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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    The quiet side of CT
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    164

    Visiting San Francisco - Bike Rentals?

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    I searched and couldn't find anything.... so....

    DH and I are planning on being in the Bay area first week of August (probably staying in Berkeley for part of the week at least). We lived out that way for several years, so am familiar generally with the area, enough to get around.

    Any suggestions for road bike rentals either in the city or east bay? (and perhaps good route(s) for a visitor?)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
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    Mrs. KnottedYet
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    9,152

    Thumbs up Start here

    Fancy Schmancy Custom Road bike ~ Mondonico Futura Legero
    Found on side of the road bike ~ Motobecane Mixte
    Gravel bike ~ Salsa Vaya
    Favorite bike ~ Soma Buena Vista mixte
    Folder ~ Brompton
    N+1 ~ My seat on the Rover recumbent tandem
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    The quiet side of CT
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    164
    Thanks!!!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    3,932
    It's actually hard to avoid the "Blazing Saddles" bikes in San Francisco. (That's one of the rental company. Can't remember the other one.) Of course we're talking comfort bikes here, and hundreds of tourists following the same route. Still, a lot of fun. Sort of like going up the Eiffel Tower when visiting Paris for the first time.

    I took my husband (who's usually riding a lightweight racing bike) on what he thought was one of the best rides of his life I think. We had a blast hitting the really big hills with those 35-pound bikes!!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Santa Cruz mountains
    Posts
    217
    Quote Originally Posted by berkeley View Post
    Any suggestions for road bike rentals either in the city or east bay? (and perhaps good route(s) for a visitor?)
    Are you looking for routes around Berkeley, elsewhere? How long, how much climbing?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    The quiet side of CT
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    164
    Quote Originally Posted by msincredible View Post
    Are you looking for routes around Berkeley, elsewhere? How long, how much climbing?
    Hmm, anywhere at this point!

    We have decent hill climbing around here, averaging like 70-80ft/mi, so I think we can handle something similar. I'm not about to climb Marin Ave or anything tho. We usually go out for 30-50 miles, depending.

    I was actually just looking at bike rentals in Napa/Sonoma also. I think we're going to do half the week in the city and Berkeley, and the other half in wine country. I was hoping for some cue sheets, because I'm notorious for getting lost!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Limbo
    Posts
    8,769
    I was going to direct you here but I guess that's not really what you're looking for.
    2008 Trek FX 7.2/Terry Cite X
    2009 Jamis Aurora/Brooks B-68
    2010 Trek FX 7.6 WSD/stock bontrager

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Benicia, CA
    Posts
    1,320
    For Napa rides contact the Eagles bike club out of Napa. For Sonoma contact the Santa Rosa bike club.

    You can also ask Maillotpois (check the Death Ride thread). She also knows great rides in the Sonoma Marin County area.

    We mostly ride Solano County and Contra Costa County roads.

    You shouldn't have any problem finding places to ride around here. Getting out of Berkely might require some hill climbing, but it is doable.

    Let us know when you'll be here for sure and maybe we can arrange a TE ride just for you!
    Nancy

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Santa Cruz mountains
    Posts
    217
    Don't forget you can take BART out of Berkeley if you want to explore other regions. There are limitations on bicycles on BART in San Francisco during commute hours on weekdays, but otherwise there should be no issues.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Mrs. KnottedYet
    Posts
    9,152
    Quote Originally Posted by msincredible View Post
    Don't forget you can take BART out of Berkeley if you want to explore other regions. There are limitations on bicycles on BART in San Francisco during commute hours on weekdays, but otherwise there should be no issues.
    BART will get you to plenty of places. Just don't:
    take your bike on the first car of any train.
    primary direction on the SF lines (to SF in the morning, from in the evening)
    don't take your bike on the escalator, use elevator or stairs

    http://bicycling.511.org
    Fancy Schmancy Custom Road bike ~ Mondonico Futura Legero
    Found on side of the road bike ~ Motobecane Mixte
    Gravel bike ~ Salsa Vaya
    Favorite bike ~ Soma Buena Vista mixte
    Folder ~ Brompton
    N+1 ~ My seat on the Rover recumbent tandem
    https://www.instagram.com/pugsley_adventuredog/

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Benicia, CA
    Posts
    1,320
    I wouldn't recommend riding in SF-been there, done that. Plenty of great rides if you want to take BART, just don't do SF.

    We can arrange a ride up Mt Diablo if you are so inclined (no pun intended). That's a BART ride to Pleasant Hill.

    If you go south of Berkeley on BART, JoBob can direct you to great riding spots. Heck, she might even be able to be a personal escort!
    Nancy

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Marin County CA
    Posts
    5,936
    Quote Originally Posted by Bike Goddess View Post
    If you go south of Berkeley on BART, JoBob can direct you to great riding spots. Heck, she might even be able to be a personal escort!
    On her stationary trainer?
    Sarah

    When it's easy, ride hard; when it's hard, ride easy.


    2011 Volagi Liscio
    2010 Pegoretti Love #3 "Manovelo"
    2011 Mercian Vincitore Special
    2003 Eddy Merckx Team SC - stolen
    2001 Colnago Ovalmaster Stars and Stripes

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Folsom CA
    Posts
    5,667
    heh heh - I could give you a great tour of my living room

    2009 Lynskey R230 Houseblend - Brooks Team Pro
    2007 Rivendell Bleriot - Rivet Pearl

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Trondheim, Norway
    Posts
    1,469
    In Sonoma the Sonoma Cyclery shop out on Broadway, across from the high school, has a fleet of rental bikes. If you like hills, the locals ride Lovell Valley Road past the Sebastiani Winery, up into the hills and loop around over the Napa County border and back. The road is discontiguous here and there (at ... I think East 7th) where you need to jag left a bit then right on Castle Road for a couple of yards, but just keep going as straight as possible and suddenly the signs read Lovell Valley Road again. Straight until it T's, that is. At that point, turn left, then follow it in a right turn up the hill. It was very pretty up there last Spring when the wildflowers were blooming.

    There's also a place somewhere closer to the Plaza that rents out segueways.
    Half-marathon over. Sabbatical year over. It's back to "sacking shirt and oat cakes" as they say here.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    The quiet side of CT
    Posts
    164
    Quote Originally Posted by Trek420 View Post
    BART will get you to plenty of places. Just don't:
    take your bike on the first car of any train.
    primary direction on the SF lines (to SF in the morning, from in the evening)
    don't take your bike on the escalator, use elevator or stairs

    http://bicycling.511.org
    I actually used to bike commute in Berkeley, so I kinda knew most of this (somehwere in my brain I'm sure it's there....)

    OK, sure, I'm all for living rooms and stationary trainers. LOL

    The more I think about it, the more I think we'll do the biking for the part of the trip we're not in SF - so I'll look up the Napa and Sonoma suggestions! Thanks guys!

 

 

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