MrCjolsen

These pictures only show one side of NorCal cycling. Here is the other. (where I went after a day of riding my cross bike around the fire roads on Angel Island.)

MrCjolsen

And even in the worst summer heat wave, afternoon temps might get well over 100F, but the mornings are still cool enough to get in a real nice ride before 10am. Very little humidity on those hot days.

In the winter the afternoons often top 60. I remember one year going for a ride on New Years Day in shorts.

Pamestique 

I've ridden in all those places. You don't see roadies too much in Yosemite for several reasons -
beautiful riding outside the park (you still have to pay to come in) and motorhomes... need I say more? Plus in the area is great mountain biking which is really taking over in CA.

Lots of riding all about San Francisco but in the City alittle more difficult due to traffic, street conditions, tourists, etc. No sense to ride in the city when you can ride out towards Salsaulito and Tiburon instead.

You see roadies everywhere but if you really want some great road riding, do Central Coast (Santa Barbara up to Santa Cruz). Cycling paradise. I'm doing the Cool Breeze Century end of this month (Ventura to Goleta and back) and it's my favorite. Some great clubs in the area - check out the rides offered by the San Luis Obispo Bike Club, Kern Wheelman, Fresno Bike Club, or Channel Island bike club.

Here in Southern California - you see big road clubs everywhere. Most of them drive me crazy since they don't tend to obey or follow any road rules.

Pamestique 

1000000000+

icyclist 

There is so much room in California that cyclists don't have to ride on top of each other.

As for Yosemite, at the least valley where the OP traveled, most sane cyclists don't like sharing the road with huge buses and giant RVs – on roads without shoulders – in summer heat that can reach well over 100 degrees.

Over the nine days I spent in Tuolumne Meadows a few weeks ago, in Yosemite's high country, there were cyclists (which included me). There aren't that many people willing to ride at close to 10,000 feet, though. Also, I'm guessing most active people who come to Yosemite, including cyclists, do so to hike into the backcountry.

Highway 1 north of San Francisco, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Petaluma: I've always seen plenty of cyclists.

MinnMan

I don't see any reason for your snark. I didn't generalize. I reported my observations and suggested that they may not be representative. I know damned well that it's cold here in winter and I'm not impressed that you still think school-yard taunts are fun.

John E

Lots of road bike action where I live -- Coast Highway 101 in northern San Diego County.

Mojo Slim

I ride in Marin County (SF Bay Area) occasionally. On the weekends, it is very crowded with roadies (and cars). Highway 1 to Stinson Beach is tough because there is no shoulder, but I have come down it because one can keep up with traffic. But there are lots of good places to ride on Mt. Tamalpais, Northern Marin. But I like being out in the country more.

PAlt

Thanks to all of you from the Golden State who responded! I would have loved to give some advanced notice and ride with any of you while out there, but committed to the family that I'd be "bike free" for the week. Considering I've ridden over 5K this year so far, I figured it wasn't worth pleading for a hall pass this vacation.
Now I have a reason to return for some of these great rides I saw, plus any others y'all collectively are willing to introduce me to. I have been approached about coming out next year to do the Death Ride, and am seriously considering it.
As to the Yosemite feedback about not becoming a hood ornament for a RV, yes, I figured that it's a risk there. We do manage to ride some pretty narrow shoulder less roads in the Carolina mountains and on the Blue Ridge Parkway, so I'm not unfamiliar with the challenges. That being said, the suggestions to come out and ride post Labor Day are good ones.
I envy the variety you all have available to you in California when it comes to riding, and it's probably only ahead of our own Carolina region for variety of weather, terrain, and beauty. Thanks for providing the insight.

BigBlueToe

I apologize if you took offense at my post. No snark was intended. (What is snark?) I used the word generalizations because people were making comments on riding practices and popularity in different locales, and it seems difficult to me to do so without making generalizations. I was amused and my post was intended to be very light, amused ribbing, not a snark. Furthermore, I wasn't commenting on any one posting by any one individual. However, I can see how I might have offended and I apologize. It wouldn't be the first time I've put my foot in my mouth.

The bit about the frozen pipes was supposed to be a good-natured poke at my southern California friends. I'm a native Washingtonian and I know all about frozen pipes. I've had the "pleasure" of laying in the dirt in my crawl space to re-wrap pipes during a cold snap. I've had pipes freeze and break in two different houses I was renting in college. I had a neighbor almost burn his house down by trying to thaw out a pipe with a propane torch. However, I've met people down here who have never heard of frozen pipes; who don't know why anyone would wrap insulation around a faucet. If my remark sounded like a schoolyard taunt, again, I apologize.

I guess I have to wait to post until I've had my second cup of coffee, or maybe lay off the coffee entirely. Maybe I should avoid trying to sound amused.

MinnMan

Fair enough. I probably took offense too easily.