Pescadero Rides?

[ace]

Hi All,

My company is having an off-site meeting on Thursday and Friday at a place called Costanoa, which is in Pescadero on Highway 1. Two of my coworkers and I are going to bring our bikes and use our free time to go for a ride. Any suggestions about where we should ride from there? I'm thinking something not longer than 30ish miles and not too hilly (because I still stink on the hills). We'll have cars to transport the bikes, but we only have 3 hours of free time during the day, so I don't want to use it up driving.

Surprisingly, even though I live in Oakland I don't think I've ever been to Pescadero, so I don't know whether it's hilly or what it's like. Any advice would be great.

This is the place: http://www.costanoa.com/site.php

Thanks a bunch,
Amy

[snapdragen]

Ace, I've been to Costanoa - there are tons of places to ride. Up and back to Half Moon Bay on highway 1 (you'll be right off the highway) would be a simple one. Do you have a Krebs map? That would show you all the rides in the area.

Here's a link to some routes in the area, starting at San Gregario. (North of Costanoa, I believe) You're pretty much in hill country, but there are probably lots of routes you could take to avoid too much pain.

http://bikemaster.home.att.net/routes/sgr_list.htm

[ace]

Thanks, Snap. Now if I can only convince to boys to stay off the hills.....my two coworkers who ride are a guy who rode 4 double centuries back to back last year, and a guy who seems to do triathalons every other weekend. But hey, I'll just do whatever they do at my own sluggish pace

[jobob]

Hi Ace, it's really nice over there.

Trouble, is, there are going to be hills no matter what, it's a fairly hilly part of the coast.

If you stay on Highway 1, the hills will be long and gradual. Highway 1 in that area is fairly wide & straight, the good news is cars can see you from a good distance, the bad news is you can see the hills coming up from a good distance. IIRC, the shoulders on that part of Highway 1 are OK too. Once you go inland the roads are more rollery and windey. There are also not that many cars.

This could be a fun ride, to downtown Pescadero and back:

Head north from Costanoa, turn right on Gazos Creek Road. I was on Gazos Creek Rd this past April and it was very woodsy and pretty. Then turn left on Cloverdale Road. Cloverdale road parallels Highway 1 but is a ways back so you don't see the highway. It's a bit roller-y with a couple of steep-ish climbs, but they are very short. At the end of Cloverdale Rd. turn left onto Pescadero Road. Very soon you'll be in Beautiful Downtown Pescadero. Total mileage from Costanoa is about 10 miles.

Turn right at Stage Road and you'll be on the main drag of town. Explore the little shops and get some eats.

If you would like some bread or pastries, Arcangeli's Grocery Store a block or so down Stage Road to your left has the most incredible baked goods - amazing artichoke bread and delectable crossaints, and other bits of heaven. They have picnic benches behind the store and there's a porta-potty nearby (since it's such a popular stopping place for cyclists, no doubt).

If you're looking for more of a sit-down meal or snack - maybe lunch -check out Duarte's Tavern which is at the very beginning of Stage Road. They make a wonderful artichoke soup and luscious PIES.

After you've had some food and maybe done a little exploring (Pescadero is pretty nifty, I think), turn right from Stage Rd back onto onto Pescadero Rd. heading towards the ocean.

Turn left onto Highway 1 southbound. With any luck you'll have a nice tailwind to push you home. You'll pass by the Pigeon Point Lighthouse; if you're up for a little more exploring turn right onto Pigeon Point Rd. to check it out. There are beautiful views from there.

Soon you'll be back at Costanoa. Total mileage is about 21 miles, with roughly 1000 ft of climbing total, a bulk of it on Cloverdale Road.

Here's a map I made on Bikely:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...a-to-Pescadero

Move your cursor to "Show" on the menu bar above the map, which will drop down the viewing options. Click on Elevation Profile. It looks worse than it is. Click on Cue Sheet for a turn-by-turn cuesheet, not that there are all that many turns.

Have fun ! - Jo.

[jobob]

Thanks, Snap. Now if I can only convince to boys to stay off the hills.....my two coworkers who ride are a guy who rode 4 double centuries back to back last year, and a guy who seems to do triathalons every other weekend. But hey, I'll just do whatever they do at my own sluggish pace

If your friends would like more of a challenge, they could go to Pescadero and have a snack with you, then they could turn left back onto Pescadero Road and head inland, while you head for the coast.

They could climb up Haskins Hill on Pescadero road and hang a left at the bottom, staying on Pescadero Rd. Then take a left onto Rt 84 (La Honda Rd) and head down into San Gregorio, pass the San Gregorio General Store (at the corner of Rt. 84 and Stage Rd) and continue on 84 to Hiway 1, then take a left onto Hiway 1 southbound back to Costanoa.

There are many other options for rides in that area, just ask.

[snapdragen]

I second the recommendation for Arcangeli's -- awesome sammiches!

[ace]

Thanks a million, Jobob. That sounds perfect for me. I'll let you know how it goes.