Favorite spots in SF/East Bay

[Anewbike]

// Double post. Can't figure out how to delete.

[Spiduhman]

Hey new,

You prob'ly interested in bikin' places, eh?

Well, I returned to East Bay in 2003, left 2008, during which time I returned to cycling after some 25 years off the bike.

...but first, Blondie's on Telegraph for pizza, and Moe's for books, also on Telegraph Ave in Berkeley; while we're there, Au Coquelet on University for a bite and a cup - it not the same as it were 25 yrs ago, but still... and later another bite and cup at Fatapple on MLK, and a turn through the Missing Link bike shop. There's a Thai place on the corner of Solano and San Pablo, omg, soo good.

Now on bike shops, the Pacific Bicycle, Performance, and REI in SF are all within a few blofcks of each other, and walking distance from bart. That the only Performance shop where I never got Pissed Off, fwiw... the Sports Basement in Presidio is worth checking out... check it ooouuut, and nice pedal to get there too. Watch out for nazi aholes.

o.k., so I miss the Bay Area, 'nuff o' that for now... my fav biking there is in the EBRP area known as Black Diamond Preserve, the area between Antioch and Clayton; this was home ground during my years in the rainbow/cesspool known as Antioch, CA

A short pedal through the neighborhoods from Old Rivertown section of Antioch, Black Diamond beckons! ...where cayotes, bobcats, deer, snakes, giant spiders, hawks, owls, squirrels, skunks, and bikers are at home! This is challenging terrain boyo - you will be tested. There is a mtn lion that passes through there as well... never saw her, but she's there all right. The biggest dangers are: yourself, other dums*its on bikes, bugs, snakes, in that order.

The best time of year, after the fire roads are bladed in late Spring up to the first heavy rains of late Fall/early Winter, as the f'ing cows beat up the trails quite bad.

After a wet winter, the ca poppies are awesome.

Carry water, cell phone, and and watch for snakes.

If you a real badass, cruise all the up to the microtowers, down through Clayton, up Mt. Diablo, then back through Black Diamond to Antioch,.

This paradise o' mtn biking is easily accessed via the bart, as the pedal from Pittsburg station is all flat and easy.

There, now you got a response.

Now, what was it you wanted to know?


While in the area, take your road bike and pedal seven laps on the closed section of Empire Mine Road, and let me know when you can finish a lap in less than 20 mins. Say "Hey" to the Empire Mine lady... you might see Zippy out there too.

[alxndr]

Off the top of my head, there's bike parking in Actual Cafe (San Pablo & 65th(?) St), the new cafe + beers place on Telegraph at 42nd, and at Eli's Mile High Club (super dive bar) at MLK & 36th-ish.

Favorite bike shops are Montano (on Piedmont) for fancy stuff, Spoke (Telegraph and 62nd) for work I can't do myself and parts, Recycles (Sacramento near Alcatraz) for used parts.

Favorite rides are the bay trail from Emeryville out to Point Richmond (or across 580 around the creepy old base). Or up into the hills and along Skyline, Grizzly Peak, down any where on the east side of the hills, turn around and go back up, or the "flat" way back via San Pablo Dam around the north of the hills...