East Bay on Velodromedary

Wildcat Creek Trail Gravel

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:55:37 +0000

I enjoy mixing some gravel and dirt into my road rides, though I don’t have a specific “mountain” or “gravel” bike– just my all-around bike with 38mm tires.

A local example I’ve enjoyed several times in the past few years is Wildcat Creek Trail, which takes you from Wildcat Canyon Park in Richmond up to Tilden Park in the Berkeley hills. It’s a good local introduction to gravel roads (and nice and wide compared to a typical multi-use trail, avoiding conflict with walkers and dogs), and I’ve brought along friends on road bikes and they’ve been able to handle it:

Goats, Art, Fried Fish (Point San Pablo)

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 21:18:19 +0000

Last weekend I organized a ride up to Point San Pablo, about 40 miles of scenic, mostly-flat* riding, with the majority of it on paved separated bike paths (the Bay Trail, on-street bike paths in Richmond, the Richmond Greenway, and the Ohlone Greenway).

We had a good group of seven, some who I’ve been riding with off and on for years and some new folks. And the remarkable exchange between two people of:

Morgan Territory, take 2

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 15:00:18 +0000

Morgan Territory Road was one of my favorite Bay Area roads four years ago (see that post for more details), and a few weeks ago a group of us finally made it back.

The ascent and descent on windy one-lane roads with minimal traffic were even better than I remembered (riding on a cool day helped):

This time, for variety, I charted a new route (44mi, 2800’ climbing) with a more roundabout intro/outro, picking up a range of paved and gravel trails through various parks, to take us off the busy + boring suburban roads. This probably added at least an extra hour (partly due to riding slow on multi-use trails with more pedestrians and dogs) but I felt they were a great addition. A few examples:

Del Valle Dirt

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 01:22:11 +0000

I’ve done variants on a 30-mile vineyard and trails loop in Livermore a few times over the years. One of those years we biked past Wente and up to the South end of Arroyo Road, and could see gravel trails stretching off along Lake Del Valle– but the gravel was too steep and loose and we turned around.

I’ve always wanted to go back with some wider tires and see how practical (and fun) it is to ride gravel along Del Valle, connecting Arroyo road to Mines road…

Oakland -> San Leandro beer ride

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 05:44:00 +0000

Alas, Cleophus Quealy Brewing has closed, so we can no longer repeat our annual group ride there. But as breweries opened back up for limited social-distanced outdoor dining in mid-2020, I restarted an occasional ride from Oakland through the mosaics and murals of Jingletown…

Along MLK Jr Shoreline Park:

Morgan Territory scenic climb and descent

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:37:13 +0000

Morgan Territory Road definitely makes it into my top tier of best rides in the Bay Area. Miles of paved single-lane road twisting up through a forest and then swooping down through hilly countryside (which is actually green at this time of year!)… all with no cross roads and not much traffic:

Five of us rode it Sunday via this 42-mile route from Pleasant Hill BART -> Clayton (a town with oddly Old-Western-themed street signs) -> Morgan Territory (quail, red-winged blackbirds, frogs, the trickling of streams, some wildflowers), with a break for lunch and to refill water near the top -> the suburbs of Livermore -> Dublin BART.

Through the woods, a 26-mile loop on a perfect, sunny, mid-60s day (scenic Pinehurst Rd in Oakland)

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:55:48 +0000

Through the woods, a 26-mile loop on a perfect, sunny, mid-60s day (scenic Pinehurst Rd in Oakland)

Oakland -> Fremont (Bay Trail+)

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 19:12:13 +0000

40-mile flat ride from Lake Merritt to Fremont, joining about 30 people I didn’t know on the Bike East Bay “Spring Ride Series”. A nice route, especially all the paved car-free paths along various wetlands (with many birds on a misty morning)– and nice for variety to be following without having to plan a route or look at my phone.

Fun 30-mile ride during Beer Week along many off-road paths and canals, MLK Jr Shoreline Park, the mosaic murals of Jingletown,...

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 08:00:00 +0000

Fun 30-mile ride during Beer Week along many off-road paths and canals, MLK Jr Shoreline Park, the mosaic murals of Jingletown, and along the shoreline in Alameda… with a stop at Cleophus Quealy for tacos and good beer.

Back on the bike (one of the few >20 mile rides this year) on a hot hot day with a 45-mile ride North on the Bay Trail and back...

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 05:48:49 +0000

Weeknight bike camping on Mt Diablo (the lower Live Oak campground) via dirt trails. Waking up at 5:30 to make coffee...

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 15:43:38 +0000

Mud and Debris

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 03:31:43 +0000

The biking along Skyline and Shepherd Canyon were more challenging than usual after the storms:

This was a smooth bike trail the last time I was here:

Still great views:

20-mile flat, paved bike path ride (Pleasant Hill -> Dublin)

Sun, 29 Jan 2017 04:25:25 +0000

I moved to Oakland and bought a cargo bike. Oakland’s been very walkable and bikeable so far (with a good grocery store,...

Mon, 02 Jan 2017 03:12:37 +0000

I moved to Oakland and bought a cargo bike.

Oakland’s been very walkable and bikeable so far (with a good grocery store, hardware store, coffeehouse, garden center, transit centers, and bike shop all within 10 minute rides).

While I’ve been idly looking at and researching cargo bikes for many years (including admiring the range of designs I’d see in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, or the Supermarket Street Sweep), I could never really justify the expense. Now that I’m living somewhere a bit more spread out than SF (and with, for the first time, a yard and room for gardening and woodworking), and with my motorcycle retired (no registration, insurance, gas the past few years), when I saw an Xtracycle Edgerunner for auction at a fund raiser for a good cause, I made an impulsive decision and rode it home that night.

Port Costa ride #9?

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 01:02:19 +0000

I’ve been riding a variant on this 30-mile loop once or twice a year for 6 or 7 years and it never gets old. From Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek BART along off-road canalside trails, then up the long but not steep uphill of McEwen between rolling hills of flowers and cows, down to the quirky Port Costa for a picnic and drink among pallets, potholes, and old theatre signs outside the Warehouse Cafe, then back along the twist, car-free Carquinez Scenic Drive along Carquinez Strait:

Exploring Wildcat, Tilden Parks by bike

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 21:33:18 +0000

Striking out solo on a Sunday to explore trails in the East Bay hills, from Nimitz Way -> Fire Trail #3 -> San Pablo Ridge Trail -> Belgum Trail -> Wildcat Creek Trail:

Roadblock (riding in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park). Reminds me of 5 years ago.

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 20:54:44 +0000

Roadblock (riding in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park). Reminds me of 5 years ago.

Biking -> San Leandro / Cleophus Quealy Brewing

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 03:16:49 +0000

On a ride with six friends: low tide, egrets, a large hawk, industrial detours, smooth paved waterfront bike paths, and some excellent beer, bluegrass, and mexican food with fresh-made tortillas.

East Bay Trail / Salt Ponds / Marsh

Sun, 26 Jul 2015 06:25:24 +0000

An all-afternoon ride from Fremont BART to the shoreline, under the Dumbarton bridge, then up along the water all the way to San Leandro– riding on levees stretching out into the Bay, past green-tinted salt evaporation ponds, pelicans, egrets, herons, vultures, and a red fox, through landscapes moon-subdued in palette but with occasional brilliant splashes of color, on paved paths and dirt… a great day.

Riding into the fierce, relentless headwind slowed us down, and the occasional sections of bone-rattling gravel numbed the hands, but we all made it around the levees, on trails where we saw few other humans.

Port Costa Ride #8ish

Mon, 23 Feb 2015 01:52:00 +0000

I’ve done this general ride too many times to remember over the years. This was an especially good day of it– lush green hills instead of the usual dead grass, sunny but not too hot, a children’s lemonade stand, a group of friends, a picnic and some British beer at The Warehouse, and my first time riding on Carquinez Scenic Drive since its renovation (though to be honest, I sort of miss its previous painted, crumbling-into-the-bay state and the 50 feet of hillside dirt path you used to need to traverse).

An adventurous 32-mile almost-exclusively-off-road ride in Livermore, some not-even-on-the-map paths, mostly paved, some dirt,...

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:06:00 +0000

Benicia Trails, Two Bridges, Fennel Forests, Hot Hot Hot

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 04:22:00 +0000

Sunday was a good day:

How often do you get to ride all day, along the Bay, and through fragrant fennel fields?

Or bike on smooth, paved, separated paths across two major bridges (the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and the Carquinez Bridge)?

Tour de Biere 2014 photos

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 00:31:10 +0000

This photo sums up the day:

Sunday was the 4th annual Grand-Cru-organized Tour de Biere, visiting four East Bay breweries over the course of an all-day 29-mile scenic bike ride. Great weather (sunny but not too warm, an epic red-and-pink sunset that photos can’t convey), a friendly group of about 40, four friends along for the ride, and a lot of good beer.

A collection of photos, in no particular order:

exploring Mare Island, Benicia

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:48:00 +0000

Yesterday, bike-based exploration organized by a friend: A ferry ride to Vallejo, an exploration of the fascinating mostly abandoned naval base and nature preserve on Mare Island, a ride through Benicia and across a bridge to Martinez, and then back to BART.

Briefly, in photos:

A massive boat-building drydock, abandoned. This photo doesn’t do it justice:

Old buildings and railroad tracks:

Jingletown, San Leandro, Beer Ride

Sun, 26 May 2013 06:06:00 +0000

Great weather for the first annual Session Beer Festival, and an excuse for a ride with friends from Oakland to San Leandro.

White Elephant building:

Jingletown:

Free wood (so consistently, it’s labeled in the mosaic):

Large tires (foreshadowing…):

Miles of car-free paved paths along the water:

Martinez, Port Costa, Refineries, Richmond

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 04:23:00 +0000

I’m finally posting a map and photos from a ride organized by Robin a month back– about 50 miles from Walnut Creek BART to Martinez, along Carquinez Scenic drive to Port Costa (a common spring destination, for me), then past refineries out to Pinole Point Park and down to Richmond:

Black Diamond Mines ride & tour recap

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:58:00 +0000

Four of us took BART out to the end of the line and then biked to Black Diamond Mines Regional Park in Antioch for a tour of the Hazel-Atlas sand mines (and some history on coal mining in the region).

It was a casual 20 mile round trip, mostly on the Delta De Anza paved off-road bike path, though with a bit of busy road riding and then a mile of uphill to get into the park.

Biking in the nearly-deserted Black Diamond Mines Regional Park (in Antioch).

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:35:39 +0000

Biking in the nearly-deserted Black Diamond Mines Regional Park (in Antioch).

Livermore Wine Ramble #3: recap

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:03:00 +0000

A casual day of bike riding, picnicking, and wine tasting around the Livermore area. The initial interest in this many-times-rescheduled ride and the good weather made me think 15 people might show up… but it was a group of 31, word of mouth through three degrees of separation. Thanks for being great, everyone.

Riding a few miles through Sycamore Grove Park– interesting trees on either side, bridges to ride over, and almost no cross-streets or signs of other people:

Oakland: Skyline, Beer, Ferry

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:27:51 +0000

Another fine ride, with a friendly group of twelve (including several new friends-of-friends), on a sunny, gorgeous, 29-mile route through the Oakland hills.

We wrapped it up with a cruise along Lake Merritt and some beer and vegan soul food at Beer Revolution– and then a few of us managed to catch a ferry back across the Bay.

Oakland ride & beer, Saturday

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:47:28 +0000

I’m back in town, sorry the Livermore wine ride fell through but I’ll try to redo it in a few weeks [if you’re interested, let me know if Sat 4/28 or Sun 4/29 would work…]

But, this Saturday, a modest 29-mile ride in Oakland (route courtesy Adam, with some uphills and then ridge riding on nice roads)…ending at Beer Revolution in Jack London Square for food and a drink.

Friendly pace, no rider left behind, meet at Rockridge BART at 11.

Photos from our recent 7-person Livermore wine country ride (in somewhat-brutal 95-degree heat), over a 30-mile route.

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Port Costa + Picnic recap

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:47:00 +0000

Today was my 4th or 5th Port Costa / Carquinez Scenic Drive ride over the past four years and it was a good one (and with no flats or infected bee stings). Seven of us met up at Pleasant Hill BART and headed out for a late afternoon casual-pace 29-mile ride and picnic.

For variety, we took what looked like a side path along Alhambra– but it rapidly rose above the road and turned into a rough dirt path.

Riding back from Port Costa.

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:32:00 +0000

Riding back from Port Costa.

Two rides this weekend

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:47:00 +0000

Two “probably” rides (as usual, let me know if you’re interested, in case details change, or check the blog the night before).

Saturday: fun headlands loop / luggage test ride

A roughly 22-mile scenic Headlands ride (see photos from a past ride). For variety, let’s meet at Mojo Bicycle Cafe at 10AM.

Casual, friendly pace, and also intended to be a “luggage test ride” – anyone who’s been interested in bike camping (or is coming camping in Point Reyes in a few weeks): this is your excuse to put on a rack, pump up your tires, strap on your bags and camping gear, and get comfortable with how your bike handles on some flat roads, a steep uphill, and a steep downhill, without worrying about pace or being too far from the city. And to stretch your biking legs after the rain if you haven’t already.

Biking by scenic oil refineries in Rodeo.

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:28:00 +0000

Biking by scenic oil refineries in Rodeo.

Taking a break after a very steep hill.

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:27:00 +0000

Taking a break after a very steep hill.

This Saturday: 53-mile East Bay ride

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:42:36 +0000

The rain has fled. Time for the twice-postponed hilly 53-mile East Bay ride this Saturday. Tentative plan is to meet outside the Berkeley BART at 9AM.

I’m a little sluggish due to less recent riding, and it’s no-rider-left-behind enjoy-the-scenery as always, but I’d also like to do it without too many stops (maybe Port Costa, maybe not), to see how feasible it is to do in a half-day (in preparation for a potential Grizzly Peak Century in May). Bring some food, a spare tube, etc– it’s unclear how “civilized” the route will be.

3/19 plan: 53-mile east bay ride

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:47:35 +0000

No scheduled ride this weekend, but next Saturday 3/19 a few of us plan to ride this 53-mile Grizzly Peak / Pinole / Port Costa Loop (rain cancelled the last attempt), probably meeting at the Downtown Berkeley BART at 9AM (time could change depending on responses).
There probably won’t be a free motorcycle gang spaghetti dinner in Port Costa this early in the season, so bring a sandwich or some other food and we’ll stop halfway in for a break.

Rides this week

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:38:00 +0000

Two social rides organized by others this week:

Wednesday: Butterlap (7pm at the Ferry Building, a friendly 17 miles around the city with a few dozen people, mostly flat but two notable hills, Bender’s afterwards for a bit). [edit: was raining at 6pm, didn’t go]
Friday: SF Bike Party (12-mile ultra-casual bike party with music, a few stops, and 400+ cyclists). This month, in Potrero/Dogpatch/Bayshore.

And this weekend, something more ambitious I’ve talked to a few of you about:

Grizzly Peak century? practice rides?

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:18:50 +0000

May 1st is the Grizzly Peak Century. Here’s my map of the 109-mile route (drawn quickly based on their map, may not be 100% turn-for-turn correct). I’m thinking about doing it.

For now, here are two 53-mile BART-to-BART rides I’ve sketched out that together cover most of the route (North ride, South ride). I plan to ride them some time in the next month and a half (as practice, and because they look like interesting rides– I’m not a biking-as-outdoor-spinning-just-for-the-sake-of-exercise guy)– anyone else interested?

Riding through the redwoods (there’s a school ahead??)

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:43:00 +0000

Riding through the redwoods (there’s a school ahead??)

Reservoir, seen from the second bear.

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:41:00 +0000

Reservoir, seen from the second bear.

The morning fog in Tilden that burned off.

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:40:00 +0000

The morning fog in Tilden that burned off.

Map/recap: "Three Bears Plus"

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:37:00 +0000

I didn’t organize a ride this week, but went with Adam & Becca on a roughly 50-mile ride combining Berkeley->Orinda (via Tilden Park / Inspiration Point / Wildcat), the “Three Bears” loop (a.k.a. San Pablo Dam loop, but nicknamed after the three moderate hills in a row), a ride through Moraga (less scenic), and then a switchback-filled climb among redwoods and fast descent on Pinehurst. GPS map of the route.

It was a good day, at a modest pace (5+ hours, 4 hours actually in motion). Fauna sightings included wild turkeys (including a fluffy little baby turkey), sheep, deer, many trailers of horses, and roadkill.

Port Costa Ride: photos

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:58:00 +0000

Port Costa Ride: photos

Port Costa #3 debrief

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:37:00 +0000

The ride today was both a great success and a collection of minor disasters.

On the up side:

Eight people, including a few people who hadn’t been riding in a while.
A casual-pace 29-mile ride, with successful climbs of many winding hills and a few thousand feet of elevation gain. People got tired of me saying “I think this is the last hill.”
Port Costa was not at all sleepy– there were 100-200 motorcyclists (of the Harley / leather / chaps persuasion), a live band, and more loud-exhaust bikes rolling in every few minutes. It was a scene.
We’d heard “the motorcyclists are taking over the Warehouse kitchen for the day” and it felt like a private party, so we weren’t sure we’d be able to get food… but they encouraged us to help ourselves to the spaghetti, salad, and bread, for free!
A few interesting (and also large, and strong) beers.
All in all, about everything I wanted out of the post-birthday ride, thanks everyone.

On the down side, members of the group experienced:

Photos from the east bay vineyard ride. The weather was pretty much perfect, and we saw jackrabbits, a wild turkey, other...

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:54:00 +0000

Photos from the east bay vineyard ride. The weather was pretty much perfect, and we saw jackrabbits, a wild turkey, other strange birds, and several groups of spandex-clad bicyclists.

3/28 Vineyard Ride Plan

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:25:53 +0000

Meet at 11AM at Dublin/Pleasanton BART (a ways out there: about a 50-minute BART ride from 16th & Mission, for example).

Hitting up Ruby Hill Winery in Livermore first for a picnic (they sell bread and cheese) and tasting, about an 8 mile ride: http://www.rubyhillwinery.net/tastingroom.html

Next stops TBD.

Four more photos from last weekend's ride, courtesy DR (and I'm trying out the new Tumblr slideshow feature)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:24:00 +0000

Four more photos from last weekend’s ride, courtesy DR (and I’m trying out the new Tumblr slideshow feature)

Two plans for upcoming rides (if there's good weather). Both are of the somewhat leisurely exploration-with-stops, 15-20 mile...

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:37:57 +0000

Two plans for upcoming rides (if there’s good weather). Both are of the somewhat leisurely exploration-with-stops, 15-20 mile type.

Sunday 3/14: A detailed exploration of the Presidio by bike. Starting at the Ferry Building, biking along the water to say hello to the Golden Gate bridge, and then exploring a network of twisty roads, lookout points, old buildings, hills, and Yoda statues in the Presidio.
Sunday 3/21 or 3/28: Wine tasting and picnic by bike in the Livermore area (continuing my “where can you bike to from a far-out BART station?” theme). Starting from Dublin/Pleasanton BART, about a 9-mile ride to where the vineyards start (see photo above), then hopping from vineyard to vineyard. Stopping at one of them for a picnic of bread, cheese, and cured meats. The exact route is TBD. Be aware that while the ride is fairly flat, part of it is on somewhat busy streets without bike lanes– traffic wasn’t bad when I explored part of this area on a weekday, but I don’t know if it will be less or more busy on weekends.

Flowers along McEwen Rd

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:14:00 +0000

Flowers along McEwen Rd

On the ride

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:07:00 +0000

On the ride

Port Costa Ride

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:45:00 +0000

Four of us met up for this ride. 29.2 miles, 2:45 active riding time, about 4:30 total including a break for lunch and a beer in Port Costa, a stop to photograph miniature horses(!), and so on. Lots of scenic, rolling hills, and not much traffic.

Approximate route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2924086

I’ll post a few photos shortly.

2010 rides

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:34:00 +0000

I’ve been on some individual rides with people (including a few 20-mile SF circuits involving Trouble Coffee), but it’s been a while since I’ve been on a group ride.

But… weather permitting, Port Costa/Martinez loop in the east bay again a week from Saturday (that is, on 3/6).

I’m open to votes on whether to do it the “standard” direction (several miles of long gradual uphill and then a steep shorter decent on a 17% grade on McEwen), or the opposite, the direction we accidentally did it last time (sorry, helen and matt!).

benicia bridge

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:16:00 +0000

benicia bridge

rolling hills

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:10:00 +0000

rolling hills

so many flowers

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:07:00 +0000

so many flowers

graveyard

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:06:00 +0000

graveyard

video: biking through a tunnel

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:00:00 +0000

video: biking through a tunnel

Port Costa debrief

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:54:00 +0000

Three of us met up on Saturday for a nice East Bay ride, from Pleasant Hill to Martinez and Port Costa, in a loop. We did a hybrid of a ride in the SF Short Bike Rides book (in particular, warm-up riding on the Iron Horse and Contra Costa Canal trails – paved, off-road meandering along a canal for miles, flat with mild rises and dips), and a loop recommended by Max C. This is more or less the route we took: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2937679 . My cycle odometer says it was about 34 miles total– there was a lot of small-scale twisting and turning that doesn’t show up on that map (it was about 19.5 miles out, and 14.5 miles back). The ride along Carquinez Scenic Drive was fantastic, up through an old graveyard, and then along a twisty cracked/filled/painted pavement road closed to cars with great views of the Carquinez Strait and the Benicia Bridge. We saw turkeys, deer, huge butterflies, and wildflowers. Port Costa was a tiny little town, with some friendly dogs outside Sparky’s, a new motorcycle shop under construction, blackberries just ripening along the train tracks, and The Warehouse – a huge bar with hundreds of beers, a gigantic stuffed polar bear, and really mediocre sandwiches and shrimp cocktails (they do weekend BBQ, but only on Sundays, we found out). Then coming back, we climbed McEwen (a painfully steep mile and a half, see the elevation at Mile 18 on the map above– I’ve since learned that most people do the loop in the opposite direction), but were then able to coast and ride along a gradual, curving downhill for about 6 miles. That was perhaps my favorite part of the ride. Smooth pavement, gradually winding turns, riding between rolling hills covered brown (I mean, “gold”) grass, warm sun with a slightly cool breeze, and almost zero traffic. I’ll put up another few photos after this.

Passed the ghost bike for mark pendleton :(

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:52:00 +0000

Passed the ghost bike for mark pendleton :(

On the way to Port Costa

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:17:00 +0000

On the way to Port Costa

Port Costa this Saturday?

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:12:00 +0000

Okay, after several failed attempts to organize this ride, let’s give it a try: This Saturday, 10:30, Walnut Creek BART. About a 35-mile round trip, moderate hills, taking us to Martinez, Port Costa, and maybe the John Muir house. Some notes from Short Bike Rides San Francisco: “This mellow, mosey-along kind of ride offers highly scenic views of Mt. Diablo and the Easy Bay Hills as well as of the Carquinez Straits and the tiny and ancient hamlet of Port Costa. I don’t know which is the bigger treat: riding the eroded and unrepaired Carquinez Scenic Road, which is closed to cars, or shooting the bull with the locals at the Warehouse, an immense, historic bar [side note: has 200+ beers, and might have a BBQ running] in Port Costa right out of a country-music video. Then, of course, there’s the John Muir House to be visited, charming downtown Martinez to peruse, and the uncrowded multiuse paths of Contra Costa Country to check out.” And a few other excerpts: “You’ll find yourself climbing through a beautiful and very Spanish-looking old graveyard”, “postcard views of Carquinez Straits […] Forty percent of the land area of California drains its runoff water through these straits.”

And another

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:27:00 +0000

And another

Another pic from Saturday.

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:26:00 +0000

Another pic from Saturday.

Five of us rode up into the Oakland hills this morning, up a long though not too steep climb, past eucalyptus, along a ridge...

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Five of us rode up into the Oakland hills this morning, up a long though not too steep climb, past eucalyptus, along a ridge with great views, and then back down a swooping, turning descent. Good pavement quality, generally low traffic, perfect weather. Then lunch on the back patio at Lynn & Lu’s Cafe near Lake Merritt. About 20 miles overall. Next ride tentatively in three weeks: Sunday 5/10, perhaps starting with the car-free Sunday Streets route for that day, and then continuing South along the bay?

East Bay Ride Sat 4/18

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:26:00 +0000

This Saturday: an east bay ride conceived by Colleen. Meet at Rockridge BART at 10:30 (and let me know if you’re coming). It will be a scenic ride with some hills, up to Skyline, maybe ending with lunch in Chinatown or around Grand/Lake. Possible route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/278009 p.s. Port Costa didn’t happen last weekend due to Easter and other events, but some weekend…

Upcoming 4/5 and 4/12 rides

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:06:00 +0000

Some quick notes before I run out the door: Well, the rain seems to be in retreat. I’ll be out of town for the next week and a half, returning 4/4, but when I get back, I’m thinking: A shorter warm-up ride Sunday 4/5, likely: 10:30 AM @ 16th & Mission, bike to Ocean Beach again (via Trouble Coffee w/ their cinnamon toast). TBD. A longer East Bay ride on Sunday 4/12 – maybe Walnut Creek->Martinez/Porta Costa if people are up for it, or something else on the Iron Horse trains from Walnut Creek. Generally involving meeting around 10:30 or 11 at one of the East Bay BART stops, details TBD. Also, several people have expressed interest in some day doing the Planet Of The Apes / Montara lighthouse ride (Pacifica area, fairly long/steep? likely involving staying overnight in a hostel down there, biking back the next day). I’m thinking in July some time…

Next Ride: Port Costa

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:00:00 +0000

[edit: cancelled due to rain, but to happen some time this spring]

This Sunday, 10:30, Pleasent Hill BART. About a 35-mile round trip, moderate hills, to Martinez, Port Costa, and maybe the John Muir house. Postponed to another week if weather is bad– check in with me . Some notes from Short Bike Rides San Francisco: “This mellow, mosey-along kind of ride offers highly scenic views of Mt. Diablo and the Easy Bay Hills as well as of the Carquinez Straits and the tiny and ancient hamlet of Port Costa. I don’t know which is the bigger treat: riding the eroded and unrepaired Carquinez Scenic Road, which is closed to cars, or shooting the bull with the locals at the Warehouse, an immense, historic bar [side note: has 200+ beers] in Port Costa right out of a country-music video. Then, of course, there’s the John Muir House to be visited, charming downtown Martinez to peruse, and the uncrowded multiuse paths of Contra Costa Country to check out.” And a few other excerpts: “You’ll find yourself climbing through a beautiful and very Spanish-looking old graveyard”, “postcard views of Carquinez Straits […] Forty percent of the land area of California drains its runoff water through these straits.”