Northern California - Riding around Foster City

Hi.
I was wondering how is the road biking around Foster City. I do mean roads, not paths clogged with joggers, etc. Also where would be a good place to rent just for the summer that is affordable.

Thanks
UD

Lived there for almost 4 years.

Foster City itself is pretty boring to bike in, it's mostly flat straight roads with lots of stop signs or traffic lights. The traffic tends to be quite tame (lots of cops and red light cameras) which does help.

You will probably want to use the paths to get out of town, either via San Mateo or Belmont, to get to some good riding. I have lots of routes from FC mapped out.

There are a lot of apartment complexes in FC, many of them are pet-friendly which is nice. Most of them would have short-term or month-to-month leases available although those can be more pricey. You might be able to find someone subleasing their apartment for the summer if you look around.

FC is nice and peaceful and also convenient to the freeways and to shopping.

Feel free to PM me for more info.

Biking in Foster City is pretty boring because of the flat roads and tons of stop signs. You can find some nice short hills in nearby Belmont or San Carlos. For a bigger climb, head south to Woodside and up Kings Mountain.

Renting a nice bike for more than a few days can be very expensive. A used bike from Craigslist will probably be a much better deal.

I think he meant rent an apt.

Yep I meant an apartment. :) How long would it take to ride out to Canada Road/Woodside, and are there any routes that do not involve stopping every two blocks. Basically I do two hour training rides in the morning, and I want to spent most time moving and least time waiting for red or slowing down for stop signs. I also looked in to San Mateo, seems like prices there are also reasonable for renting.

If you have a choice, an apartment in west San Mateo (near I-280) is a lot closer to great bike routes than Foster City is.

There is a short bike path from Ralston Ave. (near Hwy 92) that goes over I-280 to Canada Road.

Here's a couple examples of 2-hour (or so) loops from FC.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Foster-City-Tartan-Trail-loop

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/FC-hilly-loop

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Belmont-San-Mateo-hill-loop

Any ride down to Kings Mountain or OLH will take much longer.

I'd suggest looking for a place to live in San Mateo, prices should be comparable and you will be closer to the hills.

San Mateo W. of 101 but W of El Camino even better.

I live near Alameda de las pulgas and 92.

I can be at Canada/92 in 7 miles or 5 miles depending on which way I go.

Near Downtown can be good too, just jump on Crystal Springs.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Stay tuned for further questions about riding in other parts of Bay Area. It's good to have choices. :thumb:

UD

San Bruno is pretty central to SF and Peninsula.

+1 on what USPSpro said.

Living in San Mateo near the Alameda makes for a nice, not too harsh 7-8 mile ride to get to 92 and Canada. Add another 8 to Woodside and any of the climbs, and the ride home is nice, too.

When I was in shape, those were nice warmups to Kings or OLH. Now just Woodside and back is all I can manage! :cry:

Wow, it's 8 miles from AlamedaDLP to Canada/92? Seems like a lot.

No, it's 8 miles from Alameda at Hillsdale via Crystal Springs to Canada/92. I live near Hillsdale High.

No, it's 8 miles from Alameda at Hillsdale via Crystal Springs to Canada/92. I live near Hillsdale High.

You can do it in less than 5 miles if you go through the steep-hilled neighboorhood streets around W Hillsdale (use 28th/31st) and then the rollers on Glendora down De Anza and then up Polhemus to the Park & ride and use the bike trail to connect to Canada. That's 4.9 miles from my place to Canada/92.

The normal ways people go, such as ADLP to Crystal Springs (or Bunker Hill) to Skyline are not very direct, they kind of sweep around... But it's an easy 8 miles anyway.

You can make it shorter still by going out Laurelwood Drive (one street South of Hillsdale after Fernwood), through Laurelwood Park, and out onto De Anza/Glendora. It avoids gaining (and losing) all that altitude going up to the top of Hillsdale.

When I'm tired or running late, that's how I will sometimes come home from Canada. Well, that run backwards...

EDIT: Knowing Marco, he's wondering why anyone would want to avoid the climb. ;)