Page 36 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2017

RIDE a BIKE...
Ride #2 - VAH 2017
TAKE
By David Abbott
Of course I picked one of the hottest days in the waning spring to ride east from
By Aleta Parseghian
The S o nom a C o u nt y Re g i
S Sa a n nt t a a R Ro o s s a a, , w w i it t h h t t e e m mp p e er ra at t u u r r e e s s a ap pp pr r o oa ac c h h i i n ng g 9 9 0 0 d de eg g r r e e e e s s. . B Bu ut t s si i n nc c e e t t h h i i s s i i s s S S o on no om m a a County, three days later it was cloudy and the temperature
never rose above 70.
this year, so I’ve decided to j at as many parks as possi can be hard to find, an middle of a hike wi and you’re force
Find David Abbott’s Ride #1 in our June Vacation at Home and on our website at www.SonomaCountyGazette.com
That is one of the great things about cycling here though, as even at the height of summer there are magical days cooled by the marine layer, with overcast that lasts until late-morning and temperature fluctuations often surpassing 30 degrees.
So I’ve sco hav
So even when being outside is stifling, the intrepid early morning cyclist can get a few hours of riding in relative coolness. Good beer drinking temperatures for a relaxing post- ride beverage at one of the many fine alehouses in Sonoma County is an extra bonus, for those so inclined.
“Cyclops Iron Works”
Eastern Sonoma County
Fascinating fence sculpture in Glen Ellen
The eastern part of Sonoma County is far different in topography, climate and attitude from West County. The Spanish/Mexican influence is more palpable, for reasons not the least of which is the existence of the Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma and the arid climate that reminds one more of the American southwest than the northern California ocean and pine trees to the west.
But it still has the overall Sonoma County vibe that leads
thousands of people to visit annually and keeps the year-round residents here regardless of the cost of living.
Heading east from Santa Rosa, the terrain and vegetation shifts and there are open valleys covered with wild, golden grasses, dotted with oak trees — and of course the ubiquitous vineyards.
Navigating the roads
As with the western roads, the connectors have moderate to heavy traffic, but the side roads are much more quiet and generally populated with residents familiar with bicycle traffic.
This route goes out Bennett Valley Road and returns on Highway 12, and both roads can be in intimidating for the novice cyclist. The shoulder on Bennett Valley is sporadic and non-existent in some of the more difficult parts of the ride, and 12 has a constant conga-line of wine-imbibing tourist and commuter traffic that is offset by the gargantuan shoulder that is consistent from Glen Ellen to Santa Rosa.
As with riding anywhere there is automobile traffic, it is important to have a good grasp of cycling etiquette and the rules of the road. To that end, I asked Sarah Hadler of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition the best approach to these roads. Hadler is a Safe Routes to School Coordinator and a League of American Bicyclist Cycling Instructor who teaches proper riding techniques through the SCBC’s Smart Cycling Classes.
“On the uphill, ride as far to the right as is practicable, giving yourself a little buffer room on the right if you need it,” she said of the ascent on Bennett Valley. “But also be cognizant that vehicles will be behind you, perhaps wanting to pass.”
State law requires slow-moving vehicles to pull over when there are more than five vehicles behind, so it is important to remember first and foremost that the rules of the road we have to follow in cars apply to us on our bicycles too.
“You should ride as far to the right as possible at a hillcrest and
just over, when visibility distance is the shortest,” she added. “When descending, bicyclists may go as fast or faster than cars, so take the lane, and do not hug the right edge.”
It is also important to control speed and be aware of the speed limit and do not exceed the posted speed limit.
Hadler has a formula to use as a way to remember how to behave on the road: PVC.
P is for being predictable;
V is for being visible (wear bright colored clothing and use lights); and
C if for communicate.
But one of the most vital things for a cyclist on the road is to have
BIKE RIDE #2 cont’d on page 38
confidence.
36 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 7/17
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