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For the past three years, the Amgen Tour, America's version of the Tour de France, has ended in Sonoma County. Home to the Amgen Race Team BMC and professional cyclist Levi Leipheimer, serious bicyclists come here for challenging training rides along more than 1400 miles of little-traveled secondary roads and miles of designated bike lanes in some of the beautiful scenic areas in the world. Bicycling Magazine has designated Sonoma County as one of "The 7 Greatest Rides on Earth." (try to get year this was published)

Levi Leipheimer's favorite training ride, favored also by numerous competitors in the Tour de France, is the King Ridge Route in Cazadero. A hilly course, with very little traffic, through redwood and mixed forest, this route includes Tin Barn Road and the scenery is extraordinarily beautiful. Along Tin Barn Road, you'll see the shining, exotic structures that comprise the Odiyan Buddhist Center.

King Ridge-Meyers Grade: This 55-mile loop with 4500' of climb is considered one of the most spectacular bike rides in the world and is a premier training ride for the Amgen and the Tour de France. For the most part, there are no services and no water.
  1. Begin in Monte Rio at the north end of the bridge over the Russian River. Head west on River Road (Hwy 116), then right on Austin Creek Road, and, just over the bridge, right again on Cazadero Hwy.
  2. There's water and food at the Cazadero General Store at 6125 Cazadero Highway. Cazadero Highway turns into King Ridge Road and begins to climb steeply to an exposed ridgeline called The Butcherknife, with panoramic views. It is very remote, with no people, no traffic, no noise, all incredibly beautiful.
  3. At the end of King Ridge, turn right on Tin Barn, left on Stewards Point (where there is a store), left on Hwy 1 south to Ft. Ross, where there is a Visitor Center with water.
  4. Left on Ft. Ross Road, a difficult 2.6 mile, 1500' climb. At the top, turn right onto Meyers Grade.
  5. Meyers Grade continues along the ridgeline high above the ocean and then plummets to the beach for several miles. At the end of Meyers Grade, turn left on Hwy 1, which descends to the town of Jenner-by-the-Sea.
  6. Just past Jenner is the mouth of the Russian River. Turn left on River Road and at Duncans Mills, turn right onto Moscow road to Monte Rio. A left turn over the bridge ends the ride.
This ride can be shortened by turning left at the end of King Ridge Road onto Hauser Bridge and descending (20% in places) to the Gualala River. The road changes to Seaview and begins to climb again. At the end of Seaview, continue straight on Ft Ross Rd for less than a mile and straight again onto nicely paved Meyers Grade.
Levi's Epic Bike Tour/Santa Rosa-Lake Sonoma-King Ridge: This ride begins in Santa Rosa, stays mostly flat for 30 miles as it passes numerous wineries and then, from Lake Sonoma, begins a series of challenging climbs. Water is available at the Warm Springs Dam Visitor Center. Much of this ride is through remote area, with no people, no vehicles, no water and many climbs of 1000 - 1500 feet. Skaggs Springs Road averages an 11% climb. Food and water are available at the Cazadero General Store, at 6125 Cazadero Highway and in downtown Monte Rio. (115 Miles, Leipheimer's Time: 6-8 hours)
  1. Depart NorCal Bike Sport (425 College Ave.)
  2. RIGHT onto College
  3. RIGHT onto Glenn St.
  4. RIGHT onto Ridgeway Ave.
  5. LEFT onto Mendocino Ave.
  6. Road name changes to Old Redwood Hwy.
  7. RIGHT onto Faught Rd.
  8. Road name changes to Pleasant Ave.
  9. RIGHT onto Old Redwood Hwy.
  10. RIGHT onto Hembree Ln.
  11. Road name changes to Arata Ln.
  12. RIGHT onto Old Redwood Hwy.
  13. STRAIGHT onto Healdsburg Ave. (Old Redwood Hwy.)
  14. LEFT ont to Grant St.
  15. RIGHT onto Grove St.
  16. LEFT onto Dry Creek Rd.
  17. Road name changes to Stewarts Point/Skaggs Springs Rd.
  18. LEFT to stay on Stewarts Point/Skaggs Springs Rd.
  19. LEFT onto Tin Barn Rd.
  20. LEFT onto King Ridge Rd.
  21. Road name changes to Cazadero Hwy.
  22. LEFT onto Austin Creek Rd.
  23. LEFT onto SR-116
  24. RIGHT onto Bohemian Hwy.
  25. LEFT onto Hill St., then LEFT onto Main St.
  26. STRAIGHT onto Occidental Rd.
  27. LEFT onto Sanford Rd.
  28. RIGHT onto Hall Rd.
  29. Bear RIGHT onto W. 3rd St.
  30. LEFT onto Wilson St.
  31. Road name changes to Cleveland Ave.
  32. RIGHT onto College Ave.
  33. Arrive NorCal Bike Sport

Another challenging ride is Coleman Valley Road from Occidental to Bodega Bay at the coast; this ride was part of the 2007 Amgen Tour.

The Sonoma Coast Ride begins in Monte Rio on the Russian River. At the coast, a left turn onto Hwy 1 follows the spectacular coast to the fishing village of Bodega Bay. A left turn onto Occidental Road goes east to the town of Occidental and then Bohemian Highway heads back to Monte Rio. This 40 mile ride includes a great variety of stunningly beautiful scenery. The Highway 1 portion of this route is best done when auto traffic is at a minimum, but there are numerous pull-offs.

The Sweetwater Springs-Armstrong Woods Route, including the challenging Harrison Grade, also offers a great range of scenery. Starting in downtown Guerneville, the ride heads east on River Road to Wohler, to Westside Road, left on Sweetwater Springs Road, right on Armstrong Woods to the summit, back to Guerneville and across the bridge to Mays Canyon which loops back to Pocket Canyon (Hwy 116) to Green Valley, the Harrison Grade through Graton to Occidental and back through Monte Rio to Guerneville.

http://www.russianriveroutdoors.com/biking-challenge.html - updated: Saturday, April 26, 2008 8:15:54 PM