One more bike
What to do with your wheels when the weather heats up.

By Paul VanDeCarr

EVERYBODY IS SEXIER on a bicycle. This is an axiom of life, to be counted on just as surely as the rising sun or the outrage du jour of the Bush administration. Consider: you get exercise, fresh air, fun, sunshine, travel, and views, and you meet other cyclists. Rest assured: you will have more and better sex if you ride your bike, and you will, in your own small way, add beauty and peace to the world. And what better time to do it than summer, a season in which all kinds of bicycle opportunities abound? Here's a selective rundown of the summer rides and other bike-related activities, as well as some resources and pointers to help you make the most of them.

Rides

The following are some good rides in San Francisco as well as points north, east, and south.

San Francisco

City ride Do warm-up stretches on the Marina Green, ride out to Fort Point, through the Presidio, and on to Ocean Beach or even Lake Merced. At a leisurely pace with rest breaks, this 7- to 10-mile ride takes about two hours and requires moderate exertion, with some steep climbs in the Presidio.

Golden Gate Park Pack a picnic and take an easy afternoon ride in the 3.5-mile-long park. Attractions include the Conservatory of Flowers (John F. Kennedy Drive at Third Avenue), the Strybing Arboretum and Library (Lincoln Way between 9th and 14th Avenues), the AIDS Memorial Grove (Middle Drive East, off JFK near Second Avenue), boat rentals on Stow Lake (entrance just off JFK at 16th Avenue), and, needless to say, the ocean (end of JFK at the Great Highway). The park is closed to cars on JFK below Transverse Drive (around 22nd Avenue) Sundays, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. (415) 831-2700, www.parks.sfgov.org/site/recpark_index.asp.

Angel Island One of the city's most unappreciated getaways because of its location in the middle of the bay, Angel Island offers superb views and some interesting historical sites. The 5.5-mile paved path around the perimeter offers an easy ride; the inner loop is a harder ride, with more impressive views. With the ferry ride, this is a short afternoon trip. Come prepared for wind and cold! (415) 435-1915, www.angelisland.org.

North Bay

Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands Cross the bridge into Marin and go west into the Headlands for some stellar views and sites. Conzelman Road takes you past Black Sand Beach and out to Point Bonita Lighthouse. From there, go back out to the Headlands Visitor Center and return along Bunker Road to Route 101, about a mile north of the bridge. The full loop is 15 miles, moderate with some difficult climbs into the headlands. For a shorter ride, just go up Conzelman and glide back down when you like. Bring food and water; there's nary a store to be found. (415) 331-1540, www.nps.gov/goga.

Mount Tamalpais Drive or take the SamTrans bus up to the base of Mount Tam in Marin County. Many (but not all) trails and roads on the mountain are open to off-road biking. You'll want a mountain or hybrid bike for the dirt trails. Depending on what you're looking for, the ride can range from easy to difficult, 10 to 25 miles, an afternoon out or an all-day affair. A couple cool routes from the Pantoll Station lie west along the Panoramic Highway to Stinson Beach and beyond, or northeast along East Ridgecrest Boulevard to the middle peak and back. (415) 388-2070, www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=471.

East Bay

Mount Diablo Paved roads on the mountainside are open to bicycles, but watch for moderate car traffic. This is a strenuous uphill ride (about 14 miles to the 3,849-foot summit) and provides amazing views of the entire Bay Area. South Gate Road from Danville is a bit easier than North Gate Road from Walnut Creek, but take your pick; either route has plenty of rest stops. Cheaters can have a friend drive them to the peak, at which point it's just a nice glide down. Check the weather forecast for visibility and temperatures, but in any case pack a windbreaker and layers. Bring food and beverages; there are no stores in the area. (925) 837-2525, www.mdia.org.

Redwood, Tilden, and Wildcat Canyon Regional Parks These conveniently located suburban parks offer easy rides around 8 to 10 miles long. The dirt roads and paved paths have generally slight inclines. The views are nice, but it gets crowded with cyclists on the weekends, so I'd recommend a weekday ride if your schedule permits. Bring a picnic. (510) 562-7275, www.ebparks.org.

South Bay

Pescadero and San Gregorio To the south there's a lovely seaside ride in San Mateo County. Start at San Gregorio Beach, on Route 1 at the intersection with Route 84. Ride down Route 1 for 10 miles to Pigeon Point Lighthouse; the route has some moderate to difficult climbs, with ocean views most of the way and a reasonably wide shoulder to ride on. You'll pass three pretty beaches, the best of which is Pescadero. To return on the longer (19 miles) and more strenuous inland route (through plenty of nice parkland), continue south on Route 1 for two and a half miles and take a left at Gazos Creek Road, a left up Cloverdale Road, then jog left over to Stage Road and take that all the way up to Route 84, where you turn left to return to San Gregorio. There are places to get food along the way, but carry supplies with you, because this ride can tap your energy at unexpected times!

Other activities

AIDS Lifecycle 3 Participants ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in this fun, moving, and memorable event. Riders raise $2,500 each in pledges from friends and colleagues, with funds benefiting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and HIV/AIDS services of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. June 6-12. Call 1-866-BIKE-4-AIDS or go to www.aidslifecycle.org for information or to register.

Bike to Work Day and Night Aside from a city of commuters (hopefully!) leaving their cars at home and biking to work, look for "energizer stations" courtesy of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition on Bike to Work Day, with coffee and treats for bike commuters. The celebration of our two-wheeled friends continues into the evening with a party sponsored by the SFBC at the DNA Lounge. Bands include Rogue Wave and the Marginal Prophets, and DJs Mauricio Aviles, Adnan, and others spin house after 11 p.m. The whole shindig is hosted by Heklina, who presents special between-band performances by the stars of Trannyshack, as well as a special appearance by Tom Orr of "Dirty Little Showtunes" fame. Don't miss this one: the SFBC's events are famously fun. Thurs/20, party 8 p.m., DNA Lounge, 375 11th St., S.F. $15, $10 for SFBC members, free if you join at the door. (415) 431-BIKE, www.sfbike.org.

Critical Mass Bicyclists take over the downtown streets in this monthly show of pedal power! The ride takes place the last Friday of each month and is always a festive affair (except for some drivers who get caught in bike traffic). Gather 6 p.m., Justin Herman Plaza, Market Street and Embarcadero, S.F.

Pro Cycling Tour Top cyclists like Lance Armstrong test themselves on the city's notorious hills during this annual race. Only pro riders can participate, but it's fun for the rest of us to watch. Sept. 12. www.procyclingtour.com.

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition activities The SFBC offers year-round rides, volunteer nights, parties, bicycle advocacy activities, and guided bike tours with themes like "Imperial San Francisco" and "Public Art Bike Tour." Check out the frequently updated "Chain of Events" calendar at www.sfbike.org or call (415) 431-BIKE.

Bicycle repair classes Shops such as Pedal Revolution (415-641-1264, www.pedalrevolution.com) and Freewheel (415-752-9195, www.thefreewheel.com) offer bike maintenance classes. Learn a skill and save some money. For a complete list go to www.sfbg.com/38/27/cover_superlist_bicycle_maintenance.html; be sure to call beforehand since dates and times may change.

General bicycling tips

You may have heard some or all of this before, but some bicycling tips bear repeating.

Wear a helmet Don't litter the road with your brain matter for others to slip on.

Bring layers Wear or pack layers for the changeable Bay Area climate.

Drink and eat Prevent headaches and energy loss by ingesting plenty of water and food.

Ban the sun Wear a hat or visor, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen.

Ride defensively Assert your right to the road, but be safe. Obey traffic laws, be predictable in your movements, do not ride against traffic, and use bike lanes when possible.

Build up to longer rides Try taking some short rides around town to assess your stamina, strength, and speed. Stretch regularly during any ride. Start slow to warm up and end slow to cool down.

Come prepared Bring a map, bike lock, basic tool kit, and a simple first aid kit.

Resources

California Bicyclist Check stores for the northern California edition of this magazine.

Different Spokes The lesbian-gay bicycling club sponsors rides and other events. www.dssf.org.

Golden Gate Cyclists The Bay Area bicycling club for singles and couples organizes weekly rides for all skill levels. www.goldengatecyclists.org.

Northern California Biking Ann Marie Brown's book is the single best and most comprehensive one on bicycling in the Bay Area and northern California.