Reccomendations for the Sacremento/Davis Area

[brewsmith]

I'll be spending the next week taking a week long brewing course at UC Davis and am looking for a few things to do in my downtime. I won't have a bike with me but might be able to do a rental for an afternoon, and I will have a rental car, so I'm willing to drive a bit if need be. Otherwise, recommendations on parks to hike at, breweries, restaurants etc. are all appreciated. Thanks in advance paceliners!

[eddief]

flat and fast ride from Davis.

http://berryessabrewingco.com/home/

Fun route in and around there:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17457494

[Ken Robb]

The weather may be pretty toasty in the afternoon.

[brewsmith]

The weather may be pretty toasty in the afternoon.

Yea, just looked that up, high of 101 Friday. Yikes!

[Clean39T]

Yea, just looked that up, high of 101 Friday. Yikes!

I'd take the 45-60min drive over to AboveCategory in Marin County, rent a super-bike, and get up into the headlands - probably a good 20+ degrees cooler over there.

If that's too far, go rent something in Napa and hit the taco shop in the Napa public market (Casa something, can't remember the exact name).

[jlyon]

It is pretty far but it is a record snow year so the waterfalls are epic this year.

[akelman]

What size frame do you ride?

[Peter B]

Mix Canyon, but do it early in the morning to miss the heat.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/397570

Davis to Monticello Dam on Berryessa or beyond via 128/Putah Creek is fun and less challenging. The glory hole spillway ought to be flowing robustly about now. See previous poster's map for an overview of the route.

[brewsmith]

What size frame do you ride?

Larger. I'm 6'2", so anywhere from 58-62 in a pinch.

If anyone has any recommendations for a shop to rent from in Davis or Woodland, that wouldbe awesome as well. That route to the dam and back looks like a winner....

[doomridesout]

I'd recommend the dam+Cardiac route on 128 over Mix Canyon any day. I like difficult climbs but Mix is too sadistic for me to really recommend. It's gonna be stupid hot so get out early.

Obviously, you like beer. The Beer Shop is a nice little craft brew spot in downtown Davis to try some interesting beers. My favorite restaurant in town is Yakitori Yuchan.

The Putah Creek nature preserve is a nice walk, I wouldn't call it "hiking" but it's a pleasant place to be. A more interesting hike is up near the dam in Cold Creek Canyon, but as above, start early, wear sunscreen, take water. It's about to get really hot.

Edit: And I would be advised that although Davis Wheelworks can get you set up with a rental bike, it's going to be ass-puckeringly and confoundingly expensive. When I tried to rent a bike for my dad the last time he was in town it was cheaper to ship his own.

[pdmtong]

Make a longer drive over to Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa and get your Dribble Belt - Blind Pig - Pliny the Elder tasting

[menschita]

I agree, it might be better to ship a bike out. There are consignment bikes in W.Sac at Edible Pedal on 3rd. Great guy runs that place. Berryessa is awesome, so is Bike Dog in W.Sac. You can get Pliny at Burgers & Brew in W.Sac - maybe in Davis too.

I'd also skip Mix. Round the Mtn (Strava or Ridewgps) is a great route. Ink grade in Pope Valley too. Nice loop including Cantelow. But none of these are out of Davis. +17 miles to Winters.


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[doomridesout]

Yes, I gotta mention that riding from Davis to any of the stuff towards Berryessa starts and ends with about 17 miles of pancake flat farm roads before anything gets interesting, and if you want to cut to the chase you should drive to Winters or even Lake Solano to start.

[akelman]

As others have said, if you want to skip the flats, you can drive from Davis and park next to Steady Eddy's (http://www.steady-eddys.com/) in Winters. For my part, I think that's a mistake. The ride out the bike path and then to Winters is flat but pretty. It mostly passes by agricultural land, so you'll see a mix of fruit and nut trees and tomato and grape fields.

Also, Ken's Bike and Ski rents decent road bikes (http://kensbikeski.com/about/bike-rentals-pg1257.htm). You should call ahead to reserve something in your size. I'd offer you a loaner, but my bikes are too small for you. If you need anything while you're here, shoot me a PM.

Oh wait, one other thing: if you're going to ride up to the dam, it's best to avoid weekend mornings. Lots of folks drive up that way towing boats, and they're often not the most considerate people on the road.

[Peter B]

<snip>

Oh wait, one other thing: if you're going to ride up to the dam, it's best to avoid weekend mornings. Lots of folks drive up that way towing boats, and they're often not the most considerate people on the road.

What Ari said. There's not much shoulder on some of the roads and dodging the boaters is no fun!

[Tony]

The American River Bike Trail (ARBT) is a real gem. You can go 70+ miles mostly all along the Sacramento and American river and not deal with a single car. The bike trail will take you to some of the best breweries and eateries in east sacto, mid town, and the downtown areas.
Coming from Davis you can park at Discovery park and head east to Old fair oaks. You will be riding along the american river for most of your ride. Some good eats at the Sunflower Cafe https://www.yelp.com/biz/sunflower-natural-food-restaurant-fair-oaks. and the coffee house deli https://www.yelp.com/biz/fair-oaks-coffee-house-and-deli-fair-oaks Old fair oaks has lots of rosters, chickens that run free all over the place.

Head back towards Sacramento this time just before you cross Del Paso Blvd turn left on the bike trail over the bridge to the Blue Almond factory, turn Right on 20th street to Capital and now your at the oldest brewery in sacto, the Rubicon brewery http://www.rubiconbrewing.com/
If you ride up to 16th street you will find many others in the downtown area.
Or you can continue past Discovery park, over the green bridge, turn right onto the bike trail and ride into Old Sacramento.