DropBarFan

Drove thru LA & up coast highway a bit a long time ago. Drivers were 2X better than DC, saw some roadies on the PCH but was a bit surprised with fast traffic & narrow shoulder. Scenery makes it worthwhile for bike tourists I guess.

spinnaker

There are lots of options. Here is one.

https://www.amazon.com/Mirrycle-MTB-...TWKF046YH7Q9N7

This company makes a nice mirror.

Cyclist0108

One more thing you might like is the Garmin bike radar. Some may scoff or sneer, but it works really well. I pair it with a minimal unit (Garmin Edge 25) and it gives a little beep as a heads-up when it detects a car. It helps lessen the surprise element, which decreases my anxiety and makes the ride more enjoyable.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/518151

fietsbob

Just have to choose which part of the handgrip space you want to lose to put a mirror mount on the trekking bars.

DropBarFan

Garmin radar is interesting gizmo. My EVT SafeZone helmet mirror gives easy view of overtaking traffic but there's always times one assumes it's not necessary to check & that's when a car comes along. Plus, cars are quieter these days.

stevepusser

If you live in the LA area, there are beach campgrounds to the north and south with inexpensive hiker-biker sites that are good for overnighters, and you can add Amtrak or commuter rail to your trips to really open up the possibilities. Inland, I know of a relatively easy trip to the Lake Perris H&B--past that is Silverwood Lake SRA H&B, but that's at over 3000 ft with narrow, steep, winding roads in some sections leading to it. For me, it was worth it to get away from the crazy hubbub of summer beach campsgrounds in SoCal, though--for me, that gets really old, really quick. The couple of state camprounds in Malibu aren't that bad, as they are in canyons a little ways inland.

AdvXtrm

Thanks!

CraigMBA

So, I did a search, and rather than start a new thread, I'm bumping this old one.

I'm going to take the train north to....somewhere. Most likely oakland.

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/p...W31-100818.pdf

The 764/14 train dumps me at Jack London Square at 9:30 pm. Any suggestions how I get across the bay, or what to do till it get light?

I don't want to ride in the dark any more than I absolutely have to.

Tourist in MSN

In 2014 I took a Amtrak shuttle bus from Fishermans Wharf to Emeryville (spell?) Amtrak station. Check and see if the bus still exists, sounds like you want to go the reverse direction. We put the bus and train on the same Amtrak ticket.

Photo is our bikes on the front of the shuttle bus as the bus goes over the bay bridge. A regular commuter was miffed that we took up the bike rack with our bikes, he had to put his bike below in the luggage bay.

We stayed at the Fishermans Wharf hostel, they fill up so if you go there you should make a reservation.

indyfabz

Wonder whatever happened with the OP.

Tourist in MSN

I do not know, but someone asked a question last night about midnight, so I told him what I did.

axolotl

You can take your bike on BART to cross (under) the bay. But given Amtrak's frequent delays and your desire to avoid riding in the dark, it's probably prudent to plan on staying in the East Bay that night.

fietsbob

When I was Taking Amtrak Coast Starlight between Emeryville and Eugene
they left the Emeryville station about 17:00,
and got to Eugene about 16:00 the next day..

CraigMBA

I think I misspoke, I'm not opposed to riding in the dark, but I don't want to miss the views going into Half Moon Bay because it's dark. I'd ride through SF in the dark without objection.

HobbesOnTour

From my recollection, the OP, was very nervous having had a serious collision while on his bike.
This tour their way back to touring after that accident.

Unfortunately, his nervousness wasn't appreciated and when he started discussing an interest in (another) new touring bike there was a degree of frustration expressed that he wouldn't just go and do it. So he left.

Not the forum's finest hour.

Cyclist0108

forget it

skidder

Isn't there a train that arrives earlier in Oakland? Amtrak is notorious for being late. The time I took the Coast Starlight up to the SFO area it was scheduled to get into north Oakland station at 8PM, actually got there about 9:15PM. And make sure you get off at the north Oakland station in the (relatively) safer part of town; the south Oakland station drops you into hard-core 'gangland' down near the arena and colosium.
The option I used: You can go straight up the street about two miles max to the business area and there's a Marriot Courtyard hotel you can stay the night. There's a more expensive Hilton across the street if that's your thing. Check google maps for the hotel's exact location and a hotel booking site for costs - room rates varied quite a bit when I did it and I adjusted my schedule for it. In the morning you can go back to the Amtrak station and follow the signs to the ferry terminal; that'll take you over to SFO. It was about $5 and bicycles were free. I took one over to the Embarcadero ferry terminal landing, tried riding up Lombard in low gear (forget it, too steep!), rode to and over the Golden Gate Bridge (always wanted to ride across it!), then down the coast.

Cyclist0108

It isn't the best place to be riding around after dark. Or even during lighter hours.

skidder

True, but the north end of Oakland (near Berkeley) is/was far better than the south end of town (relative comparison). I don't remember there being a lot of people on the streets except as I got closer to the hotel (and the business district where its located). And having the ferry terminal nearby the next morning was a huge plus for me. Overall it worked for me YMMV.

FWIW: The Marriot Courtyard or other hotels in that area may now have a shuttle bus service from the Amtrak station; they didn't when I was there in 2012.

Cyclist0108

Yeah, Baja Berkeley is totally safe.