Northern California - Directions to Sky Londa / La Honda

To get to Sky Londa/La Honda coming south from Skyline 35 and Crystal Springs, would Canada Rd. to Woodside Rd.

Or,

Skyline 35 to 92 to continue on Skyline 35 be the easiest and fastest route? (least hills)

I'm going with my lady friend who needs miles but not too hard.

Thanks...knotty

To minimize hills, take Canada to Woodside and climb Woodside Road (Hwy 84).

Personally, I would climb Kings Mountain Road instead, which is 1 more mile of climbing, but more scenic and much less traffic.

I would avoid the 92/35 route because of traffic.

Take Canada to 84, then my suggestion would be either OLH or Kings Mountain up to 35 and then down to Alice's. You could take 84 up but the traffic will be much worse.

Here's a description of the different climbs:
http://www.westernwheelers.org/main/resources/BA_Climbs.html#Skyline

Canada and then up OLH or Kings would be more pleasant (less traffic, better roads, nicer).

35 to 92 (heading west) and then left on Skyline would probably be faster though.

92 can have a lot of car traffic. Sometimes it's stop and go, sometimes it's pretty fast.

I have gone up E84 once. It flat out sucks. No shoulder and the car traffic is not bike friendly. It's fine to descend but rotten to ride up. Kings and OLH are so much nicer.

OK, thanks a lot guys, the ways are clear. I now have to convince her to take the easiest way for MY sake...lol

I think OLH is the longest route, so if you don't want to climb Hwy 84, I recommend Kings Mountain instead.

Are you going to ride down Hwy 84 to the town of La Honda? Are you riding back up Hwy 84 afterwards? The traffic between La Honda and Skylonda can be fast and heavy on weekend afternoons, when all the tourists are returning from the beach (or the pumpkin fields).

johnny99, We won't be going to La Honda afterall because of time problems, so will probably just go to Woodside and perhaps Kings if there's enough time. I'm riding from SF and meeting her on Skyline in Daly City.

Thanks...knotty

I would avoid the 92/35 route because of traffic.But if you rode up 92 last weekend, you'd have been faster than the cars! :)

SteveE

But if you rode up 92 last weekend, you'd have been faster than the cars! :)

True...I was very tempted! The one weekend a year I'd try it.

I don't know, seems to me that one could outride the cars on 92 on pretty much any given Sunday afternoon/evening.

It was a perfect day, a warm 72 degrees, Canada road was beautiful, nice and smooth, great for some speed work and not much traffic. Got a sandwich at a deli on Woodside Rd. and headed up Kings Mt. We ended up going to Huddart Park then had to turn back because of time constraints. But, we'll be back. Will get a earlier start next time.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, it made for a great ride.

Just signed up to take a look around; started regionally and this thread couldn't be much more local to me so thought I'd throw my .02 in. I recently moved into Woodside, off Skyline between 84 and Old La Honda, although I've been riding in this area both on and off road for many years.

Do not climb 84 to Skyline from Canada. It's dangerous as it's narrow and not cyclist friendly due to traffic as was previously said. Descending is another matter as long as you can keep a good pace; if you're slow or hesitant to take your lane, it's dangerous as well. Kings Mtn or OLH are much more cycling friendly but still keep traffic in mind, particularly on Kings. I'd keep 35 to a minimum as well due to narrowness and traffic. I'd rather not climb 92 due to traffic mostly, but has narrow sections too; love descending it, though.

If I wanted to go to the town of La Honda, coming from say 92/Canada, I'd take Canada south, cross over 84 and continue on Mountain Home Rd, left on Portola, continue right when it t's into Sand Hill/Portola, to the bottom of Old La Honda, up and across 35 and continue on OLH, left on 84 into and descend 84 to La Honda. The climb up 84 back from La Honda to Sky Londa isn't too bad as it's wider than the section east of 35. If you climb 35 from 84/35 to get to Kings it's a narrow section with a lot of traffic, not a lot of fun; I'd descend 84 back to Canada.

Welcome bikinfool,
I'll look at your suggestions on GoogleMaps and make notes because La Honda is on our list of places to go. Yep, I did notice Kings was a fairly easy climb but kinda of narrow, luckily, not one car passed.

Thanks...knotty

Kings Mountain Road has less traffic than Old La Honda Road, especially once you get past Huddart Park. Also, Kings Mountain is much wider than Old La Honda, so cars can pass more safely. On the other hand, there some sports cars and motorcycles do go way to fast on Kings Mountain Road.

Skyline (Hwy 35) should be safe for bicyclists, but there are a lot of speeding motorcycles on weekends that can make the road a little exciting.

On the other hand, there some sports cars and motorcycles do go way to fast on Kings Mountain Road.

True, but there are also some cars and motorcycles that go too slow down kings mountain. ;) The real problem is cars that go too fast and cross the double yellow.

I feel pretty safe riding on skyline unless it is really foggy. I always use a blinky. Squid season is over now that the weather is turning, so you shouldn't see too many speeding motorcycles until next spring.

I always use a blinky.

I'm going to get a blinky this week. With the days getting shorter, I've just made it home before dark a few times.

I'm going to get a blinky this week. With the days getting shorter, I've just made it home before dark a few times.

Ah, then may I recommend the Planet Bike Superflash (http://www.rei.com/product/756360)?

It's got a really obnoxious flashing pattern and I have been complimented on its visibility by drivers.

I always use a blinky when I'm riding on shaded roads like Kings Mountain or Old La Honda or Tunitas Creek. I think it gives speeding/careless car drivers a few more seconds of warning that you are there, and that may be enough to make a difference.

That Superflash is really bright. Does it have different brightness settings? I was on a group ride once where one guy had on of them and everyone was trying to pass him because that light was blinding everyone behind him.

That Superflash is really bright. Does it have different brightness settings? I was on a group ride once where one guy had on of them and everyone was trying to pass him because that light was blinding everyone behind him.

Hmm, no, it doesn't. Nobody behind me has complained yet, but that's good feedback.

Thanks msincredible, I'll go get the Superflash tomorrow.