PRISTINE RIDING WITH REMARKABLE FOOD & WINE.

“There are some places so beautiful they can make a grown man break down and weep.” 
― Edward Abbey, The Monkey Wrench Gang

Welcome to our Northern California backyard. The Bay Area’s playground widely paraded and purveyed. Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Russian River, Mendocino - all diamonds in the rough for both cycling and wine, it’s where RAID cycling will send its expeditionary force with a mission inspired by RAID’s core value of bringing the world the absolutely undiscovered. This RAID takes us from our enchanting front door in Marin County to the outer reaches of Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa Counties. We venture out along raging rivers & rugged coasts, winding stretches of tarmac through dense redwood forests and along steep and winding sun-drenched ridge tops. Recover in charming hotels, dine on farm to fork meals & imbibe on wine tasting visits along the way. 

Day 0: aRRIVAL DAY - SAN FRANCISCO

Upon your arrival into San Francisco International Airport (Airport Code: SFO), you will transfer into the city by the bay.

O/N On your own.

Day 1: MILL VALLEY - OCCIDENTAL/GUERNEVILLE

75-90 miles / 7,700 - 8522 Feet

We will arrange to pick you up in the morning between 8 am and 10am at one of our hotels or at one of your arrival locations. From here, we will transfer you into the quaint village of Mill Valley, from where we will stage our morning ride.

Rolling green hills complimented by splendid riding through small villages and bucolic farm lands. Our ride this morning see’s us heading through Northern Marin, we will be met by our first punchy climb up the famed Mount Tamalpais and take in the Panoramic views across the upper Sonoma & Marin Valleys.

Pt Reyes National Seashore is one of the most popular cycling regions in this area. It offers up just about everything a cyclist appreciates in a back road: rolling topography, a meandering path, lovely scenery, decent pavement, and not much traffic. It is occasionally level but more frequently is climbing or descending over gently rolling terrain. This is all dairy country: open grasslands, with oak and bay in the draws. The remainder of our ride will have us riding along ridgetops and sweeping valleys with long, low, rolling hills clothed mainly in waving grasses, but with stands of eucalyptus and bay and oak here and there. Dairies predominate, along with those few remaining poultry operations. In a few spots, the vistas from atop this ridge are quite expansive and grand. 

Depending on Covid, we will be staying at one of our quaint inns. We will select the property that is open and available for our group. We will select from the refined luxury camping tents deep in the Redwoods or at one of our quaint inns in Occidental.

Coffee - Wild Flour Bakery-Freestone
Lodging - Auto Camp - Guerneville or Occidental Lodge - Occidental
Dining - BBQ Auto Camp / Union Hotel Cafe

Day 2: KINGS RIDGE + WILLOW CREEK

78 miles / 7,891 Feet

Epic and amazing might be overused adjectives, but both are applicable in describing today’s ride. While King Ridge is pretty remote, a fair number of California cyclists have made this unforgettable circuit, as it’s the meat and potatoes of the classic NorCal ride – Levi Leipheimer’s Gran Fondo. It’s truly legendary at this time. In addition to the iconic climbs and sweeping descents, ocean views and remoteness, we will also have a few special stops along the way at the off the beaten path bakeries and coffee stops.

Ending along the rough California coast, we then will climb the local’s route, up Willow Creek. This 9- miles stretch of hard packed dirt and gravel trail has quite a history around these parts, often the finishing climb during the local road race called the Grasshopper series.

Coffee - Lightwave Coffee, Mont Rio & Gold Coast Coffee, Duncans Mills
Lodging - Auto Camp - Guerneville or Occidental Lodge - Occidental
Dining - BBQ Auto Camp / Union Hotel Cafe

Day 3: OCCIDENTAL/GUERNEVILLE - HOPLAND  

75 miles / 7,405 Feet

This morning we begin with a quick ride into Armstrong Redwoods, a dense grove of old growth giants. From here we begin climbing what is known by the local’s as Sweetwater. A challenging steep climb with pitches hitting 18% with ripping, curvy descents through dense woods. Once through the mountain, we drop into the heart of the Russian River Appellation, deep in the wine country. Gently roll past wineries and family farms, passing through Alexander Valley before we begin our next challenge, the dual climbs known as the Geysers! 

The infamous Geysers Loop, where we’ll tackle one of Sonoma County’s toughest climbs before rolling into Hopland our base for this evening, the Thatcher Hotel & the Campovida winery and farm.  The natural phenomenon from which this road takes its name shoots water straight up in the air, so, naturally, the road shoots (you guessed it!) straight up. Peaking out at about 13.5 percent, it’s enough for you to pop a few wheelies while pumping the pavement. Enjoy the burn. Love the hill. Sweat like a geyser.

Welcome to Hopland, oft-regarded as little more than a stop on Highway 101’s winding and wending trek north to the Oregon border. We will enjoy a wine tasting this afternoon at Campovida. Brad’s friendship with the owners, Ana and her husband Gary goes back a few years and their winery, farm, hotel and restaurant make for a very special visit. We’ll share a few bottles of wine, play some bocci ball & tour the gardens on the estate, have a private wine tasting before dining at their Stock Farm bistro.  We’ll end the night tucked into your cozy beds at the newly remodeled Thatcher Hotel, only 18 rooms in the historic property. A highlight of the trip after a remarkable day on the bike.

Coffee - Plank Coffee Cloverdale
Lodging - Thatcher Hotel, Hopland
Tasting - Campovida Winery
Dining - Stock Farm Bistro

Day 4: HOPLAND - MENDOCINO

64 miles / 5,555 Feet

Grab some hearty breaky at the Bluebird Café. The culmination of our RAID takes us out of Hopland and to the north, where we’ll tackle the Road to No-where, cutting a swath through dense forests and rolling hills to the coast at Mendocino. The ride proffers incredible views and serene terrain with some steep climbs. You will enjoy nearly 60 km of quite roads as we venture along Orr Springs, a sliver of a road tracing a winding route through the rugged coastal mountains.

California’s Mendocino County is best known for its beguiling coastline.  Built by Maine lumberjacks in the 1800’s, the saltbox-style houses that make up the little bluff top village of Mendocino now shelter an arts colony. Lots of boutiques, restaurants, and lounges, round out the experience. Beyond its borders, the Pacific Ocean and redwood forests afford beautiful views.

The place to eat tonight is Cafe Beaujolais. Located in a historic Victorian on a quiet downtown side street, it’s a venerable standby that changed hands two years ago when Julian Lopez, a 20-something chef from L.A., took the helm. Like most places nowadays, Lopez’s Cal-French menu rotates with the seasonally available produce. Current standouts include dry-aged Liberty Farms duck and tangy calamansi lime ice cream with crisp almond cookies.

Lodging - Blue Door Inn or similar
Village walk - visit galleries & boutiques  
Dining - Café Boujoulias

Day 5: MENDOCINO - BOONVILLE

65 miles / 7,215 Feet

Coastal Bliss. A tailwind chases us along the coastline as we take a few side roads and short deviations before climbing steeply into the heart of the coast mountains, known as the California Alps. After a feed at the Point Arena Lighthouse, we begin our climb eastward. This ride is tough. It may be one of the hardest climbs in Northern California. And the road surface is mostly shaky and there are limited “views”, despite the road’s name- Mountain View Road. The majority of the time, all you can see is the greenery on either side of the road. With no views, conquering this road is mostly about bragging rights, the sense of adventure and the two charming towns at either end before wrapping up in the quirky town of Boonville.   

Check in for two nights at the Boonville Hotel, a rural roadhouse with clean, comfortable beds, fresh, expertly prepared food, and friendly, down-to-earth staff.  For guests who are used to a busier, fussier lodging experience, the style will be a change of pace. Enjoy the bed, the food, the people; enjoy the garden and grounds, the town. It’s a lodging experience that won’t be found anywhere else.

Coffee - Elk Store – Elk 707 877 3544 & Queenie’s Roadhouse Café
Lodging - Boonville Hotel, Booneville or The Apple Farm
Village walk - visit galleries & boutiques  
Dining - Table 28, Boonville Hotel
Beers - Anderson Valley Brewing Co.

*If the group confirms early enough for this departure, we have the alternative chance to stay and dine on the Philo Apple Farm, which is, in itself, reason enough to visit the valley. With its orchards and gardens, its rustic farm stand where chutneys and jams are sold on the honor system, and its handful of modern-design cottages hiding in the trees, the Apple Farm is the kind of place that makes country living look appealing enough to get even the most jaded city dweller dreaming of moving out to the country. Which, in a sense, is what owners Don and Sally Schmitt did. Back in the late 1970s, the Schmitts founded the French Laundry in Yountville, where Sally was chef, and where Don was the sommelier. This is a very special opportunity.  The evening dinner begins late afternoon with us foraging for our herbs and vegetables. From here, Sally will cut and dice along with us while we prepare our evening meal in her classic Tuscan kitchen. The family sits down with us while we enjoy the feast and local wine.

Day 6: BOONVILLE

65 miles / 7,215 Feet

A day for rest. In the heart of the Anderson Valley, Booneville is the hot spot on the road to the coast. If you’re thirsty for some local brew, saddle up to the Anderson Valley Brewing Company where we can drink a pint, play disc golf, or take a tour. Pennyroyal Farms is across from the brewery; their award winning goat and sheep cheese is available – they give farm tours that show off the happiest goats around. The local farmers market each Saturday is worth a visit. Finish off your afternoon with a stroll through the wine tasting rooms. If your keen for a hike, we can visit the Hendy Woods park and visit the old growth Redwood grove.

We cap off our day with a wonderful evening meal at the hotel restaurant tonight. The chef, Perry Hoffman who has racked up accolades has earned a Michelin star at étoile at Domain Chandon. Hoffman is bringing his fine-dining aesthetic to the erstwhile roadhouse.

*We have plenty of optional bike rides today if you like. The Boonville area offers you a remarkable 7 riders worth doing. Let us know what your after.  

Lodging - Boonville Hotel, Booneville or The Apple Farm
Village walk - visit galleries & boutiques  
Dining - Table 28, Boonville Hotel
Beers - Anderson Valley Brewing Co.

Day 7: BOONVILLE - HEALDSBURG
QUEENS STAGE

102 miles / 11,700 Feet

Dig deep today on what will surely be one of the most demanding and rewarding rides of your life-the Queens Stage. Fish Rock. Quickly turning to gravel and pitching upward, you’ll find yourself in a place unlike any other. For the next 30 miles, you’ll have yourself, your legs and your heartbeat to keep you company before we hit the coast. We cruise south along Hwy 1 before heading deeply into the Coastal Mountains again. 

We will be on one of the most epic and remote roads in the county, Skaggs Springs Road. Only the fittest riders attempt this route without support, but with the RAID van close bye, it’s doable for us. For the next 55 km, oak woodland with wildflowers like mustard and vinca blooming very early in the spring. There are the ubiquitous vineyards, ranches, cattle guards on the road, and remains of old homesteads. You will encounter the odd car along this remarkable route, no stop signs, and rarely any reminders of civilization. Savor the remoteness and idyllic ride, one of RAID’S favorite roads in the world!

Once we descend into the valley outside Healdsburg towards the end of the day, we jump on the West Dry Creek Road Wine Trail, one of our favorite backroads in wine country. It is one of the prettiest and quietest roads you will find in wine country. Feel free to stop in and have a glass of cold chardonnay. Recommended wineries along the route: Lambert Bridge, Quivira, Hawley, Preston and Bella Vineyards.  

Healdsburg, the small city is charming and quaint, occupying less than five square miles. It holds an incredibly important geographical location as the spot where three of Sonoma’s major viticulture areas — Russian River, Alexander Valley, and Dry Creek all converge.

Tonight, we have some fun planned. Acclaimed winemaker Pete Seghesio studied with Italian masters and secured the best local ingredients from local farms to create a wonderful tasting experience. Pete left the wine industry and found his new passion. He studied under world-famous butcher Dario Cecchini of Panzano Italy, he learned the art of Italian-style whole animal butchery. Today the passion continues under Journeyman Meat Company. As a side note, Brad Sauber used to lead bicycle trips through the tiny hilltop village of Panzano in Chianti, always stopping in to be greeted by the gregarious Dario Cecchini himself and his American wife. You never left Dario’s shop without a glass of Chianti and a slice of meat. Tonight, we will visit to have a tasting of the few Pete’s select wines and hand-crafted meats.

Coffee - Stewarts Point Store
Lodging - Hotel Trio, Healdsburg
Tasting - Journeyman Meat- salumi and wine
Dining - Bravas Bar Tapas

Day 8: HEALDSBURG - CALISTOGA

74 miles / 4,800 Feet

From the Russian River valley, we begin our journey through the foothills into the northern end of Napa Valley and the quaint spa resort town of Calistoga. We pass through Jimtown and continue on Hwy 128 before dropping into the hamlet with the geysers. From here we carry on south passing dozens of wineries along the Silverado Trail before turning east into the vineyard filled Chilles & Pope Valley’s. 

Gary Erickson, founder of Clif Bar has made his family home here far off the grid in the Pope Valley.  We will pass through his estate as we climb Ink Grade, a one-lane strip of shaded road where the air becomes cooler and a breeze whisps through the pines. After the summit we plunge back down the mountain into the heart of the Napa Valley. Ending our day with a cold glass of Rosé at Gary’s cycling themed wine tasting room called Velo Vino - Clif Family Winery. Enjoy a fresh bruschetta from the family food truck and toast the ending of our ride! 

Coffee - Plank Coffee
Lodging - Cottage Grove, Calistoga
Dining - Celebration!

Day 9: CALISTOGA - SAN FRANCISCO

Following breakfast and an early stroll through town, we will load up for our 2-hour transfer back to the Bay Area.

*We can manage flights from SFO this afternoon, it would be best if they were booked after 12 noon.

MORE INFO ABOUT THIS TOUR

FEATURED TOWNS/DESTINATIONS

MILL VALLEY
Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, you arrive in Marin even before landing on solid ground. The county line hangs above the water’s edge, which is fitting, since the county itself feels suspended — ethereal, privileged, a place apart from the rest of the Bay Area. The little gem of Mill Valley rewards those to visit-hike Mt Tam, scramble through Muir Woods redwood giants and enjoy the mellow village culture.

TOMALES
Tomales is a beautiful town of approximately 200 residents who reside near the winding Shoreline Highway 1 that runs along the east side of Tomales Bay and overlooks Point Reyes National Seashore. Though located only 60 miles north of San Francisco, the coastal trip on two lane roads from the big city to Tomales usually takes about 2 hours.  Scenic beauty awaits those who cycle the Shoreline Highway; the fog, rain and twists may require keeping your eyes trained on the road, however.

OCCIDENTAL
Tucked away in western Sonoma County, the tiny community of Occidental (pop. 1,115) packs a lot into its two-block long main street, home to galleries, gift shops, renowned dining establishments, and other local businesses. As the midpoint on the exceptionally scenic 10-mile drive known as the Bohemian Highway, Occidental attracts cyclists and car clubs as the starting point for a number of beautiful and challenging routes between the redwoods and the coast.

MENDOCINO
Beguilingly picturesque Mendocino—unlike Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, Santa Cruz and other touristy coastal California communities—is pretty much off the beaten path. It's about a 3-hour drive north of San Francisco, which gives this little jewel box of a community an air of slightly quirky exclusivity. This is perhaps the most popular travel destination on the northern California coast for San Francisco Bay Area residents, especially on sunny summer weekends. Despite relative inaccessibility—or perhaps because of it—the area's natural beauty began attracting artists in the 1950s, and Mendocino remains a haven for those with a creative bent. 

HOPLAND
Often seen as a quick stop along Hwy 1, the quaint village of Hopland offers an inland juxtaposition to the coastal tranquility. While this village seldom receives much fanfare, its treasured by wine fans who ache for a respite, far from the crowds.

BOONEVILLE
A little town with big charm.  Most people, even otherwise well-traveled Northern Californians, would be hard-pressed to tell you where the Anderson Valley is. For the record, it’s about 120 miles north of San Francisco, and about 40 miles southeast of Mendocino.  There’s only one road, one hotel, one excellent restaurant (and a couple of more casual eateries), a growing number of wineries, a state park with about 8 miles of hiking trails, and not much else to do besides admire the wine, the food, and the scenery. As a result, the valley feels manageable, approachable, and somehow a lot more authentic than other wine countries in California.

HEALDSBURG
For a sampling of the best that Northern California’s famous Wine Country has to offer — fine wine, farm-to-table cuisine, art, music, natural beauty, small-town charm, world-class shopping, and relaxation, Healdsburg has it all! And it’s perfectly situated for our escapes by bike into the remote coastal mountains.

CALISTOGA
Located at the northern tip of Napa Valley at the base of Mount Saint Helena, Calistoga is the less traveled, laid-back sister to the bustling downtown Napa. It’s ironic in a way, since the town of Calistoga helped put Napa Valley on the global wine map.

START AND END OF TOUR

START & END OF THE TOUR We suggest arriving one day prior on to the trip start date.

ARRIVAL, TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS 
INBOUND FLIGHTS We suggest flying San Francisco [code SFO], with direct flights from many major US & European cities.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE RAID Upon your arrival, we can assist with your transfers from SFO to our arrival hotel. On the last day, we suggest you do not make your flight arrangements till after 4 pm.

EXTRA NIGHTS If you are traveling a long distance, we recommend you arrive a few days before the start of the trip to get rid of any jet lag. If you plan to arrive early, please contact a hotel directly to make a reservation.

ARRIVAL DAY RAID staff will be available at our arrival hotel. We will be in the lobby and are able to help with the assembly of your bicycles by 10 am. We will be meeting for a trip orientation and dinner this evening at 4 pm or 18:00.

CONCLUSION OF THE TRIP Our last official day. After breakfast we will be shuttling back to the Bay Area this morning. The RAID shuttle service will be running and will take you to San Francisco International Airport [code SFO] or to your hotel of choice if you are staying on in the area.

BIKE CASES You will be traveling with your bike case to CA and we will manage how it is handled in country. We will assist you with your bike case. Please let us know as soon as possible what your post trip travel plans are so we can make the arrangements.

STAFF GRATUITIES Thank your guides by tipping! Gratuities for your RAID guides are not included in the price of your trip. It is an industry standard to tip 5-10% of your trip price to be divided by your guide team. Please tip your guides at your discretion based on their level of professionalism, guest care and RAID Signature Service. 

CLIMATE, EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING

In most years, the Bay Area averages a daily maximum temperature for July-Aug that's between 67 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The minimum temperature usually falls between 49 and 52 °F. The days warm up slowly during July/August.

For cycling, summer lightweight to midweight kit will work just fine. A very lightweight rain jacket may be needed during those frequent, but short rain showers throughout the day’s riding.

CYCLING GPS COMPUTERS We have a selection of Wahoo El’mnt GPS-enabled computers available to borrow for our trip.

CYCLING EQUIPMENT, PACKING RAID will provide the following – water bottles, you will be in charge of  cleaning and filling your bottles due to the Covid.  RAID does not provide pedals or helmets.

Tune-up and clean your bicycle before you arrive. Check the following: tires, brakes and pads, chain wear, cassette and derailleur wear. We recommend a professional bike shop provides this service prior to your arrival.

If you are bringing your own bicycle: Please remember to bring spare tubulars, in case of flats. Make sure your tires, cables and equipment are all in very good condition and also pack a small pump and tyre levers/ irons to change flats. We will have back-ups of everything just in case. * We do not recommend traveling with rim-brake carbon or tubular wheels- we will be in remote mountainous regions with no services to repair these types of wheels. The more durable wheel set you can bring, the better for the style of riding we will be doing. Rain will happen-please remember this if you are seriously considering bringing a lightweight set of carbon wheels; although we do not recommend them. *Disc carbon wheels are fine.

LUGGAGE We recommend you bring a daypack (big enough to carry what you need for a few days) and one main piece of luggage (total allowance: 44lb/20kg). Since we do your cycling kit laundry, it’s not necessary to carry a full weeks worth of cycling attire.

OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS Passport, drivers license, Travel insurance documents and a copy of birth certificate.