Touring - Planning to do a trip from LA to SF

I have been cycling for sometime but this will be my first, long distance cycling trip.
I am looking for one person that would want to go on a trip together.
I am able to go on the trip anytime during this summer.
I am 20 years old male.

Hope you like headwinds! Most people do the trip in the opposite direction so that the wind is (generally) in their favor...

I could do SF to LA it really doesn't matter.
I live near San Francisco, I just wanted to ride the long trip back home, haha.

Easier to ride north to south. When you get tired of riding, hop on Amtrak and take the train back to the SF Bay Area. The train is pretty cheap. From LA to San Jose, I think I paid something like $60 for my ticket and another $15 for the bike+shipping box.

Agree, ride south. Don't bother finding someone to ride with, you'll meet people along the way. Better that way.

Agree that north to south is much better. In addition to the dominant wind direction you also benefit from better views of the rocky shoreline by being on the ocean side of the road, especially in the Big Sur area, and the road shoulders tend to be better on that side - I think CalTrans figures most cyclists will be headed south. At the moment Hwy. 1 is still closed near Gorda and we had to detour inland on Nacimiento-Ferguson road but it should be ok in a few weeks. The train is a good way to come back. Just pick a station with baggage car service and check in advance to see if they'll have a bike box available. If you go with one or two others then another option I've used is to rent a car in the LA area. Usually there's no one-way dropoff charge if you pick it up at an airport location and return it to one of the Bay Area airports.

This is so cool. Part of the reason I want to move out there.

... At the moment Hwy. 1 is still closed near Gorda and we had to detour inland on Nacimiento-Ferguson road but it should be ok in a few weeks. ...

oooo, how steep was that! ;->

Road might be open in mid June.

http://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/caltrans-hwy-1-remains-closed-at-alder-creek-just-north-of-the-montereyslo-county-line-through-mid-june/

I'm in Colorado & know nothing of the ride you're discussing, but it really sounds awesome! Will you ride on 101? How many miles would that be? Sounds great!

That is a heavily traveled route for cyclists. You should have no trouble finding a companion, and if you do, not to worry. You'll meet ppl to ride along with if they are of like mind.

Put a classified on CG for a companion, and/or with Adventure Cycling Association.

Will you ride on 101? How many miles would that be? Sounds great!

Let's hope the OP isn't planning to ride on 101! That's a large, heavily traveled highway that doesn't pass near anything scenic (for the most part). Highway 1, which hugs the coast from SF to LA, is the route to take... From SF to LA, is probably around 550 miles if you follow the coast.

Led a AYH trip along that route there , you know where Ft Mason Hostel is?

ask there , or there is an IYHA office in SF , still .. it was 20 years ago..

Are you serious about it?

Wheelmonkey?

I was just inquiring out of curiosity. I have no plans to travel to CA for a bike tour or otherwise. Sounds cool though!

Although you normally have the winds at your back heading the pacific coast north to south, that is not always true. Last summer was a little odd in that it was a colder summer for many years and the winds from San Fran through a good part of Big Sur were headwinds while riding south. Monterey Bay had particularly strong headwinds in late August.

Remember that not all State campsites have hiker/biker camping. The price ranged from $6 to $12 with the higher cost in the southern half of the route.