On a whim I signed up for a 9am guided Historical Society bike ride around Mill Valley, and also actually showed up.
Highly recommended on both counts.
I grew up in Mill Valley, and learned new stuff. Shell mounds in Mill Valley. Chief Marin’s birthplace is next door to the president of the Mill Valley Historical Society and its also the site of the Reed home (rancho grantee, first euro home in Mill Valley). How convenient is that?
I was surprised by the number of attendees I knew, including a BOBlister! It’s a small world if you know what’s good.
Charlie’s Ritchey was hand built by Tom for NAHBS and Charlie had it built up with all the goodies.
I talked a lot about the Ebisu. People who had no idea what it was loved it. People really like classic steel bikes, even if they’re riding electric carbon.
After the ride, I rode the Sausalito bike path and poked around at the heliport a bit. When I was little my parents had a “Christian coffeehouse rap center” down there for the hippies and runaways (shoutout “Throttle” and “One Armed Frank”) who lived in busses and truck campers by the mudflats.
And then I rode to the little shopping center by Mike’s Bikes and had a super mediocre burger in Sausalito. I saw a Sklar and a beautiful FJ though.
Back at the Mill Valley Middle School I saw a sweet 2002 roundie as well.
