When the British band The Flowerpot Men were urging us to go to San Francisco back in 1967, I doubt that cycling was uppermost in their thoughts. Flower-Power and the Hippie dream was all 50 years ago, and a lot can happen in half a century. However, the 60s ethos is alive and well and living happily in California.
I frequently fly to America, and decided that when I was next in San Francisco, I would rent a bicycle and enjoy some California Dreamin’
Having researched bike rentals, I decided that Blazing Saddles offered a good range of bicycles at reasonable rates, with a quality mountain bike starting at $9.00/hour and a range including tandems, and high-performance road bikes. Electric bikes are also available at $69.00 per day.
If they can’t help, then Bay City Bikes offer a good range for similar prices. They are also located on Fisherman’s Wharf.
Included within the package are a helmet, saddlebag, and lock. All cycles are fitted with racks, bells, and bungee cords.
On a pleasant Sunday morning, four of us decided we would cycle across the Golden Gate bridge, and enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant in the little town of Sausalito, returning on the ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf. Total mileage? About 9 miles. This would be ideal, as some of us were inexperienced, and there were steep hills to negotiate en-route to the bridge.
We weren’t in a hurry, so we caught a cable-car from Market Street, and enjoyed the city on the way to Fisherman’s Wharf, where Blazing Saddles are located.
Riding the cable-cars is highly recommended, as the route crosses California Street, made famous by Steve McQueen in the film Bullit. Other films made around the City include Mrs Doubtfire, and the hit 1970s TV series The Streets of San Francisco.
Renting is Simple!
We were renting from the Hyde Street branch, located two blocks from the beginning of the cycle path leading to the bridge. The cable-car stop is only 100 yards from the shop.
Blazing Saddles is a very efficient operation. Friendly and knowledgeable staff manned reception, and we were rapidly talked through the options, and completed the paperwork.
We opted to take additional insurance against damage, and decided on “Comfort” mountain bikes. Upgraded from the standard models, they are fitted with a gel saddle, disc brakes and front suspension. A good decision, as the difference in price is only a dollar an hour!
We decided to take Blazing Saddle’s offer of “sale or return” ferry tickets, which meant no queuing up to buy them at Sausalito. We were given vouchers for a free appetizer at the Paradise Bay restaurant in Sausalito, and reduced rate secure bike parking adjacent to the restaurant.
Having left a credit card number as a security deposit, we were then fitted with our bicycles. We were given a rapid-fire briefing on the cycle controls; it is important to listen to this, as the brakes are set up differently from the way they are in Britain. In the UK, the right hand brake lever operates the front brake, and the left brake lever activates the rear brake.
In the USA that convention is reversed. Missing this piece of vital information could mean an interesting emergency stop scenario, and a subsequent in-depth look at the inside of an American emergency room.
Riding the Route - Nine Miles of Fun.
We cycled from the shop, and descended a short way down Hyde Street, to the intersection with Fisherman’s Wharf, where we turned left, heading west towards the bridge.
The bike route meanders past Aquatic Park on a well-maintained tarmac cycle-path, running adjacent to the waterfront. Within half a mile or so, there is a fairly steep hill leading into Fort Mason Park. Atop the hill is a vista point, giving a view over the bay.
Disappointingly, the weather in June is characteristically foggy in the morning, and only the first tower of the bridge could be seen, and the foghorn sounded moodily melancholy.
We decided not to let this dampen our spirits, and continued on, with a gentle descent through the pleasant grounds of the park, at the bottom of which our sign-posted route took us through a car park, and onto a wide, smooth path.This is shared space, with a pedestrian footpath and two cycle lanes clearly marked for two-way bike traffic.
As this was Sunday morning, every cyclist in San Francisco had decided to get their bikes out, and the air was filled with shouts of “On ya left dude” and “Comin’ through” On the whole, other riders were courteous, and polite.
The path remains fairly flat, and passes Crissy Field, an old Military Aerodrome, which is now part of the Golden Gate Nature Reserve.
Eventually, the trail sweeps left, culminating in a short, steep uphill climb on Long Avenue, which intersects with Lincoln Boulevard. This is the only stretch of the route that uses roads.
Vehicular traffic across the bridge is heavy, and there are segregated paths for pedestrians and cyclists. Quite sensibly, the Bridge authority has ensured that cyclists and pedestrians don’t conflict with each other, by splitting walkers and bikers onto either the east or west side of the bridge.
On Sundays, cyclists were obliged to use the west path and walkers the east. This system is excellent, and makes for a good flow in both directions.
We wound our way under the red spans, pounded by the muted thunder of the traffic and up onto the bridge itself, where we stopped for the obligatory photo by the Golden Gate bridge sign.
The ride across the bridge was chilly, due to the coastal breeze and mist. However, the road surface is well maintained, and clearly signed.
Once over the bridge, a steeply descending curving path leads down into the town of Sausalito.
For Sausalito, think Sandbanks in the UK. Very chic, with numerous boutiques and upmarket restaurants, it’s obviously a prosperous area, with beautifully manicured streets and gardens.
The main highway parallels the beach, filled with seemingly thousands of cyclists all good-naturedly enjoying the pleasant sea breeze. Cars were virtually overwhelmed by the sheer volume of bikes, and to their credit, drivers were considerate and yielded frequently.
Pedalling on, passing the ferry terminal, we eventually spotted the valet bike parking, and the recommended restaurant.
Paradise Bay overlooks the waterfront, and we chose to sit outside to enjoy some top quality fish, and sample some of the local ales – in my case Steam Bitter, which is a refreshing way to end a fabulous ride.
After lunch, we cycled the half-mile to the ferry terminal, and were soon boarded, along with about 150 other cycles for our half-hour crossing of the bay, back to Fisherman’s Wharf.
A short ride took us back to Blazing Saddles, where we returned the bicycles, and settled our bill - just $40.00 each for a whole day’s use of the bikes. What great value for money!
Mark Charlwood - A skilled aviation and technology specialist, able to write cogent, articulate and engaging articles on a variety of subjects.
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