zacster

I'm taking the entire family to SF for vacation May21-25 and would like to do a ride with them. It would be me, my wife and my 3 kids, all over 18 at this point, so no littles here. As much as I'd like to take my own road bike, I would need rentals for all 5 of us, and a destination. We are staying in one of the big hotels in the Union Square area.

My wife's boss suggested Sausalito, and I checked and it would be 10 miles, not a really long ride so it would be doable. Is that really all it is? Any other good rides? Is Golden Gate park like Central Park with a loop? We aren't so much looking to tour the city by bike as we are just looking for a good ride that will take us past a few sites or a 'can't miss' place to eat. (I would use a bike to go everywhere if I were by myself. I did a vacation by myself like that in Seattle a few years back.) Hilly rides are out of the question We don't have any significant hills here in Brooklyn. I'm a hard-core road biker and a long time BF'er, but the rest of the family are just occasional riders.

And any recommendations on rentals? Is there anyplace that will have decent bikes? I know they usually aren't very good, but at least if they have decent hybrids that'll be OK. I couldn't tell you where to go in NYC to do a rental, so I understand that most reading this won't know, it's a tourist thing. Spinlister isn't practical for 5 bikes. I've looked online already, but it is hard to tell. Most places just say "City Bike" or "Hybrid" or "Road Bike" without any other specifics.

johnny99

Fishermans Wharf over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito then returning by ferry is the most popular bike ride for tourists. The ride is pretty short and the hills are mild in that direction. One big hill scares most tourists from returning to the city by bike.

If you have more energy, you can continue through Marin around the Tiburon peninsula (aka Paradise Loop) to Larkspur, then take the ferry back from Larkspur. Distance is about 30 miles one-way with a few minor hills.

If you want some more hills, the Marin Headlands and Mount Tamalpais are very popular with the local roadies.

Golden Gate Park is popular with families, especially on weekend when part of JFK Drive (the main park road) is closed to cars. There is not really a big loop through the park, but lots of small loops off of JFK to explore the different parts of the park.

Don't have any recommendations for rentals. Blazing Saddles is probably the most popular company, but their bikes look very basic.

jfh

I've heard the Sports Basement in the Presidio rents road bikes.

San Francisco Bike Rentals - Sports Basement

If you can manage a slight diversion and a pretty decent climb, Conzelman Road to Battery Spencer has my favorite view of the bridge, not far from the north end of the bridge if you family is willing to wait a bit. It can get a bit steep; you can see some videos on youtube (look for Hawk Hill / Marin Headlands / etc).

DiabloScott

Welcome New Yorker!

Yeah, Sports Basement for the rentals, ride around in Golden Gate Park, and then take the Great Highway down the beach a ways. Riding the Bridge is an experience but logistically you might want to just park and walk it.

fietsbob

If you brought your own bike so better fit for a longer ride, Fisherman's Wharf docked Ferry to Vallejo offers a across the north bay and back across the GG bridge,

Looping Back to the City via the Presidio.

From Vallejo, You can also ride North, a short distance , to Napa and tour the wine country sights, there.

johntrev

If you are staying near Union Square, likely you are without rental car - smart to avoid the hassle and expense when BART is easy from either Oakland or SFO and parking might cost you $50/day. Sports Basement and its higher end road bikes would be a little more of a pain to get to without a car; you might as well go to the most convenient bike rental place. Blazing Saddles is one of the more prominent rental spots and has a location just off Union Square, 433 Mason St.

While Golden Gate Park is lovely, the sights along and over the Bridge are not to be missed. If you are feeling a little more ambitious, carry on past Sausalito to Tiburon,. and take the ferry back from there. There are terrific dockside lunch spots in Tiburon; sit in the sun and gaze across the bay to SF during lunch. Most of the way to Tiburon is on separated bike paths, and relatively flat. If you want to see the sights within San Francisco, from Union Square do a counter clockwise loop - Embarcadero- Fisherman's Wharf- Fort Mason- Crissy Field- Lincoln -El Camino Del Mar- Great Highway -and back through Golden Gate Park. Maps/ resources here: https://www.sfbike.org/resources/

cthenn

With the condition of no hilly rides, it takes many possibilities out of the question. You may think being a coastal area, SF and the surrounding area would be flattish, but it is far from it. I really have no idea about the route from inside the city to the GG bridge, but if you can get there, that's quite an experience. I too would recommend the Headlands (Conzleman Rd), but it has a very nasty climb, and a edge-of-the-world drop which will absolutely take your breath away. Even descending down to Sausalito can be daunting to inexperienced riders. Lots of noise, cars, and a fairly steep road. Once you get into Sausalito though, the roads are much more mellow, and there's always plenty to do there. If you are riding for the ride, and not just a way to get around, you can keep going to Tiburon, as others have mentioned. Just pay attention to where the bike path is, because it's easy to miss and you end up on the edge of a rolling road without much shoulder. Once in town, some gorgeous viewing can be had from a few of the restaurants there. Or if you can pack a picnic lunch, chill out on the grass just past town, right on the water.

After writing this, I realized I pretty much parroted much of what was already said...so I guess everyone has similar ideas! I don't ride in the city itself to know where to go, or even how to get around, or how safe it is, but as you already mentioned, GG Park is another in-city destination. Again, that would be more of a "ride to get someplace" then do activities...not so much for just the ride itself.

Highway 1 to/from Stinson Beach is incredible too, but probably best driven. Surprisingly hilly, steep in places, no shoulder, and probably too far for non-cyclists. Also no easy way to get there without some major climbing. I'm just mentioning this because there are a lot of areas to explore, but most require effort and fitness.

Oh, if you go over the bridge, keep your group tight and paying attention. Riders can be very aggro on the bridge...it's the closest thing to an angry car commute I've come across.

Heathpack 

I am not from San Francisco, in fact just arrived here about 20 min ago, with my bike of course. Tomorrow, I'm going to ride this route. It ends at a restaurant called Guyamas in Tiburon, which is a nicer Mexican restuarant. I'm taking the ferry back, will be traveling back by car. (Actually my route no longe stops at Guayamas, was meeting a friend there but we changed the plan. No matter, the route is what's important.)

I'll let you know how it goes.

SF to Tiburon via Marin Headlands - San Francisco, CA

Here is logistical info on crossing the GG bridge by bike: *

Sat I'm doing a climby thing out of Woodside, but that has about 15 miles of climbing, probably out for you, lol.

zacster

A couple of things. We will not have a car, since parking it would be expensive and being New Yorkers that is just the normal state of things. We'll buy tourist passes to Muni that'll keep us moving around town, and BART to SFO, although my wife is on expense account and maybe a taxi back although 5 in a taxi with luggage is tight. My kids will want to go out on their own too, so Muni it will be. All three kids went to high school by subway and took full advantage of their freedom.

For the cycling, it was just a single trip we were looking at. We are not going to be using them to get around. Knowing my wife and kids, that'll be more than enough. And it has to be an easy ride, climbing 1000' may not sound like a lot to you (and it doesn't to me either), to my wife and kids it's a mountain. The grade up to the bridge is probably the most they'd want to do. I know SF has hills, isn't that what it is known for?

It sounds like going over the GG is like going over the GWB on weekends. Lots of riders, some of whom think they own the road, especially that extremely narrow ramp on the Manhattan side with the hairpin turn. I could only take that turn clipped in if I knew there was nobody else, and that seems to annoy riders that think there is nobody else but themselves.

FrenchFit 

Another option might be a day at Angel Island, but more of a gateaway from the city itself. Right in the middle of the Bay, short Ferry trip, excellent views, no cars Bicycles | Island Insights. I used to take my family biking there long time ago, I really don't recall whether were any problemactic hills, maybe someone who's gone more recently can comment. But it's a state park, there is nothing there but views & getting some exercise.

I did the SF Ferry Building to Sausalito ride with my daughter visiting from back east, OK ride. Too many tourists on weekends, it gets stressful.

My wife & I will often take our bikes to SF and ride from AT&T park in China Basin to under the GG bridge along the waterfront, stop for food and drinks at a several places. Camp out (flask) at Fort Point and watch the surfers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07hqYcEPiHI Lots of different sites to see, a very relaxing day...a little less goal oriented, though I risk ending up BUI by the third stop.

zacster

This was my wife's idea to ride, but I'm sure I'll hear nothing but complaints while we're doing it, and my kids too as I'm sure they'd rather just be out spending their meager inheritance.

btw, what kind of weather should I expect at that time, May 21-25? I know how flaky SF weather can be.

Warren128

I live in San Francisco, in the west side of the City (Sunset District). If you are interested in a single ride for the whole family, I would also recommend a ride to Sausalito. From your location Downtown, the ride will be mostly flat with nice views of SF Bay. There is a bike rental shop at Union Square. You can rent your bikes there, then ride down Market Street to the Ferry Building, then turn left to hug the waterfront (Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Hyde Street Pier, Aquatic Park, Municipal Fishing Pier, Fort Mason) all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. The only major hills that you will encounter will be going up and down the hills on each side of the bridge.

On the weekends, the west side of the bridge is open for bicycle traffic only (no pedestrians). Pedestrians are allowed only on the east walkway. Even so, you'll need to be very careful when you ride because of the great variation in rider skills, from novice tourist riders to hotshots who ride too fast for the conditions.

If you cross the bridge on a weekend day, you will ride across the west side, and end up at a parking lot on the north end. From there, follow the signs down the hill, under the bridge where you'll end up at what was formerly Fort Baker. The site is now Calvallo Point Resort and Spa. I recommend taking this route to Sausalito instead of going from the bridge directly down Alexander Blvd. It's much more relaxed and scenic, and has less automobile traffic.

You should leave in the morning so that you will arrive in Sausalito in time for lunch. There are many restaurants to choose from, but I like to grab a sandwich and/or coffee at Cibo. Other people mentioned this already, but depending on how everyone feels after lunch, you can continue on to either Mill Valley or Tiburon, or you can turn around and ride back over the bridge (go back the same way as you came into Sausalito) to SF.

Golden Gate Park is a nice place to ride, but getting there through the City, hills, and traffic from downtown is not exactly a fun thing to do (for visitors).

I am scheduled to go on vacation when you're in SF, otherwise I would ride out to join you!

Have fun, and I look forward to reading about your ride experience whether you do this route or not.

johnny99

Spring and fall have the nicest weather in San Francisco. Winter can be rainy, though not so much in the last couple of years. Summer is often windy and foggy. May is somewhere between spring and summer, so weather can go either way (even in different parts of the city at the same time).

Heathpack 

Well, I did my ride up and over the bridge, then up into Marin Headlands, then on to Tiburon yesterday, nice route. 30 miles and 2500 ft of climbing.

The bridge crossing was foggy and kind of dramatic. I crossed over around 8:30am on a weekday. There were other people up there but crowds were not dicey.

The best part quite honestly was the Marin Headlands, but that's where all the climbing was. Seems a shame to miss it to md.

From Marin Headlands looking back to San Francisco.



The ride from Marin Headlands up to Sausalito was fine. Not spectacular but nice enough.

Warren128

Hey! I was there yesterday too, rode up with a riding buddy. We got up there by 11:10am. As you can see the fog receded a little by then. Maybe Zacster can send the rest of the family to Sausalito while he does a short detour (about 30 minutes) up to the summit here. I didn't mention this in my earlier post because he did say he wanted a route without big hills.

Heathpack 

Awesome. I was probably at the same about 2 hours earlier.

zacster

That sounds and looks like a tempting ride for myself. What percent grades are we talking about? And should I assume I want a road bike for that? 2500' is more climbing than you can do here in the New York area, the tallest reasonably reachable spot is Bear Mountain at 1500', so I don't get much steady climbing in. I did Mt Haleakala a year ago, and didn't make it to the top of 10000', but did get up 6000 before I had to quit. If I had better training I probably would have made it, but again, not much here for a day trip even with a car.

Warren128

From the west side parking lot of the bridge to the summit of Hawk Hill is about 554', 1.8 miles, average 6% (per Strava statistics, YMMV)

johnny99

Love Hawk Hill (Conzelman Road). The uphill is pretty gradual, but the downhill is 18%. You glide along the ocean, past old Civil War forts and a Nike missle base. This one of the most beautiful bicycle routes in the Bay Area. https://youtu.be/SjRCHcmmfos

anotherbrian

I take my bike to SF usually once a year for a week long conference (going on this week in fact, though will skip it this year) and ride with whatever free time I have.

Check out sfbike.org for a very good map and recommended routes.

The bike rental places are in North Beach and the Fisherman's Wharf area, and crowded or not, everyone with a rental rides across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Riding around Union Square is like riding in Manhattan, but with hills.

Riding from Fishermans Wharf down the Embarcadero towards the Bay Bridge is flat and relatively quick. Good food at the Ferry Building.

Personally I'd suggest a little urban riding in addition to going over the Golden Gate. You can get to Golden Gate Park avoiding hills, and all on wide bike lanes, from the Embarcadero via "The Wiggle" route. Check maps, but you'd take Market Street from the water, up into the Castro, then serpentine your way to the Park.

anotherbrian

And The Wiggle even has its own Wikipedia page:
The Wiggle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lije Baley

All the these suggestions are good. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the video showing the descent from the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito. There are plenty of places to eat there, and a return across the bridge allows even more time with one of the world's great vistas. However, continuing to Larkspur (easy enough, mostly on bike paths) affords the opportunity to see SF from the bay itself.

zacster

Well I did the ride to Sausalito with the family, renting the bikes in fisherman's wharf. When we bit to Sausalito though they all wanted to do more so we headed up to Tiburon. That was mostly flat and an easy ride for everyone too. We took the ferry back from there but they had a problem docking due to the wind, all in all though it was a nice day.

I also took a Citibike out by myself in the evening and rode up and down Market, without any particular goal in mind. Same bikes as NYC, same slow slog.