sciencemonster

I know this doesn't really belong here, but I hate asking 'serious' bicyclists and their spandex for advice. I'd rather get yelled at for being off topic.

We are old bicyclists on old bicycles and we want to do four days starting from Sonoma, and ending there. I can use google maps as well as the next guy, but I'm not really up on what towns are what in Sonoma. My wife's Raleigh has been converted to 8-speeds, and I'll be on the same or a Clubman with a derailer or a big sprocket in hte back, but in any case, we want to avoid mountains. Hills, we can deal with, as long as they aren't ten miles long. Or five miles, for that matter. We're not too proud to get off and walk once in a while.

We'll need to stop every ~30 miles to sleep, shop, and eat and that is what we need help with: Can someone suggest what cities with bed and breakfasts to shoot for? I was thinking Sonoma---> west to Yountville (up Silverado trail?)---->North to Calistoga---> ? ---> Calistoga ----->veer right along 12 towards Sonoma on the other side. I think we need a loop north of Calistoga and back.

We'd stay off the main drags and take backroads most of the way. These are labeled backwards, but this is what I was thinking:

https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...noma-alternate

https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...-to-Yountville

And then I have a blank day, and then:

https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...a-to-Calistoga

Does anyone here live in Sonoma County?

luker

hmmm...old bicyclists on old bicycles...sounds like C&V territory to me. I am not sure that we have any hard and fast guidelines over here. You'd have to ask the moderator, but then you'd probably have to wake him up!

I'm not at home in Sonoma County, although it looks like the route that you've laid down is reasonable. Cool website, too. Some of my cronies up here are about to reveal a similar site for posting offroad trails. We have lots of people who will be more knowledgeable than me, and they'll chime in soon. Could you post your results when you do it?

sciencemonster

If i'm still alive.

Actually, we did two weeks in Ireland last summer - the route we took is on my list of bikely routes - and made it ok. We miss the rain, though, so we thought we'd do Sonoma in January.

Deanster04

I don't live there but I have ridden there over many years. I would stick to the Sonoma Valley and then go over to Napa and take the Silverado Trail up to Calistoga. The roads between the valleys can be relatively steep. If I am not mistaken you charted a route over the Oakville grade...not bad from the direction you are coming from. Unless you like climbing then stick to the valleys.

g-funk

I live in Santa Rosa. your trip sounds like more napa than sonoma, which is cool, but it is napa. I've ridden all the roads on your route many times and always appreciate my granny gear. Hwy 12 is a death trap in most places. your ride choice from sonoma to yountville will have you walking all day. seriously, all day. this route it very similar to the route taken by the Tour of California race (trinity road)and surprised the shat out of all of those french snukkas. starting in Sonoma and going to Napa is going to be a huge climb anyway you do it except the highway, but on that route you will probably die. your ride from yountville to calistoga is cool and very beautiful and very tame. your ride from Calistoga to Sonoma is another huge climb and on a sketchy road(read death). My thoughts would be either choose Napa or Sonoma. My preference is Sonoma. nice country roads, less traffic and less rental cars even in January. Napa will have you on heavily trafficed roads and you are pretty much relegated to the valley. I'll be happy to cough up any info I have on any route you choos but I would highly recommend a nice sonoma county cruise.

sciencemonster

We're fine staying in Sonoma Valley - the issue is can we get two days out, two days back in it? Once we get to Santa Rosa, it's big city time. I was trying to stretch out the country roads. I originally had this to get to the Silverado Trail:

https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...ille-to-Sonoma

That takes us around the hills. We do not want to walk all day, by any means, but two of our companions are Santa Cruz Mtn folk, and they do not deal with city traffic or freeways very well. Short Suburb runs are ok, for expediency's sake.

I would love any town-to-town suggestions that would work. As I say, I can figure out the roads with google (I had us on Hwy 12 for only short stretches...) but I need destinations where we can get food and bed each night. Spaced 30-40 miles apart. In any case, I will take your advice and reroute the Hwy 12 segment and give up on Calistoga. I orrigianly planned one day up, one day back up Sonoma Valley, then one day up, one day back Napa. The kicker is, our car will be parked in a driveway in Sonoma so we need to start and end there.

SoreFeet

Send me an private message/e-mail. I can get you setup with some routes. It would be quite easy to mess around Sonoma/Napa without doing too many hill climbs. You can also get into Healdsburg/Sebastapol from Santa Rosa. You can take highway 12 then go up trinity and it will take you into Yountville. This particular road is one helluva climb but well worth the effort trouble. Since you are doing the hotel thing I would pack very light. You won't need anything more than a pump/tire patch kit/a light rain proof jersey and a few sets of clothing.

I think a vintage club ride would be fun...It seems like a few members might be interested. HWY 12 isn't all that bad if you are very cautious. Any takers on giving Sciencemonster a vintage cycle-cade to guide him from city to city? I could lead the way from Sonoma to Napa.

ronzorini

Krebs has a decent map of the wine country. Their maps don't really show specific touring routes, but rates the roads according to traffic and elevation.

https://www.krebscycleproducts.com/T1.html

You can also post in the Touring forum. They're generally a civil and helpful bunch

East Hill

It's been a while since I was in Sonoma, but why not head over on 116, veer towards Cotati, and go to Sebastopol via 116? From Sebastopol you could go to Guerneville by travelling on Green Valley Road for the most part. There's a couple of new members (growden and jeph) here who live in Sebastopol, you could try sending them a PM to ask about road riding conditions nowadays (I used to live on Occidental Road, between Occidental and Sebastopol, and I also lived in Graton, but that was a while ago).

I would much rather ride in Sonoma County proper.

East Hill

raverson

I would agree with g-funk (edit, and East Hill), Sonoma is the better choice for a relaxed and manageable flat route. There are many roads that skirt around Santa Rosa with little traffic to deal with. I especially like Hwy. 116 through Sebastapol and Forestville and then north toward the Healdsburg vicinity. Plenty of wine tasting along the way.

Whatever you do, avoid Hwy. 12 between the valleys. Very little shoulder and lots of distracted motorists. Not a good combination. Also stay off of Oakville Grade. There's a reason all the valley traffic goes south to Hwy. 12 to cross over.

Happy trails.

g-funk

I suggest (day 1) sonoma to sebastopol or Occidental (Day 2) to jenner along hwy 1. (Day 3) jenner to healdsburg (day 4) back to sonoma.

OR

(Day 1) sonoma to sebastopol (day 2) sebastopol to Marshall (day 3) Marshall to Cotati area (Day4) cotati to Sonoma

you can stay on very tame roads or paths and see some amazing scenery. Santa Rosa is easily skirted or go straight through town on bike paths, or cut through Annadel State park from Kenwood to Santa Rosa if weather permits. PM me and I'll be happy to discuss routes, lodging and dining suggestions with you.

edit: these routes all start in sonoma. Do you have to start in Sonoma?

sciencemonster

Yes, we have a driveway to park in there where we can leave the car/trailer for four days.

I am going to take everyone's advice and stay in Sonoma. I will check out the towns you suggest. I'll check back in a week or so when I come up with a plan, if you don't mind.

Thanks fro the offer for a mass ride of oldsters, but my wife is pretty slow, and we're pretty wishy-washy about plans. And, the couple we ride with are all buffy and spandexy and riding modern bikes, so you guys would all be embarrassed to be seen riding with them anyway. But if you see a lost-looking guy in a sweater vest, tie, and fedora on a 3-speed of some sort on new years weekend, don't run me over.

sciencemonster

Update! Well, it took a year, but we did this ride last weekend. We skipped the touring, and stayed in one place and did day trips - it seems you can't rent a room at a b+b or lodge for just one weekend night in California. Stayed in a two bedroom cabin in Geurneville, then road out to Occidental via Sebastopol and Cherry Ridge Road on Saturday. Road to Jenner on SUnday, and then to Healdsburg via Ridge Road on Monday.

Had an absolutely great time. Expensive, but great. Clear skies, temps in the high 60s/low 70s (thanks global warming!) Great country roads. My wife's sister loved it so much, she wants to go back on the 3 day weekend in Feb! We're gonna base in Healdsburg and do day rides from there.

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions. I can tell, Sonoma is going to be great for riding for a long while - so many roads!