Fort Bragg, California - Good Roads, Ocean Views and Redwoods

FORT BRAGG, Calif., Oct. 12, 2007 -- They come from Germany, Great Britain, France, and Japan in search of America's most scenic roads and make Fort Bragg their headquarters for awe-inspiring motorcycle rides with ocean views and redwood forests.

Both on and off-road enthusiasts from around the world -- many post-retirement baby boomers -- fly into San Francisco, Oakland or Sacramento where they rent motorcycles for the 3-hour trip to the Mendocino Coast in Northern California.

"Fort Bragg is one of the top riding spots in the world," explains Chris Knoerdel, a motorcycle and vintage car enthusiast living in Fort Bragg. "We have excellent roads, terrific views around every bend, day-time entertainment for spouses who aren't riding, and plenty of places for overnight stays and evening parties. Innkeepers in Fort Bragg know how to coordinate every aspect of a ride for clubs and individuals." Knoerdel, a former BSA of Northern California member, is local ride organizer (OlJagGuy@aol.com).

Local Club Rides

For many local clubs, Fort Bragg is the site of at least one major outing each year. Typically, a major ride is a three-day event that includes the first day trip to Fort Bragg and a second-day ride of 70-100 miles, followed by an evening club meeting, barbecue and party. The final day is a shorter Coast ride before returning home.

When to Visit

Prime riding time on the Mendocino Coast is from February to October. Except for the rainiest days, the Coast is considered an ideal spot for year-around riding because of the temperate climate where temperatures average mid-fifties (12C-13C) summer, fall and winter.

More Than Motorcycles

The Mendocino Coast is often included in the Great Race, America's most prestigious car rally and time trial. "Ours is just a classic piece of coast," said Knoerdel. "Because of the hundreds of miles of off-road trails, Fort Bragg has been a starting point for the Green Lane Ride, an off-road motorcycle competition on logging roads through redwoods.

"We're also a magnet for hot rods and vintage cars (pre-1962). Our combination of roads, scenery and entertainment combine to make Fort Bragg a center of the riding universe."