The damn (ex) boyfriend!…read more In a two-day 16hr training session of 24 ladies 25-65 yrs, we heard time after time about how the girls got into cycling through the boyfriend, who, steered them all over the place - into the wrong seat, bad pedals, improper shoes, the wrong bike and insufficient education. The "Girls Got Skills" training with VeloGirls (Lorrie Lown) is designed to demystify cycling and break all the bad habits the boys teach us. After crashing, thrashing and bashing many of the ladies found their way to this course and left with so much confidence that "boy beater" should be the 'graduation' status. It's a course for all levels, yes even the experienced riders came back to basics. Lorri has is all set up with lessons, practice, pacing, food, fun and plenty of challenge - which we appreciated. The coaches and mentors were great supporters. Bummer is... I waited too long to hop on the Velogirls' train. It's the best way to ride safe, happy and fun in the Bay Area. Keep a look out for all kinds of rides, training/educational programs and good fun with the girls. Oh, and there is a co-ed singles ride every month too.

Velo Girls ROCKS!!!! I moved back home to the bay recently and felt like I didn't know anyone after…read morebeing away for a couple years... I picked up cycling - since that's what you do if you live in Palo Alto - and contacted the Velo Girls cycling club to find other women to ride with at my level. I have had an amazing experience with the group, everyone is so supportive a welcoming and we really have fun together! Lorri, the founder of the group is great and very knowledgeable - she has taught a ton of people to ride and has excellent communication skills that translate valuable information to even the most novice riders. More to love: 1) The club works as a valuable support network - members can reach out to one another to ask questions about anything cycling related and get answers from people with a lot of experience. I've also been able to schedule my own informal ride through the group email and meet other riders at my level. 2) They have scheduled rides (almost every day) all over the bay for road, mountain and cyclocross riders. 3) Lorri offers personal instruction --- including a race development program 4) They offer some free workshops that focus on things like basic bike handling skills and maintenance. 5) It's only $45/ year to join!

If you're visiting San Francisco and thinking about doing an e-bike tour over the Golden Gate…read moreBridge... just book it. Seriously. It ended up being one of the best parts of our entire trip. The e-bikes made everything effortless -- especially the hills (which are no joke). You still get that fun, active experience, but without feeling gassed halfway through. The ride across the Golden Gate Bridge was unreal. The views of the skyline, Alcatraz, and the bay were absolutely next level. Riding above the water with the wind coming through the bridge towers is something you just can't replicate any other way. Our guide was fantastic -- knowledgeable, engaging, and paced the ride perfectly for the group. We got cool history about the bridge and the city without it feeling like a lecture.

We had a great outing with EcoBike along the bay shore. Electric bikes are perfect for team…read morebuilding since each person can pick the appropriate level of assistance for their skill level. My team of ~6 had a great time and I'd highly recommend the service!

Harley is rude to his customers, I have seen him yell at them for no good reason. I was a client…read more When I needed to sell my horse he declined to help....in fact he couldn't let it go at that- he said he didn't even want my horse in his barn. He seems to only wants horses he has purchased for you, and if your horse is injured you must be able to buy another. a friend of mine went through three horses in under two years...all of which were from Europe. Showing is the goal. Sadly, the girls in the barn follow his lead when it comes to anttitude and said nasty things about their teammate while she was jumping. I was shocked. In all the barns that I have known, competitors support each other. I can't imagine spending money there. For his prices there are many better options. He gets one star because his facility is nice.

After 8 years (since 2014), I'm reminded of the old saying "Behind every successful man is a…read moretalented, smart, hardworking woman. And behind every successful woman is HERSELF." Congratulations to Olivia on your new business, Dawson Grove Farm. Congratulations on your vision for the future and continuing to work with your wonderful assistant, Amanda, and team of grooms, Manuel, Flo, and Jorge. I can't wait to start the 2022 show season on my new horse with your guidance. And I'm excited to see our youngest son continue to learn and have fun with his riding during his last few years of high school!

Joining this fencing club has been one of the best decisions we've made! The beginner class is…read moreincredibly fun and engaging--perfect for kids just starting out. Right from the start, even the newest fencers suit up in full club-provided gear, which really helps them feel the excitement and focus of real fencing. It's amazing to see how quickly they get into the spirit of the sport. Coach Andre and Coach David are absolutely wonderful. They're not only skilled and passionate about fencing, but they're also genuinely kind and encouraging with the kids. It's clear they love what they do, and that energy is contagious. Since moving up to the intermediate class, I've been so impressed by how much thoughtful feedback my son receives. What stands out the most to me is how he's absorbing and responding to that feedback--it's a level of maturity and openness I've never seen in him before (especially not when it comes from me!). Watching his growth--both in skill and mindset--has been such a joy. We're now looking forward to local competitions together, and I couldn't be prouder to be part of this journey with him. If you're looking for a supportive, energetic, and skill-building environment for your child, I can't recommend this fencing club highly enough!

Parking is tricky but that is to be expected. You may have to ask to find your way to the center if…read moreyou are not familiar with the campus but the folks seem friendly. The facility is quite large with (if memory serves) over 10 full length strips, and you can use the uniforms there. There is more to fencing than meets the eye so it's advisable to go with someone experienced to properly understand everything from from your surroundings, to suiting up, to the equipment. My mentor was very patient, shared the knowledge well so it was a good first experience for me.

Super small, but good if you need to get a climb in. I went in during the wrong time and it was…read moresuper busy and didn't get to try all that I wanted to and also felt uncomfortable being in such a small space with so many people. But I can see how this would be a great space for when it's not as crowded! Lots of different routes to take. I mainly do bouldering.

An Ode to the Wall…read more Stanford Stanford RAH RAH RAH The university with two climbing walls! How radical and gnarly are thy trails, That I would not dare to feel entailed. The people are fit, young, and hip. It won't last-- by that, I mean my shoe's tip. Boulder, belay, crack, and lead, These are the many things I will learn indeed. It's free, fun, and ever so cool. I guess I'll just forever stay in school.

This was a great experience. Every activity was incredibly well organized and well thought out and…read morethe coordinators, Charlie, Charles and Starr are very friendly and approachable. I made new friends and had a lot of fun. I even recommend this for my fellow introverts or anyone nervous about the social component. Everyone is super nice and you will have a lot of fun. You won't regret it :)

Super fun way to meet people. It was a good age range and everyone was really friendly and fun to…read morehang out with. The organizers do a phenomenal job of planning events - every event was well thought out and helped to meet different people in the cohort each time. I can't say enough how impressed I was with the event planning - I expected something less planned out, but every event was something fun and new that I on my own would have wanted to do in the Bay Area. I highly highly recommend this!

I don't know how one can be a cyclist and give ACTC a low rating. This club is huge, with thousands…read moreof members and 5-10 rides every day. Rides range from short social slow-paced to hardcore-millions-feet-of-climbing-with-no-bathroom-stops, so you will certainly find something to your liking and skill level. They have a bike academy, which is 2 6-week modules held twice a year - you learn basic biking skills, such as lane positioning, gearing, etc. and more advanced things, like adjusting brakes and riding in a paceline. It's a lot of fun, even if you are an experienced cyclist, and the instructors are AMAZING people! A few things that are more on the negative side and worth pointing out are the snobs and the average age of the members. Snobs are not really the club's problem - it's just the way cyclists are. There has never been a ride when someone didn't try to make me feel like an inferior piece of crap because I don't bike to work, don't have the coolest gear like they do or don't ride a century every day, with 7,000 feet of climbing, in 2 hours. Cause hey, that's how you need to prove you're for real. If you have enough patience and can ignore this, it shouldn't bother you as much. The average age is an interesting issue. Most riders seem to be way over 60. I guess that's when you have a ton of time on your hands and a lot of money too - cycling is an expensive hobby to have. There are not that many people under 40, and those that are tend to be hardcore pros, so I can't really ride with them - they take off and disappear. So, if you are looking to socialize, and you are under 40, this may not be for you. If you are looking to become a better cyclist, riding with older people is great - they are in great shape and ride very fast, but not too fast so you can keep up.

Retired and new to cycling, ACTC has about 4-6 group rides of different levels every day of the…read moreweek, so I am always able to find a few rides per week to my liking. They are a great way to meet other health-conscious people and explore the little-known back roads and bike paths in Santa Clara County and the surrounding area. Most beginner green-coded 'Grizzly Bear' rides have about a dozen people and many leave from the centrally located VTA lot near Coleman x Winfield (near Oakridge Mall) and go to downtown San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, or Morgan Hill. ACTC.org's online calendar posts the rides, states how many miles, and rates them on difficulty, since some people (like me) don't like hills, while others love them! No RSVP is necessary; just show up. There are mountain bike rides, too. Most rides include a coffee or food stop near the end. The club sponsors several large annual rides and overnite camping trips, too. ACTC Membership ($25/yr for a family) includes accident insurance, mileage tracking, a Bike Academy for teens and newbies, a July pancake breakfast, with Awards given at the end of the year; it is a great bargain!

Started riding lessons in April 2024 once a week and now going twice a week and love it!!! Great…read moreset up at the stables. Kristin is a great instructor and her patience, knowledge and guidance has helped me gain confidence and make great progress. Highly recommend Stone Pine Stables!

The best trainer and people around! I started with Karen as an adult who was getting back into…read moreriding. She re- taught me the basics and then the fundamentals. She helped me find a horse to lease that fit my budget (without batting an eye that it was limited) and fit my needs. She went on to help me met every goal I have set for myself. She has thoughtfully and patiently answered my riding questions, horse care questions, and horse show questions and then more questions about my riding. She made my dream of owning a horse a possibly and has built a group of wonderful clients who I am lucky to now call friends. She is deeply knowledgeable and an excellent communicator who is able adjust to the varying needs of her clients. I could not recommend her more.