Biking is a potentially fun way of seeing parts of the wine country but one that few people seem to try, if the lack of bicycles on the roads of Sonoma and Napa is anything to go by. Choose your location well, however, and the rewards of experiencing the warm air and all the unique smells of wine country are many. Plan badly and you'll be cursing all day long.

The roads in much of wine country can make biking more exciting that you'd like. Small roads tend to be winding and narrow, with the ever present danger of inattentive (or drunk) drivers failing to see cyclists or give them enough clearance. While accidents seem to be few, close shaves are more common so be well aware of approaching cars and always cycle in single file as close to the edge of the road as possible.

Make sure you wear a helmet and don’t plan on drinking much. Biking drunk is technically illegal but more importantly it increases your chances of having an accident, whether at the mercy of a car or simply by swerving off the road into a ditch.

Drinking and strenuous exercise is also a recipe for dehydration and heat stroke. Hot summer days might not be the best time to go biking in much of the wine country except the cooler parts of the Russian River Valley and down in Carneros. If you do go in the summer, plan on taking a picnic to wile away the hottest mid-late afternoon hours off the bike. Spring and fall are the best times to venture out on two wheels. Winter is out, unless you like wet-weather riding or happen upon one of the occasional warm, dry spells.

Best Bike Tours

One of the best places to see wineries by bike is the Dry Creek Valley, a relatively flat and compact area crammed with small wineries, many just a few minutes ride from Healdsburg's bike rental shop. Healdsburg is also the jumping off point for rides down the Westside Road into the Russian River Valley and into the Alexander Valley, though distances are longer and wineries further apart.

The handful of wineries and historic sites around the city of Sonoma are also perfect for a bike tour. They are close together and only a short ride from Sonoma's main bike rental shop near the downtown plaza. There is also a very good touring company in Sonoma that lays on everything for a bike sightseeing tour, except pedal power.

From Sonoma it is a slightly longer ride down into Carneros but once there the flatlands and wetlands are fun to explore on a bike. Wineries here tend to be further apart, however, and the weather can be on the cool and murky side, even in summer.

The Napa Valley has some good areas for biking but the size of the valley and the crowds mean you'll have to plan a route carefully to avoid traffic and long distances. Try sticking to the Calistoga area, for example, or the handful of wineries along the Silverado Trail in the Rutherford appellation, just a few minutes ride from St. Helena.

The Santa Cruz Mountains are not terribly bike friendly, unless it's hardcore mountain biking you're after. Steep climbs and long distances between wineries make touring wineries by bike for the most intrepid only. The city of Santa Cruz, however, is a perfect place to ditch the car and hop on a bike to see the city for a day.

Listings for all local bike rental shops, together with suggested routes, can be found in the book.