I have done this many times. You can start in the City after getting across the Bay, then go through fairfax to nicasio, then go to Petaluma, then takes Old Redwood Hwy (parallel to 101) all the way to santa rosa. You can also stay west of petaluma in the back roads through sebastopal then take the west sonoma trail into santa rosa (contact me offlist for the exact route).
you can also take golden gate transit at El Cerrito Del Norte BART to San Rafael then wind through Marin. I am actually probably starting my journey in Berkeley this saturday to ride to Ukiah (another 60 miles north of Santa Rosa). Franklyn On Aug 5, 4:31 pm, reynoldslugs <[email protected]> wrote: > Living in Sonoma County and concerned with the safety of all Rivendell > and other riders, I resepctfully suggest that you stay away from > Vallejo and Highway 29. Make your way via ferry to SF or MArin County/ > Sausalito - then find the back roads up to Petaluma and Santa Rosa. I > haven't done the ride for several years, but you can ramble around and > up to the top of Mt Tam. Be safe. > > On Aug 5, 11:56 am, "Andy.M" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > I was just up in the that area... so to give you a heads up there is > > road work going on on the 121 between Napa and Sonoma NO SHOULDER so > > if you go that way be careful! The Oakville Grade Rd/Trinity Rd is > > gorgeous, but you'll need to bring your hill climbing shoes ;) > > -Andy > > > On Aug 5, 11:30 am, ian connelly <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > (caveat: i haven't done this ride exactly, but have ridden from north > > > of santa rosa through napa to vallejo, and have done a lot of riding > > > in marin. i would also be eager to hear input from santa rosa/sonoma > > > locals!) > > > > i'd suggest you take the ferry (either to larkspur or vallejo) to get > > > started. only problem is that to take the ferry to either of those > > > spots you can't go from oakland, but must start in SF. since you seem > > > willing to BART you could always start by doing that. you can also > > > take the ferry from jack london to the ferry building and sf and > > > transfer (checkhttp://www.eastbayferry.com/forschedulesetc). > > > > from vallejo...well, you'd have to ride along hwy 29 to get to napa, > > > and it's not very pleasant. wide shoulder but trafficky. (the bay > > > trail is not yet finished between napa and vallejo, though they are > > > making progress). once in napa, the easiest route would probably be > > > via the silverado trail, then cut over to the west at st helena and go > > > into santa rosa via spring mountain/st helena/calistoga. steep, > > > narrow. > > > you could also devise a route that got you to hwy 12 without having to > > > go on the busiest roads, but you'd likely have to do a stint along 12 > > > or 121 at some point, and on the weekends these roads are congested > > > with drivers and would not be fun. also, since many tourists are in > > > the area to drink wine, i would try to avoid riding them after noon if > > > you must ride them at all. > > > > via marin - little more wander-y, but you could take the ferry to > > > larkspur, head west along sir francis drake past fairfax, turn towards > > > to nicasio valley road (just past san geronimo), then turn right on > > > petaluma-point reyes road...then, when you get to petaluma, head north > > > via either stony point (west of 101) or redwood/petaluma hill road > > > (east of 101). these are probably the most direct if semi-trafficky > > > options, so ymmv depending. > > > > (after i wrote this i checked google maps' bike option - google > > > suggests the petaluma hill route - 65 miles, 6.5 hours. napa route > > > adds 20 miles. good luck!) > > > > ian > > > > On Aug 3, 11:14 am, CR Masterson <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > I'm happy to BART across the bay, head up through Marin. Or any other > > > > way you have fallen in love with. It would be nice avoid huge trucks, > > > > mondo hills and traveling way out of the way as much as possible. > > > > Thanks.- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
