San Francisco

Where the wild girls are...

Well been here over 6 months so far. Things I've noticed

• Beer is more expensive, and comes in smaller glass. Even worse they then put a head on it, so you get even less beer.
  
• Hills. You cannot miss them here. After trying to avoid for ages, I gave up and just cycle over them now. Massively increasing my fitness
  
• It's sunny all the time, but not always warm. Sits between 15->25 here in the city, which is perfect for me.
  
• Food is cheap when eating out, but expensive to buy (good) in a shop.
  
• There's no pubs.
  
  

So, generally enjoying it here. No idea when/if I'll be back in London though.

American is slightly silly at times.
They will not swap a UK license for a US one. So I have to redo the test.
Yet I can quite happily rent a car on my UK license to do the US driving test.

Very odd considering the UK license are harder to obtain than the US one.

well turns out you cannot just rent a car to do the test. DMV here does not tell you they need a letter from rental agency to do the test. So I didn't have that, and they turned me away. Balls, now I asked the rental agency, they said no. Wtf ? I can rent and drive it just fine (and legally) but you won't let me do my US test in it ? What the hells the difference ?

So, now I'm having to track someone down to borrow a car

I wouldn't worry too much mate, they'll basically have you drive around the DMV carpark.

Glad you're enjoying it though, your analysis of living in America for the first few months are almost identical to mine when i first moved over!

yeah it's all good. still the sillyness of somethings is mindblowing.

still can't believe the whole gov actually is shut down. I support ACA, however I do agree that US can't just keep raising the debt ceiling. The money has to come from somewhere, and be repaid!

well turns out you cannot just rent a car to do the test. DMV here does not tell you they need a letter from rental agency to do the test. So I didn't have that, and they turned me away. Balls, now I asked the rental agency, they said no. Wtf ? I can rent and drive it just fine (and legally) but you won't let me do my US test in it ? What the hells the difference ?
So, now I'm having to track someone down to borrow a car

That's really strange. All I needed to sit my CA driving test in Los Angeles (nearly 2 years ago) was make sure that my rental car had California plates on it (worth noting as plenty of rental stock here has Nevada or Arizona plates) and have proof that I was insured on that vehicle - ie, my Rental Agreement from Hertz. I just showed up with that and it was fine.
I also didn't have to surrender my UK Licence (some people will tell you that you must, but do whatever you can to hang onto it).

Yeah it seems total hit and miss. Technically you DO have to have permission (hence the letter) but a lot of DMV places don't care. This guy was annoying and has now written on my reschedule that I must have a letter. Which is bollocks as I'll just borrow a friends car.

Ah so, you definitely don't surrender license any more. They do however put the license number into the system, so technically your licenses are now tide together.

I'd have lent you my hire car but it had Arizona plates :)

I don't think I ever said thanks for the amazing meal by the way. Thanks! It was a good night.

Ah so, you definitely don't surrender license any more. They do however put the license number into the system, so technically your licenses are now tide together.

I don't get why though - the test is no different, it wouldn't even matter if you'd never held a UK licence. I'm not sure if you can (or perhaps ought to) hide it from them?
The only benefit of a UK Licence comes when getting insured on a car you've bought - A 'Good Driving Record' letter from the DVLA, which you would have had to apply and pay for a few months before you left Blighty.
I didn't bother as I had a recent insurance claim as well as a few recently-expired points. Made no odds, insuring a car here as a newbie was still way cheaper than it ever was in 7 years of driving in London.

well it's too late as they have mine, but I guess. Although I wonder on the legality of hiding it from them ? It's pointless anyway, not like I can hand it over here in the US as I've been here too long.

Insurance I didn't even think of. I'm going to get killed anyway, as I've not had my own insurance since around 2000. It's been company cars and all over the planet.

Just spent a great 28 hours in San Fran. Beautiful city with something different over every hill. Bullit does not do justice to how steep some of those f**kers are. They are terrifying. It's an interesting look at planners imposing a rational grid on an irrational topography. Some brilliant area names here too : I spent most of the day in Cow Hollow, having slept in Nob Hill last night..

"...Beautiful city with something different over every hill. Bullit does not do justice to how steep some of those f**kers are. They are terrifying."

About 30 percent gradient some of them I believe...

Looks like I'm going to be in SF for a week in April for work - hoping to get a bit of free time too - can anyone recommend any daily bike hire places/bike shops/ bars/ restaurants?

Think I'm staying near Union Square.

What dates Mikey? I'm there in April too.

Hi Jake - 21st - 27th

Ah, will miss you by a few days.

Does anyone have a spare/empty room in SF for the next week?

My wife and I have been put up in the shittiest hotel in town (Hotel Whitcomb) and we are desperate to get out, but work won't pay a dime more for anywhere else.

^ That got sorted... we moved hotel, and I've since been back another 2 times.

And I'm there again soon, from May 9th for pretty much the rest of the month. With a Brompton too, so I'll be in your city, riding your streets... or just hanging out in the Casanova Lounge as I usually do.

I'm staying in Potrero Hill if anyone is around. Week 1 will be a lot of work, and the first weekend is SF MoMA, but the rest of the time is free.

I'm still around. Can meet up at some stage for sure.

I'll be spending 4 days in SF with work next month. Any bike shops worth visiting, especially those where you can get well-made US components (or tools) more cheaply than over here?

There's a strip on Valencia with Freewheel which has tons of great stuff (PAUL etc), also Chrome and Mission stores and a few other bits - good restaurants there too. Aether shop (Hayes Valley) is worth a look for rarity - nice food around there too. Not sure you'll get a bargain anywhere though. Blame Brexit. There's a good shop out near the golden gate bridge called Roaring Mouse which has a few nice bits. Also over the bridge in Sausalito - Mike's Bikes and Above Category for Euro bike porn. Hire a bike & have a ride - or join the rapha club and book a canyon? Great fun bombing hills and exploring.

Cheers bud.

Of course there's also Rivendell, SOMAFab and Jitensha.