Rode Alpine Dam again today on the new bike, leaving the house at 6:40AM (ouch…). Here’s a quick overview image of the route (you can also check out the GPS track I recorded, though it’s approximate). The ride was about 70 miles and 4500’ elevation gain, and I wrapped it up with a visit to La Taqueria (3 tacos con aguacate) and Humphry Slocombe (peanut butter curry ice cream).
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After a few weekends out of town, I’m back to biking. This Sunday: the China Camp State Park loop in Marin (the road-bikeable route, not the many mountain bike routes). A little under 50 miles round trip from the Presidio Sports Basement. Details TBD (I have some maps to dig up– I’ve never done this route), but here are a few bikely maps for a high-level overview: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Sports-Basement-to-China-Camp http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/China-Camp-Loop http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/China-Camp-loop47402 http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Sausalito-China-Camp-Loop http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/China-Camp-Loop62624 http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/China-Camp-Loop30911 Optional extended 61-mile version including Paradise Loop: ...
The Alpine Dam Loop last weekend is my favorite ride in California to date– I highly recommend it. It was scenic enough to make me swear out loud in amazement on several occasions (a crystal clear day with views of SF and the Farallones didn’t hurt). It was also a moderately challenging 65 miles door to door, with a fair amount of climbing (about 4500’ ascent total) and fast twisty downhills. Here’s a route map based on CC’s GPS track. ...
Some blurry cell phone photos from the excellent Alpine Dam ride. More here from JG: http://mediaingredient.com/?attachment_id=481 . We spent all day riding, about 65 miles and 4500’ of elevation gain total, beautiful views, and a break for food and beer at Iron Springs Brewpub in Fairfax.
The loop is 31 miles, and the total ride starting and ending at the SF Ferry Building is about 60 miles. Approximate route (I’ve since been told that one of the roads Google shows is not actually passable). Beyond just the length, I hear it’s moderately challenging – I may have no idea what I’m in for. Of all things, a Yelp review about it. Some people like to start early, some like to start late, so to compromise: meet at 10AM at the Ferry Building (or get there at 9:30 to eat some pastries / chilaquiles / etc at the farmers market with me). ...
Here’s an approximate google map of the past weekend’s Paradise Loop ride. The details of crossing the 101 after leaving Tiburon aren’t quite right– we biked down a feeder road and then over a pedestrian/bike highway overpass that’s not on the map, to avoid Tiburon Blvd. My bike computer says it was 54 miles of riding, and it was quite a day– about a dozen of us did the full ride and kept a decent pace, and there was live music, food, drink, and shopping afterwards at Sports Basement.
On Paradise Drive (from my phone, while riding– some day I’m going to drop it).
Just published today, how convenient: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/24/NSA51C37BO.DTL&type=printable
Here’s an approximate map of yesterday’s ride (including my route back), suggesting the total ride was probably 25-30 miles depending where you started and ended. I think we left the Ferry Building at 11 and got back to SF around 4, with lunch and some walking around in Sausalito in the middle. That was fun! Maybe next time we can plan out a post-ride place to grab some foor/beer ahead of time.