The San Francisco South Bay Area is especially blessed with both a great climate and a spectacular geography, ideally suited to the sport of recreational bicycling. Encompassing Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, the region offers a wide variety of rides, taking you through rolling ranchlands to lush redwood forests, along quiet country roads, to the sandy beaches of the spectacular Pacific Coast.- Experience the tranquility of the redwood forests as you ride along remote roads through the Santa Cruz Mountains. - See the orchards around Corralitos in their full bloom in the springtime along peaceful country roads. - Get your adrenaline pumping on the single-track trails in Wilder Ranch State Preserve and Soquel Demonstration Forest. - Spot unusual migratory birds in their natural habitat at the Elkhorn Slough. - Indulge yourself on the Santa Cruz beach and boardwalk. - Let loose on the spectacular long descent along Soquel-San Jose Road. - Relive the mining past in historic New Almaden.This completely new edition of South Bay Bike Trails includes 31 separate rides, many of them totally new or modified from rides previously described in the first edition. They will satisfy cyclists of any ability, ranging in distance from 6 to 50 miles, and in terrain from completely flat to very hilly. Off-road biking is covered as well, with 8 rides on dirt or fire roads through the many parks of the South Bay. Detailed maps, elevation profiles, photos and detailed route descriptions allow you to select the appropriate ride of your choice with no unpleasant surprises.