jnbrown

Diabloridr,

Thanks for the suggestions. Still apprehensive about riding on the west side because afraid of getting buzzed by angry drivers visiting the wineries, otherwise it would be my first choice.
I realize this would be different living there you might know how to deal with it. Would rather ride on roads with some shoulder and little traffic.

The high in Paso Robles is going to be 100 so we would have start early and finish by 1pm. I was also looking at options closer to the coast like Old Creek Rd out of Cayucos but wonder if its too steep on a tandem, looks like 10% for a few miles.

diabloridr

You're definitely more adverse to traffic than me, though having spent 20 years in the Bay Area makes this seem like car-free paradise. I've never had issues on Vineyard, the traffic is light and considerate. Chimney Rock/Klau Mine might be a good loop for you as there are only a couple of winery's back there and the road doesn't go anywhere else. It's pretty isolated, though we have hit some traffic when people are picking up/dropping off at a Boy Scout camp back there.

I'd avoid Nacimento Drive, at least during Summer weekends, due to heavy traffic headed to the Lake.

The routes through Creston will have even less traffic, though they are more inland and will be warmer.

We've climbed Old Creek on our tandem, there's maybe a half to one mile of real granny gear work. We haven't gotton our courage up yet to take the tandem up Santa Rosa Creek yet, so if you have Old Creek should be within your ability.

Highs this weekend are supposed to barely crack 90. We've had an unsually mild Summer.

Homeyba

I've never had an issue on Vineyard either and that's part of one of my favorite training loops (I ride it a lot). Peachy Canyon to Vineyard to Adilaide, it's a great loop.
I'd second the Chimney Rock/Klau Mine loop too. It's almost always deserted. Another of my favorites is to take Adalaide to Chiminy Rock to the lake road back to Paso. The lake road can be trafficy on weekends but it's got a wide shoulder for the majority of they way and aside from a couple rollers you're going down hill through most of that section. There are also a lot of loops east and north east of Paso. There is very little traffic NE of Paso in the Ranchita Cyn and Hog Canyon areas but this time of year they will be warmer.

I've climbed and descended both Old Creek and Santa Rosa Creek on the tandem. It's hard to tell someone if a climb is doable or not. It may be for us and not you but Old Creek is quite a bit easier than Santa Rosa Creek. If you climb Old Creek and then go down Santa Rosa there is still a 3/4 mile section of 20% grade to climb on Santa Rosa before you do the descent and the descent is very technical and the pavement is bad. I wouldn't suggest it unless you are very confident in your descending skills. I get airborne on my single going down it! You might be better off taking hwy 46 back to the coast. It's got a very tandem friendly descent.

specbill

We also enjoy Old Creek Road a lot. It starts pretty mellow out of Cuyucus and has a nice down hill after the initial climb. From that wooded bottom on up to the junction of highway 46 is pretty tough on us as we're a 120 yr old team with modest strength at best. But even at that it is quite doable and well worth the climb for the fun ride down 46 back to Highway 1. If it happens to be windy with gusts going down 46 be alert as small changes in the direction of the road may lead to some sudden side gusts that will move you around a bit more that you'll want. Nice wide shoulder on 46.

Back to the Paso area...+1 on Peachy Canyon with more climbs and serious downhills in places.
Then off in the other direction completely it is +10 on Hog Canyon....easy riding, no traffic. I forget how we get out there but once you turn back towards Paso on HC it is a super fun ride. It is a fairly long, gently rolling and mildly curvy, slightly down hill run back towards Paso...it is one of those roads that has you grinning , carrying all the speed you legs with give you and loving life in a big way!!...have I said I love Paso Robles and the Central Coast.

Bill J.

jnbrown

So we ended up doing the ride out of Creston on Sunday and it was really great.
We drove out to Creston on Hwy 229 to preview the finish and that is one crazy road.
We got a late start at 9am and it got hot especially on the climbs, so we decided to take La Panza back instead of 229 and it was also a nice road.
I especially liked Truesdale Rd out of Shandon cutting through the vast expanse of vineyards. We didn't see even one car for miles.

On Monday we decided to do Peachy Canyon returning on Adelaida Rd. Being Monday morning there was very little traffic and it was another outstanding ride. That last downhill from Adelaida to Paso Robles was a blast. Its hard to believe you drop only 1100 feet because it seems to last a long time.

Thanks for the great recommendations that I otherwise would not have thought of doing.
If you ever need any ride recommendations in San Diego County please ask.

Ritterview

We did the Cool Breeze Century on Saturday, and stayed in Santa Barbara Saturday night, so as to visit with our sons, both attending UCSB. As is common in the Summer, there was no availability of hotel rooms, and so we stayed at the Summer Inn.

We now know it as the Suffer Inn. There are lots of irksome problems:

• Parking is 0.2 miles away from the dorm.
• You need a parking permit from a kiosk, or they will eagerly ticket you.
• The mattresses are used by institutions. Like dorms and prisons. They are thin and hard. I awoke at 5 AM just uncomfortable everywhere. My 1/2" 12 oz. backpacking pad is much better.
• The bathroom/shower is okay, but you can't linger, as there are only two on the floor, and you feel like you are delaying other guests.

I talked to the manager (a student). There is no requirement for having some relationship with the University. If you request a reservation, it will be given. It is run by the Alumni Association, to garner good will among their alumni. But I don't see how subjecting them to penal living conditions helps them in that regard.

It might be okay as a bicycle touring option, for a weary cyclist inured to hardship. With a car, it is no fun dragging luggage 0.2 miles, and there are no amenities on site. You have to drive to them, after hiking 0.2 miles to your car.

A Motel 6 is much much better in every way than the Suffer Inn.