Golden Gate Bike ride...
 

Is it feasable to rent bikes, ride across the Golden Gate bridge and ferry back in an afternoon? How long would an adventure such as this take? Where is the best place to rent the bikes?

Most definitely. I really enjoyed the trip when I took it a few years back. Check out this website for some info

http://www.blazingsaddles.com/

Have fun!!!

This is one of my favorite bike rides. The link provided above is a good one for renting bikes. I live here so I use my own. You can take as long or as short as you like. If you want a short ride just stop in Sausalito and take the ferry from there. Or go on to Tiburon and take a ferry from there (warning, more people do this and the small ferries that leave from Tiburon can be crowded or reach their bike limit fast). Or keep going all the way to Larkspur and take the ferry from there. The last is my favorite trip.

Interesting things to do along the way.... Stop at the vista point on the north side of the bridge and take photos. Stop for coffee or ice cream in Sausalito. Be sure to look back at he views of the city when you get to Sausalito. The houses tumbling down the hillside always makes me think of the Amalfi Coast. In the north of Sausalito, near the place where the charter fishing boats go out, you will find the Bay Model. It's a really interesting visit. Mollie Stones is a great grocery store to stop at for picnic food. They have a fabulous deli. You can go to the benches by the Bay Model and enjoy your meal then pop in for a quick look.

Another fun thing to do is to take the second ferry to Angel Island from tiburon and ride around there for awhile. That means less dawdling along the way if you want to fit that in and still catch a ferry back. Be forewarned, it's a long ride back!

I'm trying to get my wife up for doing the bike ride you describe when we're in SF in Oct. What style bike would be best for me to start getting her used to here at home before we leave? Like, what type do they rent? 10-speed? 5 or 3 speed? Regular handlebars or those straight-across ones? Seems like a simple thing, but I'd like to get her something most comfortable and assuring to her. Any ideas anyone would like to share are welcomed. :)

Ibaboyd, I'd get a hybrid. I presume you are doing the ride for the fun and the views; not for the speed. A hybrid (a cross between road and mountain, with mid size tires and a straight up posture) with 21 speeds would be the most comfortable. The ride only has a couple of hills (the first being the trail up to the bridge). Don't worry... if you get stuck you just get off and walk. It truly is one of the most beautiful rides you will ever take.

Do take a windbreaker. And know that the wind tends to come up later in the afternoon. We usually park at the Exploratorium (free parking in the back) and that last mile along the Marina Green when the fog is coming in and the wind is blowing can be cold! Also, it can be very cold on the bridge.

Grasshopper, you are always so helpful on these boards. Thanks. Really appreciate your advice on the dress and conditions one might run into in that neck of the woods. But 21 speeds??? Wow! I'd never guess it would be good to have so many gears??? Surely, you don't use all of them, do you? So what is the explanation why one would go for this particular callout?

Thank you! I always love sharing the really fun things that I have found.

Most bikes do have 21 speeds now (even what you are probably thinking of as the classic 10 speed with the curled handlebars). I am pretty sure if you rent from Blazing Saddles they will. I'll try to check them out next time I'm down there. On a ride with any real hills, you will use many of the gears but it isn't something to worry about. They work more like a continuim of pedaling ease, rather than something you think about, like shifting a car.

One thing you will find in California is that it's mostly rolling hills. I'm not talking about the Sierra or Mt. Tamalpias, but nothing is really flat for very long. SF has some serious hills, but if you stick to the routes along the Bay they are pretty flat. Also, for much of it you will be on a bike path and not sharing the road with cars. Where you do, there's plenty of space and an actual "bike lane".

Wow, I just checked out Blazing Saddles website. They have it all: http://www.blazingsaddles.com/rides.html

I would definitely go for the hybrid (unless you plan to do some trail riding on Tamalpias). They even have great maps that detail the route. I notice they show you how to get to Sausalito (easy) and Tiburon (longer) but not Larkspur. Keep that in mind for another alternative.

I rented from Blazing Saddles near Pier 39 (or is it 40 or 41?) and rode across the bridge to Sausalito, Tiburon, ferried to Angel Island, then back to the city. One of the best bike rides of my life. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

From what I remember, they only had one type of bike...it was either a mountain bike or hybrid. Whatever it was, it was very comfortable and easy to ride. It comes with a little zippered pack on the front and a lock.

My wife and I are also thinking about doing this in July. Only two things concern us: what kind of shape do you need to be in to tackle the Sausalito ride (we don't own a bike, but we walk about a mile a day on a semi-regular basis), and what would be the earliest time of day to start out to avoid the morning fog I've read about?

I also noticed that you can make advanced reservations on Blazing Saddles' site, but only from their North Beach location. Are advanced reservations recommended? Is the path from there to the Golden Gate Bridge more difficult and/or significantly longer?

didave,

Just do it (as they say in the ad :-) ) I see on the Blazing Saddles map that the Sausalito ride is 8 miles. That's not bad at all, and much of it is downhill (or flat). The North Beach location is literally blocks from Fisherman's Wharf, and they are flat blocks. From there you are on the one and only trail to the bridge. All but a tiny part is off the road. Take your time and you will have no problems. I think reservations would be a great idea but call them and see what they think

I'd leave around 10 am. That will get you into Sausalito for lunch. Enjoy SF!

You're helpful ... and convincing, Grasshopper. Hybrid it is (yeah, we'll be out just for fun, not speed or such). Thanks for the Blazing Saddles link. You got my attention when you mentioned the Exploratorium and free parking in the back. We'll have our car and park at our hotel (Donatello, $35/day!) on Post in Union Sq - would you advise driving or taking public transportation to one of the Blazing Saddle locations?

Hmmm, I think you will want to take public transportation. The Exploratorium will be a mile or so along your ride. Keep in mind, it's a big loop so it doesn't extend or shorten your ride either way. Be sure to check out the Bay Model (about a mile beyond the shops and restaurants in Sausalito. Last time I was there it was free.