If you're goin...
 

[Closed] If you're going to ride over the Golden Gate bridge... get a tandem... 🙂

 Alex
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I've had many brilliant days riding bikes, but this is right up there. Since the rest of my family entirely fail to share my two wheeled obsession, getting them to agree to ride a type of bicycle they've never experienced before wasn't the easiest thing. They loved it tho. And so did i . Bikes were rubbish, never been so terrified descending and I've had some pretty terrifying experiences prior to this. But thin tyres running on the carcass, switched brakes that don't really work, a head angle from 1983 and enough weight to punt you into the next state made me realise how bloody good modern mountain bikes are.

Anyway..

[url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8823/28420913181_5e8446de2c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8823/28420913181_5e8446de2c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/KisBjv ]San Francisco - Day 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8896/28420943581_5804bf3d87_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8896/28420943581_5804bf3d87_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/KisLmD ]San Francisco - Day 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8842/27883161603_7e0abd8429_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8842/27883161603_7e0abd8429_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/JtWuvz ]San Francisco - Day 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8382/28393781842_20a885990c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8382/28393781842_20a885990c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Kg4y7N ]San Francisco - Day 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8315/28393764282_16ab6ee0dc_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8315/28393764282_16ab6ee0dc_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Kg4sU3 ]San Francisco - Day 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7498/28420925281_512d8d81fe_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7498/28420925281_512d8d81fe_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/KisEV8 ]San Francisco - Day 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8809/28393752682_144d6b515a_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8809/28393752682_144d6b515a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Kg4ps3 ]San Francisco - Day 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

Never ridden a tandem before. Cannot believe people ride them off road! Cost us £130 including the ferry to get us back from the far side of the bridge. That is officially money well spent 🙂


 
Posted : 23/07/2016 10:51 pm
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Like!


 
Posted : 23/07/2016 10:54 pm
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LIKE
Nice pics there.

We loved our time in the bay area a couple of years ago.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 23/07/2016 11:22 pm
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I loved my day's ride out to the redwoods when i stayed in san Francisco, going up and down some of the roads in the city on a shonky hire bike was one of the more terrifying things I've ever done though.

Glad it was enjoyed by all


 
Posted : 23/07/2016 11:23 pm
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Thanks for sharing. Wonderful city, outdoor playground with great biking and sailing close at hand


 
Posted : 23/07/2016 11:27 pm
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Jeebus what ARE you wearing?


 
Posted : 23/07/2016 11:37 pm
 Alex
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@Sean - I know exactly where you took that pic!

I do love SF. Been here loads when I used to work in San Jose 20 years+ ago, But great to bring the family here. I wish we had time to go to Muir Woods. I did that once, those trees are huge! We're off to Lake Tahoe in a couple of days and I've convinced the family we need to go north so I can visit the Mountain bike hall of fame on our way 🙂

I think we'll talk about this day for a long time. Well I will at least 😉


 
Posted : 23/07/2016 11:59 pm
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I know this is classic STW oneupmanship but I've actually done it on a triple tandem 8) fantastic day out!


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 2:12 am
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I'm taking my tribe to California for a road trip next week!! The view of SF/GG bridge from the Marin Headlands is to die for!


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 3:14 am
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Nice one! 8)


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 3:25 am
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Good grief how old are verbal and random?
We're all getting old aren't we?
Cracking outing.


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 7:55 am
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Did the trip when the kids were younger with tag-a-longs for the kids. They loved it, but any uphill was a nightmare as they failed to do any work at all! Great trip, views from the bridge were lovely and the ferry ride back was a wonderful way to finish.


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 10:11 am
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I reckon tandems exponentially increase happiness. We have a very old one (1963, with cantis on steel rims 😯 ) and we smile while we're on it, people smile at us - it's great.

We took one round Laggan once. That was amazing.


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 10:28 am
 Alex
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@stoner - 15 and 17. That makes me... er not best not to think about it 😉

I really fancy a go on an off road tandem, although not sure if it be better to be in charge or on the back with my eyes closed. It was a really good day out but 3 out of the 4 of the family have sore legs/bums today. I've just got a sore head. Slight IPA overload.

Oh and a TRIPE Tandem? I thought they only existed in a Goodies prop shed!


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 3:56 pm
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Otherwise known as a triplet. Never ridden one but I'm sure three strong riders on road would be a blast. Not sure it would work so well on single track though!

Tandem across the GG bridge is a great ride, might do it again when I'm there later this year.


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 5:51 pm
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[url= http://thegoodies.info/trandem_ID_guide ]Goodies tandem[/url]


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 6:14 pm
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Had a loan of a tandem from trek uk, in about 1993, every single one of my friends had a shot, including 3 future girlfriends, without exception, they loved it.
They can motor along, especially downhill!!


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 6:20 pm
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Some great riding in Tahoe was there September last year really nice place, stunning scenery, let the wife on the beach at Sand Harbor for a few hours while i did the Flume trail 😉


 
Posted : 24/07/2016 9:17 pm
 Alex
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We're doing the flume trail in a couple of days. Just off to Tahoe in the morning. Really looking forward to it.


 
Posted : 25/07/2016 4:10 am
 Alex
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Finally wrote it up: http://pickled-hedgehog.com/?p=3717


 
Posted : 07/10/2016 3:08 pm
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Did the trip when the kids were younger with tag-a-longs for the kids. They loved it, but any uphill was a nightmare as they failed to do any work at all

Would they have done more work if they were on a tandem? Or would it have just felt a bit more stable.


 
Posted : 07/10/2016 3:45 pm
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Cracking Family ride that, out past Saucilito and then onto Tiburon and catch the ferry back to pier 19.

There's a fantastic sandwich type deli heading out of Saucilito on the right hand side next to the freeway where the house house boats are, awesome foody type things it's called Davy Jones Locker, also if you do carry on round to Tiburon marvel at the cycle lane mini roundabout and more food, the ice cream shop in Tiburon and the pizza place, fantastic place and a great ride, by scared on the downhill bits do you mean off the bridge round and down, that is a good descend. Wishing I was there now. Thanks for the pics.


 
Posted : 07/10/2016 3:58 pm