TdMIL 2026
 

For the 7 people who follow my touring threads, yeah, I know, it's late. Traditionally I start these on Boxing Day when my MIL overstays a Christmas visit, but she's moved two plane stops away on the east coast and doesn't come out for Christmas anymore, making plans a bit more flexible. An early January start was planned, but I was dog sick all of December, so we rescheduled for early February. An atmospheric river occured then, and not wanting to risk nlerner 's record of no rain riding on a tour we pushed again to a April 1 (no jokin') start.

The Zero Bike was brought into dry dock for a refresh, fender clearances were modified to avoid this and still ride reasonably wide tires, powder coating at Groody Brothers made it a thing of beauty, and a drivetrain rework was done, among other items. It's served me well for nearly a dozen tours starting in the Bay Area. I'll fly it back in with me and leave it in BoltBreaker 's basement in the People's Republic of Berkeley.

My usual partner in crime on these early season tours, BoltBreaker is addicted to recidivism, so he's in. nlerner wants to participate, so he's flying in for the ride from Boston, assuming he can get through the massive TSA lines in time. An old friend from my LBS days, Marc Singer, who lives in the Oakland hills is coming along as well, along with a host of harbor pilots that will be doing parts of this ride. We'll be staying at not quite skanky hotels along the way.

Here's the route:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a874a3b500.jpg
Each color is a separate day.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9c66849480.jpg
Daily distances aren't too bad, but there's some climbing to be done.

Some highlights
 

The tour is starting in Berkeley, we're taking BART to SF then ride along the waterfront to the Golden Gate Bridge.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...80adedf335.jpg
You're seeing the typical fickle finger of fog that envelops the GG Bridge most days

We'll be riding alongside Tomales Bay, which separates one tectonic plate from another. Consult geologist davester for details. There's a good chance he'll tag along for a day or two on this ride as a harbor pilot.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7cb10d5e38.jpg
The Birds was filmed around here.

We missed out on stopping at Cafe Aquatica at last year's Spring Training tour. It's part of the route this time.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...693b9f67ff.jpg
Neal likes his coffee.

I'm well aware that there are several ways to get from the GG Bridge to West Marin, and we're taking one of the harder ones, but the slalom downhill on Fairfax-Boliinas Road is worth it. There's a reason they film a lot of car commercials up on the backside of Mt. Tamalpais.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c547e768e.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e6baa889e2.jpg
Maybe my favorite TdMIL pic. Pacific Ocean and Bolinas in the background.

What true cyclist doesn't like long, winding downhills?
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a51b06cff7.jpg
The start of Meyers Grade - tops out at 18% before it tees into Hwy 1. Good thing we plan on going down, not up it.

If there's a flat tire along the way, no problem. As seen below, BoltBreaker is doing me a favor by not helping or suggesting how to fix it properly.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...12e6286ab2.jpg

My bike is still packed up from the last trip!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...551248f3b.jpeg

Just in time for some Cambria Classic Training
 

I might pop out from Sacramento for a day or two to join a couple of the legs.

PM me to swap contact info!

Don’t forget a master link!

Surprised you’re going on this instead of staying in the wet and 40 degrees in Boston.

Hmm, that sounds nice. Here's the forecast for tomorrow:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec241d1341.png

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d1b58dde2.png

My current plan is to head out from Berkeley on Day 5, meat you guys somewhere between Fairfax and Nicasio, and ride back to the Democratic Peoples Republic with y'all.

Also, the Marin bike museum currently has a special Bruce Gordon bike exhibit. The museum is open Th-Sun 11-5, so that might make a fun return visit for the Spring Training/Tour de MiL crew. Plus, thise brats at Gestalt Haus aren't going to eat themselves . . . .

I remember that from watching Wide World of Sports is a kid!

Note that Schultz wrote that when he was living just north of Petaluma in Santa Rosa.

You are probably aware, but the San Rafael Richmond bridge is closed to bikes Mon-Thur,

New Operating Hours (Starting Oct 27, 2025)

• Closed to Bikes/Peds: Sundays at 11 p.m. through Thursdays at 2 p.m..
• Open to Bikes/Peds: Thursdays at 2 p.m. through Sundays at 11 p.m., including select holidays.

Yes I am, and we’ll be crossing on a Sunday.

I think I'm covered:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ca68b351ef.jpg

Gugie -

I'm planning on joining for Thursday and Friday (and maybe a bit of Sat AM). I'll coordinate with you off line.

Mike

Update
 

As expected, several harbor pilots have indicated interested in tagging along for parts of this ride. bikingshearer , davester , mhespenheide , SwimmerMike and Sactown_Albert have all messaged me. I've also gotten some suggestions from locals on tweaking some of the routes, mostly to avoid traffic on some stretches. If I missed anyone with this list, let me know! I'll start an email thread for harbor pilots so I can just send out one update for start times and exact locations.

Note also that nlerner 's weather voodo will be challenged on Day 1. I'm using Pt. Reyes Station as a proxy for the route weather. I do know that further inland it will be warmer, but it doesn't look anything like the recent heat dome in the area.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d4fa0f93d3.jpg

Note that the forecast has been trending towards less rain.

Current routes are located here.

Just got a text from BoltBreaker , he's suggesting an east bay start at Rockridge BART, schedule says departure at 7:38. That gets us to Embarcadero station at 8:00am, lugging loaded bikes from deep underground gets us at street level maybe 10 minutes later. Anybody that wants to ride some or all of our Day 1 route should plan to meet up at the Mermaid statue near the Ferry Bldg.

PM me your contact info so I can text any last minute changes.

My bike for this ride
 

After some time in dry dock for mods, upgrades and a new coat of powder, the Zero Bike is ready for some more NorCal action.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0167c232f8.jpg

The B.A.B. from Waxwing Bags has it's own video on the interwebs. One of my biggest issues when touring is organization. This bag has 10 separate pockets, so everything has a place. The saddle bag carries all my extra clothing and has a couple of side pockets that typically hold spare tubes. It has a "longflap" extension in case there's some beer bottles or hoagies that need to be carried along.

Drivetrain and Gear Ratios?
 

Hey Mark, The bike looks great. What size chainrings and freewheel tooth spread are you going with on this bike? Thanks! AA

Andy emailed me saying he found the info on the link to my earlier post about modifying the Pro Tour.

Mssr. Singer emailed me pictures of his eponymously named bike.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3e206cd855.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ac60c03389.jpg

Note that you can take bikes up to street level by using two elevators. The platform elevator is near the west end (front of train). After you get off that elevator at mid-level, the elevator to street level is along the north wall. As I recall, you might need to stand your bike up on the back wheel in one of the elevators. Also note that you are now allowed to take bikes on the escalators, though I don't think there is one that goes from mid-level to street level.

I've carried a bike up the long flight of stairs, taken the elevators, and cheated with the escalators back when you weren't supposed to. It's a maze down there, thanks for the instructions. Can you send me a ridewithgps map of all that? Turn by turn directions are nice to have.

Today was travel day. Forecast tomorrow is for rain. Neal’s powers may not help, but the rest of the week is fine riding weather.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0b564dc9b.jpeg
Rest of the week is looking good
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e0d06b282.jpeg
Meal’s Black Mountain coming together
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0dfb727f6.jpeg
The Zero Bike being reassembled

Saw this sign tonight in the People’s Republic:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...15797d44b.jpeg

Our plan is to cover more distance than those stationary bike riders, but I appreciate the sentiment.

Be safe, guys. I plan to see you on the road Sunday somewhere around Fairfax.

Very stoked for yʻall.

Ride safe.