I am heading to Napa (Yountville) for a wedding and can’t decide whether to bring a bike, or even if I bring a bike, which bike to bring (road or mountain). I will have 2 or possible 3 days to ride, and I’m not really into the whole wine/vineyard thing. Is the road riding there amazing? Looking at the Strava heatmaps, looks like there are some decent routes, but always hard to tell just from that. Anybody got any must do killer rides in the 3-5 hour range?
Apparently Skyline Wilderness is pretty killer for mountain biking, but if that’s the only spot to hit the dirt I’ll probably just do a longish run in there and ride the roads otherwise.
The rentals are of course offensively expensive ($85/daily) and I believe most are aluminum alloy, which is just repulsive.
There are lots and lots of great rides in Napa valley. Bring your bike. It is not even a question. Pope Valley ride. Franz Valley ride. But if you only get one ride, climb Oakville Grade.
I am heading to Napa (Yountville) for a wedding and can’t decide whether to bring a bike, or even if I bring a bike, which bike to bring (road or mountain). I will have 2 or possible 3 days to ride, and I’m not really into the whole wine/vineyard thing. Is the road riding there amazing? Looking at the Strava heatmaps, looks like there are some decent routes, but always hard to tell just from that. Anybody got any must do killer rides in the 3-5 hour range?
Apparently Skyline Wilderness is pretty killer for mountain biking, but if that’s the only spot to hit the dirt I’ll probably just do a longish run in there and ride the roads otherwise.
The rentals are of course offensively expensive ($85/daily) and I believe most are aluminum alloy, which is just repulsive.
Your elitist view on frame materials saddens me.
But back to your question, it’s a great area. Very beautiful countryside. Road or mountain, bring both duh.
I brought my bike up there for a wedding during key build for IM. Riding was great. Nice wide shoulders, and huge stretches with no stops. I second Oakville Grade, as well as the part of Dry Creek road paralleling the main highway. I would advise staying off the main highway as there was a lot of construction that closed the shoulders and tons of traffic.
Thanks all. I have incorporated recommendations from this thread, strava heatmap recon, and guesswork into a few rides I think are doable while I am there.
Because I often plan things out like this and get stuck on unpaved roads/trails, impossibly high traffic areas, or in other nonsensical situations, would appreciate any feedback
That’s where you are travelling? And you are asking if you should bring a bike? Hell yes you should.
Ride the Vineman course while you are there.
BTW, I got a carbon road bike, and a carbon tri superbike to race on, and yet I mostly ride my Soloist Team aluminum. Love that frame. So boo hiss, sir.
The road riding is great. Head into Pope Valley via Silverado Trail (wide bike lane from napa all the way to Calistoga) to Sage Canyon to Chiles Pope Road. You can hit Ink Grade Rd via Pope Valley–goes by the Clif Family farm. Go down Deer Park and back to Yountville via Silverado Trail. Lake Berryessa area is great too. Pope Canyon Road out to Berryessa is a bit bumpy but it’s tolerable. They just paved Knoxville Road out by Berryessa and it’s great.
Getting over the Vineman course is not close to Napa valley. It’s over a ridge and a bit north. A good 60 minute drive at least. Plenty of good riding out your door in Yountville.
Are you staying in downtown Napa? Coming from Texas I’ve never packed up my bike (except for the race), but I always rent one when there. Most bike shops are pretty accommodating and let you stretch out the rental period. I cant remember the shop I rented from this winter, but it was a specialized roubaix with Di2. They allowed me to pick up the bike the night before, and then return it two days later and I was only charge one day since I got the bike after closing and returned it right when the opened on the second day. That is the way to do it. I got in two early morning rides for the price of one. The riding is fantastic and the climbs are amazing (for this Texas boy). Have fun!
Hell yes you should.