Top Rides in northern california?

[sfghbiker]

Recently moved to San Francisco and have next week off from work. I have ridden extensively in Marin and some in the east bay but looking to expand to some new rides. Anyone have some great rides to suggest in northern CA? I am planning on riding down Highway one to Santa Cruz to visit some friends. any suggestions around big sur/carmel or elsewhere within a couple of hours drive from SF that is a "must ride." thanks

[willy in pacifi]

Recently moved to San Francisco and have next week off from work. I have ridden extensively in Marin and some in the east bay but looking to expand to some new rides. Anyone have some great rides to suggest in northern CA? I am planning on riding down Highway one to Santa Cruz to visit some friends. any suggestions around big sur/carmel or elsewhere within a couple of hours drive from SF that is a "must ride." thanks

What kind of mileage are you looking for?

willy in pacifica (just south of SF)

[Skrawny]

My favorite ride that can be done from SF proper is Alpine Dam (http://www.touchstoneclimbing.com/pdf/alpine.pdf)

My favorite ride down South involves Old La Honda to Pescadero and back (http://www.touchstoneclimbing.com/pdf/woodside.pdf)

As you can guess from the links, I like long climbs...

-s

[Waldo]

Recently moved to San Francisco and have next week off from work. I have ridden extensively in Marin and some in the east bay but looking to expand to some new rides. Anyone have some great rides to suggest in northern CA? I am planning on riding down Highway one to Santa Cruz to visit some friends. any suggestions around big sur/carmel or elsewhere within a couple of hours drive from SF that is a "must ride." thanks

Did DMD for the first time on April 26. In laying out an indescribably scenic and mostly traffic-free 206-mile route in an area that's home to 4 million people ride organizers did something just short of miraculous. Ride all or parts of it. http://www.quackcyclists.com/Dmd08/Dmd08RouteSheet.pdf

[MarinRider]

Skaggs Springs in Sonoma:

http://www.quackcyclists.com/Photo/TerribleTwo.htm

Nacimiento Ferguson in Big Sur:

http://sjs.jsei.ucla.edu/~sjs/Nacimiento/index.html

[Elefantino]

Climbing Mts. Diablo and Hamilton is a must for any Bay Area venture.

Any rides in the Berkeley/Oakland hills are nice.

And head north to Sonoma.

[sfghbiker]

Just got back from a three day ride down the california coast to SLO. Went SF to Aptos day 1, Aptos->big sur day 2 and big sur->slo day 3. The riding was incredible especially the last day. I forgot how amazing that piece of coast is. I will check out the other rides you guys posted up here in the next couple of weeks. thanks.

[Skrawny]

And head north to Sonoma.

I rode a really great ride from the Sonoma Mission Inn East, over the hills, into Napa Valley and then South and West through rolling vinyards and then back up to the Inn. Fantastic 50 something mile ride. The roads on the climb were a little pitted, but I was only going 9-10mph, the downhill into Napa was newly paved and effortless, the rollers home were windy by the afternoon, and I wished I had someone else to work with. Great ride! The "sports massage" that I had back at the inn was needed too...

-s