roadfix

Since I can't get time off to do the entire length, I'll meet up with the group at SLO.
That's what I did 2 years ago. I took Amtrak to SLO and met up with a couple of friends touring down from San Francisco. We were self supported and camped along State Beaches.
Besides, this will give me a good excuse to bring out my Surly Long Haul Trucker...

MarkAJ

^
Ride there and that will make up for it.

ronzorini

Not sure if you guys need routing help...there's a couple of references that us tourists recommend (These guides are meant for camping tourists, but can be adapted to your taste):

Bicycling The Pacific Coast: A Complete Route Guide, Canada To Mexico
By Vicky Spring, Tom Kirkendall
https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Paci...3088610&sr=8-1

Adventure Cycling Pacific Coast Route Maps
https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/pacificcoast.cfm

Hotel stays are possible all along the coast. However, between Monterey to San Simeon, it's slim pickings unless you want to pay $$$. I heard there's some "yurts" available for a "reasonable" amount.

https://www.treebonesresort.com/

You can take the Amtrak Coast Starlight to Oakland or San Jose, but you'll have to box your bike. If I can be of any help, let me know...it's one of my favorite rides. (If there are any of you that would rather rough it, I'd be interested in hooking up with you for a ride ).

merider1

Thanks, Rozorini Have you ridden down the coast before?

Scootcore

i have both that book and those maps.....have also contacted a friend who did the cailfornia coast arthritis ride in the past to see aif he still had the sheets...

MarkAJ

Do these yurts have beds, potties and hot showers?

herbm

Is a yurt related to a yoot?

Scootcore

those yurts are sick...i saw them in the travel section of the la times and i htink on huell howser...

BikeWNC

We've, my wife and I, have done multi-day tours of the BRP through Virginia and NC with other riders and have rotated a sag vehicle through the group. It helps if the group is the right size that all bikes and people can fit in the vehicle for logistic reasons, but it can be done with the vehicle solely for carrying gear and supplies. Getting a shower every day whether camping or in a hotel really makes the trip much more comfortable IMO. Sounds like a fun ride.

thomson

In prior tours, I have camped at Big Sur (camping there is the shizzle (I am so dang hip), plus they have laundry), stayed at the Big Sur Lodge (there were 3 of us that shared a room for $160, off season), and rode from Monterey and Cambria in a straight shot. The last is about 100 miles and all hilly but not so severe.

The Kirkendall book, if I recall correctly, assumes camping the whole way. Also, the dang bike on the cover has the derailleur on the left side? (actually the photo was just flipped)

thomson

Plan your Californian vacation accordingly.

merider1

Oh, well then, that's it! Let's just call the whole thing off cause we can't have that.

thomson

I may be the only one in the world that likes Huell.

thomson

I agree, how can we trust those directions?? We will end up in Idaho.

MTBMaven

Okay this ride has been up for about 1 hour and is 2 pages already. I haven't had time to review all the posts as I actually have to do some work while at work. But I am very interested. That said it is only mid-October and life changes very quickly for me. I have a fair amount of vacation but typically take at least one international trip a year with my wife and that has not been planned yet. We might be going to Iran this year (no seriously).

I had originally thought about doing this trip in the Spring staying in hotels and riding about 80 miles a day via a Big Sur route. The AIDS ride seemed like a nice way to go about it as everything is planned for me. Personally I would rather go in a smaller group of people. If we can pull this thing together I think it would be rad.

Ideally I would get a seatpost rack with a small bag to carry my gear and stay in hotels. All I would carry are light city cloths, second jersey and shorts, rain gear, small toiletries, small amount of food for each day, and limited repair gear (links of chain, tire, tubes, etc.)

I don't have a bike conducive to doing an unsupported tour of this length at this point. Nor do I want to ride at that pace. Doing the hotel thing (AKA credit card touring) is much easier.

spingineer

Are we going to do the route that TofC takes? Now that will be a challenge!

thomson

Well, MTB, if that is your real name, your plan is sound. However, I think it is time you choose between us and work. Really, we are a lot more fun.

Although many here may be able to join you, I definitely can't do spring as I am doing a bike tour in February and am going to do the Jester of the Mountains in the spring.

Scootcore

uh uh...i TIVO californias gold!!!!

thomson

Right on, he cracks me up.

Scootcore

every single time.....my boy HATES him...he freaks out when the theme starts playing...then he chills out and watches with me.

ronzorini

Yea, a few times. Once on a border to border ride and a few years ago with my wife.

The route is fairly straightforward--just keep the water to your right, duh--but there are a couple of tricky spots where you need to bring reference maps.

The book is geared towards camping tourists with a 60 mile day average, but it can be easily adapted for longer day rides.

There are hiker/biker sites at almost every campground for cheapskates like me--$3 a head. For credit card touring, there is ample lodging if you plan ahead.

--Ron

PS--Huell is cool.

jpconrad

You guys are stopping, why not ride straight through?

merider1

That's the tour you, UMD, Whitecarbondude and Adam will be taking.

ronzorini

Ultralight touring has been gaining popularity for a few years now (similar to ultralight backpacking).

Strap on a big Carradice saddlebag and load up with just the essentials (like the items you mentioned). You can get away with riding a racing bike and not having your spokes disintegrate beneath you. Me, I like strapping a 6-pack or watermelon onto my rack and riding into camp after a long day.

mkadam68

I'd defintiely be interested. But would need specifics before committing. I'm off from teaching during March/April & Sep/Oct so those months would be great. Couldn't really do it any other time, though.