santa barbara area ride recommendations?

[pgardner]

hi all,

i'm going to santa barbara late next week (4/7) to pedal around for a few days. i get the general idea that it's a very bike-friendly place but would love to hear from anyone who's got a favorite ride or two to recommend.

I'm looking for (road-bike) rides with some hills, in the 20 - 30 mile range and of course lovely scenery. wildflowers would be a big plus. open to santa barbara county and maybe even san luis obispo county.

any recommendations, fond recollections, etc. welcome.

thanks!

 

[daveornee]

Originally posted by pgardner
hi all,

i'm going to santa barbara late next week (4/7) to pedal around for a few days. i get the general idea that it's a very bike-friendly place but would love to hear from anyone who's got a favorite ride or two to recommend.

I'm looking for (road-bike) rides with some hills, in the 20 - 30 mile range and of course lovely scenery. wildflowers would be a big plus. open to santa barbara county and maybe even san luis obispo county.

any recommendations, fond recollections, etc. welcome.

thanks!

My brother lives there and knows some routes. I just ride with him so I don't know street names.
Adventure Cycling route going north on CA Route 1 in nice, but there is quite heavy traffic.
Take a look at:
http://tinyurl.com/2bvyk
Also look into the local coalition site:
http://www.sbbike.org/
and
http://www.santabarbaracarfree.com/
I also know there are a few books published about riding in that area.
Sorry I don't have more details, but I sure you will enjoy your time there. There are some wonderful coastal views.
If you can make it further north Montana de Oro State Park, California and Morro Strand State Beach, California are worth a look and ride around.

 

[pgardner]

David,

Thanks much for the info. I found lots of great references in the second and third link you provided. The first one didn't work for me, does it work for you?

Thanks,
Phyllis

 

[daveornee]

Originally posted by pgardner
David,

Thanks much for the info. I found lots of great references in the second and third link you provided. The first one didn't work for me, does it work for you?

Thanks,
Phyllis

Try this:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/pacificcoast.cfm?pg=detail&s=4
The tinyurl one works for me and is supposed to work for you.
It's just a link to Adventure Cycling's touring maps.... specifically the Pacific Coast.
The area north and west of Santa Barbara, near Lompoc, there small roads to the coast are very interesting and not much car traffic. Burpee, the seed company, has fields of flowers there.
Vanderburg AFB is out there too, so you will need to ride around it if you go out in that area.
Ask some local riders for the types of rides that meet your goals. You will certainly see many riders of all kinds in that area.

 

[daveornee]

Originally posted by pgardner
hi all,

i'm going to santa barbara late next week (4/7) to pedal around for a few days. i get the general idea that it's a very bike-friendly place but would love to hear from anyone who's got a favorite ride or two to recommend.

I'm looking for (road-bike) rides with some hills, in the 20 - 30 mile range and of course lovely scenery. wildflowers would be a big plus. open to santa barbara county and maybe even san luis obispo county.

any recommendations, fond recollections, etc. welcome.

thanks!

If you head north on Route 1, there is a beach road from the Lompoc area called Jalama Beach Road. It is hilly but a nice ride.
Check:
http://www.jalamabeach.com/
A very interesting and beautiful place. A 28 mile roundtrip from Route 1.