Northern California - Sweet Spots in Sacto

Hiya!

I'm a newb. Yay, go me!

Where is the best trail for a young girl with a really big butt to ride? Flatish and scenic. . . I've hit the American River between Howe and Watt and I plan on seeing more.

Just making convo really. . .

:o)

Dorkieshe,

It doesn't get any better than the American River Bike Trail. Miles of smiles from Old Town Sac up to Folsom lake. Some sections flatter than others. There are several cycling groups that ride the trail, although many have very fast riders. One group that has both fast and slower riders is the Recumbent riders of Sacramento. There is a moonlight ride each month that runs from 5 Points Shopping Center (Bella Bru) to Gold river and back. The next moonlight ride is Sat, 3-22, rain allowing. We also ride a First Saturday of the Month ride, from 5 Points to Old town or Lake Natoma. All good fun and no matter how fast or slow you are, there are people to ride with. All kind of bikes are welcome, a helmet is required. Here is the url: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RECUMBENT_RIDERS_OF_SACRAMENTO/ .

Tom

I'd say stick with the trail and go further past Watt. There's lot's of nice scenery and it stays pretty flat. You'll come to some hills when you hit Hazel (crossing the bridge!) but it's well worth it as it drops you right next to Lake Natoma. The ARBT has so much to offer and you've only scratched the surface. :D

Have fun!

ARBT, as others have mentioned. Also, lots of flat and scenic riding from Clarksburg south.

If you stay on the bike trail headed west, it's about 12 miles to old town Sac, which might be far for you right now but it might not be. It's fun riding down there. You'll pass Sac state on your way, go through Discovery park, you can ride in old town, across the tower bridge, by the ziggaraut, etc. I actually prefer the section of the trail from discovery to Watt over the section from watt to Folsom. It's more green and it's flatter.


If you stay East, there are a few very minor hills, but that's also fun. You go past Hagan park in Rancho where there's this model train set thing or something, you can watch all the tubers float drunk down the river in summer, and keep heading in to Folsom eventually if you wish.

For on-road riding, there's really not a lot of fun, safe places to ride around in Sac. The ARBT is more than enough though, IMO. It's beautiful, safe, fun and the pavement is fantastic for riding.

Howdy! I agree. ARBT. I typically do a loop from Hazel to Watt or Howe and back.

For on-road riding, there's really not a lot of fun, safe places to ride around in Sac. The ARBT is more than enough though, IMO. It's beautiful, safe, fun and the pavement is fantastic for riding.

If you want to ride on the road, come over to Yolo County. You have to look hard for a hill larger than an overpass. A real popular ride is to head west from Davis to Winters, taking the Russell Boulevard bike path west to Stevenson Bridge Road, south to Putah Creek Road, west to Winters.

Pleasants Valley Road, between Vacaville and Winters, is a great ride with little hills. More challenging is Cantelow, Lake Berryessa, and Mix Canyon.

Some more suggestions:

http://daviswiki.org/Bicycle_Rides

Davis Bike Club rides page:

http://www.davisbikeclub.org/RideSchedules/PDF/index.htm

^^ I've fancied doing a road ride from Sacramento to Berryessa and camping over night there with my wife (she'd drive out in our wagon) and either ride back or hitch a ride back the next day.

I actually prefer the section of the trail from discovery to Watt over the section from watt to Folsom. It's more green and it's flatter.


I prefer that section because it has a lot of tight turns and a lot less people. :D

I have just started riding from Woodland (work) to Natomas (home). My route is road 102 to Davis, then Covell to road 32, across the Causway, through West Sac, across the Tower Bridge, through Old Sac and onto the ARBT. I love it except for one problem. I have not found an easy way to link the Tower Bridge and ARBT. It seems I have to ride over some combination of cobbles, wood plankes and dirt in Old Sac no matter which way I try to get to the ARBT. (Also, the left turn from the Tower Bridge into Old Sac is a pain) Is there an easier way that I am missing? (Or am I just being a wimp for complaining about the dirt etc.)

Again, I love the ride, but would love it even more if I could figure out the Old Sac part. I tried the I street bridge yesterday...no fun. I did however end up in the St. Patricks Day Parade in Old Sac which was a lot of fun :D

Josh

I have just started riding from Woodland (work) to Natomas (home). My route is road 102 to Davis, then Covell to road 32, across the Causway, through West Sac, across the Tower Bridge, through Old Sac and onto the ARBT. I love it except for one problem. I have not found an easy way to link the Tower Bridge and ARBT. It seems I have to ride over some combination of cobbles, wood plankes and dirt in Old Sac no matter which way I try to get to the ARBT. (Also, the left turn from the Tower Bridge into Old Sac is a pain) Is there an easier way that I am missing? (Or am I just being a wimp for complaining about the dirt etc.)

Again, I love the ride, but would love it even more if I could figure out the Old Sac part. I tried the I street bridge yesterday...no fun. I did however end up in the St. Patricks Day Parade in Old Sac which was a lot of fun :D

Josh

That little piece of Paris-Roubaix is hard to avoid if you're coming from the Tower Bridge. You can ride around Old Sac but that intersection at J and 3rd by the Holiday Inn is pretty sketchy. You do have to ride through the grit for about 100 yards (no getting around that)... Probably walking your bike those two blocks IS the easiest way. I just like to true my wheels frequently. :rolleyes:

How was the SPDP yesterday? I wanted to take the kids but my daughter had her induction ceremony into Girl Scouts last night.

I think the I Street Bridge is the only way to avoid the cobbles and planks. What didn't you like about it? In my mind, it's not too bad since it dumps you down onto Jibboom and a straight shot to Discovery Park.

I think the I Street Bridge is the only way to avoid the cobbles and planks. What didn't you like about it? In my mind, it's not too bad since it dumps you down onto Jibboom and a straight shot to Discovery Park.
03-18-08 09:33 AM

My problem with the I street bridge was 1. I rode on the road and it is narrow, I probably should have been on the sidewalk. 2. I missed Jibboom and ended up on J street. Maybe I'll try it again and make sure that I make the left onto Jibboom

How was the SPDP yesterday? I wanted to take the kids but my daughter had her induction ceremony into Girl Scouts last night.

The SPDP was great, lots of people and good music. Just by chance I was wearing my Chico Corsa kit which is green and yellow so I fit right in. I wil have to go back next year and stay for a while.

I went over to Sacramento last weekend and did the ARBT from Nimbus Fish Farm down to Discovery Park and back. Is the other direction a little more scenic? The trail itself was great--coming from Sonoma County, I have never felt so safe on a bike ride--but there wasn't much to look at.

Also, I was able to tuck in behind a group doing 19 mph even though the limit is 15. That made it a lot more fun and a better workout, but I wonder if exceding the speed limit is common or if we were being a bunch of jerks.

It is more scenic the other way (east of Nimbus)...but I fiind the section between Nimbus and Sac State to be nice as well. I agree that the seven or so miles between Sac State and Discovery Park are not that great. You can contiue past Discovery Park into Old Sac for lunch which is nice. Above Nimbus is the best part in my opinion, and you can link it with many climbs in the Folsom area.

Almost forgot, as far as speed 15 mph is not regulated as far as I can tell. Runners and horses tend to stay off to the side on the dirt. I slow when I see kids/horses/walkers and near blind corners, but otherwise I feel safe in the arrow bars at 24 mph.

I went over to Sacramento last weekend and did the ARBT from Nimbus Fish Farm down to Discovery Park and back. Is the other direction a little more scenic? The trail itself was great--coming from Sonoma County, I have never felt so safe on a bike ride--but there wasn't much to look at.
Also, I was able to tuck in behind a group doing 19 mph even though the limit is 15. That made it a lot more fun and a better workout, but I wonder if exceding the speed limit is common or if we were being a bunch of jerks.

It depends on the time and place. Summer Saturday mornings the trail can be packed between Sac State and the Fish Hatchery and if you get a 20 mph pace line rolling through winding parts, it can be hazardous especially when you throw in the runners and families with kids on training wheels. On the other hand, lots of fit commuters are pushing 20+ every morning but they tend to be riding solo or in twos and threes

Almost forgot, as far as speed 15 mph is not regulated as far as I can tell. Runners and horses tend to stay off to the side on the dirt. I slow when I see kids/horses/walkers and near blind corners, but otherwise I feel safe in the arrow bars at 24 mph.

On a few commutes home I may or may not have been in the 30s past sac state. No one I passed said or motioned anything to me. The trail wasn't very crowded at the time though - I wouldn't try a 30+ run on the trail on Sunday mornings when the Feet Fleet people are all out there :)

Good point...when I am riding 20+ I am alone and it's usually weekday evenings. Summer weekends are a whole different story.

This thread is telling me that the soon-to-be-planned Sacto BF ride needs to involve the ARBT...

This thread is telling me that I really shouldn't feel too bad for not knowing any rides in the area other than the bike trail... :p

lol. I live in Natomas so I have a small loop I ride (that is very common) out around the airport. I ride the ARBT either for commuting, or the occasional ride with friends from my LBS. I don't like out and backs though, so I try not to ride the trail unless I'm going somewhere and returning later, I don't want to go out and just turn around.

This thread is telling me that I really shouldn't feel too bad for not knowing any rides in the area other than the bike trail... :p
Throw on some Maxxis Re-Fuse and I'll show you Sacramento! :eek:

Wow! Thanks for all the info! This is fantastic!

Someone mentioned the airport. . . There are some countryish roads out that way. . . Anyone ridden them before? Recommend or no?

Oh. And what are Cali/Sacto regulations on night riding? I love to night ride I have found! And is American River safe to ride after dark?


Ya'll are the best! Thanks!

OH OH OH! And what about biking/ camping at Folsom Lake!?

OMG - I am getting excited about a physical activity. Did someone put something in my drink?

:0p

The bike trail is a blast after dark. Get yourself a good headlamp, be prepared for rabbits, skunks, deer, coyotes, and sometimes hoodlums and vagrants.






Wow! Thanks for all the info! This is fantastic!

Someone mentioned the airport. . . There are some countryish roads out that way. . . Anyone ridden them before? Recommend or no?

Oh. And what are Cali/Sacto regulations on night riding? I love to night ride I have found! And is American River safe to ride after dark?


Ya'll are the best! Thanks!

You can access the bike trail by avoiding old Sac all together. I've never done it, but it involves navigating the downtown grid to North C street and the trail access is back behind some warehouses. From there, you cross a bike/foot bridge that takes you to the trail.

Another fun ride, if you want to have a record average speed for 40 miles is to take the Amtrak Capitol Corridor to Fairfield and ride back on a day when there's strong SW wind.

From Downtown/Midtown, you can access the ARBT on C Street between 19th and 20th. Look for the Blue Diamond Almond plant. You cross over the "Pipe Bridge" which used to carry the Sacramento Northern Electric line. There are almost always a number of River Campers making their way to Loaves and Fishes from there. I've never had any problems, but it can be unnerving for suburbanites who aren't used to seeing the nitty-gritty homeless.

From East Sac, you can access the trail via the Guy West Bridge at Sac State. There's a bike lane on H and M streets and Folsom Blvd. Stay off J Street if you can avoid it.

The Cal. Vehicle code requires a light and a red reflector after dark. Common sense requires a bit more, so get a blinky or two (the Planet Bike Superflash is a favorite of the commuting crowd and it's available at any good bike shop).

The Airport is pretty easy to get to: just head west on Garden Highway and keep going. Turn right on Powerline or keep going to the I-5 Bridge and then turn on the frontage road. There are a number of group rides that head out that way. The Saturday River Ride (Sat. 10 am from City Bike Works) and the Thursday Night Airport Ride (5:30 from the Guy West Bridge (?)) go out that way. Those rides are hammerfests. There may be some more mellow rides too.

The Airport is pretty easy to get to: just head west on Garden Highway and keep going. Turn right on Powerline or keep going to the I-5 Bridge and then turn on the frontage road. There are a number of group rides that head out that way. The Saturday River Ride (Sat. 10 am from City Bike Works) and the Thursday Night Airport Ride (5:30 from the Guy West Bridge (?)) go out that way. Those rides are hammerfests. There may be some more mellow rides too.

Can you tell me anymore about this ride? Does it start and finish at the Guy West Bridge?

Thanks for the wealth of information.

Josh

Wow! Thanks for all the info! This is fantastic!

Someone mentioned the airport. . . There are some countryish roads out that way. . . Anyone ridden them before? Recommend or no?

Yeah I live/ride out there. The riding is ok, but if you live right next to the ARBT, there really isn't any point to you coming out here unless you're doing one of the group rides. Those guys are pretty fast though so that may or may not be your thing. The only thing I dislike about riding out around the airport is that the roads are all country roads, there can be a decent amount of traffic, no shoulders on narrow roads (like the levee) and always, always wind :\.


OH OH OH! And what about biking/ camping at Folsom Lake!?

OMG - I am getting excited about a physical activity. Did someone put something in my drink?

:0p

Do you want to mountain bike or just do road? The mountain biking is pretty fun in Granite Bay, and there's no big hill to kill you as you get going on the dirt :). I can post some GPS maps to the granite bay riding if you want.

Can you tell me anymore about this ride? Does it start and finish at the Guy West Bridge?

Thanks for the wealth of information.

Josh

I've only done this ride a couple times and haven't actually started with it at Guy West. Since I work downtown, I can pick it up on the Garden Highway. It rolls pretty mellowly until after Chevys and then it's all out. Right (north) on Powerline, then left on the I-5 frontage road, into the Airport complex, around the cloverleaf and over to N. Bayou (frontage road on the other side of the freeway). Sprint line just before Garden Highway. Then regroup and head left (SE) on Garden Highway back towards town. Sprint line at the city limit. Then neutral roll back into town.

I commute to/from Davis and Natomas. There is no easy way to hit the trail from West Sac without crossing a patch of dirt or the somewhat dangerous I street bridge.

Generally, I go through Old Sac, as the I street bridge's sidewalks are too tight to ride on (two people across, tops), given how narrow the road is. Two SUVs passing in opposite directions results in side view mirrors near or overhanging the sidewalk. There's also frequently glass on the sidewalks. When you do cross the bridge, the hill down Jiboom towards the "fountain" entrance to Discovery park is also a little sketchy, requiring a left turn into the park with traffic generally not "wanting you there."

As far as the trail itself is concerned - what a gem of a resource for a city to have! In addition to using it as a part of my commute, I frequently ride it into downtown Sac or to Folsom for a decent recreational ride. I've seen snakes, deer and coyote on the trail, too.

I'll definitely miss it when I move out of Natomas next month...

I like the loop around the airport also. If you like a quiet ride and not worry much about vehicles, this is the place to go. I noticed that there is a sprint start and finish line marks on the road at Elverta road. Anybody still uses this? It's hard to ride during windy days though. The cross winds and head winds are a bit nasty along Power Line road.