Bicycling the Coast

by Rick Riley
We're very fortunate to have a variety of bicycling opportunities on the Mendocino Coast along with a climate very hospitable to bike riding.
The Old Haul Road just north of Fort Bragg gets the most use for recreational riding. Closed to motor-vehicle traffic, the Old Haul Road is a multi-use path running from the Pudding Creek Trestle to the TenMile River. The useable portion of the Haul Road extends from Pudding Creek north to MacKerricher State Park over a two-mile stretch and then another mile or so beyond to Ward Avenue. Please use common courtesies here by yielding to pedestrians and equestrians -- be especially careful with the horse and rider as you can easily "spook" the horse as you ride by.
Mountain bikers really find us to their liking -- when they can find our trails! The Jackson Demonstration State Forest is full of old logging roads and many trails connecting the nearly 50,000 acres just to the east of Fort Bragg. The trail network is in a constant state of development as our locals spend countless hours creating new connections and improving existing trails. As not much is marked out there, visiting riders do well to find maps and information at the local bike shops Fort Bragg Cyclery and Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too! Other maps can be found at mendocinocoastcyclists.blogspot.com.
Organized bike events here include the Bastille Day Race in mid-July -- a road bike ride and race from Fort Bragg to Albion -- 30 mile ride or 60 mile race.
The Caspar Classic Mountain Bike Race is a nice Labor Day weekend activity away from the crowds and bustle of the Fort Bragg scene.
And new this year for the Coast - The Mendocino Coast Fat Tire Festival to be held Columbus Day weekend October 7-9, 2011. So far events include a cross-country mountain bike race, a long-distance all-day endurance ride, and the "Poker Ride" -- a fun ride with the objective of collecting cards along the way to make the winning poker hand.
Enjoy the Coast as we like it and ride safely with a good bike and please wear a helmet.