Destination: San Gregorio General Store, off Hwy 1 at 84

This is a short, local ride. The ride is entirely on twisty secondary roads, and takes about three hours maximum from the shop & back. You'll ride out to the coast via Page Mill Road, Highway 35 north, Tunitas Creek Road, down the mountain and take the right near the bottom onto Lobitos Creek, to Hwy 1 south. You really have to watch closely for the Lobitos Creek Road, it looks like a driveway leading up the hill to the right. This is a beautiful, scenic ride, to be taken at slow speeds. It is tight, but OK for riders of modest experience. After you've sampled the beauty of Lobitos Creek, you'll head down the coast to San Gregorio and have a coffee (or lunch, if you like) at the San Gregorio General Store. It is the only place in San Gregorio so you can't miss it. After, you can just go back home over La Honda/84 to Alice's and back to the Valley. These are all little two-lane roads, tight and twisty, great for riding practice.

Ride Route:

Depart Mountain View and head up Middlefield to Charleston, follow Charleston to Page Mill Road and up the hill to Hwy 35. Go north on 35 past Alice's and continue until you see the sign for Tunitas Creek, across from King's Mountain Road. A good placed to regroup is at the Tunitas Creek intersection with Hwy 35. Follow Tunitas Creek down the canyon, right on Lobitos, then left & right at the end of Lobitos to get back to Hwy 1. Follow Hwy 1 and turn left on 84 to San Gregorio, where you can stop for coffee. Then back to Mountain View via 84 to Alpine to Page Mill and return. Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

Ride Tips:

Start out with your tank full, your tires checked, with proper clothing and a bike which is safe to ride. Be prepared to help your fellow riders with any problems on the road. The weather is unpredictable, it might be very hot or it might be foggy and cold, so be appropriately equipped. At the least, you should have a good jacket, gloves and footgear.

Ride within your safe limits. 75% of your comfortable maximum rate of speed, perhaps? It is very rewarding to practice the basic smooth-riding exercise of riding with use of brakes, just shift and use engine-braking, and pay attention to smooth riding technique and proper lines through the corners. This is a great skill-building exercise; it holds your attention and keeps the speeds at a reasonable level.

Safe speed: The safe speed for road conditions will differ from rider to rider, so pick a pace that is comfortable and within your ability. Do not follow too closely! Ride in staggered files, occupying one lane only.

Passing: If you are prepared to ride faster than the rider in front, put your blinker on and pass. As above, do not follow closely behind the rider in front. In an emergency, you might collide.

Stopping: If the group stops, be sure to pull off the road completely. When the group starts, be sure to look over your shoulder for approaching traffic before you pull out.

Breakdowns: The sweep riders and riding friends may stop and provide assistance. It is not safe for an entire group to stop for one rider. Keep the road clear!

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

Ride Safely!
Kari Prager