North Bay on Velodromedary

Biking on Old Caz

Tue, 04 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Biking on Old Caz, misc blurry cell phone video:

Biking SF -> the Russian River

Mon, 09 May 2016 03:34:23 +0000

Something I’ve always wanted to do– ride from SF up to the Healdsburg / Russian River / wine country area (88.8 miles via the scenic route a friend and I took this weekend).

Lush green hills, a few hours of rain and wet socks (hey, at least it wasn’t 103-108 degrees like a few summers ago), two cheese tastings (Nicasio Valley Cheese Company and Marin French Cheese Company), wildflowers, a stop for a burger and salty snacks at Lagunitas Brewing, coffee and cocoa in Santa Rosa to fight the chill, and then expanding my personal biking map (Santa Rosa having been my previous farthest-North-from-SF ride) and plugging along the final 20-odd miles to a campground in Alexander Valley.

North Bay Ramble (Vallejo -> Petaluma)

Sun, 14 Jun 2015 06:41:35 +0000

I needed a ride, and hopped the Vallejo ferry without the usual plan. A little phone browsing on the way across turned up some bike paths and sections of The Bay Trail West of Napa that I’d never seen, and it seemed like Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma would be within reach…

A bit of Bay Trail along a river and a marsh… thick with vocal birds but otherwise deserted, eventually degrading to dirt and then gravel and leading to nowhere (a vista point, and a loop back to the beginning of the trail).

Biking dirt roads (Old Railroad Grade) up Mt Tam

Sun, 09 Mar 2014 20:30:00 +0000

Five of us set off to ride dirt roads up to the top of Mt Tam, along the former route of the ‘Crookest Railroad in the World’.

Starting with a little dirt warm-up on paths through the Presidio:

New off-road dirt shortcut to the bridge, past old concrete batteries (involved some flights of stairs):

Stop at the new Sol Food in Mill Valley (quite possibly my favorite place to eat on a ride) for a plantain-and-hot-sauce-heavy lunch:

Bike & Kayak Marin

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 04:34:00 +0000

An easy, relaxing local adventure.

Meet at Velo Rouge in the morning. Bike to Larkspur, partly along dedicated paved bike trails (about 17 miles). Rent kayaks from Outback Adventure ($30 for 2 hours, I called ahead since we were a group). Paddle along Corte Madera Creek and side creeks under Mt Tam (a few hours before low tide so we were paddling against the current on the way in but the ebb was carrying us back out). Head to the Marin County Brewing Company a few blocks away for some food and refreshment. Catch the 4:45pm (sunset) ferry (also right there) back to SF.

Foraging, Blackberries, Picnic, Ice Cream

Sun, 28 Jul 2013 02:46:00 +0000

On the epic Lagunitas Brewing Ride a few weeks ago I noticed huge stands of green blackberries lining one of the Marin bike paths, and vowed to return on a foraging mission.

So 11 of us wrapped blackberry picking, an escape from the fog, a picnic by the bay, ice cream, and a casual ride around Marin into a day.

In quick cell phone photos:

Sunrise to Sunset: Lagunitas Brewery Ride

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 06:47:00 +0000

Just for fun.

Up at 5:30:

Long early-morning shadows in Sausalito:

Nicasio reservoir:

Canalside paths behind Petaluma:

Lagunitas Brewing for lunch: taproom, patio, friendly people, space to stash bikes:

We started to ride back.

Plantains and Wildflowers

Mon, 27 May 2013 02:49:00 +0000

It was great weather for a casual-pace 50ish mile jaunt to San Rafael and back with friends, along scenic bike paths and the water, with delicious plantain-heavy Puerto Rican food as the prize to keep eyes on. In photos:

Railroad drawbridge:

Wildflowers along Marin Bike Route 20:

The Pacific:

Bike Camping, Point Reyes

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 05:47:28 +0000

My second year bike camping for a three-day weekend in Point Reyes: eight of us rode up lugging camping gear, braving the hilly Four Corners / Panoramic / Highway 1 route, and admiring the views.

The blackberries were out in full force. We filled up a whole container for breakfast the next morning:

Oyster break in Olema:

100-mile BBQ Oyster Ride

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 03:26:00 +0000

This is one of the more ridiculous impulsive rides I’ve done.

I’ve always loved the BBQ-your-own-oysters-fresh-from-a-few-hundred-feet-away at Tomales Bay Oyster Farm, and last year a group of us did a 30-mile day trip from Point Reyes to there.

But I’ve wondered– how reasonable would it be to ride up from SF, have a leisurely lunch of BBQ oysters (because what’s the point if you’re in a hurry?), then ride back, all in the same day? It’s about 100-110 miles and a moderate amount of climbing (4000’-8000’, depending on the route). I managed to convince someone to join me, and off we went:

Nicasio and Lucas Valley Road recap

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:00:00 +0000

On Sunday I joined someone else’s group ride, SF -> Fairfax (with a stop at the Good Earth Natural Foods for lunch– good sandwich options) -> Nicasio (with a stop at Rancho Nicasio) and then back via the very scenic Lucas Valley Road to San Rafael and Larkspur. A friendly crew and a solid 54-mile ride with a few thousand feet of climbing.

A few of the cyclocross maniacs led us onto dirt paths, wood chips, and coarse gravel through the Presidio:

Stinson Beach Loop

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:43:00 +0000

Quick summary: a gorgeous, sun-and-clear-skies, panoramic-views-of-the-ocean-and-cliffs 50ish-mile Stinson Beach loop with four friends, via Highway 1, and then returning up the side of Mt Tam. I posted a few photos from my phone yesterday.

This might replace Paradise Loop in the medium-length-ride rotation for me – it’s about the same distance but more scenic and interesting riding.

It is significantly more elevation gain (4500’ or so instead of 1800’), but it didn’t feel as hard as those numbers suggest– most of the hills were long but not ridiculously steep. And it felt much more laid back than the 63-mile, 6000’ Alpine Dam loop.

Most numbered and signposted bike routes follow the flatlands. Not the "up Mt Tam" one...

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:06:00 +0000

Most numbered and signposted bike routes follow the flatlands. Not the “up Mt Tam” one…

On Rt 1 (panorama shot from cell phone)

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:04:00 +0000

On Rt 1 (panorama shot from cell phone)

Riding along cliffs (by eye, I could see Sutro Tower in SF in the distance)

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Riding along cliffs (by eye, I could see Sutro Tower in SF in the distance)

Pliny the Younger, after 11 hours of biking + standing-in-line

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:19:00 +0000

Pliny the Younger, after 11 hours of biking + standing-in-line

55 miles in, sunny

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:59:00 +0000

55 miles in, sunny

Cheese Factory stop

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:34:00 +0000

Cheese Factory stop

Sunny across the bridge

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:27:00 +0000

Sunny across the bridge

I biked to Russian River Brewery. Somewhat impulsively, with two stronger-than-me riders (thanks for waiting a few times), and...

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:01:00 +0000

I biked to Russian River Brewery. Somewhat impulsively, with two stronger-than-me riders (thanks for waiting a few times), and via a scenic but longer and hillier route past Mt Tam and Point Reyes. About 83 miles and 6000’ of elevation gain? Whew.

Bike to Russian River Brewing in February?

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Looking ahead– biking to Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa (about 60-70 miles each way from SF, some hills) is something I’ve wanted to do for a while. And hey– they’re serving Pliny the Younger for 14 days in early February.

The plan: ride up either Saturday Feb 4th or 11th [edit: we’re doing it the 11th], early, hang out at the brewery, get a hotel/motel/airbnb for the night, and bike back the next day. With stops for lunch and so on.

Bike Tunnel! (specifically, the newish Cal Park Hill Tunnel near Larkspur, which I finally checked out last weekend when I was...

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:03:05 +0000

Bike Tunnel! (specifically, the newish Cal Park Hill Tunnel near Larkspur, which I finally checked out last weekend when I was in the area)

Re-Cyclery Bike Thrift Shop

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:01:00 +0000

I recently went on a solo ride to San Rafael, and checked out the Re-Cyclery Bike Thrift Shop (and fundraiser for Trips For Kids) while I was there. Quite a place.

Outside, a classic Schwinn (for sale for $125):

The back patio had many more used bikes, in both adult sizes and kids’:

There were many other sub-$150 used bikes:

Paradise Loop

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:04:00 +0000

A casual-pace, 40ish mile Paradise Loop ride with a friend, on a cool day constantly on the edge of rain:

Cloudy, but fog-free, with the low-contrast lighting that’s good for cell phone photos…

Marsh along the Mill Valley bike path:

Tiburon bike path:

A few drops of rain threatened (and we were lazy), so we bailed after about 35 miles and took a ferry back from Sausalito (we caught it with about 15 seconds to spare, and would have missed it if we didn’t both have Clipper cards to let us skip the ticket machines):

Alpine Dam, again

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:04:00 +0000

Six of us rode the Alpine Dam loop today (starting from various locations– my day was about 67 miles and 6 hours riding time).

It’s still one of my favorite non-overnight Bay Area rides – the stretch along Panoramic Highway and the following “seven sisters in reverse” on Ridgecrest are scenic and exhilarating. I only took a few photos:

Iron Springs brewery in Fairfax. The enchiladas were fine, but most importantly, they were calories. The dark rye beer was interesting.

SF -> Sonoma bike camping & barn dance

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 05:45:00 +0000

18 Reasons threw a Full Moon Barn Dance party at Circle JR Ranch in Sonoma recently. Eating, drinking (Linden St beer and Sodacraft soda), horseshoes, tours of a Bi-Rite garden, lasso lessons, dancing… I could have driven up with a friend, but I figured– why not bike?

The most direct route would have been through San Rafael and up on the 37 to the 121, but after looking at the excellent Marin Country Bike Coalition map’s warnings of missing shoulders and reading a few online posts about those road segments, I decided I was willing to add 9 extra miles and some hills to ride via Fairfax / Nicasio / Petaluma:

Circle JR Ranch, Sonoma

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:06:00 +0000

Circle JR Ranch, Sonoma

Point Reyes Bike Camping recap

Wed, 18 May 2011 03:54:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I did something I’ve wanted to do for years– a bike camping trip to Point Reyes, self-supported (carrying everything, no car support).

I wanted to camp in Point Reyes National Seashore itself rather than nearby in Samuel P Taylor, to be somewhere more remote that wasn’t drive-in. I picked Sky Camp (based partly on this SFgate article), managed to get two nights reserved, and we ended up with a hardy group of 11 (friends, friends of friends, riders from last year’s SF RAGBRAI contingent).

Joining others for a 65-mile hilly Alpine Dam(n) ride.

Sun, 08 May 2011 22:48:00 +0000

Joining others for a 65-mile hilly Alpine Dam(n) ride.

Point Reyes bike camping: empty roads

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:45:53 +0000

Point Reyes bike camping: empty roads

Point Reyes bike camping: view from Sky Camp (a rare fog-free evening)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:43:00 +0000

Point Reyes bike camping: view from Sky Camp (a rare fog-free evening)

Point Reyes bike camping: through the woods

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:41:07 +0000

Point Reyes bike camping: through the woods

on the road with our luggage, on a beautiful day

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:26:27 +0000

on the road with our luggage, on a beautiful day

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.

Impromptu ride to Tiburon (Paradise Loop) organized by a friend.

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:25:00 +0000

Impromptu ride to Tiburon (Paradise Loop) organized by a friend.

Headlands Loop Recap

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 03:53:00 +0000

Four of us (RR, CC, D, MD) rode a Marin Headlands loop this slightly chilly but sunny and clear (an easy view of the Farralones) day. About 26 miles round trip from East SF, at a casual pace.

Approaching the bridge via Embarcadero / Marina:

Climbing Conzelman:

A clear day, quite a view:

Headlands Ride

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:35:00 +0000

Impromptu Marin Headlands ride this morning by myself (I didn’t email the list because it was last-minute, and I expected it to be a slog through the rain that no one would be interested in, but the weather ignored the forecast and cleared up).

Photos:

Park rangers were handing out free fruit, snack bars, and patch kits to celebrate the reopening of the road:

Paradise Loop recap

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:33:00 +0000

Four of us cruised up to Sausalito and Tiburon via the Camino Alto hill and Paradise Drive before taking the ferry back. About 35 miles of riding, here’s a quick map:

(a special shout-out to f for doing this as his first ride since the Foster City Flats ride a year ago).

Pre-ride savory pastries at Tartine:

Biking along the panhandle:

Ride This Saturday: Paradise Loop

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:27:41 +0000

Meeting 10:30am at the planter by the golden gate bridge gift shop (I’ll be hitting up the ferry bldg farmers market earlier for some Primavera & Blue Bottle), then doing [this 40ish-mile
loop through Sausalito and Tiburon](<http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-francisco/551127079691337454).

Relaxed pace– there will be some people on the ride who haven’t been on a bike in a year, and the scenery is worth appreciating.

Bike camping weekend of 9/11

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:21:06 +0000

I’m planning on going self-supported bike camping for the first time the weekend of 9/11. I’ve had about 5 people say they might be interested, so probably at least a few of us will end up doing it.

The rough plan is to take the ferry from SF to Vallejo Saturday morning, go on a 40ish mile ride through Napa Valley (Napa / Yountville / St Helena / Calistoga) at a steady but non-racing, no-one-left-behind pace (we’ll be carrying all our gear), stop periodically for wine tasting, and then camp in Bothe-Napa State Park.

Alpine Dam, take 2

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:04:00 +0000

Rode Alpine Dam again today on the new bike, leaving the house at 6:40AM (ouch…).

Here’s a quick overview image of the route (you can also check out the GPS track I recorded, though it’s approximate). The ride was about 70 miles and 4500’ elevation gain, and I wrapped it up with a visit to La Taqueria (3 tacos con aguacate) and Humphry Slocombe (peanut butter curry ice cream).

A few photos from the ride to China Camp.

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:23:00 +0000

This Sunday: China Camp

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:23:00 +0000

After a few weekends out of town, I’m back to biking.

This Sunday: the China Camp State Park loop in Marin (the road-bikeable route, not the many mountain bike routes). A little under 50 miles round trip from the Presidio Sports Basement. Details TBD (I have some maps to dig up– I’ve never done this route), but here are a few bikely maps for a high-level overview:

Optional extended 61-mile version including Paradise Loop:

Alpine Dam Recap

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:46:00 +0000

The Alpine Dam Loop last weekend is my favorite ride in California to date– I highly recommend it. It was scenic enough to make me swear out loud in amazement on several occasions (a crystal clear day with views of SF and the Farallones didn’t hurt).

It was also a moderately challenging 65 miles door to door, with a fair amount of climbing (about 4500’ ascent total) and fast twisty downhills. Here’s a route map based on CC’s GPS track.

Some blurry cell phone photos from the excellent Alpine Dam ride. More here from...

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:26:00 +0000

Some blurry cell phone photos from the excellent Alpine Dam ride. More here from JG: http://mediaingredient.com/?attachment_id=481 . We spent all day riding, about 65 miles and 4500’ of elevation gain total, beautiful views, and a break for food and beer at Iron Springs Brewpub in Fairfax.

Saturday longer ride: Alpine Dam

Sat, 29 May 2010 00:08:00 +0000

The loop is 31 miles, and the total ride starting and ending at the SF Ferry Building is about 60 miles. Approximate route (I’ve since been told that one of the roads Google shows is not actually passable). Beyond just the length, I hear it’s moderately challenging – I may have no idea what I’m in for. Of all things, a Yelp review about it.

Some people like to start early, some like to start late, so to compromise: meet at 10AM at the Ferry Building (or get there at 9:30 to eat some pastries / chilaquiles / etc at the farmers market with me).

Paradise Loop Ride Map

Tue, 18 May 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Here’s an approximate google map of the past weekend’s Paradise Loop ride. The details of crossing the 101 after leaving Tiburon aren’t quite right– we biked down a feeder road and then over a pedestrian/bike highway overpass that’s not on the map, to avoid Tiburon Blvd.

My bike computer says it was 54 miles of riding, and it was quite a day– about a dozen of us did the full ride and kept a decent pace, and there was live music, food, drink, and shopping afterwards at Sports Basement.

On Paradise Drive (from my phone, while riding-- some day I'm going to drop it).

Sat, 15 May 2010 19:39:00 +0000

On Paradise Drive (from my phone, while riding– some day I’m going to drop it).

SFgate article on bike camping

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:48:00 +0000

Just published today, how convenient:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/24/NSA51C37BO.DTL&type=printable

Map: SF -> Sausalito -> SF

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:44:00 +0000

Here’s an approximate map of yesterday’s ride (including my route back), suggesting the total ride was probably 25-30 miles depending where you started and ended. I think we left the Ferry Building at 11 and got back to SF around 4, with lunch and some walking around in Sausalito in the middle. That was fun! Maybe next time we can plan out a post-ride place to grab some foor/beer ahead of time.

Seven of us on the ride today, here's a photo from a stop in Sausalito. Overall ride about 20-25 miles, depending on route:...

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Seven of us on the ride today, here’s a photo from a stop in Sausalito.

Overall ride about 20-25 miles, depending on route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2704771