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Suggestion for bike riding in Bay area

Old 06-19-22, 06:07 PM
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phtomita
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Suggestion for bike riding in Bay area

Hello. I'll be in San Francisco area and staying close to Balboa Park station.
One route I am thinking is going east to the Bay side, north and to Golden Gate Bridge. How would be riding north to 580 and crossing to Richmond - and would take BART back to Balboa
Other route I am thinking on is to adventure the Hwy 1 - is there any part that bikes are not allowed? Maybe BART To South San Fran, and Hwy 1 from the Sharp Park? Or not worth it? Probably won't go down to Sta Cruz area - too far.
Since I don't know the region, I prefer straight routes so I won't be stopping to check where I am going to...
If you have any great trail/route suggestion to explore, please let me know.
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Old 06-20-22, 08:28 AM
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My stomping grounds are a bit farther south, but I do know you can ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, and then there are some nice, if steep, roads in Marin. I think the western side of the City may be more hospitable to bikes than the eastern - Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, etc.
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Old 06-20-22, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by phtomita
Hello. I'll be in San Francisco area and staying close to Balboa Park station.
One route I am thinking is going east to the Bay side, north and to Golden Gate Bridge. How would be riding north to 580 and crossing to Richmond - and would take BART back to Balboa
Other route I am thinking on is to adventure the Hwy 1 - is there any part that bikes are not allowed? Maybe BART To South San Fran, and Hwy 1 from the Sharp Park? Or not worth it? Probably won't go down to Sta Cruz area - too far.
Since I don't know the region, I prefer straight routes so I won't be stopping to check where I am going to...
If you have any great trail/route suggestion to explore, please let me know.
you could go south - but honestly, there is quite a bit of less than spectacular riding before you get the really nice stuff down on the peninsula. unless you’re looking for 80+ mile rides it’s not worth it.

from where you’ll be, I’d strongly recommend going north, by way of great highway and then various routes through the presidio and across the bridge. the shortest loop from balboa park Bart is 35 miles. you could also just get on Bart, off at embarcadero, and take the flat route around the embarcadero, fisherman’s wharf, crissy field, and then up to the bridge.

once you’re across the bridge, there are lots of options, the short but absolutely epic loop of conzelman, field roads, and tunnel road, the relatively flat and slightly longer paradise loop, or up into the hills around Mt tam and Muir Woods for longer rides with 5,000+ climbing by the time you get home. a big loop around the bay is also fun with the Richmond bridge, various bike trails in the east bay, and Bart back.

what’s your desired total ride distance / climb? Happy to share some rwGPS routes.
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Old 06-20-22, 09:56 AM
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We do a ferry ride from Richmond to the ferry terminal in SF and back around. Check the times, but it's a lot nicer than BART. if you want to up your miles try the Tiburon/Paradise loop. Have fun.
https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/richmond-ferry-route
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Old 06-20-22, 11:36 AM
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Thank you for suggestions!
I am looking for something around 50 miles for the longer rides since don't want to be out too long and as for elevation 2 to 4k feet looks good.
Let me spend some time looking the suggested routes. Thanks much!
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Old 06-20-22, 11:51 AM
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1. Diablo - because it is Diablo.
2. You would probably enjoy the Hawk Hill route - especially if you want the iconic Bay Area photos.




Hawk Hill
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Old 06-20-22, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by mschwett
.... I’d strongly recommend going north, by way of great highway and ....
Is the trail there paved or packed gravel? Great Hwy looks very safe, but probably no view of ocean.
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Old 06-20-22, 05:19 PM
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Originally Posted by phtomita
Is the trail there paved or packed gravel? Great Hwy looks very safe, but probably no view of ocean.
great highway itself is just a road. because it has no real intersections for a couple miles, it’s a nice flat burst between here and there. it’s closed to vehicles from Friday at noon through Monday AM. one half of it has also been semi permanently closed to vehicles because it gets a lot of sand on it. it’s not scenic like highway one but you can see the ocean, and it’s a nice segment as part of a larger ride. northbound from there, you can either cut into golden gate park on roads closed to cars, and then north into the presidio through regular roads and bike lanes, or just keep going along the coast, past lands ends and eventually into the presidio. personally I do that southbound (I like the short descent) and do the park northbound.

here’s balboa to hawk hill, one way through the park, the other past lands end.





https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39901479

note that the route onto the bridge depends on the time and day. during commute hours and weekends, bikes use the west side, other times share the east side with pedestrians.

here’s a bigger ride, including a tough (for me) climb up to around 2k and some amazing scenery on ridgecrest.




https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39901548

there are lots of variations on these, particularly once you’re in marin. if you’re comfortable climbing with cars, a shorter but super scenic route goes up to ridgecrest, then down bo-fax to Stinson beach and then back on highway one. there will be quite a bit of traffic.

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Old 06-20-22, 05:50 PM
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… and here’s a SF loop which combines two climbs and some of the flats around the waterfront. can be done either clockwise or counterclockwise, personally I like clockwise but you get a longer uninterrupted stretch on the embarcadero counterclockwise.




the San Bruno mountain section is not all that exciting, just a gradual climb and a very fast descent. there aren’t too many super amazing ways to get east-west at the southern end of the city.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39901616
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Old 06-21-22, 12:25 AM
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Thank you mschwett - Hawk Hill and the loop are in my list.
I looked a pic on internet for the Richmond bridge and if possible will try around there too.
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Old 06-22-22, 09:23 AM
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paradise / hawk hill

https://www.strava.com/activities/7331268381

mt tam
https://www.strava.com/activities/6922847835
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Old 07-01-22, 12:29 AM
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The fog is pretty dense in the morning, so maybe will try to adventure to the Hawk Hill on Sunday.
I rode to Richmond Bart Station. San Jose Ave, Folsom St to the Bay, around to Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Corte Madeira, Richmond Bridge and station. Took BART back to Balboa Park. Another ride on around San Fran but lots of time checking where I was going .
I drove on the Pacific side at evening but was so windy.. I think will try to have a ride there early morning.
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Old 07-01-22, 09:06 AM
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Getting in to the "Mark Twain" weather, lol. Guess it will be sticking with us a bit. Enjoy your ride.
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Old 07-04-22, 08:50 PM
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Some pics from Balboa Park to Richmond Station

Rincon Park at end of Folsom St.


From Fort Mason


At Golden Gate Bridge


Crossing Golden Gate Bridge


Sausalito


Before crossing Richmond San Rafael Bridge


At Richmond Station


Going back home

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Old 07-04-22, 08:54 PM
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Ride to SFO airport and north to downtown

At Bayfront Park


Golden State Warriors arena


San Francisco Giants stadium
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Old 07-04-22, 08:58 PM
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Last day at Hawk Hill

From Bicentennial Campground area


From the view point
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Old 07-04-22, 09:36 PM
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nice! sorry the weather didn’t cooperate more, but looks like you hit a lot of good spots.
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Old 07-05-22, 11:12 AM
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Yeah, looks like you got the best of SF experience.
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Old 07-05-22, 04:36 PM
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Not too many days you get a windless ride over the San Rafael bridge. Guess you got the scenic ride to the Richmond BART.
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Old 07-06-22, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by curbtender
Not too many days you get a windless ride over the San Rafael bridge. Guess you got the scenic ride to the Richmond BART.
It was around 10 AM i crossed the bridge, some west wind coming but no gusts. It was foggy so the away view was not great, but got a great time in SF.
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Old 07-11-22, 11:07 PM
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If you are in Balboa Park, make sure you check out San Bruno mountain and Radio road. I live in Glen Park, dig through my feed and you will see a lot of the common routes in our hood.

https://ridewithgps.com/users/2407099
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