Northern California - Visiting San Francisco

Hello -- I will be visiting your fair city for one week during Dec - 13-17th and was looking for cycling recommendations. I may be able to bring a folding bike with me but if not, is it worth renting a bike from some place?

Any trails or routes to try to do?

Thanks!

Lots of great choices here! Let us know more about what you are looking to do and we will give recommendations. Do you ride road or mountain? How far do you want to ride and how much do you like to climb? There are plenty of rental choices going from very basic to really high end, depending on your budget!

Here's a map of popular tourist bike rides in San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin:
http://blazingsaddlessanfrancisco.com/sf_bike_ride_maps.html
http://blazingsaddlessanfrancisco.com/BlazingSaddlesMAP---101708.pdf

Here's a more detailed bike route map of San Francisco:
http://www.sfbike.org/?maps

Do the Wiggle!
http://sf.wikispot.org/The_Wiggle?sendfile=true&file=wiggle.png&thumb=yes&size=400

Whether you ride road or mountain, I would consider a trip up Mt. Tamalpais (or Mt. Tam to locals) a "must do" ride.

Whether you ride road or mountain, I would consider a trip up Mt. Tamalpais (or Mt. Tam to locals) a "must do" ride.

Mt. Tam or Mt. Diablo or Mt. Hamilton or all 3.

Hi Nickel, glad you posted over here.

Absolutely worth bringing or renting a bike, unless it is raining all week and you don't like riding in the cold wet.

Are you staying in the city itself?

How long of a ride are you looking for?

Are you coming for the ASCB meeting by any chance? I will be there.

Hi Nickel, glad you posted over here.

Absolutely worth bringing or renting a bike, unless it is raining all week and you don't like riding in the cold wet.

Are you staying in the city itself?

How long of a ride are you looking for?

Are you coming for the ASCB meeting by any chance? I will be there.

What's that?

Nickel, I have a bike you can borrow; PM me if you're interested. We aren't in SF but our kids are, and we're less than an hour's drive.

What's that?

ASCB = American Society for Cell Biology.

ASCB = American Society for Cell Biology.

Okey-dokey, artichokey. That's way beyond my scope.

Does this have anything to do with stem cell research? (Not trying to stir up *****; I'm in favor and just curious.)

Does this have anything to do with stem cell research? (Not trying to stir up *****; I'm in favor and just curious.)

It's a lot more general than that, but stem cell research would certainly be one of many topics discussed during the meeting.

ASCB = American Society for Cell Biology.

You lost me at "A"! hehe!

You'll definitely want to rent or borrow a bike! But bring your good lung and legs because the hills are nuts!! (as are the regulars that ride them here in this forum! hehe!) ;)

Post up when you can ride and most often you'll get a good tour guide to accompany you. (not me, I suck at directions!)

Gary

I am a bit intimidated by those rides. I think the most that I have climbed is 1200 ft? :o

I guess I would have to try to do:
- one epic ride (like the Mt Diablo...I can walk if I need to, right ;) )
- shorter rides in the city (early morning to a neat cafe or park or sculpture....just seeing the city)

I am perfectly okay with older bikes; I do not require anything fancy. I would love to mountain bike but I don't think I will have the time or means to do it.

I am going to the meeting!

If you want an easy route, look at the tourist map in post #3. The most popular route for out-of-shape tourists is around the bay shore, through Fisherman's Wharf, and over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. If you have a little more energy, continue on the bike paths over to Tiburon. Then you can bike back or take the ferry back. If you have more energy, continue north on Paradise and the bike path to Larkspur and take the ferry back from there.

Take your bike to Angel Island. Easy trails, out of this world views.

Take your bike to Angel Island. Easy trails, out of this world views.

Have you been to Angel Island since the fire? How much damage is there? Are any of the trails closed?

If you make it to the East Bay, try riding along Grizzly Peak road - gorgeous views. I would do that before Mt Diablo.

+1, a good point. Like RoboCheme says, there are something absolultely stunning rides in and around Grizzly Peak and the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. Let us know what you're thinking and I'm sure you'll get some great suggestions tailored to your riding style - there's so many different options round here.

Mt Diablo is a gorgeous and rewarding ride, I would say that it all comes down to what kind of hills you're used to in "a cold place". You can think of the climb in 3 stages - there's the 6mile climb to the junction which isn't too bad. The ranger station provides a convenient rest stop and potentially a turn round point. Then there's the 4.5mile summit road which is a bit steeper, but the views are awesome. Finally there's the few hundred yards of pain/suffering at the top - thing is I can't imagine not trying to get up that last stretch from the lower parking lot if you've already ridden the 10.5-11 miles to get there.

www.511.org covers transportation in the greater Bay area. There is a big section on biking and bike routes.

This place rents road and hybrid cycles and it's downtown. Then you could take BART over to the East Bay as long as it's not rush hour.

http://pacbikes.com/page.cfm?pageID=126

I am a bit intimidated by those rides. I think the most that I have climbed is 1200 ft? :o

I guess I would have to try to do:
- one epic ride (like the Mt Diablo...I can walk if I need to, right ;) )


If you wanna do Diablo, I live over by there and can probably get you on a bike if you ride 56-57cm. Hell - I'll even go with you, and then you'll look fast. :)

If you wanna do Diablo, I live over by there and can probably get you on a bike if you ride 56-57cm. Hell - I'll even go with you, and then you'll look fast. :)

We can attest to that -- that Livermore ride you and Chris hauling the dogs were pretty much bringing up the rear. :roflmao2:

Riding at BBM's speed has advantage -- he sees things from a refreshing perspective, and he's a laugh a minute as well. Our rides with him have provided terrific abdominal workouts because of the non-stop laughter.

With enough lead-in time he can probably build a bike to fit you. :p

We can attest to that -- that Livermore ride you and Chris hauling the dogs were pretty much bringing up the rear. :roflmao2:

.....With enough lead-in time he can probably build a bike to fit you. :p

Hey - I know I'm no speed demon, but that's a poor ride to judge me by. You might recall that I was waiting on my daughter and making sure she was going along ok.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. :p

As far as building one - naw.... if he can ride a 57cm, I'll let him use that junky Pinarello beater I keep around just for laughs.

Hey - I know I'm no speed demon, but that's a poor ride to judge me by. You might recall that I was waiting on my daughter and making sure she was going along ok.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. :p

As far as building one - naw.... if he can ride a 57cm, I'll let him use that junky Pinarello beater I keep around just for laughs.

I do, and I apologize for my lack of smilies -- I was giving you a hard time. ;) You fulfilled you duties as ride host quite well.

"...junky Pinarello beater..." -- yeah, right!;)

The 57cm would be pretty big for me but thank you for the kind offer! I am hoping for a folding bike situation to work out so we'll see what happens. Once I get my schedule, I will plan in more detail using all the great information you all provided. :D

Hola ---

Well I am in your fair city and I'm glad that I am avoiding the -28F windchill hitting my home. Rain, schmain.

I don't think I'm going to get to do any riding in unfortunately but if anyone wanted to meet up for dinner, maybe Tuesday at 5pm? I am kind of restricted to the 'shopping district' (4th and Mission area) and on a leash (need to get back by 7pm).

On the other hand, I am thinking about getting up at the crack of dawn (7am) and busing it to the Golden Gate Bridge and then on the return trip, stopping to see Lombard St and getting breakfast somewhere in that area. So maybe you feel like being a tourist? ;) Need to return by noonish.

Hmm. Don't know what kind of dining is available around 4th and Mission. Pete?

You'll be in South of Market (SoMa), just walk around and you'll find plenty of places to eat.

I work right next to 4th and Mission.

I don't know if this is up anyone's alley but I am curious about Ananda Fuara, being a veg.

Hey Nickel,

It was great to meet up with you when you were in town! :thumb:

Hope you have a wonderful holiday. :)