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11.6.08

Lets Ride!

In the fall, the world looks better from the seat of a bike. The air is crisp, the landscape is full of color, and it feels good to work up a little sweat. Whether you're a road rider, mountain biker, or casual cruiser, here are three places for a fulsome fall spin.  

Bike Joaquin Miller Park

Miller Time

It's little wonder that non-profits like BTCEB (Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay) work hard to keep mountain biking legal at Joaquin Miller Park—the terrain is awesome! Just 11 miles from downtown Oakland, Joaquin Miller is ultra-compact, but the vast network of trails and towering coastal redwoods, fern canyons, and trickling creeks make it feel like a forest plucked from a Harry Potter film. These trails are perfect for biking: Patches of ground are covered in brown pine needles or leaves, and much of the way is good hard dirt; even after a hard rain, many of the dirt trails remain just right, with little dust and lots of grip. For a beginner-friendly option, head out on the Sequoia Bayview Trail; this wide 1.5 mile trail (one-way) gently traverses the upper section of the park's canyon. Hungry for more? Descend via the Sunset Trail (most riders will need to walk a short steep section) to the lower part of the canyon. Here, options abound. Consider the rolling singletrack of Palos Colorados paralleling Palo Seco Creek: Recent rain has made this trail silky smooth. Whatever you choose in this urban playground, you can't get lost—and you can't go wrong!

To reach Joaquin Miller Park: From Hwy 13 in Berkeley, exit Joaquin Miller-Lincoln Ave. Head east on Joaquin Miller Rd. Follow this past one entrance to the park and make a left onto Skyline Blvd. Go .3 mile up Skyline and park near the "Equestrian Crossing" sign; look for the Sequoia Bayview Trail. Print out a map before you go.

Activity
Bike
Region
East Bay
Bike Highway 1 and Pescadero

Coastal Roll

OK, road riders—looking for a loop ride with sweeping ocean views, quiet country roads, not many hills, and a coffee stop along the way? Take a 30-mile spin, starting from San Gregorio near Half Moon Bay. The first 13 miles roll easily south along Highway 1 and the San Mateo coast, passing beach after beautiful beach, as well as picturesque Pigeon Point Lighthouse. (We recommend starting early in the day to beat traffic.) If you can take your eyes off the road, you might glimpse migrating gray whales heading for Mexico. When you reach Gazos Creek Road, take a left turn onto the yin to Highway 1's yang. This little-used ribbon of road passes old farms and a pumpkin patch, eventually rolling into the stoplight-free village of Pescadero. This last stretch of the loop on Stage Road has a few huff-and-puff climbs, but nothing that's a serious thigh-burner. Easygoing road riders who like a little challenge: This loop's for you.

TIP: In Pescadero, pull off for a coffee boost and snack at the Pescadero Country Store (251 Stage Rd.; open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Enjoy a break on the sprawling lawn before you saddle up to complete the ride.

Park at the corner of Hwy. 1 and Hwy. 84, about 10 miles south of Half Moon Bay. Ride about 13 miles south on Hwy. 1. Turn left onto Gazos Creek Rd. Go 2 miles and then make a left onto Cloverdale Rd. Follow this about 5.5 miles—going past the Butano State Park entrance. Make a left onto Pescadero Rd.—which takes you into Pescadero—and go .5 mile. In town, go right on Stage Rd. Follow this 7 miles to Hwy 84 (La Honda Rd.); go left and take this less than a mile to your car. Here's a map of the area.

Activity
Bike
Region
Peninsula & South Bay
Bike the West County Trail Sonoma

Country Cruise

For an easy ride that feels more like a country stroll (especially after a late-morning kickoff), try the mostly car-free West County Trail in Sonoma County. This wide paved trail connects Sebastopol to Forestville along an old railway; it's 6 miles (one-way) of sweet country cruising through golden hills and rich ruby vineyards. The ride's flat, and the trail's currently festooned in red, rust, and mocha-colored leaves. Go in the next few weeks and the black oaks will be flexing their beauty, too. For a tasty lunch break, stop in Graton at the Willow Wood Market and Cafe, which serves up delicious treats—from fresh-baked banana bread to juicy chicken sandwiches, and amazing orange cream sodas to wash it all down. Afterward, continue rolling on the path past manicured vineyards and red barns before spilling into tiny Forestville, home to a couple of coffee shops and a Mexican takeout place. Head back the way you came, soaking in the late-afternoon light as it casts extra-golden tints on the trees and picket fences. This ride is easy on the thighs and the eyes.

TIP: No bike? No worries. Rent one from Sebastopol's new and friendly shop, West County Revolution, right at the start of the West County Trail. They also have a complimentary color map of the trail and allow you to park in their lot. Sweet wheels.

Park at the West County Revolution bike shop in Sebastopol (6731 Sebastopol Ave., 707-829-2192) and pick up a map (or print one here). Follow Morris St., which leads away from the shop. Just past Laguna Park, look for the unsigned entrance to the trail on the right, at the corner of Eddie Ln. and Johnson St. Follow it behind the high school. It drops you off onto N. Main; go left for a couple hundred feet. Look for the trail on the right, at the corner of N. Main and Analy Ave. From here, the trail is marked until its end in Forestville. Keep an eye peeled for the trail as you travel the Occidental Rd. section. It comes up on the right, 1 mile from Hwy. 116.

Activity
Bike
Region
North Bay

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