September 14th, 2010
This Labor Day my friend Josh suggested we take a bike ride to Sausalito, which struck me as a great idea. I’m at least partially responsible for Josh’s interest in biking – I “conned” him into volunteering with me at the Tour de Fat last year, and then again at Winterfest, where he ended up buying a new bike at the auction, so it was cool for him to come up with the idea. I met him at Polkers (on Polk St of course) and we took off. All in all the trip was about 28 miles (17 miles from Polkers to Tiburon, with 5 miles to Polkers and 6 home from the Ferry, but I’m getting ahead of myself).
The route to Tiburon from the restaurant Polkers: about 17 miles
The ride was pretty easy for the most part, although it took me a little to get used to the constant cycling (I’m used to stoplights and the like). Honestly, the biggest incline we took was getting to Golden Gate Bridge (aside from an unnecessary detour – fuck that road sign that veered us off the main road in the North Bay!). Riding over the Golden Gate Bridge was most enjoyable, and packed full of people (many of them tourists who obviously rented their bikes, but whatever).
I don't think you can take a bad picture of this bridge
The above picture was actually taken on the boat ride home a few hours later, but you get the point.
Once over the bridge, we pulled over for a quick beer in Sausalito, and then casually rode through the rest of the town. I especially enjoyed the houseboats – although I don’t think I’d want to live on one. This part of the ride was especially scenic.
I like the four layers in this picture
And we found a public stretch of “beach” that was just too cool not to take a group picture at!
This would be a much cooler picture if it wasn't taken from a rock
After realizing the North Bay was actually pretty nice, we settled in for some real riding. After passing through Sausalito and the outskirts of Marin City (at some point stopping to get some free tea from the Sausalito Art Fair), it was pretty much straight riding until the end. It was nice, but somewhat empty or industrialized, at least until we got around the bend before Tiburon:
Good reference point, that Sutre Tower
By this point, we were thirsty and starving, so after meeting up in Tiburon we grabbed some food and some weak Tanqueray and Tonics from Sam’s Anchor Cafe (we ended up getting an extra shot apiece). Unsatisfied, then we grabbed chips and more beer from another place in the Ferry mall (where I saw plenty of those rented bikes NOT locked up at all…tourists), and hopped on the Ferry back. The ride was $10, which was a little steep, but the ride was gorgeous and they served beer, so I guess I can’t complain. I snapped the above photo of the Golden Gate bridge, and a few others. Josh grabbed this one of me:
Lovely day for a boat trip, eh?
After that, it was just a quick ride home on familiar territory through the embarcadero.
By the end of the trip, spirits were high!
Josh and I lost each other at the end, but in both cases I think our heads hurt more then our legs the morning after….
The End.
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that looks so ridiculously pleasant, I may be a wee jealous. What’s the elevation like for that trip? Bike lanes?
I’m not sure of the elevation, but the highest part was really just getting up to the Bridge – everything after that was downhill. Bike lanes were sporadic – sometimes we had our own lane in the road, sometimes divided lanes, and every once in a while we just shared the road w. the cars. But all in all, a really pleasant and mostly easy ride!