It is just past eight when I roll up outside the café. The front door is invitingly wide open, and I can see people wandering about inside. I look for somewhere convenient, safe, and discrete to store my bike outside, when a friendly voice hails me from inside, inviting me to bring the bike in with me.
I tentatively walk through the entrance, my cleats tapping against the wooden floor, and the staff points to an eclectic collection of bikes along one of the walls in a dedicated bike rack. Neither for sale, nor even in for maintence, this indoor bike rack has been set aside solely for customers, (and staff) bicycles, and is my first indication that this is no ordinary bike shop or café. It is Rapha’s ‘pop up’ shop in San Francisco, and I am here for their weekly Wednesday morning ride.
There are already several cyclists gathered in the shop. Some are taking the opportunity to have a first hand look at Rapha’s latest jerseys, while others are huddled around discussing yesterdays Tour de Suisse stage, that is being replayed on a big screen TV. Still others are just sitting down at the large table that is the focal point of the shop, sipping a coffee, while thumbing through the pages of the in house copy of the latest cycling magazines such as ‘Peloton’, or ‘Rouleur’.
Photo credit (John Maniquis)
The atmosphere is relaxed, and casual, and I can’t decide if it is more bike shop, or café. I suppose the truth lies somewhere in between. Next to the screen showing the Tour de Suisse is another screen displaying a map of today’s route. Our ride will take us north over the Golden Gate Bridge, through the towns of Sausalito, and Mill Valley, before climbing up to panoramic highway. From there, we continue north to Tamalpais State park, before descending into the seaside town of Stinson Beach. There we will join California’s iconic Highway 1 for the ride south back towards San Francisco. All told, the ride will be just less than 80 km’s.
The riders are an eclectic group, ranging from Cat 1 racers, to relative newcomers to the sport, and as one would expect, this group is not the regular 9-5 crowd you would get on a Saturday morning ride. Even though the pop up shop has only been open a few weeks, it is clear, many of the riders are already regulars. Being a new face, many of the riders are quick to come over, welcoming me, and introducing themselves. Our guide for the mornings ride, Eric Davis, stands up as 8:30 approaches, and briefs us on the route we will take. The plan is to stay together as much as possible, but if riders are dropped during the climbs, he appoints where we will wait to regroup.
Brett, serving up coffee in the morning
Discussing the Rapha pop up store concept with Eric Davis, photo credit (John Maniquis)
Shortly past 8:30, we leave the Rapha shop at the corner of Filbert, and Fillmore streets, and roll down to the waterfront, before turning west towards the Golden Gate Bridge. We are riding opposite to the rush hour traffic flowing into the city, so it is a quiet start to the ride. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge is, at the best of times, dealt with cautiously. The combination of two way bicycle and pedestrian traffic, plus the additional hazard of tourists snapping pictures on the bridge, means one always needs to be attentive for a sudden stop, or someone stepping into your path to take a picture. Added to this, on our particular morning, the bridge was covered in mist, and a fresh west breeze was blowing in through the golden gate.
Safely across the bridge, it is a quick descent into picturesque town of Sausalito, and back into the warm California sunshine. From Sausalito, we took advantage of a well placed bike path running parallel to Interstate 101 as we continued north towards Mill Valley. The bright sunshine, and calm wind meant it was time to shed the arm warmers and wind vests.
Riding towards Mill Valley
Mill Valley is named after a sawmill built in the late1830’s by John Reed, and although the mill is long gone, the town has retained its rustic charm, surrounded by majestic California red woods, and Douglas Fir.
Breathtaking forest of Red Wood, and Douglas Fir, photo credit (John Maniquis)
The size of the imposing Redwood, and Douglas Fir were a sight to behold, as was the powerful cedar smell. There was little time to savor the sights, and smells however, as the narrow, single lane road dodged and weaved its way around the trees, and up the lower slopes of Mount Tamalpais.
Fog rolling in on Panoramic Highway
Once above the denser portion of the forest, the group stopped at the ‘Four Corners’, the intersection of panoramic highway, Sequoia drive, and Muir Woods road. This allowed the riders to regroup, before the final push up panoramic highway to the entrance to Mount Tamalpais state park, and the highest point of the ride.
Highest point of the ride, Tamalpais State Park
From Mount Tamalpais state park, we followed panoramic highway down a long, and, at times technical descent into the seaside town of Stinson Beach to pick up California’s iconic highway 1 for the return to San Francisco. Highway 1 does not disappoint, even for the relatively brief time we are one it. An undulating, serpentine two lane road, hugging the California coastline, it is a pleasure to ride, and all the better early in the morning, thus beating the inevitable vehicular tourist traffic. With the rugged coast on one side, mist, fresh on shore breeze, it was a refreshing culmination to the ride in the Marin hills.
Marin Hills, and Mount Tamalpais
Highway 1
Sign in the men’s washroom
Neil Pryde meets Rapha
A relaxing ride back across the Golden Gate Bridge saw us back to the Rapha shop, and it was time to sip another coffee, and have a well earned pastry. Great conversation, new friends, and a super ride to boot. All in all a great morning out.
But you had better hurry. The Rapha San Francisco pop up shop is only operating until July 31st.
Photo credit (John Maniquis)
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