RIDES WITH REWARDS

It’s been about 45 years since Joe Breeze and members of the Larkspur Canyon Gang conquered the slopes of Marin County’s Mount Tamalpais on fat-tire cruisers and launched the sport of mountain biking. In the decades since, it’s evolved into an Olympic competition and has expanded to include fat-tire biking on the snowy Sierra slopes and off-road hand-cycling for adaptive riders. While the challenges facing cyclists in the Bay Area start with a lack of space on the roads, there are ideal dirt and paved trails routed into the backcountry of parks with plenty of space for all users. Each experience is rewarding, and the payoffs are special.

MARIN COUNTY

Tamarancho Loop: Camp Tamarancho is the No. 1 mountain bike park in the state, where you pay $5 for a month for unlimited riding on single-track trails. The 9-mile Tamarancho Loop, single track on the east side of White Hill, is the centerpiece. Owned and operated by the Marin Council of the Boy Scouts of America. 1000 Iron Springs Road, Fairfax. (415) 454-1081. www.boyscouts-marin .org (click on Tamarancho Biking).

Perimeter Road, Angel Island:

The 5½-mile ride on Perimeter Road around Angel Island is probably the best ride for all ages in California. The views are spectacular at a series of lookouts across the bay to its landmarks, with easy side trips available to Camp Reynolds, Perles Beach, Battery Ledyard, East Garrison, Quarry Beach, North Garrison and the Immigration Station. Rentals at Angel Island Cafe, (415) 4353392. www.angelisland.com, www.parks.ca.gov

SAN FRANCISCO

Golden Gate to

Sausalito: This is the most popular ride in California, where you cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge and return by ferry to Pier 41. The trip starts along the bay on the Golden Gate Promenade, from Marina Green to the Presidio, and then up through the tunnel to the bike lane on the west side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Take in the spectacular views along the Marin Headlands and out to the ocean. Then glide down to Fort Baker and complete the trip to Sausalito for lunch. Roughly 8 miles one way. Rentals: Blazing Saddles, (415) 202-8888. www. blazingsaddles.com

PENINSULA

Bay Ridge Trail, Crystal Springs: You need trail reservations, but you and your riding pals can have paradise to yourselves. This is an 11-mile one-way ride with a shuttle on the Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail. The route spans Quarry Gate north to the gate at Sneath Lake in San Bruno. You’ll pass through forest and view points to the east of Crystal Springs, then on past 5 Points to a remote subridge. To the west is the seldom-seen east flank of Montara Mountain, to the east are sweeping views of the South Bay. Reservations: www.sfwater.org (click on Community and Explore, then Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail).

SOUTH COAST

Rancho del Oso, Big Basin Redwoods: My favorite bike-and-hike anywhere is the ride on the dirt road from Rancho del Oso into the interior of Big Basin Redwoods. It starts out flat, but then goes up and down three hills. In summer, temporary bridges provide access to the interior redwoods of Big Basin. You then park, lock up at a rack, and hike 1 to 3 miles to see Berry Creek Falls, and then up the canyon to Silver Falls and the Golden Cascade, respectively. A 13-mile round trip ride, plus hike. Rancho del Oso Nature Center, (831) 427-2288. http://ranchodeloso.org

EAST BAY HILLS

Nimitz Way, Tilden Regional

Park: From Inspiration Point, the trail is crowded for the first mile, then becomes more your own (still paved) for 4 miles to a turnoff on the left (becomes dirt) and a gate. Ride through the gate and continue to the foot of one of the hills. Lay down your bike and walk to the summit for a world-class 360-degree view of the bay, foothills and distant peaks. It’s a 10mile round trip. Tilden Regional Park, (888) 3272757, option 3, Ext. 4562. www.eb parks.org