in shortcuts if needed. The rides – Kids, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced – feature breaks at rest stops and scenic sites along the way. Route options include:

• Kids: 1-3 miles multiple loops on a short course in Coyote Point Park.
• Beginner: Short Route for beginner to intermediate cyclists – 20 miles.
• Intermediate: Long Route for intermediate to experienced cyclists – 31 miles.
• Advanced: Metric Century for advanced cyclists – 100k/63 miles, or take the Simon Says shortcut to make it 56 miles. Includes Kings Mountain and Old La Honda roads.

Family Events and Activities

The Tour de Peninsula is more than just a ride – it.s a fun, social outdoor experience for the whole family. After the rides, participants will gather at the Eucalyptus Picnic Area near the Coyote Point Park Marina, a beautiful location nestled in a shaded eucalyptus grove, for a day of family activities including:

• Curiodyssey (formerly the Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education), open at no charge to all TdP participants and their families.
• Magic Mountain, an award-winning playground with 6 slides and play features for toddlers through teen.
• The Tribal Blues Band: Starting at noon, live blues-funk-jazz-rock music to get those tired cycling legs moving again.
• Picnic tables and grills: bring your own food and beverages, or purchase from concessions on site.
• Networking and lively conversation: with other Bay Area residents and families.

Benefit

Apart from providing a great day outside in beautiful scenery, the main purpose of the Tour de Peninsula is to raise funds for the San Mateo County Parks Foundation and Bicycle Sunday – car-free biking on Canada Road. The San Mateo County Parks Foundation funds projects that restore habitat, provide environmental education, improve trails, support volunteer efforts, and encourage recreational use of parks. Since its founding in 1998, the Foundation and its members have provided millions of dollars for San Mateo County Parks.

History

Having unexpectedly grown out of Mark Simon's newspaper columns about an imaginary bike ride, the Tour de Peninsula was founded circa 1991 by Mr. Simon and his friend Rick Sutton. With catch phrases such as "no pain, no pain," and, "It's not a race, it's a ride," the event was a semi-spoof of the Tour de France and ran through the campus of Stanford University. An instant success, 150 riders showed up with beaten-up old bikes and were told cheating is OK. People took short cuts and made frequent stops for donuts, taking up to three hours to ride a 15-mile course. Over the years, the ride continued to grow and in some ways became more reverent (although some people still dust off their old clunkers for it), but the jovial spirit has continued. In 2009 the longest ride was increased by popular demand from 33 miles to 63 miles. Several Dirty Shirts are still seen among all the spandex and sport-wool.

Registration

• Before June 30: Kids 11 and under are free. 12-16 years old are $20. Adults 17 and over are $40.
• July 1-August 3: Kids 11 and under are free. 12-16 years old are $25. Adults 17 and over are $45.
• Ride-day registration: Begins 6:00 a.m. Free for 11 years and under, 12-16 years old are $25. Adults 17 and over are $50.
• The registration fee for 12 and older includes a TdP T-shirt.
• Deadline: Participants are encouraged to register online by August 3, by visiting www.supportparks.org/tdp/.
• Questions: Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 650-321-1638

Ride Schedule

• 6:00 – 8 a.m.: Event Day registration at the Eucalyptus Picnic Area
• 7:00 a.m.: 100k/56 mile rides begin
  
• 8:00 a.m.: 31/20 mile rides begin (except Kids rides, see below)
• 10:00 a.m. onwards: Fun and festivities in the park
• 12 noon: Kids rides in the park

Volunteer

The Tour de Peninsula needs enthusiastic volunteers to help out. To sign up, complete and submit the form at www.supportparks.org/volunteers.html. We will send you everything you’ll need to prepare for the day including when and where to show up, what to wear and more. Volunteers get lunch, a Tour de Peninsula crew T-shirt and San Mateo County Parks Foundation hat.