FAQ Poll: Top 10 "Driver's Roads" within 30 minut

[Guest Anonymous]

Despite having lived in the Bay Area for 5 years, I feel embarassingly limeted when it comes to identifying the best "pure driver's roads" within 30 minutes of San Francisco. I find myself continually taking the same routes (HWY 1 North, 35, etc.) and am longing for some new runs. I just mounted new Bridgestone S-03 Pole Positions on the car (a HUGE improvement over the RE730s that I was previously running!) and am feeling the urge...BTW, one nice qualifier would be roads that are not clogged with fist-shaking bicyclists!

Best,

COOP

[jerry]

30 minutes of driving from SF may only get you to the Waldo Tunnel on Wolfe Grade on 101, or worse yet, to the North tower of the GG Bridge on a bad day!!!

try Lucas Valley Rd and into Geronimo Canyon or Nicasio and those back roads towards Petaluma. i usually like the drive to Occidental and wander southward from there but your already an hour or more by then.

Bicyclist traffic really limits anything of any duration and closer proximity IMO. Paradise Drive in Tiburon is way too crowded with bikes, deers and idiots. My brother was almost hit headon by a speeding 911 yesterday in his truck on a sunny day with tons of bikes sharing the road. guy was in his lane on a limited-view turn... unbelievable stupidity.

[DukeRimmer]

if you're anywhere near Monterey check Carmel Valley rd.. I hate Hwy1. Always get behind someone driving while looking out the side window, never at the mirror, and at speeds that can be called nearly parked.

[SteveJ]

One of the problems with bicyclists or drivers is that many of them are not into the other vice. Myself, I do both(ride and drive). I think it has given me an advantage as I know when I drive, I have a pretty good idea of where the bikes should be relative to their lane, because I know where I would be if I were riding there.

When I ride, I know where the cars should be as I also drive there.

Now...all of this logic is moot if the level of competency is not there. Just try riding a bike on the many paved trails around the Bay Area. What is really sad is that many of these people drive the same way that they walk, and they are the ones teaching their children. (shiver)

OK.

One of my favorite roads is Calaveras road in Santa Clara/Alameda Counties. I've logged countless miles on both bicycle(single & tandem) and in many different cars.

[gabestr]

Although I haven't lived there in over 5 years, and I know that they are over 30 min away, I'll put in my vote for:

Highway 9

bonny doon road (?) from route 1 near pidgeon point up through bonny doon was nice. Or lots of the roads around there as I recall. True you probably are out there with other tourists and bicyclists. At least people used to pull over to let you pass all the time.

Also Bolinas-Fairfax rd in the north.

Gabe

[BigDog]

It's been years since I lived there or even visited for that matter...

Check out Bollinger Canyon Road out of Moraga. I don't remember if that's even the right name, but it is a blast to drive. Speedlimit is an excessively high 45mph if I remember correctly. Have fun!

--------------

BigDog

'76 2002

[BarryA]

through the delta are pretty entertaining (and demand attention - no guardrails between you and the Sacramento River and frequently no shoulders, either). Most maps id the primary route as Hwy 160, but there are roads along the tops of most of the levees - 160's official route flip-flops from one side of the river to the other a couple of times (never could figure out why), and there are multiple side routes, at least one of which includes a short ferry ride between islands.

The one time you DON'T want to head up into the delta is when it's foggy.

[SteveJ]

The River Road is great. We used that for the Al Canuck drive up to Sac a while back.

There are roads on either side of the river through there.

I believe they had the highway designation flip flop from side to side, because if it was only on one side, the other side of the river would be neglected with no state maintained road. This way they get a state road for a few miles, thenit goes to a county road, then back to a state road. The counties are more apt to keep their portion of the road in good repair if sections of the road are already paid for by the state.

I also imagine it had something to do with where the towns were originally located along the river and they played connect the dots for the highway route.

[DavinSF]

...in the Oakland/Berkeley hills? Those roads are usually wide enough to share with bikes. Basically anywhere good will have cyclists, it's unavoidable. In Marin I love Hwy 1 up to Mt. Tam, Bolinas/Fairfax Rd, Paradise Drive in Tiburon, and Camino Alto. Good stuff buddy. We should hang soon.

[NickVyse]

One of the problems with bicyclists or drivers is that many of them are not into the other vice. Myself, I do both(ride and drive). I think it has given me an advantage as I know when I drive, I have a pretty good idea of where the bikes should be relative to their lane, because I know where I would be if I were riding there.

When I ride, I know where the cars should be as I also drive there.

I used to ride a lot, and like SteveJ thought this would give me a heads up in avoiding potential disasters. Over here they happily ride three abreast through twisty roads full of blind corners, and then have the indignation to glare at old men having to swerve their old Citroens to avoid blood and gore, never mind a fast charging 02.

Cyclists are a law unto the themselves and in any accident the blame is automatically on the motorised vehicle.

Sorry for the rant - and I can't advise on any roads having never visited the west coast. Coop - send pics of your car for the site.

[TMK-001]

Watch out around France, Nick! My mate is there training very often for the Tour de France! I dont want to hear he has fit by a flying 2002

Todd

[FL02]

Here on FL's E. Coast, there are some nice coastal roads like SR3-Merrit Island around to the Rockledge Road-Or south-Sebastian Inlet-JungleTrail-Vero-RiverRoad. You can go inland for speed-Like the stickmarsh towards Yee Haw Junction (that's right)...Yee Haw Junction. Not much elevaton here, but big sky, and lot's of water....oh, and it's 80 Degrees, and the little white car is almost done.

[FL02]

Sorry, Could just see the part of the thread title. I thought it was 30 minutes from home, and I thought I'd chime in. Would love to cruise SF sometime on vacation. Watch for cyclists....