2016-02-21 - Cycling Around San Francisco
My friend and I waited for my brother to join us at the Super 8 hotel to eat a late breakfast. Between the three of us, we pretty much tried every single item available as part of the continental breakfast. Afterwards, we walked to my brother's place to dig out my bike that I used to cycle 4300 miles across the country. It took longer than we planned but we eventually made it to the Caltrain station to wait even longer for the hourly train. The bike car in the train was surprisingly cool with multiple locations to park bikes complete with straps to hold them securely. The ride itself did not too long.
We walked to the Bike Hub, a small coop bike shop offering good cheap bike rentals at $6 per hour. My friend mounted a white road hybrid while my brother hopped on a large orange mountain hybrid with disc brakes. After trying the bikes, filling the forms, and helping them adjust the seat height, we were off! Our first stop nearby was the Bay Bridge leading to Oakland. The only other bridge leading out of San Francisco is the famous Golden Gate Bridge. This never ceases to surprise me, being used to the 17 walkable bridges along the perimeter of Manhattan and all of which I have walked across on the same day. I did so as part of the Shorewalkers' Great Manhattan Bridge Walk which anyone can join and usually takes place three times a year. (In fact, as I am writing this, I'm planning to join for a part of the next one this Saturday.)
We walked to the Bike Hub, a small coop bike shop offering good cheap bike rentals at $6 per hour. My friend mounted a white road hybrid while my brother hopped on a large orange mountain hybrid with disc brakes. After trying the bikes, filling the forms, and helping them adjust the seat height, we were off! Our first stop nearby was the Bay Bridge leading to Oakland. The only other bridge leading out of San Francisco is the famous Golden Gate Bridge. This never ceases to surprise me, being used to the 17 walkable bridges along the perimeter of Manhattan and all of which I have walked across on the same day. I did so as part of the Shorewalkers' Great Manhattan Bridge Walk which anyone can join and usually takes place three times a year. (In fact, as I am writing this, I'm planning to join for a part of the next one this Saturday.)
We alternated between cycling on the sidewalk and the streets depending on the situation and soon passed the Exploratorium we explored the day before. We stopped for a while at the tourist-filled Fisherman's Wharf, home to sunbathing sea lions. I found the Houdini's store to be nothing special and spotted stores where I had purchased a puzzle and souvenirs before. Pressing on, we passed the Ghirardelli chocolate factory and encountered a road closing. The detour involved us carrying our bicycles up several narrow flights of stairs.
Later we cycled up the hills leading to the start of the Golden Gate Bridge. I went on ahead when my friend and brother had to walk for the steepest portion. Short on time, we decided to take a photo and head back. We cycled about 20 miles overall.
Starving, we bought Subway sandwiches at the station to eat on the train. Later I took a Lyft with my friend to the airport. She flew back home on a delayed flight. Meanwhile, my brother and I enjoyed dinner together before splitting apart to turn in for the night.