OMG: Fairfax-Bolinas Road!

W800

W800

Noob
OK, so I decided to ride to Stinson Beach today from the East Bay. Took normal route, then decided to cut up to Mt. Tam, since I hadn't been there in a while. Then I kept just taking left turns after I got there. Holy Mother of G**!

I ended up on Fairfax-Bolinas road. Here is what it's like:

1) All hairpins, some of them basically u-turns, and many if not most off camber.
2) First and second year. Never even got to 3rd.
3) Pine needles and some rocks all over the road since few use it.
4) ONE LANE.
5) Uneven pavement.
4) ALL blind corners. Right corners going down are blind because of cliff faces. Left corners going down are blind because of trees.
5) Alternating sun and dark (so eyes can't get adjusted).
6) Maybe one guard rail, the rest are sheer drops of several hundred feet.

When I was riding it, I was like "damn, this is technical as all hell." It actually wasn't pleasant. Would have been more pleasant on a super moto or dirt bike, I think.

But when I got home I realized I need to go back. . . :thumbup:thumbup:thumbup
 

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Wrider

Wrider

Wrider
Best. Road. Ever. Did it today. (Then again, I love leaves/wet pavement/surprises. Good for skills.)
 
matty

matty

Well-known member
I haven't been on it for a year or two, does it still have the jump? Right before you come out of the trees and start heading up hill towards the golf course?
 
WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
30 years ago Bo-Fax used to be a featured event on the Wednesday Night Ride. It was basically the hardcores from the SMR and run at night. The Coaster Race would start at the top, and whoever made it down to the bottom first with no motor was the winner. I came within a few turns from winning once :laughing Always some carnage on that portion of the ride :laughing
 
W800

W800

Noob
Wrider said:
Best. Road. Ever. Did it today. (Then again, I love leaves/wet pavement/surprises. Good for skills.)
Click to expand...

We may have passed each other!

I didn't see anyone on that road on a bike - but when I was on the road that goes to it (the one that goes along a ridge), I did see someone who was pulled off to the side.

Amen on the skills! OMG - when I got on Highway 1 finally, I was like "I got this!"

It actually f'ed me up slightly, because I was over-riding a little.

That being said - when I got to Stinson, I was able to finally try a technical move that I never liked doing on a street bike. At the little store across from the park, the road is fairly steep. I parked by the store, pointing uphill. When I usually leave the store, I just keep going uphill. This time, I was able to pull basically a u-turn and go back down. It seems trivial. but it's not easy to do on a heavy bike. If I am remembering how I did it, I think it was putting my weight inside as I was pointing uphill, then shifting my weight outside as the bike started to point downhill. I wouldn't have even tried this had it not been for that road.

ETA: I did see another rider at the store. They just parked on level ground by the park, LOL. That's no fun!!!
 
W800

W800

Noob
matty said:
I haven't been on it for a year or two, does it still have the jump? Right before you come out of the trees and start heading up hill towards the golf course?
Click to expand...

I think I was too far West for that. I hit it off Ridgeline. :thumbup
 
W800

W800

Noob
WoodsChick said:
30 years ago Bo-Fax used to be a featured event on the Wednesday Night Ride. It was basically the hardcores from the SMR and run at night. The Coaster Race would start at the top, and whoever made it down to the bottom first with no motor was the winner. I came within a few turns from winning once :laughing Always some carnage on that portion of the ride :laughing
Click to expand...

I can see why!!! I've been riding since 1976. This is probably one of the more sketchy roads I have found. I will think about it all week, then do it next week in opposite direction (which will be easier).

One thing I haven't done in a long time is get into the middle of a corner and go "oh shit!" I did that multiple times today!!! Just reverted to form (straighten out line, brake hard, then flick bike over again to get through turn). Luckily, these are like 15MPH corners. So super good practice.

ETA: the bike I rode this on is a Kawasaki W800. Not exactly the paragon of handling, LOL. People are like "that's a beginner's bike." I am like "no, it's the opposite" - this bike is WAY harder to ride moderately fast. My FXR handled better than this! But I still love it.
 
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gixxerjeff

gixxerjeff

Dogs best friend
W800 said:
I ended up on Fairfax-Bolinas road.
Click to expand...

I grew up just a few miles from that road. I spooned some Dunlop K81's on my 1973 Honda XL250 and suddenly had a Sumo before there was such a thing. That was in the 70's. I still bomb that road as often as I can, never gets old....even if I do. :afm199
 
duck_rider

duck_rider

Well-known member
Amazing hidden gem. It was especially awesome a few years ago when they just re-opened it to car traffic. It was closed for a bit due to some landslides from rain. Still not too many cars on it, just the guys driving in/out after cycling really.
 
N

N4teTheGreat

Noob!
That a good one, Panoramic Highway to the beach, Bofax to either ridgeline (and then 1 home) or all the way to Fairfax makes for a nice loop from SF if I'm short on time. Good way to remind myself I'm not as good as I think I am
 
C

chuckwarren

Well-known member
Good Times!!

WoodsChick said:
30 years ago Bo-Fax used to be a featured event on the Wednesday Night Ride. It was basically the hardcores from the SMR and run at night. The Coaster Race would start at the top, and whoever made it down to the bottom first with no motor was the winner. I came within a few turns from winning once :laughing Always some carnage on that portion of the ride :laughing
Click to expand...

The Coaster Race was a riot.
 
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