davids0507

Hey everyone

I'm thinking about biking to visit a friend in Modesto, from the Pleasanton BART station. Does anyone know a good way to get there? I prefer safe roads and simple directions, of course trying to minimize distance at the same time.

Getting across the hills, it looks like my options are Altamont Pass Rd, Patterson Pass Rd (which I've ridden and seems safe but hilly), and Tesla Rd/Corral Hollow Rd/Hwy J2. Google maps prefers Altamont Pass, but I've ridden Patterson Pass and it seems pretty safe to ride (and gorgeous!).

Google maps wants me to go up through Manteca, then parallel to Moffet Blvd / 99 down to Modesto. A shorter option is to go south through Tracy and eventually across Maze Blvd.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated. I'm thinking Patterson Pass to Maze Blvd looks simplest and safest. But I'm not sure how many of those one-lane roads in the middle of nowhere are decent for bikes -- Maze Blvd, for example, seems to have a decent shoulder.

Thanks!

davids0507

Oh, but I see that Altamont Pass Road is much flatter than Patterson Pass, is it decent to ride along?

davids0507

I also see there are strong eastward winds in the afternoons, are they weaker along a certain route (for the trip back the following afternoon)?

budmol3

Altamont is in the process of being repaved. If that's done by the time you ride it it should be really nice. The favorable winds make any of the 3 choices (Altamont, Patterson, Tesla/Corral Hollow) pretty nice. From Tracy you can take Linne to Kasson to 132. I've ridden Linne and Kasson; they are not bad. Don't know about the traffic on 132 into Modesto.

DCTILLER

what about mines to the junction and out del puerto canyon. that will drop you into patterson. seems more palletable to me.

mckenzie

google map it. i've done the ride a few times through dublin and it ultimately leads you to 132. the traffic on 132 depends on the time of day you're riding. it'll be busy during the rush hour times just be careful with drivers. oh and go early to get the tail wind.

Diegomayra

Its a little out of the way.

David, the winds will definitely give you some serious assistance. On my last ride from Livermore to Tracy via Altamont Pass/Greenville I was pushing 35-40mph, thanks to that lovely tailwind.

I recommend using River Rd. from Ripon,Ca to Modesto,Ca. The problem is finding a decent route from Tracy to Ripon, I recommend riding Altamont Pass to Grant Line to Kasson.
Use caution and claim your lane if you must. Mi. 18 to Mi. 28 is on country roads that will have fast moving vehicles.
Unfortunately the country roads West and Southwest of Modesto are heavily travelled.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/115334




I didn't use River Rd. on the route because it their is a pedestrian overpass bridge that I mapped out that leads into Salida. Keirnan Rd. runs into all the major North/South roads intersecting Modesto.

prathmann

+1 on the route suggested by Diegomayra taking Altamont Pass Rd. out of Livermore, Grantline through Tracy, and then getting on Kasson before taking a series of farm roads up to River Rd. and into Ripon. This is the route our club uses on the first day of our annual ride to Yosemite Park (we have an overnight stop in Oakdale).

Patterson Pass Rd. is a viable option to Altamont, but involves much more climbing (I think the summit is about 1500' vs. only 740' on Altamont). Tesla/Corral Hollow has just as much climbing as Patterson and also quite a bit of weekend traffic by the motorcycle and ATV enthusiasts headed for the ORV Park on the east side of the hill. Mines/Del Puerto is the option with the most climbing, going up to around 3000' with some intermediate summits.

davids0507

Thanks!

Going up and around to Manteca (on the side roads next to the highways) seems like it'll skip Kasson road, and might be easier for me to avoid getting lost on the random country roads afterwards, is that a viable option?

What times are best for avoiding the headwind on the way back (or am i screwed)? Middle of the day?

budmol3

There is a bike path that connects Tolen Rd to Manthey Rd. You can get there by going left on Berry off of Grantline which deadends at Canal Rd; turn left there and take the first right after crossing under the freeway. There is another section that turns off of Manthey just after the bridge which connects to Yosemite Ave; otherwise you can follow Manthey to Louise Ave.
It's almost always windy in the afternoon. Patterson Pass is probably the most sheltered from the wind (except at the top), but it is also a popular commute route so I avoid it before 9 am and after 2 PM

Diegomayra

Argh! Sorry about the spelling in my last post, I had just arrived after a long day-trip and fatigue was setting in.

-David I would stick to what is easiest for you to navigate. Why? While most major roadways south of Tracy that run East-West will eventually run into Modesto, or a crossroad to Modesto, you may find yourself on a rough patch of road with fast moving traffic(132).

The wind can be very sporadic on the Altamont. I have met it consistently between 9am-1pm. Can't say I've ever seen it go away, heh.

Randy!

My in-laws are in Manteca. I've ridden there a few times when my wife can meet me with fresh clothes. I've also done some long rides when I'm there for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

The critical things to know is: there are three ways to get across the river. One is Durham Ferry (which Deigomayra suggests and I concur). Maze works, but it's really busy with trucks. The last one is way north on Howard Road.

There was a fourth way, across the private ag land between Paradise Cut and I-205. There were paved roads that connected to the I-5 frontage (and Google still shows them). But during the housing boom, they dumped gravel all over the roads to keep trespassers out. I found that out the hard way. Riding two miles through small-to-medium aggregate on skinny road tires is not cool.

budmol3

There is a fourth way as I described in my previous post. Here's a link to a GPS track
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/8968080