Southern California - Lompoc -> Santa Barbara a decent ride?
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jhmiller
05-07-09, 02:17 PM
Norcal roadie here, driving down for a weekend in Santa Barbara tomorrow. I'm thinking of having my wife drop me off in Lompoc and riding the rest of the way into SB with the wind at my back. Is the route along Highways 1 and 101 any good? Scenic?
sd_mike
05-07-09, 02:19 PM
I rode along part of that route in 2001 and it was quite enjoyable. US 101 has a wide shoulder as well.
I rode that last summer as part of my Seattle to San Diego tour. It is a nice climb out of Lompoc, a great descent to 101. You'll have to ride on the freeway for a while, then get off near Goleta, and if I recall correctly you'll be off the freeway all the way then to SB. Have fun! It was a good ride.
DannoXYZ
05-07-09, 09:44 PM
Along the coast is nice. If you want more scenery and hills, take 154 over the pass. There are detours along the way like Paradise road which is very nice. You end up at the top of San Marcos for a nice downhill, 50-55mph coasting or 70+ drafting cars on the way down.
prathmann
05-07-09, 10:06 PM
I rode that last summer as part of my Seattle to San Diego tour. It is a nice climb out of Lompoc, a great descent to 101. You'll have to ride on the freeway for a while, then get off near Goleta, and if I recall correctly you'll be off the freeway all the way then to SB. Have fun! It was a good ride.
Yes, there is a good-sized climb shortly after leaving Lompoc and the downhill takes you all the way to the freeway entrance and a little beyond. The freeway shoulder is fine, but there's also an option to use a bike path between Refugio and El Capitan State Beaches (go past the kiosk and ask for directions there). After that you get back on the freeway for a short stretch until the mandatory exit at Goleta. Then follow the Pacific Coast bike route signs through the UCSB campus and into downtown Santa Barbara.
Hmm, I didn't see this yesterday, but I wonder how it went with the fire...