Kooks of the Coast 2024

Friends! Hello. We are back with Kooks of the Coast 2024, the original (to us) Marin Alleycat. All proceeds will benefit Marin-focused trail projects with Marin County Bicycle Coalition (details below).

For the uninitiated, an alleycat is a checkpoint-based format that tests your fitness and bike handling AND your knowledge of Marin trails and roads. There is no official route.

We will reveal 3 checkpoints 24 hours before the start of the event, then present a commonly-known 4th checkpoint at the start so that your little wahoo map is all messed up. It’s up to you to get from the start to all four checkpoints and back to in the shortest time (ornot).

After you finish, Kooks of the Coast will test your ability to get sunburnt on the shore of Horseshore Bay all afternoon. We'll have a podium for top three womens, mens, and nonbinary riders, prizes from Ornot and Slug Bicycles, and food and drinks (for small, reasonable donation) to enjoy.

KOTC will be Saturday, May 11th. 8:30am registration, 9am roll-y race-y thing.

The start is at the boat ramp next to the Coast Guard Station. Plenty of *free all-day parking right there*. The route should take fit cyclists 3-4 hours and normcore cyclists 4-5 hours. Worst to worst, you donated $40 to a trail advocacy group, rode to some of the checkpoints, and hung out with your friends during/after.

100% of your very reasonable entry fee goes towards Marin County Bicycle Coalition to help fund the following projects:

1. Dias Ridge Phase II: This project is approved and would extend the current Dias Ridge Trail a ¼ mile north to Frank Valley Road. Its completion will trigger planning for Phase III, which would connect Dias Ridge Trail to Coast View Trail.
2. Marin City access from Pacheco Trail and Orchard Trail: There are two little known and neglected trails leading from the heart of Marin City into the Marin Headlands. Pacheco Trail is multiuse, but hard to find and often overgrown. Orchard Trail is more established, but is closed to bikes. Both trails connect Marin City to Alta Trail, and with modest enhancements and a series of volunteer days, would become more accessible and welcoming for the residents of Marin City.
3. Four Corners to Homestead Valley: For years bicyclists could avoid riding down Shoreline Highway into Mill Valley by jumping on an old service road at the top of Four Corners above Muir Woods. The trail has disappeared due to neglect and we will reestablish and improve the alignment to give bicyclists a safer route from Four Corners to Miller Avenue.

Rain policy: Trail ecology and erosion are top of mind for us. In the event of rain or very wet trails, we will announce a close-by rain date for this event, and allow ticket transfers. It would be incredibly foolish to hold an event benefitting trails for cyclists if they get destroyed in the process :)

Host or Publisher Kooks of the Coast