Are there any mid lenght trails that are within driving range of San Tomas Expwy? The only trails I can think of are Vasona Park and Coyote Creek.

Paved or dirt?

Paved

san tomas ends at camden & hwy 17, and you can hop on the los gatos creek trail. don't know if thats what you mean by vasona park, but LGCT goes up to willow st / meridian in SJ. you can take a short hop down willow and pick up the guadalupe river trail either north through downtown and up to 101 (though not always off the road afaik) or south to 87/blossom hill.

Ok, I'll have to go look this weekend.

The Los Gatos Creek Trail is not entirely paved, but where it is not paved it is packed pretty hard and road bikes are no problem.

The longest paved bike path on the peninsula is the Bay Trail which starts near the SFO airport and heads south to Shoreline Park in Mountain View. There are some sections missing in Redwood City and East Palo Alto where you need to take city streets. The sections of the trail in Burlingame/San Mateo/Foster City and Palo Alto/Mountain View are very nice. I think there is another section of this trail running parallel to Hwy 237 from Sunnyvale to Milpitas, but I'm not familiar with that area.

Once you get to Mountain View Shoreline Park, you can continue on the Stevens Creek Trail which travels south to the current end point at El Camino Real. There are plans to eventually continue the Stevens Creek Trail south though Los Altos and Cupertino.

Please don't tell me you are going to drive your bike so you can ride on a trail.

Please don't tell me you are going to drive your bike so you can ride on a trail.

I think the trails are good for children and beginners who haven't yet developed the judgment to ride on city streets.

The longest paved bike path on the peninsula is the Bay Trail which starts near the SFO airport and heads south to Shoreline Park in Mountain View. There are some sections missing in Redwood City and East Palo Alto where you need to take city streets.

Is there an "ideal" route for the missing sections? This is my commute and I tried it yesterday -- but I work in Redwood Shores so I was only on the trail for about 1-2 miles from Holly to Whipple. Between Whipple and Palo Alto (large section) I had no clue. I'm trying to avoid that weird dirt pit and concrete bridge section just south of Whipple in redwood city.

Is there an "ideal" route for the missing sections? This is my commute and I tried it yesterday -- but I work in Redwood Shores so I was only on the trail for about 1-2 miles from Holly to Whipple. Between Whipple and Palo Alto (large section) I had no clue. I'm trying to avoid that weird dirt pit and concrete bridge section just south of Whipple in redwood city.

People who live in Redwood City should call their city council representative and beg them to pave the path through the dirt pit, which can get very dark and muddy during the winter. Others should take Whipple over Hwy 101, then take Middlefield down to Palo Alto. Get on the trail again at Embarcadero Road.