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04.8.10

Roll Call

Shake the winter rust and dust off the two-wheeler. It's time to visit any of these three college towns for a spring bike ride. Anyone can be a roads scholar!

bike uc davis arboretum

Bicycle Town USA

Nowhere in America is the bicycle more at home than the college town of Davis, just west of Sacramento. This pancake-flat academic hub is known for its smartly planned bike trails; and with spring's greening, now is a good time to explore on two wheels. Bring your bike or rent one downtown at Ken's Bike and Ski for $15. Arrive on a Saturday morning and make your first stop at the famous Davis Farmers Market in Central Park. (Located a few blocks from UC Davis campus, it was just named one of the nation's three favorite farmers markets by the America Farmland Trust.) Village Bakery has fantastic focaccia and baguettes, and Fat Face is popular for its hearty breakfast "sammich": fried eggs, braised greens, and goat cheese on ciabatta. Afterward, pedal to the Davis campus. Bike paths zigzag everywhere and weekends see less student traffic. The ride's highlight is a cruise through the UC Davis Arboretum—100 magnificent acres of serene open space, and home to 17 gardens dedicated to plants from across the world, including East Asia, Australia, and South America. Take a break on the grass near Lake Spafford and feed the ducks.

Ken's Bike and Ski, 650 G St., Davis; 530-758-3223. Open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Pick up a complimentary bicycle map of Davis. The Davis Farmers Market goes from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday year-round.

Activity
Bike, Relax
Region
Points Beyond
alpine inn portola valley

In the Loop

Whether you want a quick workout or a leisurely spin, The Loop in Palo Alto has you covered. This popular road bike route has several iterations; the one we recommend is relatively short, not too demanding, and suitable for novice or advanced riders. No road bike? Rent one at Bike Connection for $35 (a bit steep, but the wheels are yours for 24 hours). The 18-mile loop passes the Stanford campus, vaunted venture-capital companies on Sand Hill Road, and multimillion-dollar estates. The most-scenic stretches are west of I-280 in the less-trafficked towns of Woodside and Portola Valley. Those on a leisurely pace can make a pit stop at the historic Alpine Inn, two-thirds of the way through the ride; at more than 150 years old, this roadhouse beer garden is one of the Peninsula's longest running businesses. Finish with a mad dash or a slow ramble. Either way works to close the loop.

BONUS: Grab a post-ride brunch at Saint Michael's Alley just a few blocks from Bike Connection. Try the blue monkey pancakes (filled with blueberries and bananas).

The Bike Connection, 2011 El Camino Real (at Stanford Ave.), Palo Alto; 650-853-3000. Open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Road bikes can be rented for $35. Directions from the Bike Connection at Stanford Ave. and El Camino Real: Travel southwest on Stanford Ave for 1.4 miles. Turn right onto Junipero Serra and go 2 miles to the Alpine Rd./Santa Cruz Ave. intersection; turn right. Then turn left immediately onto Sand Hill Rd. Ride 3.7 miles west on Sand Hill Rd., passing I-280. Sand Hill Rd. becomes Portola Valley Rd. Continue south on Portola Valley Rd. for 3.3 miles. At Alpine Rd., turn left. Pass the Alpine Inn in 1 mile. Travel another 3.5 miles to Junipero Serra where you turn right and return the way you came. St. Michael's Alley serves brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its 806 Emerson St. location.

Activity
Bike
Region
Peninsula & South Bay
road bike bear creek road orinda

St. Mary's-Go-Round

For the road rider looking to get loopy with a few heart-pumping climbs, head for the hills; specifically, the East Bay burgs of Moraga, Orinda, and Lafayette. Take a 21-mile spin that starts in the college town of Moraga, home to Saint Mary's (and its March Madness Cinderella team). Start with smooth rolling for a few miles along Moraga Way, passing pleasant tree-lined streets. But get ready. After Orinda, the first of two solid climbs comes on strong: Bear Creek Road doesn't have much traffic, which is helpful when you're pumping up a 500-foot ascent. To the left, Briones Reservoir is a refreshing sight. Top out and descend to Happy Valley Road where you get to do it all over again. This seldom-used ribbon of road is a bucolic beauty. Giant trees arc overhead, providing ample shade for the climb. A short descent quickly brings you into Lafayette, where traffic picks back up. Turn onto Moraga Road for the final 4.5 miles, including one last—mercifully brief—climb.

Park at Moraga Commons Park (map). Ride south on Moraga Rd. for .3 mile. Make a right onto Moraga Way and go 4.6 miles into Orinda. Bear left to stay on the main road, which becomes Camino Pablo and passes under Hwy. 24. Go 2.2 miles, then turn right onto Bear Creek Rd. Ride 4.2 miles, then turn right onto Happy Valley Rd. Travel 4.1 miles into Lafayette. At the T-intersection with Mount Diablo Blvd. turn left and ride a few blocks to Moraga Rd. Turn right onto Moraga Rd. and go 4.4 miles to Moraga Commons Park.

Activity
Bike
Region
East Bay
Times Reader 2.0

The Time Is Right

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Times Reader 2.0 runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Check out the demo to learn more.

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