Stupid server ate my post. Anyway, nice and sunny and warmer today. Scottmorrison99, I think that DMV pamphlet is seriously misleading. "As close as practicable" is the law in California:

21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less
than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time
shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the
roadway except under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in
the same direction.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private
road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not
limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals,
surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue
along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656.
For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is
too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within
the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which
highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked
traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as
practicable.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 674, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1997.)