Introductions - Newbie in Norcal

Hi. This forum has been a great help to me so I wanted to introduce myself. I live in the Bay Area, I've always loved cycling and rode a mountain bike every morning before work for fitness about 15 years ago, but we had a daughter 10 years ago, I got tired of getting up at 5:30 AM, and the gut gradually grew back.

Recently my doctor told me to get some aerobic exercise 3 days a week for 30 mins and suggested cycling. I have a mountain bike that I always ride on the street, so I decided to get a new road bike. I picked up an '07 Trek 2100 ZR a few weeks back and so far I absolutely love it! I take it to work and ride for an hour at lunch 2-3 days a week, with a longer ride on the weekend. I plan to increase the number of days and maybe even start a training program after I get in shape.

Thanks again for all the help and if you see an >40 guy with a gray Trek and a spare tire around the middle riding around Castro Valley, Novato or Santa Rosa, give me a wave!

Duncan

Hello Dungun, you've probably seen enough posts where I tell the Northern California people to check into the regional forums, but it bears repeating that they are a great bunch of folks!

Why are you riding in Santa Rosa if you are located in Castro Valley? That's what, 70 miles? You must be riding a lot of centuries!

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

EastHill, thanks, yeah I've been to the Norcal forum, I found bike shop advice over there.

Well I live in Castro Valley, work in Novato, and my in-laws are in Santa Rosa so we spend quite a few weekends up there.

Cheers!
Duncan

I see! I used to live in Sebastopol, and Santa Rosa. Nice places, but California was just too hot for me :( .

East Hill

It's been hot around here lately too, but finally cooled off this weekend. Went on a 95 degree ride the other day and forgot the sunscreen!

I'm originally from Portland, with family still in WA and OR. Nice up there too. Thanks for the replies!

Duncan

Welcome, Duncan. I was in Santa Rosa last Sunday when it hit 92 degrees outside. Ugh! I can't imagine being on a bike in that kind of heat. We were planning to plant the veggie garden but it was way too hot. It's so much nicer here in the East Bay.

I feel it's only appropriate to say that the impetus to leave Santa Rosa came after an entire week where the temperatures NEVER got below 100 degrees. NEVER. I worked graveyard even then, and at 2.00 am I would go out and look at the bank temperature sign. 101, 102, 101, argh! I headed for the hills (aka Seattle).

East Hill

Hi East Hill, I have visited Seattle and nearby cities a number of times (I used to work for REI) and had fun there but I still like it here. I don't think I could live in Santa Rosa but it's where my guy lives so I do end up there as often as possible but encourage him to drive here instead. And it's funny that you mentioned living in S'pol. The guy I dated prior to this one lived there so I spent a lot of time in that area but wasn't riding my bike then. I liked it there (his house was in an area surrounded by redwoods) for the high level of funkiness so like Berkeley area but with less traffic.

Santa Rosa's a lot bigger than when I lived there. I had a roommate who lived on Occidental Road, about halfway to Occidental, and I lived very close to Graton. I liked Graton, the house was right next to an apple orchard. I do know that if I still lived in SR I would be spending a lot of time doing some MTBing at Annadel SP. I used to run there every morning.

East Hill

Annadel is huge! We hiked a couple of weeks ago and lost track of time so that it was pitch dark by the time we got back to the truck. Thank goodness I brought along a flashlight.

I like Occidental - haven't been to Graton but know where it is. Too bad the roads around there have such deep ditches (that's where I'd be if on a bike).

If your grey trek passes a wine colored Bruce Gordon wave at me. I've ridden between Novato and home in Santa Rosa several times. The part of the route on the 101 between Atherton Blvd in Novato and south Petaluma Blvd is a thrill. Next time you are up here get one of the county cycling maps put out by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition for some new ideas. Novato to the cheese factory and back is another good one.

To all of the car free types stuck in the heat of the East Bay use public transit to get out to the coast and ride there. I did the Santa Rosa, Bodega Bay, Jenner, Santa Rosa loop this AM.