Posts

This weekend and next weekend ended up full of events but I’m itching for some more rides, so soon.

A departure from the usual Bay Area group rides post: I recently rented a bike near Locarno (Switzerland) and biked into Valle Maggia (Maggia Valley). It was a beautiful, gradually-uphill ride, with some riding on traffic-heavy streets, but mostly on bike paths or back roads. Then I headed up a side valley and hit an unexpected series of switchbacks (the tourist map just showed a straight line), bringing me up another 1000’ of elevation or so in a short distance (map). I almost turned back because I didn’t know how far up it would keep going, but I made it to the top of at least the first set of switchbacks, and an interesting small town (Linescio) of deserted-looking stone buildings. Some photos: ...

Photos from the east bay vineyard ride. The weather was pretty much perfect, and we saw jackrabbits, a wild turkey, other strange birds, and several groups of spandex-clad bicyclists. ...

Meet at 11AM at Dublin/Pleasanton BART (a ways out there: about a 50-minute BART ride from 16th & Mission, for example). Hitting up Ruby Hill Winery in Livermore first for a picnic (they sell bread and cheese) and tasting, about an 8 mile ride: http://www.rubyhillwinery.net/tastingroom.html Next stops TBD.

Four more photos from last weekend’s ride, courtesy DR (and I’m trying out the new Tumblr slideshow feature)

Two plans for upcoming rides (if there’s good weather). Both are of the somewhat leisurely exploration-with-stops, 15-20 mile type. Sunday 3/14: A detailed exploration of the Presidio by bike. Starting at the Ferry Building, biking along the water to say hello to the Golden Gate bridge, and then exploring a network of twisty roads, lookout points, old buildings, hills, and Yoda statues in the Presidio. Sunday 3/21 or 3/28: Wine tasting and picnic by bike in the Livermore area (continuing my “where can you bike to from a far-out BART station?” theme). Starting from Dublin/Pleasanton BART, about a 9-mile ride to where the vineyards start (see photo above), then hopping from vineyard to vineyard. Stopping at one of them for a picnic of bread, cheese, and cured meats. The exact route is TBD. Be aware that while the ride is fairly flat, part of it is on somewhat busy streets without bike lanes– traffic wasn’t bad when I explored part of this area on a weekday, but I don’t know if it will be less or more busy on weekends. ...

Flowers along McEwen Rd

On the ride

Four of us met up for this ride. 29.2 miles, 2:45 active riding time, about 4:30 total including a break for lunch and a beer in Port Costa, a stop to photograph miniature horses(!), and so on. Lots of scenic, rolling hills, and not much traffic. Approximate route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2924086 I’ll post a few photos shortly.

Just published today, how convenient: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/24/NSA51C37BO.DTL&type=printable