REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

where to ride in san francisco

652 Views 8 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Mighty Matt, Jan 9, 2010

tw3nty9er

Discussion Starter · Jan 8, 2010

I'll be out there in late March and would like to get a nice ride in. Some scenic, fast and flowy singletrack would be ideal. Where can I get this? I should mention that I won't have a car so it would be nice to be able to ride to the trail from wherever I end up renting a bike for the day, which brings up another point. Where can I rent a decent bike? I don't want to be too picky but a single speed 29er would be nice, of course. Can anybody point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance!

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bryan_d

· #2 · Jan 8, 2010

You might want to try hitting up the Trail Review tabs, or ask in the NorCal sub-forum.

I am willing to bet some peeps would drive you to better destinations as San Fran will more than likely not have what you are asking for.

Good luck,

Bryan d

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homegrown_xt

· #3 · Jan 8, 2010

tw3nty9er said:
I'll be out there in late March and would like to get a nice ride in. Some scenic, fast and flowy singletrack would be ideal. Where can I get this? I should mention that I won't have a car so it would be nice to be able to ride to the trail from wherever I end up renting a bike for the day, which brings up another point. Where can I rent a decent bike? I don't want to be too picky but a single speed 29er would be nice, of course. Can anybody point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance!

Lots of hills. You can hit up Golden Gate Park and ride the trail that goes to the GG Bridge or take a ferry to Angel Island and ride there. I think you can still ride out there. Haven't been to Angel Island in about 13 yrs, things might have changed.

Ken

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fat_weasel

· #4 · Jan 8, 2010

Go here to get an idea of where to ride. I'm less sure about rentals, but if you spend an afternoon calling around to bike shops, you might be able to score a demo.

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Shrederland

· #5 · Jan 8, 2010

pacifica, china camp, tamarancho, east bay hills

or ride across the GG bridge and into the main headlands toward muir beach. Not a lot of singletrack, road and fireroads mostly, but you'll get billion dolla views.

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Ryan G.

· #6 · Jan 8, 2010 (Edited)

A tall order to meet all your specifications but there are some options.

Best option without a car or someone hooking you up with a carpool is Waterdog Park for fast, flowy singletrack.

Take the Caltrain down to Belmont. Rent a bike from Passion Trail bikes and ride Waterdog. Park is a short ride from the shop and the owners and the LBS are the best in the Bay Area. We usually ride Waterdog after work or when convenient.

www.passiontrailbikes.com

If you need to ride in San Francisco there is a small network of trails on Mt. Sutro maintained and built by bikers.

http://www.peasepress.com/sutromap.pdf

Live close by so usually loop it in with some trails in GG Park, which are not mapped since they dart every which way.

But if you are visiting without a car, and cannot line up a carpool or get somewhere via transportation, than a ride across the GG Bridge through The City and into the Headlands is always worthwhile. Next to no singletrack without poaching but most people in the Headlands do not care. And the views are incredible and it gives you a good touristy feel without all the people.

www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/map-mahe-web.pdf

If you can get to a place to ride aim for Skeggs or Santa Cruz.

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mlloyd007

· #7 · Jan 9, 2010

No real riding in San Francisco proper. Golden Gate Park is flat and crowded. You need to get over to Marin, the birthplace of mountain biking and ride Mt. Tam. Mill Valley is closest to the city and you can access Mt. Tam from there starting on Old Railroad Grade. Or go to San Anselmo and rent from Caesar's Cycles and access Mt. Tam from Eldridge Grade. 2,000' climb to the top and lots of ways up and down. Minimal legal singletrack however; mostly fire roads, but spectacular views.

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CycleAddict

· #8 · Jan 9, 2010

Head up to Marin and try to rent a bike from a shop in Fairfax or San Anselmo. I don't know specific shops that rent but make some calls and I'm sure a few of them do. I'd ride Tamrancho or China Camp which are both close by. Mt. Tam has spectacular views but isn't the most MTB friendly from what I know. I rode the fireroads there a long time ago and the views are incredible, but the trails weren't.

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Mighty Matt

· #9 · Jan 9, 2010

do a city ride. but watch out for the bongoloids in golden gate park. try a night ride down market street and bunny hop the homeless. check out the babes on the water front, and eat at the outdoor diner by the warships on fisherman warf. thats what i did when i lived there. or you could just go ride the headlands across the bridge. china camp would be a good option too.

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