Planet of the Apes and Coastal Trails
Meet at 8:45 am for a 9:00 am start
Pre-registration
Leisurely but challenging ride from the peninsula to the coast and back. Hopefully there will be clear skies, but it's always possible fog will take over on the coast. Several highlights: Sweeney Ridge, San Pedro Mountain (AKA Planet of the Apes), Gray Whale Cove Trail, Coastal Trail, Purisima Creek Trail. About a third of this ride is unpaved. It'll be more comfortable with wider tires (35 mm+) but it is entirely doable on a road bike if you're willing to deal with some bumpiness. Bring spare tube and flat-fixing tools. We'll be taking Caltrain, so be prepared with Clipper Card. Also bring enough water to last about 3 hours as there are very few potential water options after lunch.
Part 1: From San Bruno BART, start immediately climbing up Sneath Lane. This will gradually get steeper and eventually turn into Sneath Lane Trail (paved). We will continue until reaching the top of Sweeney Ridge. Loop around Sweeney Ridge and down Bacquiano Trail-this is really the only somewhat technical descent (narrow and windy dirt).
Part 2: Next challenge is San Pedro Mountain Road, formerly open to cars but maintenance lapsed and now it's a an eroded semi-maintained hiking/biking trail. There are a few rocky sections and a couple of sandy areas on the descent so be careful. Optional bathroom stop before looping out to Highway 1 on Gray Whale Cove Trail.
Part 3: Most of the next 10 miles are paved, a couple miles on Highway 1 before taking side roads and trails to Half Moon Bay. Lunch in Half Moon Bay-there are a few nearby options plus Starbucks. This is about the halfway point, but also the last real water and full bathroom until Woodside. If for whatever reason you're not feeling up to the rest of the ride, this is also the last real bail opportunity.
Part 4: From Half Moon Bay, we'll take the Coastal Trail to the end (very scenic, mostly unpaved route, secluded from traffic and right near the ocean), very briefly go onto Highway 1, and ultimately take Purisima Creek Road to Purisima Creek Trail, a fairly steep but well graded dirt climb. Then it's just descending into Woodside and Redwood City to Caltrain. If you want to go all the way to BART, you can take Cañada Road to Sawyer Camp Trail but that's on your own. Caltrain runs every half hour, and there is a discounted transfer between Caltrain and BART. If you end up driving to the start, San Bruno Caltrain is under a mile from San Bruno BART.