Worth it...? Hwy 9, 35, Alice's and more

[taylormade21]

Just curious if it's worth the trip?
I'm coming from above the sac area. It's about a 2.5-3 hr slab pending traffic just to get to the San Jose area. But I can't stand ridding freeway that long, my hip and hind quarters won't be able to handle that either.
Therefore, I'd have to truck the bike down, get a room so I could spend all day ridding in the Santa Cruz mountains and take my time. Then, load the bike up and truck it home.
Soooo,...my question is, is hwy 9, hwy 35, Alice's and more around there worth all that?

(I'm looking to sell the sportbike in the next year to get a more upright/comfortable ride to do more long hauls)

 

[m0t0_ryder]

Yes.
Worth it.

Barring the Sierra's the bay area coastal range has some of the best roads to ride in Central California.

If your gonna make a day of it try to include Tunitas Creek (to Lobitos Creek), Stage Rd. Pescadero Rd, Swanton Rd, Bonny Doon to Empire Grade, Jaimeson Creek.
Also good are Alpine and Mountain Charlie's.

All of these are between Hwy 92 and Hwy 17.

 

[WorldSBK]

Yes, it's worth it imho. 84 (La Honda) toward the Pacific Ocean is worth it too.

 

[Slow Goat]

Absolutely, just be sure it is mid-week

 

[Cincinnatus]

Naciamento-Ferguson FTMFW... :teeth

Lunch in Davenport, walk to the Bonny Doon winery, taste a bit, buy some phenomenal vino, continue... arty :thumbup

 

[Hooli]

Absolutely, just be sure it is mid-week

100% this. Avoid the squid shit-show on weekends.

 

[Junkie]

Where you are, Sierras are a better option.

 

[Moto Beck]

Or berryessa

 

[Hooli]

Or berryessa

If you want to ride in an ash storm, then yeah.

 

[taylormade21]

100% this. Avoid the squid shit-show on weekends.

Whelp...weekends are kinda what I'm working with.

Where you are, Sierras are a better option.

Closer to the sierras, just wanted to ride a different area with no smoke

Or berryessa

Trying to avoid smoke

 

[Moto Beck]

If you want to ride in an ash storm, then yeah.

:rofl yeah hit the back side of that yesterday on the way back from Ft Bragg - it was smokey pretty much from middletown down to suisin. Eyes are killing me today and look like i did about 10 bong rips before heading to work.

Trying to avoid smoke

Obviously depends on the wind direction but i hear you - i know it's a bit farther west for you - maybe not worth the effort but 128 from calistoga to geyserville - skaggs to stewarts point is a great ride - you can take 1 down the coast - cut back in by pt reyes to lucas valley

Largely smoke free out that way (at least was this weekend) - just another suggestion.

Agree with others that alices on the weekend is a fucking circus

 

[ejv]

If you get an early start you can do some good riding in the SC mountains. Or if you stick to the smaller roads. 9/84/35 are busiest midday. Problem with too early is you may have to contend with sea layer so it is a balancing act. As the summer ends and fall comes you run into less daylight and cooler temps on the mountains. More shade and sometimes dampness on the roads so early starts become more of an issue.

Can't say if it is worth it or not. I lived in roseville for a year and did some riding out in your area. Lots of decent roads and far less traffic.

 

[WorldSBK]

Absolutely, just be sure it is mid-week

Yes, at weekends, there are a lot of cars too ... not fun ...

 

[taylormade21]

Thanks for all the good info.
There are lots of good roads up here.
But I was looking for a little cooler weather and smoke is brutal. I'm pretty sensitive to it. Smoke has been around the berryessa area and very heavy in the sac area.
By the time I ride through sac, I'd be dying from the smoke.
Maybe I ll see what weekdays I can call in sick....

 

[Moto Beck]

Those 3 roads are the worst with nut jobs but Bonny dune, empire grade, gazos creek and pine flat are all great roads that have significantly less traffic and still hold the cooler temps until you get more inland.

 

[Butch]

Some of us can ride on weekdays from say 10 till 2... i could meet you at Alices.

This is bucket list stuff. That and riding down the coast past Big Sur on a Wednesday.

 

[banshee01]

You should do a 2 day ride man.

Come through mnt hamilton by the lick observatory. Then make your way by metcalf and onto uvas
Over hecker pass hwy 152
Then onto 9 to 35 to 84 to 1 south
Down 1 past big sur onto naciemneto Ferguson
Through king city to hwy 25 north
Then 101 back over mnt Hamilton and home

Check out a ton this area has in 1 weekend

Best weekend of your life!

 

[ItsMissMia]

There are plenty of roads to ride in santa cruz that aren't a shit show on the weekends. Try Felton to ice cream grade and then out to Bonny Dune (Highway 1). From there you can take your pick and travel north to some cool beaches like Davenport or go all the way to San Francisco and make your way across the Golden Gate to Mt. Tamalpais or head south to Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, etc. Either way you can't go wrong.