Hi Bay Area people. I just moved from Connecticut to San Francisco on aug 1st. I am looking to find good rides, anywhere from 15-35 miles from Alamo Square. It seems that the most road bikers in the city commute and do not do longer rides, so I'm looking for advice. In connecticut I could go anywhere and hit nice winding roads, but I have no clue where to go from where I am. If anyone could help, or could point me in some good directions that would be great. I'm also looking to get into group rides, but don't have a car

Get the San Francisco bike map. It is available in all bike shops or on-line here: http://www.sfbike.org/?store_resources
The front of the map shows all the best cycling roads in the city. The back of the map has 3 recommended scenic routes.

If you want to try some long rides, head over the Golden Gate Bridge and there are lots of long scenic routes in Marin. The Marin County bike map is excellent: http://www.marinbike.org/Map/Index.shtml

the sf map is online here: http://www.sfbike.org/download/map.pdf

from Alamo sq, it's just a few right turns to Arguello, which is the main bike route to get to the Presidio, Golden Gate, Marin ... riding heaven for as long as your legs last.

Of the local route guides, I'd highly recommend Kingman's Short Bike Rides in San Francisco. There are Marin rides in there, too. Plus, it's great reading.

You can ride out of the city via GG Bridge and ride the ferry back.
You can ride south on Mission which turns into El Camino Real and return via CalTrain.
You can take CalTrain south to the peninsula where there's tons of riding in Woodside/Portola Valley.
You can take Highway south for a nice, somewhat scenic ride and get to Woodside that way.
You can even ride the 35miles scenic route through SF.

Basically, learn CalTrain, BART, and the ferries and you can have the whole Bay Area to ride in.

thanks for the advice, are there any local groups that do nice group rides? In Connecticut, I went with a bike shop on mondays and saturdays. About 50 people would show up and split into 3-4 groups. Are there things like this in the san fran area? I'm also looking mostly for weekday stuff, so anything where I would have to commute 1:30 there and back would only work on weekends

Check Roaring Mouse Bicycles on Irving. I think they have shop rides; I know they have a team.
Also check City Cycle.
Other than that, the only other weekday rides I know of are on the Peninsula.

City Cycles. http://www.citycycle.com/events_volantes.htm
Roaring Mouse. http://www.roaringmousecycles.com/

I've got to ask where in Connecticut you're coming from? I spent the summer out here in San Jose, and I'm originally from East Hartford. Anyways, you're gonna love it.

well, I am from New York, but went to Wesleyan University for the past 4 years, so I was in Middletown Ct, in between Hartford and New Haven

Here is the group ride directory from mike's bikes http://mikesbikes.com/page.cfm?pageID=108
It seems to cover a large area, so you should be able to find something that will work for you.

I second the book Short bike rides: San Francisco it is an excellent book, and the author always gives little tidbits and facts along the way.

Usually i try and ride a long ride at least every weekend besides the normal around town stuff, so if you are interested in riding with me then send a PM....

It's probably harder coming from the city.

I 2nd hoping on the caltrain to the Peninsula. I use caltrain/bike to commute, it has a dedicated bike car on every train.

LOTS of beautiful and challenging riding all over the bay area.

I love living here, especially in the Peninsula. I love the fact that I don't need to shuttle my bike around with my car, just get on the bike and go! :)

Hey brs, I live on Nob Hill, and because of my job I have to stay within emergency range most of the time. I ride about 6 times a week and have 20-30-45 mile regular circuits that are fun and challenging. One of my favorites is around the horn to San Bruno Mt. which I do about once every couple of weeks, I might do it Sat. and If you want me to swing by Alamo Sq, you can tag along. I was a bike messenger for 6 years when I first move here and actually like riding in and around traffic. Where your at, once you hit the park it's clear sailing, BTW I do half moon bay on occasion it's bout 75 miles with the route I take.Let me know.
Pf in SF

taxi- i might have to hit you up on that half moon bay ride. That is 75 miles round trip? Do you usually take skyline to hwy92, or HWY1 all the way?
I will be out of town this weekend, but i will send you a PM to ride sometimes if you want.

I go down 1 which can be sketchy, At devils slide I wait for the break in traffic and hit it as fast as I can go. sometimes the traffic will gain on me and I pull out where its safe and do it again. I hate slowing down traffic, it always makes me feel like a schmo!. I climb out on 92 and canada to woodside for extra miles otherwise come back crystal springs to skyline. Have you done San Bruno Mt? It's actually kind of jewel for climbing and decending.
Pf in SF

The best resource of rides I've found for the bay area is Dick Blaine's bike catalog:

http://home.comcast.net/~rablaine/bicycling/ridescatalogfull.htm

I started riding about 1.5 yrs ago and have done many of these. The directions are typically very good and a lot of the rides are incredible.

I go down 1 which can be sketchy, At devils slide I wait for the break in traffic and hit it as fast as I can go. sometimes the traffic will gain on me and I pull out where its safe and do it again. I hate slowing down traffic, it always makes me feel like a schmo!. I climb out on 92 and canada to woodside for extra miles otherwise come back crystal springs to skyline. Have you done San Bruno Mt? It's actually kind of jewel for climbing and decending.
Pf in SF

You sir, are a brave soul. I wouldn't do those two roads on a bicycle...

Have you done San Bruno Mt? It's actually kind of jewel for climbing and decending.
Pf in SF

I've done San Bruno Mt. once. It's nice but the city streets getting there kinda suck.
I think I'll try it again soon.

Here is another good link http://www.goldengatecyclists.org/ and select the RIDES links.

I found another link; http://www.ebbc.org/maps/map.html .

And, just in case; http://www.ebbc.org/?q=safetyquiz

You would be amazed, I took it and did not do that well.

And, just in case; http://www.ebbc.org/?q=safetyquiz



100% :D

You sir, are a brave soul. I wouldn't do those two roads on a bicycle...

Don't know about how bad 92 is but I've driven over Devil's Slide too many times to mention and coming out of Pacifica on down to Montara, there just isn't enough road to make me comfortable. So, I drive to Montara, park, and ride from there.

Hey All, I thought I would try and revive this thread, because I am also new to San Francisco. I recently moved from Ohio with my wife, and I am looking for people to ride with. I have read this thread and will check out some of the links mentioned. For some reason, I have found it difficult to find other riders and places to ride. We don't know many people in the city. I am looking for someone or a group to ride with after work twice a week, and then longer rides on the weekend. A goal of mine is to ride a century. I got into cycling seriously last year in Ohio, but had to take the winter off. I am just now getting out and riding again, so my endurance and speed are my biggest priority. I work downtown and live in the Twin Peaks area. If you are close and want a riding partner let me know. Not sure if this is the right place to post this but it was a worth a shot.

BTW, I understand brsboarder's comment about not having to go far and being on winding roads. Ohio was the same way. I could leave from my garage and be out on country roads in less than 30 minutes on my bike. We also had a paved bike trial that went for 50-60 miles, and it was 15 minutes from me by bike. It seems a little more difficult to find those places around here when you are not familar with the area.

Thanks in advance.

Some of the bigger bike shops in SF lead regular rides. Many of them head over the GG bridge to the Marin Headlands or Tiburon or Mt. Tam (or all 3). If the closest shop to you doesn't do this, Google will find you one that does.

http://www.fremontfreewheelers.org/RaceTeam/Useful/TrainingRides/index.html
This has most of them, but it doesn't include the Tues & Thurs GGP crits/rides/

Thanks for the info. Since I don't have a local bike shop yet, do you recommend any?