From one of my most recently discovered vantage points, often on the horizon gazing south-southwest appears a certain famous landmark. On a day like this one however, with weather conditions so drastically different from one mile to the next, you really wouldn’t know anything was out there. And trust me, having pedaled through that thick, damp, blinding cover not long before this photo was taken, indeed the cycling day was far more satisfying in the vicinity of this present location.
Just when I think I’ve found them all, another one pops up to surprise me. Now well into my second year of road cycling all over the topographically adventurous city of San Francisco, “new” routes are continuing to present themselves. As such, I’m happy to report– yet again– that options abound within the city limits for a decent 20-to-30-mile spin.
Who says you have to leave San Francisco to log the mileage? Granted I’ll admit– today I did, hammering out the always satisfying 40-mile Sausalito-Tiberon loop, in reverse for my first time.
Still, despite the obvious obstacles and annoyances of city cycling, I continue to be thrown another decent road to conquer, some with fresh new pavement even! So, don’t think you have to drive out of town with bike in tow to get those legs seriously moving. It’s all right here within San Francisco, if you look. And yes, after this long, I’m still looking!
Thankfully I can say my mileage moved into three digits in this first week of 2012.
“31” replaces yesterday’s question mark. As the number of miles cycled in the course of two hours on another sunny, albeit cooler and windier, afternoon, the mostly flat and fast jaunt to Tiberon proved itself time well spent. Included in the relatively brief spin was even a quick moment for some creative photography.
For all this recent talk of numbers, it’s not always about the number, at least as far as distance itself is concerned. There IS always cadence, ascent, descent, time and average speed to consider. After all, a hard and attacking 20 miles certainly beats a relaxed and steady 50 miles most any day.
Today came the number 25, in 90 minutes, as this rather unpredictable sequence continues. But again, it’s really not the number of miles that most matters. The number of minutes, for better or worse, usually has more to say.
And that’s my well-cycled opinion.
36 and 188. These are my mileage totals on two wheels this past weekend, for bicycle and motorcycle, respectively. When I’ve said it really doesn’t feel all that cold here in the Bay Area, I amend this now to say it might not seem so when walking or standing still. When moving at 30 mph on a bicycle, it’s another story. Up this to 80 mph on a motorcycle, and, well, let’s just say the story turns downright frigid.
The Tiberon Loop: 36 miles total from The Presidio
The “Tiberon Loop” is a popular, somewhat challenging and not-too-far-away route for cyclists in need of a quick jaunt out of the city. I’m happy to have rediscovered it on Saturday, after having ridden it several years ago. For a total of 36 miles from The Presidio, it’s a decent workout of relatively short distance.
Mines Road, heading southwest from Livermore, spans far greater distance. This is certainly an excursion for which, despite seeing one cyclist, I recommend throttle over pedal. Yesterday was the first Homoto Motorcycle Club ride of 2011, and it was by far, for me, the coldest motorcycling I have done to date. With gloves inside of more gloves, my hands seemed to remain painfully frozen. And at highway speeds once we were out of the twisty canyons, moments came and went in which my entire body quivered.
Nevertheless, Sunday was clear and sunny, unlike the fogged-in grayness of Saturday. It was terrific to finally get out once again for a long, scenic, albeit freezing motorcycle ride after such little throttle activity in the past month. As I wrote after our December group ride to Dillon Beach, there’s such a wonderful variety of country roads to explore so close to San Francisco, providing the momentary feeling of being somewhere far away. This time, amid cliffs and rolling green hills, I saw images of England, Scotland and France. Perhaps the extremely narrow, winding, varyingly paved road we were on had something to do with it, in addition to the breathtaking scenery.
188 miles of motorcycling make for a satisfying day, no matter the temperature or terrain. Thankfully, and unusually, I rode my motorcycle every day of last week, though just within the city. Yesterday was “for real.” And seeing as I’ve now logged a mere 500 motorcycle miles since November 1, rides like this one are obviously few and far between. As such, they’re a welcome event when they happen.
By pedal and by throttle, winter temperatures drove the weekend. I definitely know a little more today about traveling “at the speed of cold.”
A welcome yet frigid day on the motorcycle!
Ryan R. Sanderson 