Biker395 

A group of us did one of my favorite SoCal rides last Saturday ... La Cumbre Peak.

The ride involves a climb up Gibraltar Road just north of Santa Barbara. The Tour of California did that climb not too long ago, and it is easy to see why. It's long, and some sections of it easily exceed 10%.

The temperatures were cool and pleasant until we started the climb itself. There was a layer of fog keeping things cool near the coast, but not so on the mountains.

Here is a "ReliveIt" of our route:

https://video.relive.cc/strava_10419...9.mp4?x-ref=og

The ride starts heading inland, and with a short climb around Lake Cachuma. We were in a pretty strong group of cyclists, so that climb went really quickly. One of my favorite things about this is this sign ... never let anyone tell you there is no such thing as a free lunch.



From there, we descend into the avacado orchards and nurseries that line the coast. This is pretty awesome riding through here. We stopped for muffins and some water at a market in upscale Montecito.

From there, the road wiggles generally uphill, through shady California Oaks and beaucoup expensive homes until we make the turn to head up Gibraltar.



I had done this climb before. Yea, it gets hot, but the views are amazing. What I didn't remember is how steep it is for extended sections .. easily 10+%



I was glad to get to the top, and so was everyone else! For the first time this summer, I had to stop because perspiration was dripping in my eyes. Oy. Made it though ... here I am near the top. I have no idea why I look so chipper.





The views are amazing. About 4000 feet above sea level in Santa Barbara. Pacific Ocean on one side of the ridge, and Sespe Wilderness on the other.



The descent is on Painted Cave. An EFFING steep descent. There is one curve in particular that is exceptionally dangerous. One lane ... and I mean ONE lane ... two way traffic, and a blind corner. On top of that, probably 25%. I hate that curve.

I got a pix right after the curve, though ... this is all I had the nerve to take. You can see Terri making one of the hairpins in front of me.



The descent brought us to lunch, and after lunch, higher speed riding through Hope Ranch, through downtown Santa Barbara, by the Biltmore, and on the coast bike path.

berner

I'm beginning to like the West more more and more. Here it is either raining or threatening too rain. I's difficult to get a long ride in.

Biker395 

Our weather is great this time of year ... c'mon out!

jppe

Looks like a really super route. The one lane curve at 25% gives me the hee bee gee bees.....if a car was slowly moving through their I'd croak. I'm an average descender so stuff like that is not my liking.

Biker395 

You and me both. Here is a Google Maps version of what the approach looks like. This is pretty much spot on ... it really is this steep. How steep is it? The road to the looker's right has deep gouges ... presumably from cars approaching from the bottom striking the front of their car on the asphalt.