Bay Area Group Rides Summary

Bay Area Group Rides
Written By Dana Williams

(Updated September 25, 2023)

The San Francisco Bay Area has long been the spiritual home of cycling in America. There must be something in the water that compels people to ride bikes here.

If you’re looking for a group bicycle ride, the good news is that the SF Bay Area has plenty to choose from. Some of these rides have been occurring for decades!

Group rides are a great way to maintain fitness, get to know your local cycling community, and improve your group riding skills.

Here at AchievePTC, we compiled a list of the very best group bicycle rides the SF Bay Area has to offer. Take a look:

San Francisco

Roasters Ride

  • Meet: Golden Gate Bridge South Side/South Parking Lot or Fairfax Java Hut/Good Earth

  • When: Saturdays at 8:00 AM at the GGB parking lot and 9:00 AM at the Fairfax Java Hut.

  • Route: Fairfax-Nicasio-Pt Reyes-Bear Valley Rd-Sir Francis Drake Blvd

  • The Scoop: A fast and furious ride that has been going strong for 25 years.

Scotty’s Ride

  • Meet: Golden Gate Bridge South Side Pavilion

  • When: Saturdays at 8:30 AM

  • Route: Fairfax-Nicasio-Pt Reyes-return along coastal HWY 1 (Same loop as the 8:00 AM Roasters Ride)

  • The Scoop: A friendly ride, social pace, stop at Bovine Bakery in Pt. Reyes Station.


Tam Slam

  • Meet: Golden Gate Bridge South Side Pavilion

  • When: Sporadic; one needs to be on ‘the list’ for ride notifications.. Meet at 5:45 AM

  • Route: GGB-Sausalito-Mill Valley-East Peak-Tam Jct-GGB

  • The Scoop: A race ride up Mt. Tamalpais, albeit with a reasonable pace leading up to the base of the climb. Contact danawilliams26{at}gmail.com for dates.


Fat Cake Club Ride

  • Meet: Golden Gate Bridge South Side Pavilion

  • When: Tuesdays 6:15 AM; Thursdays 6:15 AM (Location varies, check Strava page)

  • Route: Hawk Hill Headlands Loop

  • The Scoop: Follow Fat Cake on Instagram for up-to-date info.

Park Ride

  • Meet: Golden Gate Park at Crossover Dr. & Transverse Dr.

  • When: Tuesdays 6 PM (Summer from April through September)

  • Route: 2.4-mile circuit around Golden Gate Park with two sprints per lap for seven laps.

  • The Scoop: A criterium-style race ride.


SF2G

  • Meet: Ritual Roasters (SF mission) or Philz Coffee (SF) (Join SF2G Google group for up-to-date info)

  • When: Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM

  • Route: San Francisco south down the Peninsula to Mountain View, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and all parts in between. Multiple route options: Bayway, Skyline, or Half Moon Bay.

  • The Scoop: Open to all, a commuter ride heading south down the Peninsula with varying routes and speed options. Check out their more info here.


Rapha San Francisco Donut Ride

  • Meet: Golden Gate Bridge Plaza

  • When: Wednesday 6:30 AM (check the Rides tab here)

  • Route: GGB Plaza-Route Hawk Hill + Headlands-Dynamo Donuts 40-70

  • The Scoop: This ride is for all abilities, with plenty of regroup points and multiple shortcut options. Roll from the GGB Plaza at 6:30 and arrive at Dynamo around eight so you can make your 9:00 AM meeting. It will be colder than you think. Bring a patch kit and maybe lights in the winter.


Stammtisch Ride

  • Meet: Rapha Cycle Club, San Francisco. Ends at Biergarten.

  • When: Thursdays 6:00 PM (Spring to Summer) - check the Rides tab here.

  • Route: Often city loops or headlands, 1-2 hours.

  • The Scoop: Fun and welcoming rides that end with beer.


The North Bay and Marin County


Chicken Ride

  • Meet: End of Mill Valley Bike Path at Blithedale

  • When: Fridays meet at 7:05 AM and roll out at 7:10 AM sharp.

  • Route: Reverse Paradise Loop race ride

  • The Scoop: Read more on the AchievePTC Blog - Chicken Ride.


Divine Ride

  • Meet: Fairfax, Java Hut (beside Good Earth)

  • When: Wednesdays 9:15 AM & Sundays 10:00 AM

  • Route (Wednesday): Pt Reyes Short Loop: Fairfax-Nicasio-Pt Reyes-Bear Valley Rd-Sir Francis Drake Blvd; or Marshall Wall Long Loop

  • Route (Sunday): Reverse Loop: Sir Francis Drake Blvd-Olema-Bear Valley Rd-Pt Reyes-Nicasio

  • The Scoop: Read more on the AchievePTC Blog - Divine Ride.


Col du Pantoll

  • Meet: Mike’s Bikes of Sausalito

  • When: Wednesdays 5:45 PM (Spring to Fall)

  • Route: Out to the Coast via HWY 1, up Panoramic to Mt. Tam, returning to Mike’s Bikes Sausalito

  • The Scoop: An organized, spirited group ride with multiple groups. Choose to ride with the A, B, or C group, depending on your speed/abilities. D group takes a dirt route. On the last Wednesday of every month, there is a post-ride BBQ at the bike shop—more details on the Mikes Bikes Rides & Event page.


The East Bay


POO Ride – Port of Oakland

  • Meet: Port of Oakland (Maritime, Middle Harbor, and 7th in the Port of Oakland)

  • When: Tuesdays 6:30 PM (5:30 PM during winter)

  • **Wednesdays 6:30 PM. POO-Lite (5:30 PM during winter)

  • Route: Port of Oakland 2.5 mile clockwise loop on repeat, simulating a criterium

  • The Scoop: Read more on the AchievePTC Blog POO Ride.


HOP Ride – House of Pain Ride

  • Meet: Peet’s Coffee Danville

  • When: Saturday Mornings at 9:00 AM HOP Original / 9:05 AM HOP Medium / 9:10 AM HOP Lite

  • The Scoop: Have your pick of pace among the HOP Lite, HOP Medium, or HOP original groups. HOP Original is an all-out race ride, with no waiting up for dropped riders or mechanicals. HOP Lite offers a steady pace, no attacking, and a couple of regroups. HOP Medium is a spirited ride somewhere between the two.


Berkeley Bike Club Tuesday Night Ride

  • Meet: Domingo Peet’s Coffee in Berkeley

  • When: Tuesdays 5:30 PM (Spring/Summer)

  • Route: Redwood Loop

  • The Scoop: 1.5-2 hour fast-paced group ride. Read more on the BBC website.


Domingo Peet’s Ride

  • Meet: Domingo Peet’s Coffee in Berkeley

  • When: Wednesdays 7:00 AM

  • Route: Redwood Loop

  • The Scoop: Led by Berkeley Bike Club, 30-35 mile Berkeley Hills loop at a moderate pace.


Bakery Ride

  • Meet: Peet’s Coffee Danville

  • When: Wednesdays 9:00 AM

  • Route: n/a

  • You can find additional East Bay Ride resources here.


The Peninsula and South Bay


Spectrum Ride

  • Meet: Sunnyvale Starbucks, corner of Hollenbeck & Homestead

  • When: Saturdays 9:00 AM

  • Route: Portola Valley-Woodside-HWY 92-Return

  • The Scoop: All-out race ride with no stopping for dropped riders. Follow Spectrum Ride on Facebook for more info.


Stahl Ride

  • Meet: Peet’s Coffee, Los Altos

  • When: Wednesdays 9:00 AM

  • Route: 3-5 hours, changes weekly. Typically, Old La Honda-HWY 84-Pescadero-HWY 9-Basin-Return

  • The Scoop: Relaxed, controlled group ride for all abilities, frequent food/drink breaks, and waiting for others.


Noon Ride

  • Meet: Palo Alto, at the dead-end at Old Page Mill Road

  • When: Monday-Friday 12 noon

  • Route: Changes daily

  • The Scoop: Lunch ride at a quick clip, no waiting for dropped riders. Join the Noon Ride Facebook group for more info.


Egan Ride

  • Meet: Egan Middle School, Los Altos

  • When: Tuesdays 6:00 PM (during daylight savings time)

  • Route: Varies and can include hill intervals or hard efforts.

  • The Scoop: More details can be found here.


A Word of Caution

Be sure you know state laws regarding cycling before heading out on a group ride. Please make your personal safety and other riders' safety a priority. Be sure to follow local laws when you ride in a group.

Dana Williams
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Bay Area Group Ride – The Chicken Ride (North Bay)