What we’re about
The Hammerin' Wheels (HW) are a growing group of cyclists in the Sacramento area who enjoy being active on their bicycles and the company of others while riding bikes. We try to cater to everyone on some level. It doesn't matter if you are a hardcore cyclist, or if you ride purely for the social aspect. We welcome riders of all levels on all terrains if there are adequate volunteers to lead the various groups. Hammerin' Wheels is divided into 3 separate group sites. You are currently on the Mountain bike site. We ride mostly on the dirt trails around Folsom, Granite Bay, Auburn and surrounding areas of northern California and Tahoe.
If you want to hit the pavement at a "casual" pace you will want to visit https://www.meetup.com/Hammerin-Wheels-Casual-Bikers. Here you will find rides that very from 10-30 miles usually on flat paved roads or trails where speed tends to be in the 8-12 mph range.
If you want a little more "spice" in your pavement ride you will want to visit our road bike site at https://www.meetup.com/hammerinwheels. Here you will find rides that vary in length and speed, this site is meant for cyclists who have combination of experience and/or some sort of athletic ability.
HAMMERIN' WHEELS LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
We require that all pending members read and digitally agree to the below liability disclaimer, via his/her profile questions, in order to be a member of our Group. It is important to understand that you are responsible for your own safety.
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In no event is Hammerin’ Wheels, or its members, guests of members, agents, employees, or affiliates, liable for any injury or damage to a member, guest, or other person, arising out of any activity, event, or exchange associated with Hammerin’ Wheels, irrespective of any NEGLIGENCE on the part of Hammerin’ Wheels, or its members, guests of members, agents, employees, or affiliates. Each person is responsible for his or her own safety, and Hammerin’ Wheels, its members, guests of members, agents, employees, or affiliates, are in no way responsible your safety or well-being.
By agreeing to this Limitation of Liability, you HEREBY RELEASE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Hammerin’ Wheels, its members, agents, employees, or affiliates FROM ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES CAUSED OR ALLEGED TO BE CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF Hammerin’ Wheels, its members, guests of members, agents, employees, or affiliates, or BY YOUR OWN NEGLIGENCE, INCLUDING NEGLIGENT RESCUE OPERATIONS. You FURTHER AGREE that if, despite your knowing and voluntary agreement to this LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, you, or anyone on your behalf, makes a claim against any of the Hammerin’ Wheels, or its members, guests of members, agents, employees, or affiliates, YOU WILL INDEMNIFY, SAVE, AND HOLD HARMLESS Hammerin’ Wheels, and its members, guests of members, agents, employees, and affiliates, from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which any may incur as the result of such claim.
Hammerin’ Wheels and its agents, employees, and affiliates, do not protect, warranty, or guarantee the integrity of any parts, advice, ideas, or suggestions exchanged on Hammerin’ Wheels’ Website. Any content uploaded to Hammerin’ Wheels’ Website, including discussions and photographs, become the property of Hammerin’ Wheels.
The nature of bicycling activities is DANGEROUS. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. By participating in any bicycling activity, ride, or other physical event (hereinafter “Activity”) associated with Hammerin’ Wheels, you agree, acknowledge, and represent that you are qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in any Activity associated with Hammerin’ Wheels. You assume the risk of injury or damage associated with any Activity arising out of your participation. Hammerin’ Wheels, its members, guests of members, agents, employees, or affiliates, are in no way responsible for your safety or well-being. You agree and warrant that if, at any time, you believe conditions to be unsafe, you will immediately discontinue further participation in the Activity.
You FULLY UNDERSTAND that any BICYCLING ACTIVITIES INVOLVE RISKS AND DANGERS OF SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING PERMANENT DISABILITY, PARALYSIS AND DEATH (“Risks”). These Risks and dangers may be caused by your own actions, or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Activity, the condition in which the Activity takes place, or THE NEGLIGENCE OF HAMMERIN’ WHEELS, or its members, guests of members, agents, employees, or affiliates. There may be OTHER RISKS AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSSES either not known to you or not readily foreseeable at this time, and YOU FULLY ACCEPT AND ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSSES, COSTS, AND DAMAGES you incur as a result of your participation in the Activity.
You understand that you have given up SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS by agreeing to this Limitation of Liability. You intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. You agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid, the remaining portion(s) of this Limitation of Liability shall continue in full force and effect. You agree to participate in any Hammerin’ Wheels activities in a safe and lawful manner.
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GROUP SPONSOR(S)
Group sponsors help to keep this a FREE group!! Your patronage or a "Thank you" to a Group Sponsor is greatly appreciated. If you would like to be a Group Sponsor or donate to our group, please contact the Organizer for details.
About our Sponsor
Mark Van Biber, a HW member and a Branch Manager of the Rocklin branch of American Pacific Mortgage, has been helping families with their home mortgage related needs for over 24 years. Mark was named one of Sacramento Magazine’s Five Star Top Professional Real Estate Lending Professionals. The Five Star award went to fewer than four percent of Sacramento area residents holding a real estate lending license. Its Mark’s goal to provide the smoothest loan transaction you’ve experienced with kind, friendly and professional service. American Pacific Mortgage is a Direct Lender, with over 115 branches in 15 States and over 1300 employees to help insure you get great pricing and special products to meet your desired needs. Call (916-824-8700) or email Mark Van Biber (mark@mvblending.com) today and let his experience and friendly team help you with your next mortgage. NMLS 227505 / 1850. CA BRE 01114608 / 01215943. Equal Housing Opportunity.
HW HEATH & SAFETY ADVISORIES
This group is all about having fun and being safe while riding. However, please be advised of the following:
A HELMET IS REQUIRED for all our rides! We reserve the right to turn you away from riding with the group if you do not have one.
COME PREPARED with a well tuned bike appropriate for the ride. Mechanicals happen. Be self sufficient with flat/chain repair tools and supplies.
PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED to accompany you while riding on any HW event. Well behaved pets may be permitted during "pre" or "post-ride" activities if approved in advance by the Organizing Event Host. Don't assume its ok-ask first.
KIDS UNDER AGE 18 are not permitted to join any Hammerin' Wheel event unless accompanied by a riding parent/guardian at all times. Due to safety concerns, we cannot be expected to take on that kind of stress or risk of liability, so please don't ask.
SMOKING/VAPING IS NOT PERMITTED around others in the group before, during, or after a ride.
COVID
Due to ongoing issues, we respectfully ask that you refrain from spitting/snotting when riding in front of others. If you need to clear your nasal passages (we get it), out of respect for others, fall to the back of the pack or step far away from the group and do so discreetly off the trail. No one wants to be downwind from your cloud of snot. Don't be that guy!
SKILL & FITNESS
It is your responsibility to make sure you and/or your guests meet the skill and or fitness requirements of any HW ride event before you consider participating. If you have any questions for whether a ride is right for you, please contact the ride organizer in advance. If your member profile is incomplete or the ride organizer cannot determine if you meet a ride's required skills or fitness, the ride organizer may contact you to determine your skill level fits the posted event. Organizers reserve the right to turn people away before or turn them back during a ride if they feel a rider does not have the skill or fitness to safely continue.
HW MEETUP ADVISORIES
Fees
While there are no fees to join this Meetup group, this group is not free to operate. This group runs strictly on donations, sponsorship from local businesses. If you you would like to make a donation, contact the Organizer for details. Once your donation has been received you will earn "Group Supporter" status! Any donations received in excess of the operating costs will be used for the weekly BBQs.
RSVPs
Please remember that the members of the Leadership Team of this group are all volunteers. They do this for nothing more than their love of riding. They put a lot of time and effort into setting up these events. If you RSVP "Yes" for an event, please follow through and show up. If you can't make it, please show them the courtesy and keep your RSVP up to date. If you develop a pattern of no shows, Organizers reserve the right to remove you from the group.
Meetup/Start Times
Ride events will have a meetup time and ride start time. Rides are normally scheduled to start 15 minutes after the meetup time, unless the event directs otherwise. If you need additional time to unload, gear up, warm up, etc, please arrive early. If you are going to be late, contact the ride leader as soon as possible. Never expect the group to wait for you.
Photos
This is a public group and we take lots of pictures. In regards to ownership, once photos are uploaded to the site they become property of the group. If you are at all concerned with property rights, please do not upload anything to the site. Likewise, if you do not wish to have your photos taken or uploaded, be sure to express your concerns to the Event Organizer.
Email Settings
If you are not a fan of email you will want to update your settings at the following link. Click here to update your email settings! There are a number of options that can be turned off to help ease your pain. I would highly suggest you leave the "Special announcements from Organizer(s) to members" checked so you can receive important messages from the group Organizer(s).
Event Organizers
We are ALWAYS stoked about people who are interested in setting up and leading rides, for all level of riders (especially the slower paced rides!!) and in all surrounding areas. If this sounds like something that may interest you, please contact the Organizer for more details.
HW TRAIL ETTIQUETTE ADVISORIES
Yield. Yield means slow down, establish communication, be prepared to stop, and pass in a safe and friendly manner. Hikers yield to horses, and bikes yield to hikers and horses as shown by the arrows on the multi-use yield sign.
Respect. It's a simple concept: If you offer respect, you are more likely to receive it. All trail users have rights and responsibilities to each other, and to our trails.
Smile. Greet. Nod. How are you perceived by other trail users? Even if you are a caring and friendly individual, with your helmet, sunglasses and a facial expression concentrating on the trail, you may appear intimidating to other trail users. Smile, say "Hi!" and ring your bell if you have one. It will promote goodwill on the trail and happiness to the trails community that we are a part of.
· Ring your bell before you approach so as to not startle them.
· Scan the trail ahead for other trails users.
· Anticipate other trail users and ring your bell around corners or in blind spots.
Don't block the trail. When taking a break, move to the side of the trail. Don't stop or lay a bike or backpack on the trail, especially on a blind comer.
Don't tune out. If you need to listen to music wear earbuds. It is best to only wear one earbud at a low volume so you hear any communications of other trail users.
Ride in Control Speed, inattentiveness and rudeness are the primary sources of trail conflict among user groups. If you need to pass, slow down, ring a bell or verbally announce yourself, and wait until the other trail user is out of the path. Use extra caution around horses, which are unpredictable. Be extra aware when riding trails with poor sight lines and blind corners, and make sure you can hear what's going on around you.
Encounters with Equestrians Stop your bike and ask equestrians if it is ok to pass. Horses are easily startled. Horses recognize the human voice more so than bells. In general, if you meet an equestrian on a trail,
· Stop and move to the downhill side to let them pass.
· Talk to the rider and respect how they prefer to pass with their horse.
The rider will appreciate your courtesy.
Encounters with other Cyclists: When approaching other cyclists, the biker going uphill has the right-of-way*.* This courtesy is extended to not break the climbers momentum and because it is easier to restart when going downhill if there is a need for someone to stop for a safe pass. Note that the person with the right-of-way can choose their path. They may not follow the convention of staying to the right if that is not their best path, even on fire roads!
Keep singletrack single Ride thru puddles, not around them whenever possible.
MISC GROUP RIDING ADVISORIES - To improve the group riding experience for all.
*Be kind and respectful of others when riding or in conversations.
*Don't overestimate your skills/fitness levels. Only RSVP to rides that are a good fit.
*If you must listen to music, you may do so with ONE ear bud only.
*Be alert to frequent ride briefs during regroups to prevent separations.
*Be ready to roll after brief regroups to improve better ride flow & prevent separations.
*Allow reasonable space between riders esp thru technical rocky sections.
*Stronger, more technically skilled riders should ride towards front of pack.
*Slower, less technically skilled riders should ride mid to back of the pack.
*If you peel off early, let someone in the group know before doing so.
*If group is big, be prepared to help lead smaller subgroups if necessary.
*Always let the rider behind you know which way the group turns (Rolling ReGroup).
*If you make a wrong turn and get separated from the group and we are unable to find you, be prepared to find your way back to your car. Call or text someone your location.
*Trails can be loose in turns in dry months, wash outs can happen. Ride with caution.
*Be sure you can handle riding in hot temps during summer months. Or skip the ride.
*Poison Oak is everywhere, so no touchy touchy.
*MTB Project (FREE) & TrailForks (Fee based) are very useful phone apps to help you navigate trails. We recommend you download one or both.
