Northern California - Bike Hut Info and ToC

I just got a weekly email from Passion Trail Bikes and it included this little tidbit...


1. Bike Hut, Tunitas Creek Road


The Bike Hut, at about 150' elevation, on Tunitas Creek Road

Caretakers of the Potrero Nuevo Farm south of Half Moon Bay have created a "Bike Hut" as a rest area for cyclists. This is one of the coolest things we've heard about in a while. The address of Potrero Nuevo Farm is 1045 Tunitas Creek Road, Half Moon Bay, 94019, and their number is 650-726-5700

We recently got word from the bike hut guy that he's looking for old beater bikes to decorate the hut:


I'd like to make some new signs for The Bike Hut and thought of doing something with bikes or bike frames or parts or something. If anyone has any giveaway bikes or bike parts (ie beaters) gathering dust in a garage (out in the rain and rusty is fine, too) please drop it by anytime and just leave it in the picnic area if you happen to be driving by. But why would someone be driving by rather than riding by...I don't know. Anyway...I could pick up bikes in SF or in or around Half Moon Bay, too.

We're planning something for the Tour of California day (Mon Feb 16) so keep a lookout for more emails. What we're talking about in broad terms is offering free parking for people who arrive in the early morning (before they close the road to traffic, but I don't know any details about that) and inviting people to gather at The Bike Hut. We'll be selling some of the snacks and drinks we plan on carrying in the Hut in the future. Bringing snacks on your own and picnicking is fine, too. People could then ride up Tunitas Creek Road and watch the Tour in the hills or just watch from the Hut. I'm guessing the peloton will be passing through around 10:00-10:30 based on the stage info/map provided by Amgen.

So, thanks in advance if you happen to bring by a bike or bike part for my signs and hope to see many of you on the Tour day. It'll be a fine day to call in sick! As usual, feel free to pass the word and if anyone learns details about the race, like road closure plans, etc. please let me know so I can include it in my next group email.

As usual, feel free to pass the word and if anyone learns details about the race, like road closure plans, etc. please let me know so I can include it in my next group email.

Best, Bill

I stopped by yesterday with a group of 4 other guys doing a 'coast and back' ride from Palo Alto on our day off just before we started heading up Tunitas. After a few minutes of hanging out and filling up our bottles Bill came out to talk to us.

Right now the hut is closed (i think), but there are picnic tables and a huge jug of water to refill bottles. The grand opening is scheduled for the day the TOC comes through (Feb 16?). Starting that day, they will have energy bars and drinks, as well as snacks, all made from stuff grown on the farm. The store will not be manned and will just be based on the honor system to start with. Sounds really neat, hopefully people won't take advantage of the honor system thing.

Bill's not a cyclist himself, they just realized as soon as they bought the farm a little over a year ago that Tunitas has heavy bike traffic and they could do something to support cyclists. Very cool. I really hope it works out.

Right now the hut is closed (i think), but there are picnic tables and a huge jug of water to refill bottles. The grand opening is scheduled for the day the TOC comes through (Feb 16?). Starting that day, they will have energy bars and drinks, as well as snacks, all made from stuff grown on the farm. The store will not be manned and will just be based on the honor system to start with. Sounds really neat, hopefully people won't take advantage of the honor system thing.

Bill's not a cyclist himself, they just realized as soon as they bought the farm a little over a year ago that Tunitas has heavy bike traffic and they could do something to support cyclists. Very cool. I really hope it works out.

That's great. I know that I never carry change and am more likely to drop $5 for a bar than I would be to take one without paying. Hopefully enough people do the right thing and they get enough $ to keep it going.

I hope they have a toilet installed before the ToC, or the area could get a little messy.

Oh, i forgot to mention that they are planning on having some LIMITED parking available for people that show up for the TOC on a first come first serve basis. They haven't heard about road closure conditions for Tunitas. I know in years past they have done a 'rolling' road closure instead of having the entire route closed all day long. That being said, Tunitas is very narrow, so get there early if you plan to watch from there. I myself will be coming from Palo Alto and hanging out about 2/3 of the way up Tunitas.

The store will not be manned and will just be based on the honor system to start with.Huh, that'll be an interesting experiment. Hopefully people will see value in the place, and give accordingly.

I expect Tunitas Creek Road to be closed well before the race arrives, so you will have to get there very early if you want to park on the road. You might be better off parking at San Gregorio beach and riding your bike to the race route. Or ride your bike up Kings Mountain Road and down Tunitas Creek Road.

Or ride your bike up Kings Mountain Road and down Tunitas Creek Road.Heh, I'm picturing someone losing track of time, bombing down Tunitas, and scaring the piss out of the peloton. :P

Heh, I'm picturing someone losing track of time, bombing down Tunitas, and scaring the piss out of the peloton. :P

I'm sure they will close the upper end of Tunitas before the peloton starts the climb. Besides, there will be race support cars and police motorcycles in front of the peloton, so the racers don't have much to worry about.

I'm sure they will close the upper end of Tunitas before the peloton starts the climb. Besides, there will be race support cars and police motorcycles in front of the peloton, so the racers don't have much to worry about.

Yeah, I'm imagining that's what I'll be doing ... but we won't know what our assignments will be till race day, I believe.

Yeah, I'm imagining that's what I'll be doing ... but we won't know what our assignments will be till race day, I believe.

So then just scare the piss out of Ron :lol:

So long as someone gets the piss scared out of them, my amusing mental picture has come to fruition.

Huh, that'll be an interesting experiment. Hopefully people will see value in the place, and give accordingly.

My guess is that most cyclists will, in fact, do the right thing here. I sure hope so.

As for bike stuff for decorations, I think the goal should be to turn this place into the NorCal variation of the Madonna Del Ghilsalo and the Tom Simpson memorial on Mont Ventoux. I envision a swarm of frames (I actually saw a frame at the Simpson memorial when I was there - it was cracked, but still . . . ), parts, jerseys, hats, water bottles - just tons of stuff that means something to cycling in general.

Hey, a guy can dream . . . .

My guess is that most cyclists will, in fact, do the right thing here. I sure hope so.Yeah, I want to believe that as well. I think it'll work out if word is spread as it being a "place to get food" as opposed to "hey, this place has a box of free food!"


I think the goal should be to turn this place into the NorCal variation of the Madonna Del GhisalloHuh, that's pretty cool, I've never heard of that. I have an old Raleigh Sprite step-through that I could donate. Getting it there, however, might be tough.

I'll have to strap it to my back the next time I'm riding in the area... :P

Do I hear a "pilgrimage" ride to the hut with our offerings?