best bike tours in Napa Valley
 

Hi all<BR><BR>would anyone recommend resources for looking into bike tours of the wine country? or know of any good operators? (mainly just to lug luggage and provide maps and maybe a SAG wagon).<BR><BR>or, does anyone have any favored routes, or just have ideas of places to research this? I am not sure if I would want to have an actual tour, or just visit there and bike ride for a day or two.<BR><BR>also, the better months for riding would be great to know. I understand it can get quite warm there in the summer...<BR><BR>thanks!

ttt

Topping for possible help from Napa and Sonoma people.

flygirl, Do you have a specific time you'll be there?<BR><BR>If not, these people put on one heck of a ride. It's usually the 2nd or 3rd Sunday in August. We missed the last one since we were stil lrecovering from our Chicago trip. :-(<BR>3 diff courses, 35, 65 and 100 mile. Done the 65 once and the 35, 4-5 times.<BR>And at the end, a big BBQ with music.<BR>All sorts of help, incl sag wagon. Well run.<BR>Here's the site: http://www.napanet.net/~eccweb/tour.htm Here's the other: http://www.eaglecyclingclub.org/<BR><BR>We usually go on our own trips 3-4 times a year since we know the place now. <BR>I'd suggest getting a map called "MapEasy's Guidemap to Napa&Sonoma" or "Wine Country".<BR>http://www.mapeasy.com/NapaSonoma.html<BR>Most the big bookstores have them.<BR><BR>Great, pretty much indestructable map that will show you how you can wind your way thru the vineyards. Also shows a lot of the wineries, restaurants and hotels.<BR><BR>We do "cris crosses", usually back and forth from Hwy 29 to Silverado Trail thru the vineyards and back over. Be careful tho...some of those darn tourists are too busy looking for a winery than they are for cycles! ;-D<BR><BR>We also try and stay in Yountville as it's a good midway point to everything in the valley and there are a good number of bars/restaurants that are in walking distance to the hotel/inn that are most important for the proper "cool down period"!<BR>kal<BR>

Kals got some great suggestions for Napa, however, my favorite bike rides are in the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek and Russian River wine areas. (You might want to check out my journal on www.igougo.com). For an alternative to paying for a tour, consider the MS Wine to Waves ride in September.<BR><BR>My favorite time to ride in February/March but Sept./Oct. is also nice.