Having recently moved to Northern California from the UK, I jump at any opportunity to explore my new surroundings. The north of the Golden State offers somewhat of a cornucopia of bike riding when it comes to terrain.

From rolling hills to the steep climbs of Tahoe Forest to the pan-flat terrain around my new home in Sacramento; the variety is staggering.

Riding through the orchards. Credit: The author
With all this said, the opportunity to travel to an undiscovered area for the Pedaling Paths to Independence Gran Fondo (PPI) was one I relished.

The PPI Gran Fondo's proceeds go to support the Community Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which has branches in Stockton and Lodi and has been serving these communities for over 67 years. The community center helps a massive range of people gain skills, confidence and knowledge to thrive and improve their capabilities. The 2016 edition of the gran fondo raised over $26,000, and with the help of some dry weather, organizers were looking to eclipse this total for the 2017 edition.

The route set out from Linden, about 40 minutes south of Sacramento, and headed south towards the Stanislaus County Park. The PPI offers a 25 or a 65 mile route, both of which are relatively flat.

I headed out on the 65 mile route. The quiet road arched out of Linden and headed south through the winding walnut orchards and beautifully blossoming trees rows; some of which stretched as far as the eye could see. The terrain was undulating and the westerly wind made it difficult to maintain a steady rhythm. Nevertheless the stunning scenery and pleasant company made the first 20 miles fly by.

Though a factor the wind was not that bad. Credit: The author
The truly beautiful part of the route was its middle third. Now, the road turned north and slinked through the rolling foothills of the mountainous Stanislaus National Forest to the east. As a European, the massive expanses of open space in the US are something to behold. The scale of the landscape are truly remarkable and slightly daunting if you happen to be traveling by self propulsion on two wheels.

For some perspective, California itself is twice the size of the entirety of Great Britain, so you can imagine what a new experience riding through the gargantuan vistas is for a European.

The straight and flat nature of the road meant that you could easily see the thin line of riders stretched out in front and behind you, providing the feeling of being an ant set on its journey back to the nest. One such nesting place was the halfway food stop, which came as a welcome resupply. After a quick top up on Gatorade, bananas and energy bars it was back onto the road and back north towards Linden.

Quiet roads and endless orchards provided a solitary riding experience where all there only sound you can hear is your own breath and the whirring of your gears. That is, after all one of the base pleasures of cycling; just you, your bike, and the road.

So, if your find yourself looking to do a great ride for an superb cause then the PPI Gran Fondo is difficult to pass up. Granted it may not have some of the facilities and spectacle of the larger summer events but the route's serene character makes it a welcome option for early-season riding.

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