Quick summary: a gorgeous, sun-and-clear-skies, panoramic-views-of-the-ocean-and-cliffs 50ish-mile Stinson Beach loop with four friends, via Highway 1, and then returning up the side of Mt Tam. I posted a few photos from my phone yesterday.
This might replace Paradise Loop in the medium-length-ride rotation for me — it’s about the same distance but more scenic and interesting riding.
It is significantly more elevation gain (4500’ or so instead of 1800’), but it didn’t feel as hard as those numbers suggest— most of the hills were long but not ridiculously steep. And it felt much more laid back than the 63-mile, 6000’ Alpine Dam loop.
Part of that is probably just the length of the day— if you get a casual mid-morning start on the Alpine Dam loop and stop for a while in Fairfax, you have to worry about getting stuck riding home in the dark and cold.