Biking In California

Hi

Been lurking for a while as work have cut off news feed and it's hard
work keeping up with what'd going on around here. Glad everyone had a
good time at Mallory last week sounds like a good time was had.

Anyway I've just booked a flight to San Francisco at the end of
September to go to my mate's wedding. I'm going a week before to attend
the staggy as well and that means I'll have a week to kill. My mate has
offered to lend me his R1 for a couple of days and might even borrow
another mates bike to join me. Any recommendations for places to visit?
We'll probably have two or three days tops so a mega tour is probably out.

Anything I need to be wary of? Should I plan to take my bike kit or
borrow some while I'm out there?

Advice appreciated.

 

Bring your own kit, I don't know of any place that rents. Helmets are
mandatory. From SF Ocean beach south on HWY 1, you'll have to bypass the
devil's slide area[1] via HWY 35 then back over to 1 on Hwy 92. You can
look at a map but down the coast to Santa Cruz is very nice. There is
Alice's restaurant at HWY 35 & HWY 84. Lots of other cool roads all over
here. Beware of plod, there are everywhere too. If the timing is right,
I can tour guide if needed.


[1] Closed due to the road when down the hillside.

 

muddy wrote

The Alice's Restaurant?

 

Highway 1 (for the scenery, major fun on an R1 would I suspect be
somewhat frowned upon) (can you reach Hearst Castle?), Carmel and
Monterey; Yosemete valley; pop over the bridge (not the Oakland one
the famous reddish one) to Sausolito (beautiful in the the evening and
anytime else too), (and Marin? if you want to make more of it);
Winerys!!!
Hit the Giant Redwoods. Fishermans wharf, Chinatown.

If you are into:
Golf (or looking at a display of wealth) - Pebble beach
Surf - Santa Cruz
Movies - Maybe they are making one in SF 'cos they do.

Under the Golden Gate on the SF side makes a fine evening stroll.

If you fancy fine roads then I am sure that you can find some pretty
quiet places in them thar hills, take care not to spill your mate's
kit.

I did (by cheapo hire car) , SF town, Yosemete, Redwoods, Hw 1 to
Hurst (but was too late to go in which was I now think a /big/ mistake)

in about 3-4 days then flew from LA to Arizona for Meteor Crater and
Grand Canyon.

Most importantly get a job in Silicone^h Valley, then you don't have
to
come back, unless/until you want to.

One weird thing, in the national parks (a while back, 8 years?) there
is no commercial activity permitted with the consequence that you
get American Socialist Facilities??? I suggest that you take your
own food unless you have a particular penchant for really dodgy
bridies served up by dodgier looking locals. Or maybe we just
had no clue? I was already spending an unnatural amount of time
sitting down in white rooms (technicolo(u)r yawn phase having
passed) by the time I got to SF and the bridies did not seem
to contribute additionally to my woes. YMMV.

 

An Alice's Restaurant. Bike friendly and the food is okay.

 

muddy wrote

There's a fucking chain of them!

What is the world coming to?

 

Well two anyway.

Stupid.

 

Who the **** is Alice?

 

Bored?

 

ooohhh.

I did this trip 3 weeks ago (but in a cage with the family). The bypass
takes you into Half Moon Bay - will be ok if on a bike but the traffic
queues in a car are truly horrendous.

Once in half moon bay traffic cleared and Highway 1 was great. Go past
Santa Cruz to Monterrey (sp?) - also nice but very touristy.


Oh and it isn't that warm either - i was in Virgina the week before
where it was 104 - Half Moon Bay - 68.

 

It'll be 40C here and 10C with fog on the coast.

 

Someone that hung out with Bob, Carol and Ted.

 

Shhh. Christopher Robin doesn't know about that.

 

Twentynine Palms is the worst. Godforsaken spot. Cute planes and Marines,
though.

Ali

 

Any recommendations for places to visit?
If you're based in SF, take 35 down to Alices, cross to the 1 down to
Santa Cruz, then the 17 up to San Jose (or better Alpine Rd Highway 9
back to Alices), then cross SJ to Mt Hamilton Rd (supposed to be the
most number of corners of any road in Cali, I assume corner per mile,
also great view of Silicon valley) then down the back to Mines road,
leading you back to Livermore to SF.

Thats a days ride and has some truely stunning roads, comparable to the
Pyrenees in places. I've plenty of great GPS routes available for
1-2-3days trips ala moto.

 

Mount Hamilton is a great ride and the observatory is worth a visit:
http://www.ucolick.org/public/visitors.html

 

Nice one! Looks like I'll have to travel light with the regular clothes
if I've got to fit in gear.

Anyone any advice on carrying a helmet? It fits in my tankbag so I guess
I could carry it on the plane, maybe.

 

Will it be a bit cooler in October?

I was thinking about taking boots, leather jacket and lid, then wearing
jeans on the bike.

If it's that hot I might take a nylon instead.

 

Blimey that's a lot of stuff, cheers for that.

This is actually my second trip to SF. The first one a few years back
was to watch a Football game over a long weekend for my 30th. Managed to
do a fair bit of sightseeing, Alc and the like in the time I was there.
Also managed a trip to Marin and did the Miwuk trail on an MTB (puked on
the way up )

Anyway the opportunity to travel a bit further afield this time is one
not to be missed.

Like the idea of getting a job while I'm out there too . My mate works
for Google so I'm hoping he'll take me in to work.

 

That's the general plan. Actually now I've made the suggestion there's a
few other bods are interested so it could be a group thang.

Which would be nice.