Amid the Redwoods

From article: LEVI LEIPHEIMER'S 10 FAVORITE ROUTES: Cycling California Wine Country with a Local Pro

Strava Link: http://www.strava.com/routes/897494

Levi’s Take: Start at the Clif Family Velo Vino Tasting Room in St. Helena, then head north on Silverado Trail until the first big climb up Old Toll and Highway 29. Once up and over, you get to Middletown, where you’ll want to stop for water. Then it’s south on the desolate Butts Canyon Road to the next climb up Ink Grade. Ink is one of the more gentle climbs in the county and goes in and out of the Redwoods; then it’s one last descent down Old Howell Mount right back to Velo Vino.

Road Notes: Big trees on a winding, casual incline — now that sounds nice, doesn’t it? You do your hard work early on in this route (miles 12 through 18 kind of suck), and then reward yourself the rest of the way. Because you deserve it. You really do.