Russell Chapman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi fellow Brinellers
Can anyone who lives in the Bay area help me?
I am working out my schedule for the Christmas holidays, and many of my
friends have recommended I rent a bicycle and ride over the Golden Gate
and around the bay in a big circle. This sounds great, but I differ from
them in 3 key areas:
- I am not as fit as they are - I have a significant fear of heights - I am travelling in January.
I don't know how wide the bikepath on the bridge is, or how cold the
Golden Gate gets in January, but I'd hate to get started and find myself
clinging to a pole somewhere in an attack of vertigo. Should I plan on a
nice drive instead?
A complete circumnavigation of the bay could be a five-day, 450-mile
excursion, especially if, like this guy, you start off way the hell up in
the woods above San Jose, a good 15-20 miles from the bay itself. Oh,
and take note of the dates of his trip: about a month short of exactly
three years before your planned visit.
http://www.grizzlypeakcyclists.org/trips/0112-barnett-randonnee.html AKA http://tinyurl.com/4czog
Here's less-daunting coverage of a 30-mile bike trip that includes a Golden Gate Bridge crossing:
http://www.greatoutdoors.com/published/cycle/pacific/ goldengatestiburonloop/
AKA: http://tinyurl.com/6qqlr
... which begins with some advice:
Even if you have done it hundreds of times, there is something
magic about bicycling across the Golden Gate Bridge. Everyone
should have the experience at least once. But keep your eyes on
the wide walkway while riding, because you'll encounter two major
obstacles: pedestrians and world-class wind.For you, I'd add a potential third obstacle: a breath-taking view of the bay some 75m (250ft) below.
This page is a virtual tour of a walk across the bridge, including several pictures that should give you a good idea of size and safety of the pedestrian walkway:
http://www.virtuar.com/ysf2/golden_gate_bridge.htm
Note that the walkway is nice and wide and the railing is high and strong, but you /can/ see through it (which could add significant pucker-factor if you have a fear of heights). Riding in the direction of the photos (from San Francisco towards Sausalito), you could ride on the left side of the walkway to stay away from that perhaps-too-exhilarating view of the bay but that would be *into* any South-bound pedestrian traffic, as this bridge happens to be located in the USA, where we ride and walk on the wrong side of the road.
Dave
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