Visitor1

Hi

I'm on a trip to San Francisco on the 17th and I'm looking for a ride of around 40 to 50miles. I'm not a fast rider, don't mind a climb or two. What route could you recommend?

Also, where's the best place to rent a road bike?

Thanks

TJ

2cam16

Welcome to the forums!
I'd think you'll have to be more specific on where in the Bay Area you'd want to ride. Are you going to be in downtown SF? Will you have a car or just riding? So many options here in the Bay and I'm sure the experts will recommend the routes.
Enjoy your visit!

fietsbob

You may not find a fancy rental bike, bring yours.
[ I moved, away, in 1990... already got price increased to unaffordable, as a Single , back then. ]

I used to live in the North Bay, (Napa) a nice loop, Ferry to Vallejo, from Fisherman's Wharf,

Ride west from there, across the northern bay side, you will then find the bike routes along 101, to go south to the Golden Gate Bridge, which you can ride across, then into the Presidio, to complete the loop..




...

simplybao

I was just there last week. I rode 30 miles and rented a nice bike to ride. My ride was fairly easy but I wasn't looking for anything hardcore.

We rented bikes from a place called Blazing Saddles in Fisherman's wharf. They have everything from the cheapo bikes to nice "high end" bikes. We rented a carbon Specialized Rubaix with an Ultegra group set. AT $68 a day, it's not cheap. They have more expensive bikes as well. They will fit SPD or Look pedals if you want or flat pedals. I went with flats because I didn't bring my shoes.

First thing when you walk in, you'll be like, WTF. It's not the highest end looking place as they rent to the masses. There are multiple locations for Blazing Saddles so if you call them, ask them for the location with the high end bikes. They keep most sizes in stock. I ride a 52 and my partner rides a 56 so this were available.

We rode from the Wharf down the Embarcadero towards the old Candlestick. Easy flat ride and we just stuck to the streets by the water. We got to Candlestick, rode back the way we came then rode along the water, over the Golden Gate Bridge.

You can go further, you can go over to Sausalito or even do some climbing up the roads to Muir Woods. There is a "bike trail" along the water which is a mix of MUP or you can ride next to it on the road. In fact, there are signs that tell you to ride the road if you're faster.

So, that was my ride last week. It was an easy ride but then again, my partner and I tend to be easy going riders. We are getting to ride a charity event at the end of the month and are going to do a metric century so we just wanted to keep pedaling.

Good luck!

rgconner

Riding/walking over the Golden Gate Bridge is NOT TO BE MISSED!

hueyhoolihan

although riding over the GG bridge can be disapointing cycling experience, what with the combination of traffic noise, masses of pedestrians, other cyclists and foul weather, i suppose you could end up kicking yourself afterwards if you hadn't.

the nice part is you can then ride through Sausalito and do a loop around the Tiberon peninsula.

ooga-booga

a good place to start...

https://www.strava.com/local/us/sf-north-bay/cycling/routes

or this...

https://www.strava.com/local/us/san-francisco/cycling/routes

Visitor1

Thanks guys, are there any group rides on the morning of the 17th?

spinnaker

There is no "riding" over the Golden Gate. It is more of a walk with your bike, unless you want to go very early in the morning but then you have to deal with the fog.

spinnaker

A shame you don't have more time. I would suggest a ride down to Monterra and stay over night at the hostel. Just beautiful.



Golden Gate Park is pretty nice. And then you would be right near Arguello Market. It is almost worth flying out to San Francisco just to get one of their turkey sandwiches. They have a sign out front (or at least had). Best Turkey Sandwiches in the World. They aren't boasting.


https://www.bing.com/maps?&ty=18&q=A...58199&v=2&sV=1


The hostel at Ft. Mason is very good. I will bet they have bike rentals or at least tell you where you can rent one nearby.

https://www.hiusa.org/hostels/califo...shermans-wharf

Garfield Cat

If you are from California and are driving to S.F., then take your own bike. The Golden Gate Bridge is crazy over the weekend with lots of pedestrians and out-of-town visitors. Not a good ride.

Across the Bridge is Marin County and that's the place for a quieter ride. Sausalito is the town after the Golden Gate Bridge. Nice place and has its own high end bike shop.

There are places to stay in Mill Valley Marin County. That would be a nice ride from Mill Valley towards Sausalito to the GG Bridge to Fishermans Wharf.

I saw lots of riders during the work week commuting from Marin to S.F.