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: ...
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…
On Rt 1 (panorama shot from cell phone)
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
55 miles in, sunny
Cheese Factory stop
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 via a scenic but longer and hillier route past Mt Tam and Point Reyes. About 83 miles and 6000’ of elevation gain? Whew. ...