Ride Report: Sonoma Coast

Kushan

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Apr 22, 2021, 10:16:58 PM4/22/21

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Hi all -

I am new to this group and thought I'd start by posting about a recent ride.

I had some free-time yesterday so decided take my recently acquired Leo (Roadini), my first Riv, for a venture to Sonoma county. I have wanting to do a good long ride since I got the bike and the Sonoma Coast route designed by a local bike club had the potential to make my day.

This turned out to be the best day on a bike in a while. It included redwoods, fog covered green hills, a river, several beaches, and multiple walks of shame (despite my 28t ring) on remote but ridiculously steep hills. Some of the single lane roads were so remote that I didn't see another soul for miles. All the good stuff that fills you with gratefulness and remind you of how lucky you are to be living a paradise like California (with 10% state income tax, mind you).

Anyways - enough words, here are some of my favorite pictures from the ride...

Best

Kushan

Ben Miller

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Apr 22, 2021, 10:47:17 PM4/22/21

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Hi Kushan,

Welcome! Nice orange Roadini! I have an orange Roadeo :) I did a very similar ride at the start of this year, beginning in Occidental, but instead of the route you linked to, we went up Coleman Valley Rd, which is a very hard but amazing climb. I agree it's beautiful up there!

Cheers,
Ben

Kushan

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Apr 28, 2021, 1:02:35 AM4/28/21

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Thanks Ben. I have heard a lot about Colman Valley Rd from others but decided to play it safe with Bay Hill Road. In hindside, I am glad I did given the amount of walking I had to do with the "easy" option I took. Regardless, riding in Sonoma just can't be beaten.

RichS

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Apr 28, 2021, 11:07:22 AM4/28/21

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Kushan,

Welcome to the group and congratulations on acquiring your first Riv. Thanks for posting the report and pics. What a spectacular route. You list members in NorCal have it going on in scenic and challenging rides:-)

Best,

Rich in ATL

Kieran J

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Apr 28, 2021, 3:29:38 PM4/28/21

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Welcome to the list! Super nice looking ride - I HAVE to get back to Nor Cal! :-P

Kieran

Victoria, BC

On Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 7:16:58 PM UTC-7 Kushan wrote:

Ben Miller

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Apr 28, 2021, 6:58:05 PM4/28/21

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Kushan,

Also, if you aren't aware, there is a separate Bay Area Riv group. Usually posts about local gatherings or meetups, but it's been pretty quiet during the pandemic. Hopefully things will pick up as we put this all in the rearview.

Ben

reynoldslugs

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Apr 30, 2021, 3:43:27 PM4/30/21

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Dear Kushan and list,

Great Shots, great bike, and that's a great ride. I live in Santa Rosa and ride the coastal routes as often as possible - - Coleman Valley, King Ridge, Ft Ross Road... This is a wonderful area for riding. The rest of the county (Westside road, Alexander Valley, Pine Flat Road, Chalk Hill)... has an abundance of beautiful and challenging rides.

I love your Roadini - congrats on a fine looking steed.

Here are some similar pics I took a number of years back, riding the Coleman Valley coastal route on an orange Rambouillet;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/41563482@N06/albums/72157627945612093

best,

Max Beach

Santa Rosa CA

eddietheflay

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Apr 30, 2021, 9:07:34 PM4/30/21

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best is to ensure your route in that neighborhood takes you past the wonderful Wild Flour Bakery...to die for:

https://wildflourbread.com/

Kushan

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Apr 30, 2021, 9:17:45 PM4/30/21

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Max - great photos.. I love the "viewing couch" in the middle of nowhere.. it's great how dynamic this area is. The sun, fog, and changing grass color make it feel like a different place every time you go there.

Eddie - I have also heard great things about WFB... I went on a Wednesday to avoid traffic and unfortunately, they were closed. But i am already planning my next ride around their schedule :)

reynoldslugs

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Apr 30, 2021, 11:02:52 PM4/30/21

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+1 on Wild Flour- ya gotta stop there at least once. The bread and pastries there are insane, enough to make me put on a couple of pounds ever time i'm there --- even on a four-hour ride. The other "mandatory" stop is Cafe Aquatica in Jenner- - we stop there each time we ride Ft Ross road or King Ridge- it's an amazing spot at the mouth of the Russian River, in Jenner.

Enjoy!

Max

eddietheflay

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Apr 30, 2021, 11:14:59 PM4/30/21

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If the Wild Flour is closed you can try the relatively newly opened Valley Ford Cheese Company in...Valley Ford. Nice coffee, homemade pastries, and great outdoor seating for bikers.

eddietheflay

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May 1, 2021, 1:21:11 PM5/1/21

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coincidentally in today's local Press Democrat paper...even though most of us are not pros.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/why-pro-cyclists-say-sonoma-county-is-the-place-to-be/amp/

David Person

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May 1, 2021, 3:28:12 PM5/1/21

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Well, there goes the neighborhood!

jack loudon

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May 2, 2021, 2:24:00 PM5/2/21

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Kushan,

Thanks for the ride report and beautiful photos. I live in Seattle but visit Western Sonoma several times a year (my mother and other relatives live there) and agree it's cycling paradise, especially the remote low-traffic roads. Hard to believe you're just an hour away from 8 million people. Coleman Valley Road isn't too difficult if starting from the Occidental side, and you have low gearing; I'm old and do it a few times a year. Willow Creek Road/Trail, which parallels Coleman to the north, is also great and closed to traffic. Hope you can get back there someday.