A friend and myself are looking for ideas for weekend getaways outside LA (but not too far) where we can ride around on the bikes and have fun. You know, pretty places with nice paths or empty country-type roads. I'm thinking Ojai for instance with it's nice bike path might be a nice start. Any more ideas? Or a book that I might reference? Thanks...:)

Buellton/Solvang area is nice for weekend ride getaways.

Gmr!:D

Buellton/Solvang area is nice for weekend ride getaways.


Is that still Ventura? I'll have to check a map...

Is that sort of farmland/backroads type stuff?

Gmr!:D

Is that some big honkin' torture fest? Shame on you...:p

Is that some big honkin' torture fest? Shame on you...:p


No, it's actually a very purty ride. One that every SOCal cyclist should do atleast once in their life. SO many think it's a torturefest, but it all depends on how you ride it. I've seen an 80 yo couple up there. Took them 2 hours to get to the 8 mile shack, but they did it!

Gina did 16 miles of the 21 mile climb to the village. That was a hot day that ended up at 100 deg's. She's not a climber and she SUCKS in the heat but she's been up there riding. I'm still trying to get Drew up there but he's still ascared of Gina!:p...If you're into mountain biking, GMR should be a piecs of cake!

Gina's a crossword puzzle doing grandma with one kidney and she's been there!:rolleyes:

Buellton/Solvang area is nice for weekend ride getaways.

+1. Horse country, too. You can visit the farms with advance notice. In the spring it's always fun to pet the new foals. :)

Is that still Ventura? I'll have to check a map...

Is that sort of farmland/backroads type stuff?

It is 75 miles or so north of Ventura.

Yes, farmlands/wineries/backroads

I used to camp in Buellton for a long weekend every year and it is a stop on my annual San Francisco to Moorpark bike tours. I have done about 4 of Planet Ultra's centuries that I always extend to a weekend.

If you like to camp, Buellton has a pretty plush campsite (Flying Flag). You can do day bike trips to the beach or back country hills. There are pretty good restaurants around too.

+1. Horse country, too. You can visit the farms with advance notice. In the spring it's always fun to pet the new foals. :)

Also an ostrich farm (right on highway 246) and I did run into a miniature horse farm once. (if i recall correctly, I think it was out toward Los Olivos).

and I did run into a miniature horse farm once. (if i recall correctly, I think it was out toward Los Olivos).

Miniature horses? Think they might have somethin' to fit my miniature wife?:D

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/DSC04731.jpg

Miniature horses? Think they might have somethin' to fit my miniature wife?:D

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/DSC04731.jpg

She is too little for a miniature horse, she needs a cat or something.

Fred, your humor is great, btw

Hey beanz I get a tandem for a few days...:D

Hey beanz I get a tandem for a few days...:D


They're COOL! But you gotta be compatible with your partner. Gina and I do well together. I tired with a male friend that was much stronger than Gina. We sucked and couldn't hold the pace that Gina and hold!

If you like to camp, Buellton has a pretty plush campsite (Flying Flag). You can do day bike trips to the beach or back country hills. There are pretty good restaurants around too.

Total camper/backpacker. The more remote the better.

Total camper/backpacker. The more remote the better.

Flying Flags may be too much for you then. It is full service, pool/spa/games/internet/television/ awesome showers/etc. It is generally setup for LARGE motor homes but they do have a large grass area that you can generally get away from them. I like the services . But if you are looking for something more remote, it may not work for you.

Also an ostrich farm (right on highway 246) and I did run into a miniature horse farm once. (if i recall correctly, I think it was out toward Los Olivos).

It's on the main road between Solvang and Los Olivos, Alamo Pintado Rd., left side a couple of miles from town. Vicki and I have ridden by it and stopped to pet the horses. Always a few people there.

Right around here:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p94/nesdog1122/Cambriajune07062.jpg

Sheldon

It's on the main road between Solvang and Los Olivos, Alamo Pintado Rd., left side a couple of miles from town. Vicki and I have ridden by it and stopped to pet the horses. Always a few people there.

Sheldon

Good one Sheldon, thanks, I thought I saw it coming back through there.

That looks great! :)



Right around here:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p94/nesdog1122/Cambriajune07062.jpg

Sheldon

I used to ride my mountain bike packed with camp gear up the local mountains above Altadena and spent Saturday nights at established trail camps accessible by foot or bike only. Totally not alone, I always saw a few backpackers make camp as well. Although still within the county, when you're up there it seems like you're far from L.A.

Total camper/backpacker. The more remote the better.
Southern Sierras, eastern slope, Kennedy Meadows, Black Rock Station areas during summer months. Any number of desert areas, or the Owens Valley during the winter months. There are, however, a number of great areas in the local mountains and foothills from the coast to the San Gabriels, but not particularly remote.

Oh, not to be misleading, I'm not necessarily looking for "remote only" type spots for biking, that's just my preference when I camp/hike. Tent camping over RV park, etc.

Just any nice places to go for the weekend. Camp or stay in a hotel...doesn't matter just nice riding close by...(well if it's remote that's OK too, I guess) :)

Why don't you and your friend sign up for some of the organized rides like the Solvang Prelude, Cool Breeze, Tour de Palm Springs, Wildflower, 3 Harbors, etc. which all have short route options, like 15, 20, or 25 miles. You can get acquainted with the facilities and routes in various areas, meet a lot of people, and have a good time doing it, while someone else has worked out the details.

I used to ride my mountain bike packed with camp gear up the local mountains above Altadena and spent Saturday nights at established trail camps accessible by foot or bike only. Totally not alone, I always saw a few backpackers make camp as well. Although still within the county, when you're up there it seems like you're far from L.A.

I remember that pix you posted from up there. It looked nice!

That would be fun to do with a small group.

Yeah, I dig camping. Here's a shot from 2 summers ago. Three of us here at hiker/biker site at El Capitan State Beach.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/jojisan/PISMO-LA5.jpg

Why don't you and your friend sign up for some of the organized rides like the Solvang Prelude, Cool Breeze, Tour de Palm Springs, Wildflower, 3 Harbors, etc. which all have short route options, like 15, 20, or 25 miles. You can get acquainted with the facilities and routes in various areas, meet a lot of people, and have a good time doing it, while someone else has worked out the details.

I'm not sure why that doesn't have the appeal to me as the two of us just sort of striking out on our own.

Maybe it's the "couples" thing...:D

I'd like to do some unstructured "exploring" in a nice, bike-friendly area. I don't mind working out details myself.

We already went to Joshua Tree once for the weekend and brought a couple of bikes. That was exciting. We got caught in a hailstorm...

Wow doesn't that look great! We went there with a camping trailer when I was a kid.....:)


Yeah, I dig camping. Here's a shot from 2 summers ago. Three of us here at hiker/biker site at El Capitan State Beach.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/jojisan/PISMO-LA5.jpg

It is 75 miles or so north of Ventura.

Yes, farmlands/wineries/backroads

OK...I googled that...Santa Ynez Valley? Where that movie Sideways was filmed?
That area sounds really good.

There must be a guidebook for this kind of thing. There's tons for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking trail guides...tent camping.

I'm not looking in the right places...

OK...I googled that...Santa Ynez Valley? Where that movie Sideways was filmed?
That area sounds really good.

There must be a guidebook for this kind of thing. There's tons for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking trail guides...tent camping.

I'm not looking in the right places...

Alice
Flying Flags Campground/ (http://www.flyingflags.com/)

Here is a general tourist guide
http://www.virtualsolvang.com/Solvang_Attractions.php

For hikes, this is a good one that is super easy but nice Nojoqui Falls (http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/NojoquiFalls_7480.asp)

Figueroa Mountain offers more challenging opportunities, google "Figueroa Mountain" hiking

Here is a site that describes some http://www.hikingwithmike.com/los_padres_national_forest.htm

For bicycling, how hilly and long do you want? I would recommend one day to Jalama Beach and another to the hills north of Solvang.. There are lots of options there based on how much riding you want to do.

About 20 miles from Solvang is Lake Cachuma http://www.sbparks.com/Scripts/ParksDetail.asp?ParkID=2 Maybe there is something there for you. It is a fairly easy bike ride from Solvang/Buellton.

For bicycling, how hilly and long do you want? I would recommend one day to Jalama Beach and another to the hills north of Solvang.. There are lots of options there based on how much riding you want to do.
About 20 miles from Solvang is Lake Cachuma http://www.sbparks.com/Scripts/ParksDetail.asp?ParkID=2 Maybe there is something there for you. It is a fairly easy bike ride from Solvang/Buellton.

We wouldn't be doing any hiking just a biking weekend...probably no more than 30-50 miles max in a day...much less would be fine, too depending on what there is to see and do.

I have a scar on my knee as a momento from Lake Cachuma... :p

Maybe there are biking maps available for this area?

EDIT I called the visitors center and they are sending some stuff out. Thanks!
This ride sounds great....
http://www.sb-outdoors.org/Trails/index3.php/?ID=183