Northern California - Big Canyon Road

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Geoff16W
04-25-09, 08:41 AM
Has anyone ever ridden the 16 mile stretch called Big Canyon Road. From google maps it looks like this beautiful tiny road, tucked away from traffic.

My only concern is the condition of the road. At a lot of places it looks great. At some places, it looks like it might be a little rough. Anyone have personal experience.

Below is a link the road I'm talking about.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116369316099180088637.00046862133a25f5dee31&ll=38.826871,-122.608795&spn=0.295813,0.414734&t=h&z=11

If you do the street view option on google you can see the road conditions for your self.

thanks -- let me know what you think
jw

t4mv
04-25-09, 03:43 PM
I've ridden it a couple three times 25-30 years ago when it was part of the Davis Double (I'm guessing it doesn't go that way to Lower Lake anymore). The first time I rode it I thought it should have been named Huge Canyon, not because it was grand in any way, but as I recall it was a rather warm day, and the climb is a long zig-zag slog to the top before a nice descent into Lower Lake. There's no cover, so it's pretty brutal and about the only place there's water is someone's house who was nice enough to host a water stop for the ride. I thought the riding surface itself was reasonable though you might have to pick your line through the descent. When you're riding with lots of people it does give you the feel of a European ride in that you can see riders snaking their way up ahead of you, as well as behind you.

I hope you're not coming all the way out from Boston just to ride this 16 mile stretch of road...:twitchy:
Geoff16W
04-26-09, 12:39 PM
haha

No Big Canyon Road has not called me all the way from Boston. I'm just going to be in the Bay Area for the summer, and I'm looking for some nice rides.

But thanks a lot for the info. That's exactly what I was looking for.

All the best
jw

bikingshearer
04-28-09, 02:32 PM
My experience also dates back many, many moons to old Davis Double days. My main recollection is that it is a reflector oven on warm days,
maillotpois
05-03-09, 02:58 PM
Terrible road surface, and that is I believe why Davis Double switched over to Cobb Mtn instead. The only time I did this was my first Davis Double in 2005 and then they switched it for 2006.

Definitely pretty and no cars. It is also better to do it south to north, so you are climbing as opposed to descending it (Knoxville Double used to do the road in the reverse direction and also switched it for Cobb). Cobb is nicer surface but more traffic and tougher climb.