Northern California - route from Davis to Napa?

In August, I'll be coming down to Napa from Eugene, OR for a wedding. I'm planning to ride Amtrak, and have thought about packing the bike along and using it for part of my travel. I have a few options, but am unfamiliar with the traffic and road conditions in the area so let me know which plan seems best:

1. No bike (I'll only do this if the consensus is that drunk wine tourists are a menace to any chance to ride in a 50 mile radius)- Take the train to Martinez, then a bus to Napa (this is Amtrak's schedule, which usually runs WAY behind, and I'm very skeptical that I'd make the bus connection).

2. Pack the bike, get off in Martinez, then bike to Napa via ?? (are there even bike lanes across the Straight? Maybe we're spoiled in Oregon with our bike bridges and bike lanes on interstate routes...)

3. Pack the bike, unpack it in Sacramento, change trains to Fairfield, then ride to Napa. (again, skeptical about making connections w/ Amtrak running wildly off schedule)

4. Pack the bike, get off in Davis, then bike to Napa via hwy 128 to Silverado Trail. (How are these roads? This looks like a decent ride...)

5. Any other suggestions?

For 1 if you are booking an Amtrak thruway bus with your train - that bus is supposed to be guaranteed. If the train is late, the bus waits for that train. So, book your trip to Napa.

In the Napa valley Hiway 29 and Silverado Trail are the two No-So routes. Silverado less travelled better ride; but both have fast drivers who might have been drinking. Ride in the morning before they get drunk.

In the Napa valley Hiway 29 and Silverado Trail are the two No-So routes. Silverado less travelled better ride; but both have fast drivers who might have been drinking. Ride in the morning before they get drunk.

But not too early, when they are still drunk from the night before. :twitchy:

How much riding do you want to do? You can get off the train in Sac, ride across the causeway, take Russell Boulevard out of Davis to Putah Creek to 128 and turn off 121 if going to Napa or continue on 128 if going up valley. Great ride.

Caveat is you're going past Lake Berryessa and may face boater traffic heading to the lake. Not so much fun. The other big concern is the heat. Expect 90+ highs in the Sacramento Valley during that time, with the possibility of a bay breeze cooling off the Napa Valley at the very end of the ride.

The other possibility for riding would be to go to Martinez, follow the Carquinez Strait to the Carquinez Bridge, cross the bridge (hey, we have bike lanes on some bridges now, too!), then ride through Vallejo north on 29 to Napa. Vallejo is unpleasant for riding, with lots of traffic and few bike lanes. 29 is unpleasant, too, just ugly through that stretch. Not the way I would go.

I can give more detailed instructions if you need them.

Taking 128 past Berryessa is not so bad. During the weekend it's busier but I still ride out there all the time, and see plenty of other cyclists. 128 to 121 would be the most direct route from Davis to Napa. It's actually a nice ride. You could also ride from Davis to Fairfield and take Wooden Valley to 121. This would be longer, and probably not worth it. Earlier in the day is better, and yes, it will be hot. The 128 route will have several stores along the way, while Wooden Valley will not have much at all. If you're interested in either I can give you a more detailed route (Rushfan sums up the route pretty well).

Taking 128 past Berryessa is not so bad. During the weekend it's busier but I still ride out there all the time, and see plenty of other cyclists. 128 to 121 would be the most direct route from Davis to Napa. It's actually a nice ride. You could also ride from Davis to Fairfield and take Wooden Valley to 121. This would be longer, and probably not worth it. Earlier in the day is better, and yes, it will be hot. The 128 route will have several stores along the way, while Wooden Valley will not have much at all. If you're interested in either I can give you a more detailed route (Rushfan sums up the route pretty well).

Forgot about Wooden Valley. This avoids boat traffic but isn't as much fun as 128.

Thanks for the great replies. I'll be on the train overnight on a Wednesday, so would be riding early Thursday morning. Perhaps boat traffic at Berryessa won't be too bad then. Rushfan and rydaddy, I'm leaning toward 128 out of Davis. How does 121 compare to staying on 128, riding past Lake Hennessy, and cutting south to napa on Silverado?

I'm used to riding around plenty of traffic, but am more concerned about crumbling shoulders/no shoulders and blind turns. Just out of Eugene there are a couple of popular cycling roads that are notorious for log truck vs cyclist collisions because of inadequate road width. I still ride them, but at least I know what I'm getting into.

Rumpled - good to know the bus waits for the train. I love riding Amtrak, but have had some pretty bad logistical experiences.

Forgot about Wooden Valley. This avoids boat traffic but isn't as much fun as 128.

Agreed.


Thanks for the great replies. I'll be on the train overnight on a Wednesday, so would be riding early Thursday morning. Perhaps boat traffic at Berryessa won't be too bad then. Rushfan and rydaddy, I'm leaning toward 128 out of Davis. How does 121 compare to staying on 128, riding past Lake Hennessy, and cutting south to napa on Silverado?

I'm used to riding around plenty of traffic, but am more concerned about crumbling shoulders/no shoulders and blind turns. Just out of Eugene there are a couple of popular cycling roads that are notorious for log truck vs cyclist collisions because of inadequate road width. I still ride them, but at least I know what I'm getting into.

Rumpled - good to know the bus waits for the train. I love riding Amtrak, but have had some pretty bad logistical experiences.

If you'd like a screaming descent into Napa, take 121. :thumb: 128 past Hennessy is a bit more scenic with slightly less traffic. It's also going to be longer, depending on where in Napa you are going. The roads area in pretty good shape either way, and I can't really think of any dangerous/blind corners. There is construction going on along 128 near Hennessy, so you might want to look into that.

Thanks for the great replies. I'll be on the train overnight on a Wednesday, so would be riding early Thursday morning. Perhaps boat traffic at Berryessa won't be too bad then. Rushfan and rydaddy, I'm leaning toward 128 out of Davis. How does 121 compare to staying on 128, riding past Lake Hennessy, and cutting south to napa on Silverado?

I'm used to riding around plenty of traffic, but am more concerned about crumbling shoulders/no shoulders and blind turns. Just out of Eugene there are a couple of popular cycling roads that are notorious for log truck vs cyclist collisions because of inadequate road width. I still ride them, but at least I know what I'm getting into.

Rumpled - good to know the bus waits for the train. I love riding Amtrak, but have had some pretty bad logistical experiences.

128 hits the Napa Valley near Saint Helena. 121 puts you at the north end of Napa, near the Silverado Country Club. More traffic on 121, depending on the time you hit it-some folks use it for commuting. 121 is steeper up and down. 128 is a lot quieter.

If your destination is Napa, taking Silverado Trail from 128 runs past a lot of nice wineries with a wide shoulder but up against an afternoon headwind most of the time. If you plot it on Bikely, I suspect you're adding 30-40+ miles to get back to Napa.

I've never ridden the last stretch of 121 but drive it like an idiot all the time...fun road with lots of turns. If you're a good descender, you should be able to keep up with traffic on the way down to Napa. I do see folks riding it pretty often.