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Commuting to SF for doctors appointments, concerned about riding up the STEEP roads. Any tips?

Another thing you can do, if you have room, is move to the right and ride to the top of the intersection. But that doesn't build the skills you need.
 
ST Guy said:
Yes on the rear brake. All you need is practice.

Go to a parking garage with fairly steep ramps and practice stopping and starting. To stop, do that normally. To go, use your right foot to apply the rear brake to hold the bike and release the front brake. Then you can start releasing the clutch and giving it some gas while simultaneously easing up on the rear brake.
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Thanks, I'll definitely see if I can find some steep hills in my area to practice on before I actually take the ride.
 
BURNROPE said:
Where's your doctor located? You can avoid a lot of hills by choosing a less steep route. Take Van Ness instead of Gough or cut through the Presidio to avoid going up Divisadero for instance.
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It's on Divisadero (but I'll be commuting to both Mt Zion and Mission Bay UCSF.) There happens to be around 4 or so steep inclines with stops at each crossroad, before it starts going downhill.

I'll definitely check for other routes, but would like to conquer my fear of riding up these hills. Will try and find some large hills near me that I can practice on, though I doubt I'll find anything as steep as some of the hills in SF.
 
Marcoose said:
Tiny detail. A very few bicycle routes assume you can dismount and carry your bicycle up or down a flight of stairs. I’ve learnt that whilst working at Scoot. You know, the batteries weren’t always topped off. :laughing

OP, give plenty of room to the car in front of you. Like over 6 feet. Some cars go backward before they move forward.
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I'll keep this in mind, thank you.
 
Avoid downhill bricks, especially if wet. Just ride in the other lane.
 
NoTraffic said:
If you practice enough to be able to do what SFPD does - you're golden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVMTaAoO7OM
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I was almost able to do that at the end of the advanced course at the Alameda County sheriff's course. If I had done it, the would have awarded the advanced certificate rather than the intermediate. Oh well. I only had one shot at it.
 
NoTraffic said:
If you practice enough to be able to do what SFPD does - you're golden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVMTaAoO7OM
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ST Guy said:
I was almost able to do that at the end of the advanced course at the Alameda County sheriff's course. If I had done it, the would have awarded the advanced certificate rather than the intermediate. Oh well. I only had one shot at it.
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Yeah, we did up hill and down hill left and right U turns on this road toward the end of motor school.

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Not sure what the grade is, but it's pretty steep.
 
I'm pretty sure I'm not even that smooth on flat ground. I should probably revisit the Alameda County training again.
 
NoTraffic said:
If you practice enough to be able to do what SFPD does - you're golden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVMTaAoO7OM
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Yea! But the San Francisco citizens will not pay for your bike repair or your medical bill when you drop your bike while practicing these maneuvers in the streets of San Francisco. Nor will the SF cops close off a street for you to practice. They may even give you a ticket for illegal U-turns. I think the closest you will get to practicing such maneuvers would be on a closed adventure bike training course stopping on top of a camelback.
 
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Hank Wong said:
Yea! But the San Francisco citizens will not pay for your bike repair or your medical bill when you drop your bike while practicing these maneuvers in the streets of San Francisco. Nor will the SF cops close off a street for you to practice. They may even give you a ticket for illegal U-turns. I think the closest you will get to practicing such maneuvers would be on a closed adventure bike training course stopping on top of a camelback.
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Or some parking lots/garages have rather steep entrances upon which one may practice. Gotta look for them, though.
 
sacraficemygoat said:
It's on Divisadero (but I'll be commuting to both Mt Zion and Mission Bay UCSF.) There happens to be around 4 or so steep inclines with stops at each crossroad, before it starts going downhill.
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If you're planning to come from the North Bay and to take Divisadero south to your appointment, you're taking a stretch with some seriously steep hills and lots of backed up tourist traffic with all the 4-way stops. On that particular stretch of Divisadero, I usually don't even stop on the hill and instead just roll into the 4-way stop where it's flat (it's hard to see the cars at the 4 way stop otherwise). And you don't want to be sitting in traffic on the uphill portion of that road, inching up to the stop. It starts to burn up the clutch. I almost always split up the middle of the road to the stop sign. It can be a bit sketchy, because as you get near the top, cars going the other direction suddenly appear over the crest.

Considering you were concerned enough to post about it, why not just take a slightly different route? It's not going to cost much more time. There isn't really a good reason to deliberately tackle those specific hills, particularly if you're uncomfortable doing so right now. You'll still be challenging yourself. Even with alternative routes, there will still be plenty of other hills on the way that'll help develop your confidence without needing to deal with that particular clutch-burning stretch.
 
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Turn right on Lombard off of Richardson Ave,coming from the GG Bridge. Enter the Presidio, turn left on Presidio Blvd. Take it to the top, exit the Presidio Gate, continue on Presidio Ave to Post St, turn left and head towards Diviserdero. The Mt. Zion campus is in that area.
 
monstermonster said:
If you're planning to come from the North Bay and to take Divisadero south to your appointment, you're taking a stretch with some seriously steep hills and lots of backed up tourist traffic with all the 4-way stops. On that particular stretch of Divisadero, I usually don't even stop on the hill and instead just roll into the 4-way stop where it's flat (it's hard to see the cars at the 4 way stop otherwise). And you don't want to be sitting in traffic on the uphill portion of that road, inching up to the stop. It starts to burn up the clutch. I almost always split up the middle of the road to the stop sign. It can be a bit sketchy, because as you get near the top, cars going the other direction suddenly appear over the crest.

Considering you were concerned enough to post about it, why not just take a slightly different route? It's not going to cost much more time. There isn't really a good reason to deliberately tackle those specific hills, particularly if you're uncomfortable doing so right now. You'll still be challenging yourself. Even with alternative routes, there will still be plenty of other hills on the way that'll help develop your confidence without needing to deal with that particular clutch-burning stretch.
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Appreciate the response. I think taking a different route will probably be best thing to do for now. Will have to check Google Maps and see if I can set up the route (there and back) to avoid the steep roads.
 
despite the vid of the SFPD doing figure 8s on a step hill, if you're uncomfortable on steep hills do not get side hill, that is always stay wheels parallel to the incline.
 
BURNROPE said:
Turn right on Lombard off of Richardson Ave,coming from the GG Bridge. Enter the Presidio, turn left on Presidio Blvd. Take it to the top, exit the Presidio Gate, continue on Presidio Ave to Post St, turn left and head towards Diviserdero. The Mt. Zion campus is in that area.
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Thanks, would you mind taking a look at this route and tell me if it i'll be avoiding any steep roads? This is from Napa to Mission Bay. I'd appreciate it.

This link is taking Bay Bridge - https://goo.gl/maps/LnhznrrBsBF6DNmi9

This link is taking Golden Gate - https://goo.gl/maps/xEFBek7M6pGdLyvb8

Going to take whichever is shorter at the time I leave. Most likely will be the bay bridge way.
 
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