Sonoma Coast Middle Loop

Following some of the same roads as the Levi Leipheimer Grand Fondo, the Sonoma Coast Route Series is likely the most scenic, challenging, and rewarding route collection around. lightly traveled roads, coastal redwoods and some of the most technical climbs and descents anywhere. It is not uncommon to hear that parts of these routes contain some of the worlds best riding.

If you live anywhere close to the Sonoma Coast, then you should be including this ride on at least a twice yearly basis (or one of the other incarnations of this route).  Not only does it allow you to escape the sweltering heat of California's central valley and foothills, but it also provides truly breath taking scenery and the proper mix of challenging terrain.  From the IkonCycles store in Sacramento, the drive is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with light traffic.  Because of this,  it seems best to try and make the trip one that you stay overnight at least one night.  I will include some details on where I like to stay later in this article.

People from outside the area that have never experienced the true scenic beauty of California, often return from their visits feeling that we (Californians) over rate our state.  To be fair, most of the more densely populated areas are indeed lack luster.  There is the great brown air of the central valley all the way down to San Diego on some days.  Then there is the Heat in the Valleys, the traffic, hazy skylines of too many cities jutting up from the horizon like so many broken teeth.  Not only is this unattractive, repeated in venue after venue through which we travel and generally spend our lives in.   No for some one to have even the slightest inkling of why California is such a vaunted place to live.  The need to travel away from the homogeneity of our cities and to such a place as our northern coast regions.  

No other ride has combined such variety of aesthetic.  From deep coastal redwood groves to steep technical climbs toward the coast to harrowing descents with breath taking views of the pacific Ocean, no other area can offer quite such a variety.  All with roads that are relatively friendly to bike traffic.  

This Middle route is named such due to the decreased mileage of the course.  Keep in mind that this should not be viewed as an intermediate route technically.  One of the climbs on Fort Ross Road, keeps a minimum grade of 10% for well over a mile at one point with some up kicks of over 13%  for good chunks of road.  You really want to make sure that your riders have experienced this type of climb before.  What they will experience is an assortment on climbs that are more similar to those that you would find in Europe on one of the grand tours then what the average rider is accustomed to.  This is why people from all over the world say that the routes in this area are among the best...anywhere.  

Temperature is very rarely above 90 degrees anywhere on this route.  The average temperature you will find on this ride will be in the 70s with a ten degree variance due to the coastal influence.  So, the nearer you are the coast, the cooler it is.  Wind s an issue as it is strong most of the time and prevails from the north northwest.  You will want to plan the ride then to head south when on Highway 1.  All of the routes I have prepared do this.