Northern California - Anybody want to take me for a ride in San Francisco?

So, I'm interested in moving to San Francisco after I finish graduate school. I've been there several times, but that was before I fell in love with my bike. I'm visiting August 23-28, and I'd really like to rent a bike while I'm there and find out how I feel about it from that perspective.

I'm not really looking for a serious long distance ride, I'm more interested in riding around San Francisco itself to see if I would like riding there. If I move there, I plan on living in the city and using my bike as my primary means of transportation. I'd like to learn more about the geography of the city and such. I guess I'm looking for someone who has experience riding in the city and can tell me about the bike culture, the streets/neighborhoods with killer hills or trolley tracks to avoid, a rundown or tour of the local bike shops, etc.

To give you an idea of what I'm interested in, I'm a 22-year-old female graduate student. I'm about to start Library School, and I was an English major, so I'm a huge book nerd. I ride an old Peugeot single speed conversion, and I'm thinking about moving to fixed. I'm a vegetarian and I'm very liberal, but I'm also Southern-raised and friendly.

I'm staying with some friends near Golden Gate Park to the South, between the Sunset District and the Mission District. Sadly, my friends are not that into biking.

In return for the ride, I'd at least like to offer the person or people lunch/dinner, and the same treatment in Philadelphia!

If you're interested, please let me know. I understand many might be turned off that I'm not looking for a serious ride.

Oh you'd love biking in the City. There's tons of bike lanes and even on streets without bike lanes, the drivers are pretty cyclist aware. Just don't be afraid to take what's yours (i.e. the lane when necessary).

Are you a Penn student? That's my alma mater, too long ago...

Hey, let me know when you're in town. I'm living in San Francisco and probably average close to 100 miles a week of in city riding. I really love riding here, I was a bike messenger for 6-7 years drove cab for 10 so I know the perspective inside/out. There are some insanely beautiful rides here and I could get you all the way cross town with barely any hills maybe thirty feet climbing tops. If you want the advanced tour I can show you how to freak out cable car tourist and lane split taxis 2inch on either side at 35 mph. Maybe I should set up a BF'r tour for the online group and we could end with a nice barbecue in the park. who knows.. : )
Pete in SF

Here are a couple of interesting videos about cycling in San Francisco. Have fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7M-_ueoU2E
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3029093211150792664

Just PM'd ya... :)

Maybe I should set up a BF'r tour for the online group and we could end with a nice barbecue in the park. who knows.. : )
Pete in SF

Sounds fun. Sucks for me because I just found out my wife is going to Boston Friday - Sunday and I need to take care of the kids. Any chance this BF'r tour could happen Thursday afternoon or Monday? hetr? :D

Hey BR, Maybe we should have a cookout day and ride in the park, all welcome Couples, singles, kids, and plenty of places to park or ride from the BART station. I would think after Labor day though, Labor day weekend the park is crazy and people have plans. I know Ron is planning a labor day ride which I would really like to participate in. So I think maybe the middle of Sept. 2nd or 3rd weekend Saturday's are less crazy for cookouts, the fog starts disappearing that time of month. It can get pretty cold and foggy this month. We could set up a spot in the Speedway meadows where kids can play. If anyones has extra grills they could use those. Let me know what you think...plus everyone might have their jerseys by then.
Pete in SF

Hey, let me know when you're in town. I'm living in San Francisco and probably average close to 100 miles a week of in city riding. I really love riding here, I was a bike messenger for 6-7 years drove cab for 10 so I know the perspective inside/out. There are some insanely beautiful rides here and I could get you all the way cross town with barely any hills maybe thirty feet climbing tops. If you want the advanced tour I can show you how to freak out cable car tourist and lane split taxis 2inch on either side at 35 mph. Maybe I should set up a BF'r tour for the online group and we could end with a nice barbecue in the park. who knows.. : )
Pete in SF

Wow! This sounds like something people would pay money for!!! A bicycle tour of SF! You could do a practice run with us BF'ers, like a focus group :)...

Are you a Penn student? That's my alma mater, too long ago...

Yes, I graduated from Penn in December 2005. I don't really fit the mold of the 'typical' Penn student, though, if there is such a thing!

Hey, let me know when you're in town. I'm living in San Francisco and probably average close to 100 miles a week of in city riding. I really love riding here, I was a bike messenger for 6-7 years drove cab for 10 so I know the perspective inside/out. There are some insanely beautiful rides here and I could get you all the way cross town with barely any hills maybe thirty feet climbing tops. If you want the advanced tour I can show you how to freak out cable car tourist and lane split taxis 2inch on either side at 35 mph. Maybe I should set up a BF'r tour for the online group and we could end with a nice barbecue in the park. who knows.. : )
Pete in SF


That sounds AMAZING, and that's exactly what I'm looking for.

BlastRadius, I would be free on Thursday afternoon around 3pm, or on Monday. I might already be meeting up with Siu on Monday, depending on when she's available. You'd be welcome to join us, as long as that's all right with her, or the three of us (you, me, Pete) could set something up at another time in the day. Pete, would Thursday afternoon the 23rd or Monday the 27th work for you?

Hey BR, Maybe we should have a cookout day and ride in the park, all welcome Couples, singles, kids, and plenty of places to park or ride from the BART station. I would think after Labor day though, Labor day weekend the park is crazy and people have plans. I know Ron is planning a labor day ride which I would really like to participate in. So I think maybe the middle of Sept. 2nd or 3rd weekend Saturday's are less crazy for cookouts, the fog starts disappearing that time of month. It can get pretty cold and foggy this month. We could set up a spot in the Speedway meadows where kids can play. If anyones has extra grills they could use those. Let me know what you think...plus everyone might have their jerseys by then.
Pete in SF

Count me in for the Tour of SF ! I recently moved to the city (from San Mateo) and I'm not very familiar with city riding. I've only ridden once (following the same course as in the "Grand Prix": http://www.sanfrangrandprix.com/images/courseMap.pdf)

:)

Hey Hetr, Monday/Thursday should be fine, I'd lean more for Thurs though, I have occaisional oddity's that pop up on mondays in my work. I do have flex time I Babysit over 108 Adult babies (apartment manager) somtimes I run out of pacifiers and Adult Kimbies! :) Thursdays are usually hump day for the Financial district adult day care centers yuk yuk....I usually take mondays off from riding cause I'm usually toast from the weekend. Let me know.
Hey Zorro your first ride here was the grand Prix course?! You have to be kidding! Fillmore and Taylor..Wow! I did the course 4X before the race and then the cops through me off, that last time up Taylor my kneecaps we're flying off.
this sounds like fun during the week, I still want to do a big get together in the park at some point.
Pete in SF ....Focus group thing hmmm...Sesame do need 10% for the idea? I'll bargain
Later..
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PeteUpFillmorest.jpg

Hey Zorro your first ride here was the grand Prix course?! You have to be kidding! Fillmore and Taylor..Wow! I did the course 4X before the race and then the cops through me off, that last time up Taylor my kneecaps we're flying off.

Yeah, but I did it only once, Sunday early morning, no traffic at all
It's fun when you get tourists on top of Fillmore cheering you up :D

Totally! You see what Lance must feel like for 1 second! When I did fillmore some guys at the top we're chanting do it again, so like a knuckle head I did it again, and again, and again...jeeesh! :(

Pete -- Great! Thursday works better for me too. Let me know if your schedule works out, and what time you'd like to meet.

BlastRadius, are you in? I guess we'd just do a ride for a couple of hours, not a BBQ this time, unless you guys feel otherwise. We can go get something to eat afterwards!

Anyone else reading this is welcome to join, as far as I'm concerned.

I'll take you guys to the best falafal in the bay area, cooked and still hot in the pita. My wife calls the place "carrot on the stick restaurant". We'll try to plan Thurs Aug. 23rd? How's that. Maybe we'll throw some ideas back and forth for the big picnic barbecue in the park. Kind of a reconnaissance mission of sorts.
When I get a list of riders and figure out a time I'll pm my phone and location to meet. I'll need an idea of time to meet, distance and, degree of difficulty, no drop ride.
Pete

Count me in.
I love falafel!

I LOVE falafel too! That sounds excellent. Around 4pm would be good for me, because that would give me time to go rent a bike and then meet you both somewhere. I haven't figured out where I'm going to rent a bike from yet, because I'm still doing some price comparisons. I guess it would be nice to meet around wherever I rent the bike, but I'm open to anything else. I'm staying around Golden Gate Park.

I'd like to really ride around the city, maybe a two and a half hour ride or so, easy-medium difficulty (a few hills would be fine, I just don't want to get tired right away.) I'm probably the least experienced of us, so I don't want to hold you guys back, but I'm looking for a pretty leisurely ride that will let me get a really good feel of the city.

Stanyan Street would be the best to rent, that might be kind of late for a rental though. Those places close around 6-7 the latest, unless your renting for 2 days. I figure since it's so late we'll just do Presidio-Beach-to zoo,back to food-then through park, we won't really have time for downtown embarcadero. The traffic is pretty gnarly that time of day anyhow.
Hey Blast If you want a longer ride you could come over and park in my driveway downtown about 3pm and we'll meet Hetr at Stanyan street.
Peter SF

If you want a slightly longer ride, you can do this route (circumventing SF).

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=0&f=/chronicle/archive/2002/04/11/SP229802.DTL&type=sports

If you want a slightly longer ride, you can do this route (circumventing SF).
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=0&f=/chronicle/archive/2002/04/11/SP229802.DTL&type=sports

How do you like that route? The southern section sounds kind of complicated and not especially scenic.

When I'm doing a city tour on my bike, I usually do the coastal part from the baseball stadium to Lake Merced like on the map, but then I head back north to GG Park and take JFK Drive through the park. Then Page St. to Market and either Market or Folsom back to Embarcadero. If you have the extra time, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge over to the Marin Headlands and back is extremely scenic.

Hetr, I found out my test WILL be on that date. I'm sorry but I have to have it done by Sept 1st and the guy is having another class so I can complete it on time.

I'm sorry I can't go but I do want to meet you when you move out here, okay?

Hey Johnny99 that's the route I'd take too, very good. We'll be under time constraints and the time of day will suck for traffic, I would have been great to start at noon but Hetr won't be able to start till 4 pm and still has to rent a bike so not a whole lot of time. I think entrance of the park would be best Stanyan street=Parking,rentals. I live downtown and have two available parking spots for anyone wanting to start around 3pm and get a longer ride. If it all goes to hell we could file it for another time.
Pete
BTW, loved that map! can you imagine a white guy like me dressed like a clown on a $2000.00 bike riding through the backstreets of Hunters Point?..Wonder how many seconds I'd last. It would be like Pam Anderson walking through the showers in San Quentin prison :(

I might be available earlier, actually, I was just trying to be conservative. My flight gets in to Oakland at 1:09, and then I've got to take the train to make my way over to my friend's apartment. I figured I'd get to her place around 2:30 or 3:00, but I thought I'd need a while to go get the bike from Fisherman's Wharf. If we meet at Stanyan St. and I rent the bike there, I could be there around 3:00. My friend only lives a mile from there. So would you like to meet at the Stanyan St. bike rental place at 3:00? I'm almost positive I can make it there by then, but I could give you a call if I'm running a little late.

How tall are you?
I have a 49/50cm "rain" commuter fixed gear that I have half built.
Want to rent a fixed gear instead of hybrid?

I'm 5'4", a 49/50cm is the perfect size for me. I think my current SS is a 50cm.

That would be great, but I wouldn't want you to rush finishing it just for me. If you think it'll be done by then, and if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would like that a lot.

How much would you charge? :D

How tall are you?
I have an extra bike that needs a bottom bracket, which i was going to try to get fixed this weekend. So, if i do not have to order any parts and everything goes smoothly then i might have a bike you can just borrow instead of spending $30/day. It is not a guarantee, so don't scrap the plans to rent completely.
yeah, and it's too bad i work until after 5....

Count me in.
I love falafel!

I'm in too. If I don't have anything else going on that day.

Meeting place and time?




If you're interested, please let me know. I understand many might be turned off that I'm not looking for a serious ride.

My ears perked just reading that. Non serious rides are what I'm looking for. :p

How tall are you?
I have an extra bike that needs a bottom bracket, which i was going to try to get fixed this weekend. So, if i do not have to order any parts and everything goes smoothly then i might have a bike you can just borrow instead of spending $30/day. It is not a guarantee, so don't scrap the plans to rent completely.
yeah, and it's too bad i work until after 5....

I'm only 5'4", so it would have to be pretty small. Thank you so much for the offer! If it all works out, let me know. I'd love to be able to save that money, and I'd pick it up and drop it off and I would probably feel obligated to make you some baked goods or something.

I'm in too. If I don't have anything else going on that day.

Meeting place and time?



My ears perked just reading that. Non serious rides are what I'm looking for. :p


It would be awesome if you could make it, Pheard. From the looks of the pictures from your ride with Siu, you are very non-serious -- I mean that in a good way! :D

I think the plan is to meet at 3pm at Stanyan Street by the Golden Gate Park. Still waiting on final confirmation from taxi777. From my Google search, I think the name of the bike shop is Velo City. That's where I'll be renting from unless one of these guys manages to bring a bike for me, which would be amazing!

Oh yeah, and this would be Thursday, August 23rd.

It would be awesome if you could make it, Pheard. From the looks of the pictures from your ride with Siu, you are very non-serious -- I mean that in a good way! :D

I think the plan is to meet at 3pm at Stanyan Street by the Golden Gate Park. Still waiting on final confirmation from taxi777. From my Google search, I think the name of the bike shop is Velo City. That's where I'll be renting from unless one of these guys manages to bring a bike for me, which would be amazing!

Oh yeah, and this would be Thursday, August 23rd.

Ok. I've never ridden through SF more than twice. Just because I lived in South city my whole life doesn't mean I ever go into the Citay!!

I'll try to be there. :)

I'm 5'4", a 49/50cm is the perfect size for me. I think my current SS is a 50cm.

That would be great, but I wouldn't want you to rush finishing it just for me. If you think it'll be done by then, and if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would like that a lot.

How much would you charge? :D

I'm easy... I may be bought for a falafel (not Bill O'Reilly's variety ;)).

I think you'll be pushing it and rushing it a little. Give yourself some breathing room. I'm thinking about meeting blast radius around 3pm at caltrains then riding around the horn, embarcadero, pier 39 presidio and meet you around 3pm and see what you feel like doing. Grab a bite and figure it out. What size bike do you ride? How tall are you, Maybe a chance to loan you a bike for a couple of hours to ride with us.
Pete

I'm probably in for this, riding for falafel sounds good :D I just need to sort out my work schedule first.

If I can make it, what I think I'd do is ride up from Foster City to Millbrae BART, then BART in to the 16th/Mission station and ride from there to meet you on Stanyan.

What is falafel?

Is it like alfalfa?

There's plenty of free parking in golden gate right?

What is falafel?

Is it like alfalfa?


Not at all. Here's the wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falafel) on it.

I think you'll be pushing it and rushing it a little. Give yourself some breathing room. I'm thinking about meeting blast radius around 3pm at caltrains then riding around the horn, embarcadero, pier 39 presidio and meet you around 3pm and see what you feel like doing. Grab a bite and figure it out. What size bike do you ride? How tall are you, Maybe a chance to loan you a bike for a couple of hours to ride with us.
Pete

OK, that sounds good. I'm 5'4", and I ride about a 50cm. Anything anyone can bring me would be great, I'd prefer to spend as little money as possible. As soon as I figure out if someone's bringing me one, I'll let everybody else know -- wouldn't want to end up with three bikes just for me!

What is falafel?

Is it like alfalfa?

There's plenty of free parking in golden gate right?

It's really, really good. I loved it even when I ate meat, and I used to be a real meat and potatoes kind of person.

I think Pete mentioned earlier that there's some free parking on Stanyan St. I'm pretty ignorant about that, though.

OK, that sounds good. I'm 5'4", and I ride about a 50cm. Anything anyone can bring me would be great, I'd prefer to spend as little money as possible. As soon as I figure out if someone's bringing me one, I'll let everybody else know -- wouldn't want to end up with three bikes just for me!

Why not? Then you'll have choices!! :p

How do you like that route? The southern section sounds kind of complicated and not especially scenic.

When I'm doing a city tour on my bike, I usually do the coastal part from the baseball stadium to Lake Merced like on the map, but then I head back north to GG Park and take JFK Drive through the park. Then Page St. to Market and either Market or Folsom back to Embarcadero. If you have the extra time, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge over to the Marin Headlands and back is extremely scenic.


The route is relatively a flat route (if you go the CCW direction). Both the southern and eastern parts aren't that scenic, but it's a good way to see some less-viewed parts of SF (just don't wander into the bad neighborhoods). Of course if you like scenic, you can always go along the 49-mile scenic tour route (just have to be a bit more careful with traffic).

I think Pete mentioned earlier that there's some free parking on Stanyan St. I'm pretty ignorant about that, though.

Free parking on Stanyan only if you can find on-street parking otherwise the lot is fairly cheap unless there's an "event" going on, then it's a flat $7 or $8. Highway robbery if all you need is 15mins (like when I need to quickly pick up a part at American Cyclery).

The route is relatively a flat route (if you go the CCW direction). Both the southern and eastern parts aren't that scenic, but it's a good way to see some less-viewed parts of SF (just don't wander into the bad neighborhoods). Of course if you like scenic, you can always go along the 49-mile scenic tour route (just have to be a bit more careful with traffic).

+1, if there's a big group of us, we shouldn't be hassled. I've ridden through there many times, not at night though. You could bypass the Hunter's Point area altogether by heading up Alemany/Lyell/Bosworth/San Jose and meeting up with Valencia.

I have an easy way here, the bike logistic is the hang up so I say:
Everyone meet at the Ferry building at the foot of market/Embarcadero 3:pm thursday.
Blast take caltrains/ride from caltrains to Ferry/
Ms Incredible: Bart to Embarcadero
Hetr: Bart to embarcadero I will have a Klein 49C Beauty waiting for you. (no charge)
PHeard: Drive to my building on nob hill and park in my driveway, ride down to Ferry with me (Down California street) WEEEE!
Ride will be Embarc/Pier 39/Chrissy Field/Presidio/Beach/GGpark to Falafals. Then I will give you options from there. How's that ?????
Pete

Hetr: Bart to embarcadero I will have a Klein 49C Beauty waiting for you. (no charge)


Hey I was trying to wring a falafel out of hetr :mad::eek::D

Ooh yees I furgeet to meetion Biceecool and seeafe passage = 6 falafal
Ali baba

I have an easy way here, the bike logistic is the hang up so I say:
Everyone meet at the Ferry building at the foot of market/Embarcadero 3:pm thursday.
Blast take caltrains/ride from caltrains to Ferry/
Ms Incredible: Bart to Embarcadero
Hetr: Bart to embarcadero I will have a Klein 49C Beauty waiting for you. (no charge)
PHeard: Drive to my building on nob hill and park in my driveway, ride down to Ferry with me (Down California street) WEEEE!
Ride will be Embarc/Pier 39/Chrissy Field/Presidio/Beach/GGpark to Falafals. Then I will give you options from there. How's that ?????
Pete


You are officially amazing. This is perfect. Thank you so much for setting me up with a bike!

BlastRadius, I can still buy you some falafel. :)

Hey hetr, if I fall while riding on my brand new clipless will you fix my boo-boo?

oh, and Taxi... sounds good. (pm me your cell dude, I WILL get lost)

BlastRadius, I can still buy you some falafel. :)

Only if you decide you want to try a fixed gear. Otherwise, I don't want to make a student pay for my little middle eastern indulgence :D:lol:

Pheard, where in SSF are you? Why not take BART or CalTrain?