Blog - Page 2 of 10

A woman on a bicycle rides away from the camera up a gravel path with a scattering of leaves. The path goes through a green, sunlit rood, and a waterway can be seen to the left side.

Day 1: Pittsburgh to Connellsville

We met the group at Point State Park for orientation and bike outfitting. The weather was great and there were lots of people out in both directions.

Day 1: Pittsburgh to Connellsville Read More »

A smiling woman rides an orange bike along a waterfront pathway, with two yellow steel bridge in the background.

Day 0+: Rolling around Pittsburgh

Cycle touring / By tom

We had a couple of days to kick around in Pittsburgh before the official trip, and got to spend it riding around with a local friend and then with our friend Beverly, seeing the sites and finding the cool bike spots in town.

Day 0+: Rolling around Pittsburgh Read More »

Against a sunny blue sky with wispy clouds, a green Bike Route sign reads "Three Rivers Heritage Trail: Great Allegheny Passage to Washington, D.C. 350m"

Introduction: Climate Ride GAP/C&O Canal

Cycle touring / By tom

GAP/C&O has become one of the premiere bike touring destinations in America; the GAP estimates over 1M annual visitors, and over 100K through riders, while the C&O Canal Towpath estimates 5M annual visitors, putting it in the top 10 among national parks. A bunch of friends have done or are planning to do it, and it’s easy to see why; it’s 95% off road, 90% on gravel, all rail-trail or canal path, so it’s pretty much all low-stress and easy riding.

Climate Ride’s plan had us doing the 340 miles in 5 days, which is more daily mileage than I’d usually plan, but it is pretty easy to make time when there are no intersections. We’d do two days of very gradual climbing up a rail grade to the eastern continental divide, then three days of very gradual descending on the tow path into Georgetown. Totally Doable!

Introduction: Climate Ride GAP/C&O Canal Read More »

In the foreground is a road leading up to a barren mountaintop in the background. A snowplow pole in black and yellow, three meters tall is seen at the road's guardrail. The top of the mountain looks impossibly white but not snowy. A few clouds dot the sky above.

Epilogue: Mont Ventoux

Cycle touring / By tom

You can count on frustrated trophy hunters to continue their pursuit. Five years after I ran out of time to make the attempt on Mont Ventoux, I once again found myself in the south of France, and this time I wasn’t going to leave without bagging the peak.

Epilogue: Mont Ventoux Read More »

A smiling woman on a bicycle on a sunny day rides past a vineyard, with California hills in the background, brown grasses dotted with oak trees.

Bonus day: Wine country loop

Cycle touring / By tom

Does it still count as bikepacking if you stayed in a yurt and left all your gear in camp for a loop ride? I’ll allow it. Some wine tasting and a repeat of the lovely Franz Valley loop finished up the trip.

Bonus day: Wine country loop Read More »

A road bends to the left high above a green valley. The sky is clear and blue. The road surface is somewhat broken up. A wire fence lines the road along the curve.

Day 3: Mercuryville to Bothe-Napa

Cycle touring / By tom

After making breakfast on a pile of rocks at the roadside, the descent into Alexander Valley was wonderful, and Franz Valley is primo cycling territory. I got to check out the newly-completed Vine Trail as I popped around the northern Napa Valley.

Day 3: Mercuryville to Bothe-Napa Read More »

A dirt road in a dry landscape. A sign in the foreground reads "Mercuryville, half-mile high city. Elevation 2600 feet. Population 2. A sign nailed to a tree on the other side of the road reads "Warning, no trespassing. Violators will be shot. Survivors will be shot again!"

Day 2: Lake Sonoma to Mercuryville

Cycle touring / By tom

After the stupid slog out of the Lake Sonoma basin, I rode across Sonoma Valley to one of the classic Sonoma loops, Geysers Road, a beautiful and challenging climb. My plan to wild camp on BLM land was derailed by private property signs, but I eventually found a good spot.

Day 2: Lake Sonoma to Mercuryville Read More »

Two touring cyclists ride up a h ill on on a rural road. One is near the top of the hill, almost out of frame; the other is just in front of the camera, wearing a bright pink top, carrying full panniers and a sleeping pad.

Day 1: Santa Rosa to Lake Sonoma with July and Fletcher

Cycle touring / By tom

After glitches meeting up for the SMART train from Larkspur, I caught up with July and Fletcher in Healdsburg, and we rode together to Cloverdale, where they headed north and I cut off to Lake Sonoma. Beautiful campsite there, after a slog on a stupid fire road.

Day 1: Santa Rosa to Lake Sonoma with July and Fletcher Read More »

A bicycle loaded for bikepacking stands entirely surrounded by, almost hidden by chaparral bushes and wildflowers.

Introduction: Wine country bikepack

Cycle touring / By tom

I’m pretty dialed in on equipment after my local bikepack adventure, so when my friend July suggested doing a bike tour up to the Kinetic Grand Championship, I jumped on the opportunity, even though I didn’t have time to do the whole ride.

Introduction: Wine country bikepack Read More »

A peaceful sunrise scene above a lake. The sun is just coming over a right to the left of the image, lighting grasses on the hill in the foreground, and lighting fog hanging over the lake itself.

Day 4: Chabot to home

Cycle touring / By tom

Yesterday’s rainbow marked the end of the storm. The night was clear and calm, and we woke to a beautiful sunrise, with mist rising off the lake. I was riding directly home from camp, so all I had to do was find clothes I was willing to wear for a couple hours.

It was a good trip; I enjoyed that this adventure involved just going out my door. We’re blessed here in the Bay Area that there are so many nearby options.

Day 4: Chabot to home Read More »