Exploring Marin County from the seat of a bicycle is an adventure. Chain, Chain, Chain Marin County Bike Tours offers three tours from which to choose, each highlighting the "special sights and tastes of Marin County from the vantage and joy of two wheels."
Owner and Founder, Sara Terrien, is a Marin native who has been inspired by health and fitness as well as beauty and balance. Four years ago, she 'linked' these together when she launched Chain, Chain, Chain Marin County Bike Tours.
As she states on her website, "The bike provides the fitness and the beauty jumps out as a vista of the Pacific Ocean or reveals as a hidden redwood grove. With every turn of the pedals my senses are invigorated by riding through the micro-climates and over the macro-hills of the Bay Area and I am excited to introduce you to my local favorites."
The company's standard three tours are:
OUR GRACELAND
ike rental and lunch included
13-mile biking round trip from Sausalito to Tennessee Valley and a 1-mile round trip hike to beach
Our tour follows the bike path from the edge of town along the Bay past the iconic floating houses of Sausalito and marine wetlands where the tide determines whether our tires get wet. Combining roadway and off road cycling, we ride for 6.5 miles and park along the fire road. We hike the remaining half-mile to a spectacular beach and dip our toes in the bracing Pacific Ocean. Lunch is served at picnic tables on the return trip.
Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate. Comfortable shifting gears and riding on packed dirt, uneven terrain. Able to hike 1-mile round trip.
Conditions: Roadway with mild traffic, packed dirt fire road for riding and walking.
PARADISE FOUND
SATURDAYS | 10:30AM – 3:30PM
$179.00, bike rental and lunch included
20-mile round trip from Sausalito to Tiburon
Ride one of Marin’s favorite cycling routes, Paradise Loop. We begin along a combination of bike paths and roadways with spectacular views of the Bay. We pass Angel Island at the tip of Tiburon (“shark” in Spanish), formerly the Northwestern Pacific Railroad’s southern terminal, and get a glimpse of exclusive homes perched on steep hills. At the halfway mark, lunch is served at Rustic Bakery's newest location in the town of Tiburon.
Skill Level: Intermediate. Experienced riding on roadways and shifting gears on gently rolling terrain. There are three short inclines along the route.
Conditions: Roadways with intermittent traffic and bike paths.
PHOENIX RISING
SUNDAYS | 10:30AM – 3:30PM
$179.00, bike rental and lunch included
25-mile round trip from Sausalito to Phoenix Lake
Exploring five Marin County hamlets, we traverse the small towns that dot southern-central Marin where traditional main streets still exist. Our destination is Phoenix Lake, one of the local reservoirs at the base of Mt. Tamalpais, Marin’s highest peak. The final half-mile is an easy hike on a fire road and if time permits, a beautiful 3-mile hike around the lake surrounded by California’s live oaks and the call of the occasional peacock. Whether or not you decide to hike, lunch will be waiting for you at one of the picnic tables tucked under the trees.
Skill Level: Intermediate. Experience and comfortable riding with traffic.
Conditions: Roadway with traffic in the morning, eases on the return trip.
Chain also offers custom tours, from a one-day to multi-day excursion tailored to the novice or advances cyclist. Destinations include Marin County, San Francisco, Wine Country and Sea Ranch.
For more information about Chain, Chain, Chain Marin County Bike Tours, visit their website.
