Roads I Love; Oakland, CA.

I feel like I haven't worked in weeks, but it's only been about three days. That plus being new to a city with not much to do, means I've had plenty of time to read, write, and of course ride! The reading has been mostly the celebrated travelogue Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon. This has been a bad idea. Reading travelogues just inspires me to see more! The last part I've read through was the Southwest, which combined with my previous readings of Wallace Stegner and Edward Abbey, has me real inspired to get out into the open desert. Then before that it was his writings on the mysterious Creole country of Louisiana, which Henry Miller also expounded upon in An Air-Conditioned Nightmare. These readings are just more of a reason to get back on the road and see something new.

But besides the reading and my getting antsy, the riding has been great, I've even gotten a good sense of those hills to leave the GPS at home and actually know where I am going. That being said here is a short list of roads that I've learned to love so far in the Oakland Hills.

1. Skyline Boulevard

Surly looks sexy this high. View from Skyline.

This is the road I usually need to take to get to the other beautiful roads. It is a roadie highway it seems, as lycra'd speedsters zoom by, some with friendly smiles, other with brutal seriousness (must ride faster or you will think less of me). This road follows the crest of the mountain for the most part before Grizzly Peak bears (no bun intended) off towards a higher peak. Along this ridge you can look down over the populated cities of Oakland, Berkeley, and across the Bay at San Francisco or you can turn your head and look down on the water that quenches these peoples in the San Leandro Reservoir.

Misty Skyline.

2. Old Tunnel Road

Old Tunnel via Google Maps, look at the twists!

So far, my favorite way to descend the hills. A windy twisty drop down from the Northern end of Skyline Boulevard letting out right at Lake Temescal Regional Park. Being in the hills, it too has a handful of cyclists I pass on my way down (the ride up probably isn't too bad, the road seems fairly shallow on Old Tunnel). From the beginning you can look down the valley where Oakland rests, unfortunately listening to the blaring traffic of 24. The lack of cars on this road also means I get a chance to take the full road for those twists.

The top of Old Tunnel Road, looking over the noisy Highway

3. Pinehurst Rd

Pinehurst Rd via Google Maps

I love that sign. The north entrance to Pinehurst.

Looking East from the middle hill of Pinehurst.

Another view East, only with the Reservoir.

Arching around the backside of the hills, Pinehurst is the best way to loop Skyline. Connecting to Redwood Rd, Pinehurst bends and arcs near the Reservoir and passes through my favorite little spot Canyon, CA. Riding here mostly in the afternoon thus far, the trees provide excellent shade and the fog is usually non-existent thanks to the hills. The climbs are not super tough, but there is elevation to be gained here, and fun ones too, also with those twists and turns, including some wicked switchbacks and a Stop sign where only one car could pass (but about 8 cyclists, silly cars).

Pinehurst Elev Profile from Mapmyride.com

Awesome Fire house on Redwood Rd.

This must be why they call it Redwood Road.

These are only the beginning of my fun in the Hills, I hope to get Wildcat Canyon Road again, as I've taken that up over the backside of the hills before, and San Pablo Dam Rd, seems like a great way to make another loop. That being said I've been envious of the people on their offroaders playing around in the East Bay Ridge Trail, that means I'll have to get some knobbys soon and play too!