I agree that Crow Canyon between Castro Valley and Norris Canyon isn't that bad, even north of Norris, Crow Canyon isn't awful. If I'm going from Castro Valley to San Ramon at Crow Canyon or north, I'd rather do that than Dublin Canyon and cut over.

But if you're going to go east on Dublin Canyon and go north from there, then at Rowell Ranch, take Shaefer Ranch Road over to Dublin Blvd., and go north on San Ramon Valley Blvd. or something else. Don't come all the way down Dublin Canyon into Stoneridge and then go over 580. The Foothill/Stoneridge Mall area isn't bad if you are there on a weekend morning, certainly before 10 a.m. is not an issue. But pretty much anytime, going over the Foothill/San Ramon Valley Blvd. overpass across 580 is terrifying, coming down the western part of Dublin Blvd is better than coming down Dublin Canyon if you're heading north. Still, if you're going to end up as far north as Crow Canyon in San Ramon, better to just take Crow Canyon, or Crow Canyon to Norris Canyon and back over, it isn't like it is safer or more pleasant going Dublin Canyon and to the streets of Dublin and San Ramon up to Crow Canyon. If the purpose is a longer ride, OK, if the purpose is a more pleasant, safer ride, it doesn't make sense to me.

When I say I wouldn't do the Crow Canyon/Norris Canyon loop out of Castro Valley, it isn't because it is too dangerous (it surely isn't Niles Canyon), but because I view Crow Canyon mostly like I do Dublin Canyon, it is a utility road, for the purposes of getting from point A to point B, rather than a pleasure ride. I like Norris Canyon for the ride, but that is too small a portion of a Crow Canyon/Norris Canyon loop to make it worthwhile, IMO, especially when there are more pleasant rides out of Castro Valley -- heck, I'd much rather do out and backs on Palomares than a Crow Canyon/Norris Canyon loop. The only time I have kind of done the Crow Canyon/Norris Canyon loop, it was on longer rides where Crow Canyon/Norris Canyon was used get to and from the San Ramon Valley, not for the loop itself. Otherwise, I've only taken Crow Canyon/Norris canyon as part of a larger loop, like Redwood, Pinehurst, Canyon, through Moraga, Lafayette, SW Corner of Walnut Creek, Danville Blvd., Norris/Crow Canyon.

I don't find Redwood to be that scary, although it was at its best when Redwood had its closure and the Canyon bridge was out. No through cars around, and either bicycles could get through the Redwood closure or could ride the dirt trail bypass (and bicycles could get around the Canyon bridge closure if willing to risk get yelled at by a crazy Moraga Country Club resident). Man, there was pretty peaceful riding on Redwood and Pinehurst during that time. With things more normal, the motorcyles and tuner car guys make Redwood more annoying, but I've never felt unsafe (although if I have just gone around a tight curve, I am a little paranoid about getting hit from behind if I hear something coming). And the motorcycles and tuner car guys aren't around as much earlier in the morning. Leave CV at 8 a.m. on a Saturday for the Redwood/Pinehurst/Skyline lollipop, and there won't be much of that traffic, at least not in my experience.