We’re heading to Cali next month and will be spending some time in San Fran and Napa/Sonoma. Who’s the best shop to rent from for both locations? In Sonama we’re staying in Glen Ellen but are open to getting the bikes in either location. In San Fran doing the Golden Gate.
Preferably good quality road bikes, women size 50 and mens 54. We’ll be taking our pedals, shoes, helmets, clothes.
Also, any recommendations on where to ride, what to see, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
The wifey and I rented bikes near Buena Vista Grill (right between Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, right at the end of the cable car route)\ from a place called “Blazin’ Saddles.” That’s where the first Irish coffee was made. Great breakfasts!!!
Don’t bother trying to take a road bike over the GG bridge - you will just get really frustrated. You ride along the railing where all the people walk, so you’ll have to stop a lot because tourists like to look at everything but the person on a bike coming at them.
We ended uf renting full suspension mtn. bikes. Comfy seats and no worries about getting on and off to stay safe.
Jason
You ride along the railing where all the people walk<<
Unless it’s the weekend, then bikes are on the west side of the bridge. Also after 3PM or something like that on the weekdays.
clm
A few years ago, I rented a nice road bike from http://sthelenacyclery.com/page.cfm?pageID=42 (a little North of Napa).
Was a very nice shop with great employees.
-Scott
The wifey and I rented bikes near Buena Vista Grill (right between Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, right at the end of the cable car route)\ from a place called “Blazin’ Saddles.” That’s where the first Irish coffee was made. Great breakfasts!!!
Don’t bother trying to take a road bike over the GG bridge - you will just get really frustrated. You ride along the railing where all the people walk, so you’ll have to stop a lot because tourists like to look at everything but the person on a bike coming at them.
We ended uf renting full suspension mtn. bikes. Comfy seats and no worries about getting on and off to stay safe.
Jason
I rented from here also, I stayed next door at the Argonaut Hotel. This was on November 1st and got caught in terrible rain, cell phone was fried, but overall fun. Bike was okay, nothing like a road bike, but did a job for an hour or 2, anything going farther, like into Muir woods, road bike is a must, just take it easy on the bridge
napa river velo in downtown napa has good road bike rentals. where to ride depends on how far you want to go, if you want to ride flats or climbing, etc.
Also, any recommendations on where to ride, what to see, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
There are so many good rides in the area, you might want to say what you’re looking for.
I prefer long hilly rides, so:
The King Ridge ride is stunning, though you’d probably want to drive to the start of it. Check out levisgranfondo.com for the route. This is the one must-do route in the area, in my opinion. Don’t do it if you don’t like long hard rides, or if you aren’t a confident descender. Do it if you like riding on almost empty roads with terrific weather and good views.
Starting in Glen Ellen, you might make a loop of going up Trinity, then up Mt. Veeder and down to Napa, and wandering back through Sonoma and the flats back to Glen Ellen. Or you might go up Trinity, continue east down Oakville grade, and head down to Yountville to make a stop at the Bouchon bakery. A friend of mine claims the macaroons there are life-changing. I wouldn’t say they’re that good… but they’re pretty darned good.
In San Francisco, you’ll want to head to Marin to ride. You can start by crossing the Golden Gate if you like. The Alpine Dam loop is very nice–google will turn it up. The turns heading through Sausalito, Mill Valley, Ross and Fairfax can be pretty confusing. Fortunately there’ll be 2000 other cyclists heading the same general direction, so tag along with them and you’ll find your way.
Hope that helps, ask if you’re looking for a ride of a particular flavor.
We’re looking for rollers, maybe a few hills in Napa but nothing too serious. Found this from Santa Rosa Cycling Club. Might be a bit more then we were thinking? http://srcc.memberlodge.com/Default.aspx?pageId=274834
for rollers and a few hills in napa the easiest route is silverado trail.
I spent a week in San Francisco and a couple days in Sonoma last year during my peak training for IMLP. Here is the link to the thread when I asked for help - http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=1843781
I rode over the Golden Gate bridge a few times and it wasn’t too bad, but it was frustrating at times when I went on the pedestrian side. It is definitely crowded. I did three rides during the week One was around the city (~30 miles or so), another was to Sausalito and Tiburon and around the peninsula there (~40 miles), and one long ride where I headed up towards Point Reyes Station (out through Lakespur/Fairfax and back along highway 1).
All the rides were kind of a pain in the ass since I didn’t know my way around, and lots of traffic (pedistrian, cycling, and cars) to fight getting in and out of the city. The most enjoyable ride was the Sausalito/Tiburon ride. Definitely the one ride I would do if I only had time for one. The point Reyes Station ride was the most mentally challenging ride I have ever done; it was mentally draining to navigate my way through the various suburbs along the bike routes and riding along highway 1 on the way back was physically tough. My legs starting to cramp on the way up the mountains back towards to the Golden Gate bridge. My hotel was at the top of Nob Hill, and I had to walk my bike the last mile to it since my knee locked every time I got out of the saddle to climb.
I found running to be the most enjoyable there. I ran pretty much everyday, mostly along the Embarcadero towards Fort Mason. I did one long run where I went across the Golden Gate bridge and back and down into the Presidio. That was highly enjoyable.
If you’re up for it, I would recommend that as another possible way to see the area around the Golden Gate Bridge, as an alternative to the bikes.
I only ran in Sonoma one day (short run through a vineyard), but it looked like fun cycling.
Have fun.
Just found out that Sports Basement also rents road bikes.
clm
If you are riding in Sonoma Valley just stay off highway 12…it is a death trap for bikes. Lots of wine tasting tourists. Carl’s advice on Silverado Trail is good if you are in Napa. From there you can do Pope Valley and/or cruise around Angwinn (which I can’t spell). Much of ST has nice bike lane and is much less crowded than west side of valley on highway 29.
If you are coming to north SoCo, there are shops in Healdsburg that rent bikes and riding around there is excellent as well. Try Dry Creek and Alexander Valley for something on the mellow side.
The route you posted is a great one. if you’re not up on climbing you can skip the out and back to jack london state park, and cut off the climb up sonoma mt road to enterprise road - i.e. just go straight on warm springs road and you’ll meet up with the route again. Lawndale road is a short climb of ~4 minutes or so. The out-and back to sugarloaf ridge state park on adobe canyon road is great, and doesn’t start climbing for a few miles (i.e. you can do just the flatter part, it will be obvious when the hill starts).
In Napa, to avoid climbing stick on silverado trail road, and some of the cross-roads between that and highway 29 (maybe highway 129? the major North/south road through the valley). stay off of 29 as much as possible, since it gets the majority of the traffic.
If you’re interested in more climbing, the mt veeder, dry creek, trinity, oakville grad stuff that someone mentioned is great. Another good one is howell mt road off of silverado trail - climb this and go down deer park road. or continue on white cottage road to ink grade and come down pope valley-chilles valely road to highway 128.
And, as someone else mentioned, king ridge road north of the russian river is one of the best road rides in the country, but it’s a pretty serious road in terms of climbing and remoteness.
For bike rentals in Santa Rosa, try Nor Cal bike sport 425 College Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401-5119 (707) 573-0112
I obviously live in the area, let me know if you have any questions on bicycle routes.
Hope you enjoy your trip
J