Looking for new territory to explore today, I remembered a recent article in the newspaper about a huge mural being painted on a building on the southwest side of town where I seldom ride. Based on that, I decided to pedal in that direction…. Read more at Bill Bikes

My ace support crew was overseeing an industrial-strength pro cleaning crew at home today. Under the circumstances, my best bet was to get the heck out of Dodge. Read more at Bill Bikes

Fresh as a sweet Sunday morning, according to the late Bert Jansch. I don’t usually ride trails around here under those conditions, because I know they’ll be packed with bikes, joggers, pedestrians, kids, strollers, dogs, and assorted roadblocks. I made an exception on this sweet Sunday morning. Snapped a few photos of some of the … Continue reading "Busy morning"

Another quick ride on the Greenway.

Need I say anything, my friend?

Heading out the Greenway as usual, minding my own business. Suddenly heard loud explosion under me. I know that sound. Bike began to wobble. I pulled over. Rear tube blew out explosively, pushing tire off rim. I carried the injured Ogre back to the Big Fish, turned it upside down in the shade, and tended … Continue reading "Bikus Interruptus"

My destination today was a new ghost bike, memorial to our latest bicycling casualty. I almost didn’t make it. Read more at Bill Bikes

Today the weather forecast called for excellent conditions. And I had some free time, if I promised to return early enough to take part in a post-vaccination social engagement to which ace support crew and I were committed. I promise! I promise! Read more at Bill Bikes

I was knocked flat on by back for almost two weeks by acute sinusitis (self-diagnosis), my first ever experience of such a thing. Whew. Thought I was going to expire, and naturally I figured it was Covid. But I kept reminding myself I never lost my sense of small. Read more at Bill Bikes

After passing the idle snow removal equipment parked on the side of Lassen Peak Highway approximately five miles beyond the locked gate, I figured the end must be nigh. However, even when I reached the untouched wall of snow blocking the road, I didn’t let that stop me. Read more at Bill Bikes

Two years ago I pedaled across Yosemite National Park on Tioga Road after the snow had been cleared but before the road was fully opened for motorized traffic. Lassen Volcanic National Park, farther north in California, offers a similar “open to hiking and biking, closed to vehicles” experience while the main park road is gradually being cleared of … Continue reading "Snow Road, part 1"

I try to do this ride at least once each season, usually for the home opener and/or the play-offs. Of course, the Giants don’t get into the play-offs too often these days, so I shouldn’t skip the first game of the season. Read more at Bill Bikes

A few days ago I saw a headline in the local newspaper: “New Bike Path Connects Forestville to Santa Rosa.” What!?! How could that be? I pay attention to that kind of stuff, and I was completely unfamiliar with any plans for, or work on, such a bike path. Read more at Bill Bikes

Despite serious drought conditions, we endured several consecutive days of damp, drizzly, chilly, gray weather that kept me off two wheels. Not enough precipitation to make a dent in our enormous rain deficit, but enough to make pedaling seem unappealing. Today, on the other hand, the sun reappeared in the sky and the temperature soared … Continue reading "Postcards from Sebastopol"

It was a lovely yellow day on the Greenway, but I couldn’t figure out how to insert my last roll of Kodak film into my iPhone…. More at Bill Bikes

I’m still sticking close to home, but at least I wandered into another county today. I’ve done the ride from Petaluma to Novato several times. Compared to the old death traps along the route, it’s much easier now that all the (relatively) new cycling infrastructure is complete. The expedition offers a good variety of riding. … Continue reading "Petaluma – Novato"

Suzanne prompted me to search for other hazards. I had almost forgotten this one. Now I’m sure to start having nightmares again. More here, if anyone wants to revisit 2019: http://bike365.org/bike/20190521a/

In keeping with the theme for the month, on the trail today I encountered these dangerous guys armed with chainsaws and other implements of destruction. They looked hazardous, but kindly agreed to pose for a photo.

But not this year or this month

The big “atmospheric river” of rain clobbered much of California a couple of days ago. Santa Rosa withstood high winds and a few inches of precipitation, but nothing like the deluge farther south which washed out Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast. And, despite the rainstorms, we remain far, far behind our normal rainfall … Continue reading "Dodging raindrops, fights, and traffic"

We decided to try another hike-and-bike expedition today. We drove up to Shiloh Ranch Regional Park. My ace support pulled on her boots to hike the park. I saddled up the Ogre to pedal Chalk Hill Road. Back in two hours, we agreed. Read more at Bill Bikes

Much of the San Francisco Bay Area went under lockdown / stay-at-home / shelter-in-place orders weeks ago. Santa Rosa and Sonoma County followed suit shortly afterward. As of this morning, the entire Bay Area joins the bulk of the state under strict isolation rules. Nevertheless, I decided it was essential for me to get out … Continue reading "Golden Gate December"

I intended to undertake an early ride from our rental cabin on the Klamath River up to our son’s ranch in Montague, then return to the cabin by bike later in the day following familial festivities. However, overnight a thick fog formed in the river valley and the temperature dropped to almost 20° F. When … Continue reading "Klamath"

Since 1984 I’ve hiked through Sugarloaf Ridge State Park many, many times. I pedal the park occasionally, but not as often as hiking it, because few trails are designated for bikes, and they tend to be too steep. Today, however, Sugarloaf deserved a visit on two wheels. Read more at Bill Bikes: Sugarloaf, Part 1 … Continue reading "Sugarloaf"

Halloween decor was not at an all-time high this year, but I managed to find a few spooky places. Read more at Bill Bikes

Former NBA star and noted recreational cyclist Bill Walton is hosting his Bike for Humanity “Halloween Ride” on Saturday, 31 October. Riders can ride any distance, any location, while physically distancing. Participation is free, but donations are accepted for charities to benefit firefighters, their families, and fire victims, especially related to this year’s wildfires.  More … Continue reading "Bill Walton’s Halloween charity ride"

Those who have followed my rides (and who wouldn’t want to waste a great deal of time doing exactly that?) know I haven’t been out and about exploring new locales as much as usual over the last nine months or so. That’s because of—surprise, surprise—virus, fires, and family obligations. Naturally, I’ve been itching to pedal … Continue reading "Big River"

Time to cast this ballot! Read more at Bill Bikes

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It seems like every locale where I pedal a bicycle in California eventually burns down. From Redding to Venado to Berryessa to Bizz Johnson and more, I’ve lost track of the number of places I’ve pedaled that have subsequently been consumed by fire. Of course, that probably has little to do with me. The … Continue reading "Glass Fire Burn Zone"

Coyote Hills is relatively close to the Berkeley home of John, with whom I’ve pedaled in San Francisco and in Santa Rosa. He agreed to accompany me. (You’d think he would have learned better by now!) We met at the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge parking lot, where my heart momentarily sank when I realized the … Continue reading "Coyote Hills"

A deep marine layer swept in this morning, blew away the smoke, blotted out the sun, dropped the temperature, and provided the first real taste of fresh, sweet, cool air in days. I hopped on the Ogre and headed out the Greenway. Read more at Bill Bikes

Personally, at a bicycling website I prefer photos with bikes, but I also enjoy photos with fries or onion rings. 😉

The “LNU” mega-fire complex in the North Bay includes several big burns—some separate, some merged—like the Walbridge Fire and Hennessy Fire. These roared through sparsely populated areas, but threatened multiple towns and cities, such as Santa Rosa. The populated areas have mostly been saved after more than a week of strenuous effort. But some communities … Continue reading "Ashes"

This morning the AQI (air quality index) looked reasonably decent at “moderate.” Not having been out on two wheels in more than two weeks due to heat, fire, and smoke, I decided to cruise out the Greenway in order to determine if my legs still function. Smoke-filtered sunlight cast a hazy, yellowy pall over the … Continue reading "Smoke City"

Siskiyou County (that’s “sis – kew”) is larger than the state of Connecticut but with a population of only about 45,000 spread across its 6,347 square miles. The county stretches from the Oregon border in the north to majestic Mount Shasta (14,179 feet in elevation) and points south, from Lava Beds National Monument in the … Continue reading "Little Shasta"

Yesterday my ace support crew and I drove up to Siskiyou County on the far northern edge of California—adjacent to southern Oregon—to spend a few days inspecting our new granddaughter. Naturally, Old Grumble-Face found it necessary to bring along the Ogre, and today I managed to slip away for a short ride in and around the … Continue reading "Moon over Montague"

Last week I drove over to Winters in Yolo County to pedal through the far western edge of the Central Valley and up into the foothills of the range separating Yolo from Napa County. Today I drove to Lake Berryessa in Napa County on the opposite side of those hills. From the lake, I wanted to pedal … Continue reading "Heat, snakes, ticks, and poison oak"

The Central Valley of California, larger than nine US states, produces more than half of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts grown in the United States. It’s divided geographically into the Sacramento Valley to the north (drained by the Sacramento River) and the San Joaquin Valley to the south (drained by the San Joaquin River). Today I decided … Continue reading "The Big Valley"

I found a bike club website with directions for a ride to the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in the Delta. It noted the route could be extended to the far side of the island for riders willing to grind gravel. I combed through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website and the Grizzly Island … Continue reading "Grizzly Island"

I try to pedal from Sonoma to Napa at least once each year, but it’s been a while. Time to ride. The winding route through the Carneros wine region is for the most part flanked on both sides by vineyards. I sometimes think of it as the Grape Road. I had no reason to think … Continue reading "Lost in the Sloughs"

I’ve been busy with lumber and power tools on a DIY project for a few days, but my ace support crew allowed me off leash today, so I headed up to Lake Ilsanjo in Annadel State Park. Read more at Bill Bikes

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I had a bit of a break from cycling earlier this year, so I’m still in the process of ramping back up to my pre-break mileage. Today’s ride was exciting, since it’s my first ride over 30 miles since sometime late last fall. The ride goes north … Continue reading "Building up the miles"

George Floyd / “I can’t breathe” / Black Lives Matter demonstrators have marched through Santa Rosa every day for at least a week. For the most part the marchers have been peaceful, but on some nights the composition of the crowd alters noticeably. A few of those individuals with a different agenda have been responsible … Continue reading "BLM"