The Chicken Ride — Friday Morning Mill Valley
Legendary competitive Friday morning sprint through Marin roads since 1990. A rubber chicken jersey goes to whoever is left standing at the front after just 7 miles.
The vibe
Earn the rubber chicken
Since 1990, a rubber chicken wearing a vintage La Vie Claire jersey has been the most coveted prize in Marin cycling. The Chicken Ride leaves the end of the Blithedale Bike Path at exactly 7:10 AM every Friday — rain or shine, year-round, no exceptions — and covers just over 7 miles along Paradise Drive. The distance is short. The attacks are not.
The format is simple: whoever reaches the finish first takes the chicken home for the week, displays it with appropriate pride, and defends it the following Friday. Local pros have ridden this over the decades. The average turnout is 10–15 riders, with a recorded max of 32 on a particularly competitive morning. Everyone knows what they’re getting into when they show up.
This is not a social ride. If you want something casual, sleep in. But if your Friday morning has some aggression to burn and you want to test yourself on one of the Bay Area’s most storied informal race routes, the Blithedale trailhead is ready at 7:09. The chicken awaits.