shona

What is the road cycling around Santa Barbara like?

AbsurdChalk

Beautiful with some great climbs.

Garfield Cat

Santa Barbara is not only the city but the county as well. When you consider the county, its big for riding. Here's what part of Wikipedia says about the Santa Ynez Valley:

The valley has a population of about 20,000 residents living in the communities of Solvang, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Buellton, and Ballard.

That's wine country and lots of good riding.

shona

I didn't realize that it is a county and not just a city. If we were to bring our road bikes and stay in one location where should we stay? Thanks for all the help.

Garfield Cat

That would bring about a lot of questions about the type of riding you want to do and where you like to stay for rest and food. Some just want to stay in those little towns like Solvang, etc. and enjoy the food and wine. I never saw Fess Parker (the Disney Davy Crockett) but I think his hotel is still operating in Los Olivos. Pricey? yes.

Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa - Boutique Hotel, Los Olivos, California | Bed & Breakfast, Restaurant, Wine Shop

There's a few bike shops in Santa Barbara and Solvang. Call them for details and even when you might join up with other riders.

Bike rentals - Dr.J's Bicycle Shop | Solvang-Ca. Santa Ynez Valley

Nachoman

Up Gibraltar, over Camino Cielo and down Painted Cave.

shona

We like rollers for riding. No bed & breakfasts - we would prefer either a hotel or a VRBO place. We don't drink wine (I know, what a waste) so just nice riding, pretty scenery, good food. Which town?

Garfield Cat

Depending on the time you have, all those towns in one way or another. Whether it be riding, food, scenery, etc.

Check out this directory and you will find the VRBO available. Or just call the lady who handles the Chamber there. She is also a road bike rider and has been in the Valley for 30 years.

Member Directory | Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce

shona

Can you tell me the name of the lady?

Garfield Cat

Don't know her name. Just spoke with her over the phone. Just call her. As you would imagine, its not a big organization.

Santa Ynez Chamber
PO Box 1738
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
(805) 350-8517

shona

I just spoke with her. Thanks - she was very helpful. Getting it figured out.

grampa.sjb

Santa Barbara - "big" city, university town

Solvang - tourist town, kitschy

Santa Inez - Just right!


Every year there is the Solvang Century and the Solvang Prelude. Both start from Solvang and have several thousand participants. Google the century, and you'll find routes and info on the area.

JetAgeHobo

I need to preface this with the fact I'm partial to Santa Ynez Valley area. Lived in Goleta for a year, which is sort of a suburb of Santa Barbara City, and moved up to Solvang, last month, partially because now instead of loading up the bike and driving the 30 miles to go for a ride in the valley, I can just ride out from the front door. DR J's bike shop sells a good map of cycling routes of the area, color coded as to difficulty, etc. lots of "rollers" in the Santa Ynez valley, or if you want a real challenge Happy Canyon Rd around to Figueroa Mtn Road. Or for an out and back Solvang to Happy Canyon until it gets hilly, then back, or up Figeuroa Mt, past Neverland Ranch until that gets hilly, or.... or.... or... plenty of choices.

Anything from bed and breakfast to Holiday Inn, to Wyndham, in Solvang, some other places in Buelton.

Santa Barbara city, mostly riding on bike lanes and some MUPs, like the countryside area best.

Cheers and have a good trip

diphthong

sweet. realistically doable on a road bike?

Garfield Cat

Have you ridden Foxen Canyon Road all the way to Santa Maria?

JetAgeHobo

Looks like it might be an interesting ride, but I usually can get the miles I want from my house up to Chalk Hill, Ballard Canyon over to Los Olivos, then down to Roblar across the highway following it around where it turns to Mora and into Baseline, turn right at Happy Canyon to the end for a longer ride, or left on Happy Canyon to Armour Ranch, cross the highway to Mission, and take Mission home.

Two things I'm not fond of Foxen Canyon, one, would be an out and back, I'm partial to doing loops, and two, the first few miles anyway are the main roads to some popular wineries, just not what I want sharing the roads with a lot of folks out for wine tastings. Just me though, others may differ.

Nachoman

it may look like a dirt path, but that's actually a well paved road.

Nachoman

Bike rides in Santa Barbara County, California
.
For a couple good rides around Solvang, check out the Sideways 1 and Sideways II links.

I prefer sideways II.

diphthong

thanks! i could discern that stretch as being paved but was wondering about the whole enchilada. read somewhere about there being so-so pavement in the area but maybe i'm thinking of figueroa mtn?

WestRide

Figueroa is longer and steeper, but you get amazing ocean views from Gibraltar.