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Bike Valley to Sierra is an opportunity to make San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuloumne, Calaveras and Alpine Counties a regional cycling destination. If this region encourages and supports cycling tourism cyclists will spend a day, a weekend or a seven day bike vacation exploring the Central Valley, Motherlode, and Sierras region.

The following seven day bike vacation is an example of bike tourism.


This seven day bike vacation will contribute $2,250 to hotels, restaurants and attractions in the Central Valley, Motherlode and Sierra cycling tourism regions. (This amount is based on my budget planning estimate.) This bike vacation is designed to ride without camping gear and simply ride to or from each hotel. The final destination and overnight is at the iconic Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley.

This bike vacation would require a support vehicle to allow customizing bike ride routes and exploring local historic or scenic attractions. The bike ride options include easy 6-10 mile flat roads in Lodi or Yosemite Valley, 25-45 mile half day bike rides from the Central Valley to the Motherlode and challenging hill climbs over Ebbetts and Sonora Pass.

I selected the hotels as cycling destinations as well as a base for all route options. The hotels are located within easy drive or bike ride to local tourism attractions.


Lodi, Mokelumne Hill, Murphy’s, Bear Valley, Markleeville, Sonora, Groveland and Yosemite Valley. Day 1, Stay at Wine and Roses in Lodi and cycle one of twenty two bike routes in Lodi’s Wine Region. https://winerose.com/ Day 2, Ride from Lodi, through valley farmland to Mokelumne Hill and stay at Historic Leger Hotel. https://www.hotelleger.com/ Day 3, Ride from Mokelumne Hill to Murphy’s and stay at Murphy’s Hotel. http://murphyshotel.com/restaurant/ Day 4, Ride from Bear Valley to Ebbetts Pass and descend to Markleeville, location of annual Death Ride. Stay at Creek-Side Hotel in Markleeville. Or, skip ride and explore Calaveras Big Trees and Murphy’s. https://www.creekside-lodge.com/ Day 5, Ride from Markleeville to Sonora Pass and stay at the Historic Sonora Inn. Or, skip the mountain climbs and ride a gentle 35 mile Diamond Valley Loop In Markleeville. https://www.thesonorainn.com/ Day 6, Travel by car to Groveland and Ride Cherry Lake to Evergreen or Rush Creek Lodge at the entrance to Yosemite Valley. Or, rent bikes at Lodges and explore local mountain bike trails. https://www.evergreenlodge.com/ https://www.rushcreeklodge.com/ Day 7, Ride in Yosemite Valley and explore Valley by Bicycle. Stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel. https://www.yosemite.com/lodging/hotels/the-ahwahnee-hotel/



For More Information on Accommodations, Attractions and Dining Check Links Below











ARE THERE MORE PEOPLE RIDING BICYCLES FOR RECREATION?









Yes. In the Central Valley, Foothills and Sierras.


The total number of Strava recorded bike rides in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Alpine Counties in 2019 was 95,000. In 2020 there were 51,290 more bike rides showing this subgroup of the cycling community has increased. 


Strava is used by many cyclists to record bike ride routes but, casual cyclists ride the same routes without using a Strava cycling computer. This data is not available.


As a base we are using Strava bike ride data to examine cycling destinations and potential economic benefits of encouraging our region as a cycling destination.


Tourist bike riding data in 2020 shows that the central foothills and eastern Sierras gained more bike rides than the Central Valley: San Joaquin 37.9%, Stanislaus 29%, Calaveras 87.3%, Tuolumne 85%, and Alpine 96.8% 


Below is the Strava bike ride data for each county in the bikevalleytosierra partnership and why cyclists choose to make the Central Valley, Foothills and Sierras cycling destinations.


Strava Metro Bike Trip Data

2019 and 2020


Calaveras County 2019

Rolling California foothills and hill climbs along roads that rarely see cars, past scenic views of oak forests and pastoral meadows. 


Populate bike ride destinations: Valley Springs Tri Dam Loop and hill climbs to Jackson, Amador County, newly paved Jesus Maria and Old Gulch Roads, Calaveritas Road linking San Andreas and Angels Camp, Murphy’s Grade and Camp Connell to Bear Valley/Ebbetts Pass


Total bike trips 

6.1K

Weekend trips 

2.7K

Total people

1.4K

Visitors

1.2K

2020 Bike Trips

8,716

+2,716

87.3% Visitors 


Alpine County 2019


The California Alps surrounding Markleeville host several long-standing road-cycling events like The Death Ride and Alta Alpina. Lots of famous hill climbing to challenge avid cyclists.

Populate bike ride destinations: Diamond Valley Loop, Ebbetts, Carson, Pacific Grade and Monitor Pass


Total bike trips

6.4K

Weekend trips

3.6K

Total people

2.9K

Visitors

2.9K

2020 Bike Trips

9,000

+2,600

96.8% visitors 


San Joaquin County 2019

Year-round Mediterranean climate and flat, endless country roads lined with scenic vineyards, orchards, and tranquil pastures.

Populate bike ride destinations: Woodbridge to Thornton 

Total bike trips

37.3K

Weekend trips

13.8K

Total people

3.2K

Visitors

2.1K

2020 Bike Trips

58,887

+21,548

37.9% visitors 


Stanislaus County 2019

Rural roads of the Sierra Nevada foothills, mountain climbs up Del Puerto Canyon

Populate bike ride destinations:

Total bike trips

38.1K

Weekend trips

13.6K

Total people

2.4K

Visitors

1.1K

‘20 58,140

2020 Bike Trips 

+20,140

29% visitors 


Tuolumne County 2019

Pristine, scenic roads along foothills of Sierra Nevada.

Populate bike ride destinations: Old Preist Grade, Coulterville, Groveland, Cherry Lake, Miller Ranch to Evergreen 

Total bike trips 

8.0K

Weekend trips

3.5K

Total people

1.8K

Visitors

1.6K+5.4%

2020 Bike Trips 

12,308

+4,300

85% visitors 


A Bike Ride linking two small gold rush towns, San Andreas to Angels Camp.


The Lodi Sunrise Rotary Club invites familes and recreational cyclists to ride the popular Bike Routes located in the Wine Capital of the San Joaquin Valley. Ride pass scenic vineyards, tranquil pastures, and farm lands.


Make it a weekend in Lodi! Downtown Lodi has a vibrant night life on the weekends and a tour Delle Vigne Wine Tasting Passport!


The website link below has local accommodations, ride details and online registration Now Open.



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