In 2013 Santa Rosa made history as the first Northern California city to host the finish of the Amgen Tour of California drawing the biggest names in cycling and watched around the globe on NBC Sports. The town has worked with the organization since 2006 to host and highlight cycling in the area. Now Santa Rosa and Sonoma County are known as a world-class cycling destination hosting popular events & thousands of enthusiasts. Resident & Tour de France cyclist Levi Leipheimer hosts his well-known annual GranFondo race in town with 7,500 riders; he calls it, “an opportunity to ride your heart out in some of the greatest cycling country this continent has to offer.” Located just outside of San Francisco and exactly in the middle of wine country, Santa Rosa is an ideal launching point for unlimited routes of varying distances and difficulty. The established infrastructure for cyclists; abundant well-located lodging, transportation, restaurants, point- to-point rides and routes all set in nine months straight of great weather make it a desirable touring hub. For information & schedule of cycling events and tours see VisitSantaRosa.com or call (800) 404-7673.
The local biking culture and recent press has inspired many enthusiasts to witness the spectacular landscape of wine country in person. Bret Gave, COO of Wine Country Bikes – Bicycling Touring Center, says it just works to launch rides from a central location like Santa Rosa and that it has an extremely hospitable environment and support for cyclists. The options are literally limitless and riders can design a breathtaking tour, Gave says, “whether you opt to go through the Redwoods to the ocean or the vineyards into the rolling hills, you can start here and go anywhere."
Planning a route is easy with an abundance of facilities like; award-winning B&B’s, median to larger luxury hotels and spas and interesting stops, located all along bike paths. Visitors can pick from 3, 4 to 7-day+ expeditions crossing over a dozen small townships that fit the cycling touring grid along with ample rest stops, busses, and other amenities needed along the way. Within a few miles of Santa Rosa proper riders can find a 3000 ft. climb, the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1 and rides thru Wine Country or the great Redwoods. Visitors also partake in award-winning wine tasting and farm-fresh dining as they tour. San Francisco Bay Area access will soon be further enhanced with the birth of the new Smart Train coming to town in 2014.
About Santa Rosa
Visit Santa Rosa provides assistance to visitors and groups seeking information about lodging, dining and cycling entertainment opportunities in Santa Rosa. The bureau also operates an Official State of California Welcome Center, and helps to bring visitors & events to Santa Rosa, such as the Amgen Tour of California. For more information, please call (707) 577-8674 or VisitSantaRosa.com.
Jeffrey Dale Starr is a wine enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.
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