Category — Cycling

February can be beautiful month in Sonoma County.  The days are getting longer and the wild iris and daffodils are starting to bloom on the coast.  One of the best ways to enjoy these subtle and not so subtle changes is from a bicycle.  A couple of days ago I took a great bike ride along the coast and thought I would share it with you.  It’s not a hard route but it’s not something you should try without training first.  There are, however, ways to vary the route that will make it a very easy ride that almost anyone could enjoy.  And there are ways to tweak the route that will satisfy even the most hardcore cyclists.  The following link takes you to the intermediate route.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/30341

This route follows the river out to the coast and takes you down the coast to Bodega Bay.  There are sections of this route that have little if any shoulder (both hwy 116 & hwy 1).  While they lack a good shoulder, they do have pretty good visibility so it does help make it easier for traffic to pass you.  I prefer to do this route in the morning on weekdays.  In the morning you are less likely to encounter wind, and the traffic is lighter during the week.  This route also contains a short out-and-back along Bodega Bay.  This part of the route takes you out to Spud Point Crab Company to get some lunch. I’ve had  the clam chowder and the crab roll and I like them both.  The chowder is creamy and very peppery.  The crab roll is a very simple sandwich on a soft roll with a quarter pound of crab and a mild sauce that lets you taste the crab.  Now, that’s my kind of quarter pounder!

If you want a very easy place to ride at the coast I would recommend driving out to Bodega Bay and riding along the harbor.  This is a place that’s good for younger riders and novices.  The traffic is mellow and the shoulders are better than Hwy 1.  There are also a lot of places to park.  The following route starts near a spot that many use to park their trucks with horse trailer.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/30295

And if you don’t want to bring your bikes with you, you can rent them at the local bike shop.

There are several ways to make this ride more challenging.  The following route gives you a few more miles near Bodega Bay and a couple of more challenging climbs.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/30331

And if you are a real glutton for punishment and that route isn’t hard enough, shoot me an email to stay@creeksideinn.com and I would be happy to make some additions.

All these rides are self serve.  If you would rather ride with well stocked rest stops, route markings and SAG vehicle support, you should checkout The Wine Country Century (WCC).  Don’t let the century scare you; they do have a short option.  This is a very popular event and will sell out fast.

http://srcc.memberlodge.com/WCC

This is a great event!  If you would like to participate, we would like to help!

We are offering a 25% discount for our guests who participate.  The discount is for the weekend of May 1.

http://www.creeksideinn.com/reserve.html

Mention this post when you make your reservation

Sonoma County is a great place for cycling and there are many people who ride here year round.  You may not think of a Sonoma County cycling adventure in December but if you want to participate in one of the best cycling events in the county, you will need to act soon.  Last October Sonoma county had its first Gran Fondo and it was a great success. Levis Gran Fondo sold out rapidly last year and it is likely to do the same this year. Registration for the event is open now and will be very likely to fill up shortly.  To learn more about the event and register for it go to the Gran Fondo Website.

And if you do want to visit Sonoma County for a cycling adventure Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, our resident bike geek (Mark) would be happy to help you plan rides from Creekside Inn & Resort.

Want to book an accommodation at Creekside Inn?

Watch for information on Winter Wineland and great clam chowder coming soon.