Black and Pink highlights represent different day rides

aRRIVAL DAY - SAN FRANCISCO

Upon arrival into San Francisco International Airport (Airport Code: SFO), guests will transfer into the city by the bay. We plan an evening reception tonight to gather and prepare for the next day’s departure. Guests are encouraged to bring their bicycles and other equipment to be loaded in our support van.

Overnight Accommodation: On your own.

D1 - SF TO hEALDSBURG

54 miles / 3,754 Feet

From the Bay Area, we will transfer you into the quaint village of Sebastopol, about an hour transfer north, from where we will stage our morning ride from the Taylor Lane Organic Coffee cafe.

Rolling green hills complemented by splendid riding through small villages and bucolic farm lands. Our ride this morning takes us through Southern Sonoma, we will be met with rolling terrain with some fun twisty descents when we enter Green Valley. A sneaky climbs greets on Mays Canyon before crossing the expansive Russian River. As we enter the deep redwood forests, we climb up Sweetwater Springs road for a bit before emerging to the expansive vineyards in the Dry Creek valley. A remarkable lunch at our select winery before our afternoon arrival in Healdsburg where we will stay at acclaimed Harmon Guest House within walking distance from Healdsburg’s tasting rooms and amazing restaurants situated around the square.

Let’s meet for a glass of vino at the roof top bar before heading to Barndiva for an unforgettable dinner. Barndiva is a celebration of all things local. Their food is sourced from farmers, ranchers and small batch purveyors who live and work in the magnificent food shed surrounding Healdsburg.

Close out the evening with some music and a drink at Little Saint, a culinary and creative hub for the community of Healdsburg.

Coffee Taylor Lane Organic Coffee
Lodging Harmon Guest House
Dining Barndiva

D2 - hEALDSBURG TO HOPLAND

63 miles / 4840 Feet

The infamous Geysers Loop is where we’ll tackle one of Sonoma County’s iconic climbs before rolling into Hopland, our base for this evening.  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. If this is too steep, no worries - a short shuttle ride gets you up and over, back on the route.

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. Our friendship with the owners, Ana and 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
Lodging Thatcher Hotel
Tasting Campovida Winery
Dining Stock Farm Bistro

D3 - HOPLAND TO BOONVILLE

58 miles / 4,736 Feet

Grab some hearty breaky at the Bluebird Café before our ride continues out of Hopland and to the north, where we’ll tackle Orr Springs, cutting a swath through dense forests and rolling hills toward the coast at Mendocino. The ride proffers incredible views and serene terrain with some steep climbs. You will enjoy nearly 60 km of quiet roads as we venture along Orr Springs, a sliver of a road tracing a winding route through the rugged coastal mountains.

Our final stop for the day is the isolated community of Boonville, once a stagecoach stop settled in the mid-1800s, deep into the heart of the Anderson Valley. Boonville's population of just over 1,000 is widely known for its quirky personality and once own language called Boontling (nearly extinct), which enabled residents to ignore visitors.

With hot days, chilly nights and fog drifting in from the coast, this Valley is classified in viticultural terms as a Region 1 growing area — the coolest climate in which grapes may be commercially grown with success. World famous for pinot noir, sparkling wine and Alsace varietals, the region hosts ~30 wineries that welcome visitors for tastings.

Check in at the Boonville Hotel*, which dates back to the town’s rugged mid-19th-century frontier era 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.

*If the group confirms early enough for this departure, we may have the 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. Thomas Keller purchased the restaurant from the Schmitts in 1994. This is a very special experience with members of the Schmitt family.  The evening dinner begins late afternoon with us foraging for our herbs and vegetables. From here, we will cut and dice along with the Chef while we prepare our evening meal in a classic Tuscan kitchen. The family sits down with us while we enjoy the feast and local wine.

Lodging - Boonville Hotel or Philo Apple Farm
Village walk - visit galleries & boutiques  
Dining Boonville Hotel Restaurant or Private Dining at Philo Apple Farm
Beers Anderson Valley Brewing Co.

D4 - BOONVILLE TO TIMBERCOVE

72 miles / 7,250 Feet

We’ve worked hard to get to this point but today will test our metal on today’s Queen Stage. We begin our climb westward, over and into the heart of the coast mountains, known as the California Alps. This ride is far from easy. 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 and the sense of adventure. Once we descend to the coast, stop off for a break at the Point Arena Lighthouse, if we’re lucky, a tailwind chases us along the coastline all the way to Timber Cove, located on a dramatic bluff overlooking California’s Sonoma Coast.

Timber Cove Resort features guest rooms inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's organic architectural style, with unobstructed forest and ocean views. The sound of crashing waves soothes you at the end of the ride. Amenities include the Coast Kitchen, featuring endless ocean views and fresh seasonal organic fare; their Great Room, which provides a fun cozy bar and lounge; and their Outdoor Living Room, which provides billiards, ping pong, fireside drinks, and snacks. 

Lodging Timber Cove Resort
Dining Coast Kitchen

D5 - TO OCCIDENTAL THEN SF

27 miles / 2,935 Feet

Rise to the sounds of crashing waves, relax, there’s no hurry this morning. Our last spin takes us down the ruggedly cinematic coastline one last time stopping along the way to refresh at the playful Cafe Aquatica for a strong espresso along the shores of the Russian River. Wrap up our short ride today with a winding ascent on a car-free dirt road climb on a carpet of pine needles under the umbrella of old growth redwoods. Top it off with a remarkable descent into Occidental, followed by some Sonoma bubbles, a chilled glass of pinot and some hand tossed pies at the quaint Hazel Restaurant. Jim Wimborough uses his many years of experience working with live fire to make rustic, Mediterranean inspired cuisine.

Coffee Cafe Aquatica
Lunch Hazel Restaurant

Following lunch and a stroll through Occidental, we will load up for our 1h 20m transfer back to San Francisco and The Battery.

We can manage flights from SFO this early evening although it would be best if they were booked for the following morning in case we want to make an unscheduled stop or two.

Overnight Accommodation: On your own.

MORE INFO ABOUT THIS TOUR

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Luxury accommodations (double and single occupancy available in most locations) Upgrades may be possible in select locations.

• All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner + ride snacks) and beverages pre, during and post-ride (limited alcohol also included with dinner)

• Ride support, including mechanical and nutritional assistance - on and off the bike

• Customized itineraries offering extended and shorter ride options

• Daily maps of rides programmed on Wahoo GPS devices

• 1:5 guide-to-rider ratio 

• Daily luggage transport

• Daily bike washing and maintenance

• Cycling attire laundry service (where available)

• Select off-bike local experiences (wine tastings, museums, festivals, heritage sites, hiking, shopping, etc.)

• Post-trip airport transfers & travel logistic assistance

• Pre-trip customized training programs with partner Velo Pro

• Local bike rental assistance (additional $$ for bike and equipment)

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Round trip airfare

• Hotel accommodations pre- or post planned trip

• Bike rental

• Guide gratuities (at discretion)

• Helmet (required), pedals and cycling attire and gear not mentioned above

FEATURED TOWNS/DESTINATIONS

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.

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.

BOONVILLE
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.

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 as the starting point for a number of beautiful and challenging routes between the redwoods and the coast.

START AND END OF TOUR

START & END OF THE TOUR We suggest arriving one day prior on to the trip start date. We recommend booking a room in downtown San Francisco or Marin County- Mill Valley or Sausalito.

ARRIVAL, TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS 
INBOUND FLIGHTS We suggest flying into San Francisco [SFO] or Oakland [OAK], with direct flights from many major US & European cities. San Jose (SJC) or Santa Rosa (STS) are also options.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE Downtown SF or Marin can be easily reached via private car and ride share upon your arrival into SFO. On the last day, we suggest you do not make your flight arrangements till after 6 pm at the earliest or the following morning (best option).

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.

ARRIVAL DAY RAID staff will be available at the chosen hotel. We will be in the lobby and are able to help with the assembly of your bicycles. We will be meeting for a casual trip orientation and reception at 4:30pm.

CONCLUSION OF THE TRIP Our last official day. After lunch in Occidental we will be shuttling back to the Bay Area this afternoon. The RAID shuttle service will be running and will take you to San Francisco International Airport [code SFO],

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. If you are satisfied with your experience, an industry standard gratuity is 5-10% of your trip price that will be divided among your guide(s) / services team. Tips are at your discretion and should be based on level of professionalism, guest care and RAID Signature Service. 

CLIMATE, EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING. In most years, the Bay Area daily temperatures for September/Oct average between 64 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit. The days can warm up slowly and coastal fog is not uncommon. For cycling, summer lightweight to mid-weight kit will work just fine. A very lightweight rain and jacket may be needed at times.

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, GPS enabled computer, all road food & hydration, laundry bag. RAID will manage the cleaning and filling your bottles and limited laundry of your cycling kit.  RAID does not provide pedals or helmets.

Please 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: Make sure your tires, cables and equipment are all in very good condition and also pack a small pump and tire 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, any Travel/Medical insurance documents and a copy of birth certificate.

PRE-TRIP TRAINING PROGRAMS. To ensure you are prepared for your trip, guests are eligible to take advantage of pre-trip training, courtesy of our training partner Velo Pro. Once your booking is complete, you will receive instructions on how to initiate your custom training program.

CANCELLATION POLICY FOR THIS TRIP

RAID strives to ensure our guests have the most flexibility when signing up for a cycling adventure. Deposits: Deposits are fully refundable up to 120 days before the trip start date. Within 120 days of the trip, deposits are no longer refundable. Refunds: You can request a refund up to 120 days before the trip starts. Once within 60 days from the start of the trip, there are no refunds of any kind. Trip Transfers: You may transfer 100% of your payment or deposit to another trip 60-90 days before your trip departure. Once inside of 60 days of trip start, 50% of your trip fee is eligible for transfer. This allows you to credit your payment towards a future trip with RAID.

*A cancellation administration fee of $75 applies to all cancellations from 60-120 days prior trip departure.
This cancellation policy applies to all trips, as well as all other additional services.
The effective date of a cancellation will be the date on which your cancellation notice is received.

Note:  Also, please review our Terms and Conditions. We stress the importance of purchasing a travel protection plan to protect yourself from fees in the event you need to cancel your reservation.