Bob on BAC San Francisco to Santa Barbara 2010

Santa Barbara

The following is the description of the ride on the BAC website.

BAC California Coast: San Francisco to Santa Barbara

SUMMARY: We meet on Friday, April 9, in the lively North Beach section of San Francisco. Arrive early to explore the city by bike or on foot. Saturday we ride the city perimeter through Golden Gate Park, then southbound, riding close to the Pacific Ocean for the next six days. We finish the tour heading inland for three days, climbing over the coastal range and descending into Santa Barbara. You will enjoy dramatic ocean views, tangy sea air, and the dramatic natural beauty of the rugged coast and its unique, funky beach communities. On the inland route, we observe California’s rich agriculture heritage of cattle ranches, farming and thriving Central Coast wine industry, now challenging Napa with high quality wines and as a tourist destination. In April the landscape will still be green and wildflowers abundant from winter rains, which should be over. Overnights will be in San Francisco, Pacifica, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur, Ragged Point, Morro Bay, Santa Maria, Solvang, and, on last day of riding, Sunday, April 18, in Santa Barbara, where the overnight is optional. (NOTE: Our hotel in San Francisco is the same hotel for the last day of BAC Davis to Golden Gate; Our hotel in Santa Barbara is also the place of first meeting for BAC California Coast: Santa Barbara to San Diego, so if you continue with that group or leave after arrival in Santa Barbara, lodging there is included but can be refunded.) The longest day (Sunday, to Santa Cruz) is 67 rolling miles and the hardest day (Wednesday, to Ragged Point) is 49 miles with a cumulative elevation gain of 4150 feet. The coastal geography requires sharp descents into numerous coves/inlets and steep climbs out of them, which can be tiring. This tour is a solid 2B and the cautionary icon has been added for the experience and confidence needed to ride in traffic and on winding roads with minimal or no shoulders, and for 9 days of cycling without a rest day. This well regarded tour was created and led, most recently in 2007, by Wilson Cooper, who has “ridden these roads for 25 years.” Ride Directors will drive the entire route in advance to determine food/water availability, points of interest, and make route adjustments if necessary.

ADMINISTRATION: Participants: Max 20; Min 14. The estimated cost of the tour is $1,475 per person, assuming double occupancy rooming, for 9 or 10 nights lodging (some with continental breakfasts), two group meals (4/9 and 4/17), daily social gathering, van rental and its operating costs including driver compensation, maps/cue sheets and non-refundable $50 BAC fee. Acceptance occurs upon receipt of deposit. Single riders are encouraged to find compatible roommates and/or riding partners. RDs will introduce singles who must make their final rooming decision. Return transportation to San Francisco not provided, however information on arrival/departure options and bike box handling will provided in response to needs of the group. Refunds from cancellation will be determined at time of withdrawal or during final accounting, at RDs sole discretion, based on these factors: date we receive notice, availability of replacement rider(s) from waiting list, and unrecoverable lodging or other costs.

Below are links to lodging and route details. When you look at the route details, you will get a better view of the route if you click on "Hybrid".

Please be aware that all routes and maps shown on this web site are not 100% accurate. The GPS software used to create them could not recognize bicycle trails or some of the waypoints described on the route sheets.

The table below is for pre-ride planning. The actual maps, profiles etc. will be supplied by the ride leaders.