Northern California - How is this area to Ride? New to Nor-Cal.

Hello everyone, I am moving back to Nor-Cal from southern Cal for a few months and need to continue training for a century in September. I will be living in Lodi, but am planning on exploring as much area as I can. Here is my first route that I was thinking of trying. http://www.routeslip.com/routes/29215 It is basically the route from the Wine Country Century near Santa Rosa. I am planning on doing the 65mi route, most likely during a weekday, and would like some tips and advice from anyone who rides in this area. In particular, is the route safe? Low traffic? Places to fill up water? Easy to navigate? Also if you have other suggestions for safe routes that are over 50mi I would love suggestions!! Thanks a lot.

Santa Rosa/Healdsburg is pretty far from Lodi. Will you be driving to the Bay Area to ride?

Sorry forgot to mention, yes I will be driving, and since I am not working I don't mind spending my whole day riding and driving places.

Sorry forgot to mention, yes I will be driving, and since I am not working I don't mind spending my whole day riding and driving places.

I've got a bunch of century route sheets scanned into my blog:
http://diabloscott.blogspot.com/2000_06_01_diabloscott_archive.html

Seems like there's lots of good riding to be done just east of Lodi. What about a ride up to San Andreas or Copperopolis?

I'm in the SRCC that puts on that ride. There is a quickie mart at the start and 2 miles later then nothing unit 35 miles at Geyserville. Going north on Westside Road once you pass Healdsburg you can see two thin grey line roads connecting the route to Eastside Road. The first one goes over Lambert Bridge to the Dry Creek Store. Water, food, booze. You have to take the second line over Yoakim Bridge past the one peach stand/orchard in the county to the Eastside road as the route you laid out does not go through. Water at the bottom of the Dry Creek Dam. After Geyserville there is a short hop to the Jimtown store and deli. Over Chalk Hill Road nada until you get back to Windsor. If you count winery tasting rooms (water and toilets) you have a rest stop almost every mile or less for the entire route.

Go to the Santa Rosa Cycling Club site for a large series of routes of all sizes.

Seems like there's lots of good riding to be done just east of Lodi. What about a ride up to San Andreas or Copperopolis?

That would mean taking 12 or 26. I don't really recommend that. Almost no shoulder and people drive like they are stoned or something.

Hello everyone, I am moving back to Nor-Cal from southern Cal for a few months and need to continue training for a century in September. I will be living in Lodi, but am planning on exploring as much area as I can. Here is my first route that I was thinking of trying. http://www.routeslip.com/routes/29215 It is basically the route from the Wine Country Century near Santa Rosa. I am planning on doing the 65mi route, most likely during a weekday, and would like some tips and advice from anyone who rides in this area. In particular, is the route safe? Low traffic? Places to fill up water? Easy to navigate? Also if you have other suggestions for safe routes that are over 50mi I would love suggestions!! Thanks a lot.

Let me know when you head this way to ride. I have ridden these roads for years and know every nook and pothole. If ya want a partner or two to ride with I will hook you up with a good group or person (me).
good luck,
Paul

Good riding due east of you in the hills: Comanchee, Jackson, Ebbett's Pass, Auburn...

To the west, Diablo is only an hour away.

The Stockton Bike Club does a regular Wednesday night ride at 6:00 and Delta Velo works out every Tuesday and Thursday.

BR

Thanks for all the great tips everyone! I have heard a lot about riding east of Lodi also, although with the heat this time of year it may be a little less pleasant than rides in the bay area. I will be trying out some of the areas west of Lodi, and may eventually try Mount Diablo. Where is the best place to start for a ride up Diablo?

Thanks for all the great tips everyone! I have heard a lot about riding east of Lodi also, although with the heat this time of year it may be a little less pleasant than rides in the bay area. I will be trying out some of the areas west of Lodi, and may eventually try Mount Diablo. Where is the best place to start for a ride up Diablo?


MyMap (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115723253113681726680.00000111c3ce37a734eec&om=1&ll=37.927883,-122.029696&spn=0.048881,0.081625&t=h&z=14)

I suggest parking at Heather Farm Park and riding out Bancroft Road to North Gate for a nice warm up.
You can park at the residential end of North Gate Road too.

Here's some links to great rides in the area, with really good descriptions.

http://home.att.net/~rfzipf/BikeRides.htm

I'm most familiar with the North Bay Valley and Valley Fever rides-they're a lot of fun, but watch out for boat traffic to Berryessa this time of year.

MyMap (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115723253113681726680.00000111c3ce37a734eec&om=1&ll=37.927883,-122.029696&spn=0.048881,0.081625&t=h&z=14)

I suggest parking at Heather Farm Park and riding out Bancroft Road to North Gate for a nice warm up.
You can park at the residential end of North Gate Road too.

Another place to park, near the residential end of North Gate Rd, is Arbolado Park. Take Ygnacio Valley Rd. heading east from I-680, turn right onto Oak Grove Rd., then turn left onto Arbolado Drive. The entrance to the main lot (w rest rooms) is opposite the interection of Arbolado Dr and Sutton Dr.

Lots of parking there, unless there are soccer games going on (then beware of the soccer moms & dads :eek: ). To get to North Gate Rd from the park, head down Sutton Dr. which comes out onto North Gate Rd., take a left to head towards the mountain.