Santa Monica to San Francisco
09-12-17, 11:22 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Santa Monica to San Francisco
Hello , I was curious if it's possible to tour from Santa Monica ( PCH ) to the Bay Area on a mountain bike? This is a tour I would love to do next year.
09-14-17, 09:13 AM
#2
Every day a winding road
This has been discussed many, many times. First off you are going in the wrong direction. Unless you do this during the winter, you are going to have significant headwinds most of the way. In winter, the wind should be with you but you will likely have lots of rain. Also going south you will have better views of the shoreline. Shoulder seem to be more prevalent on the south bound side.
The PCH is currently blocked by a massive landslide. Last I heard there is no target date when it will be open again.
While you can tour on just about anything, I think I would rather pull out my finger nails than cover that kind of distance on a mountain bike. It is going to be an awfully uncomfortable experience.
The PCH is currently blocked by a massive landslide. Last I heard there is no target date when it will be open again.
While you can tour on just about anything, I think I would rather pull out my finger nails than cover that kind of distance on a mountain bike. It is going to be an awfully uncomfortable experience.
09-14-17, 09:36 AM
#3
Banned
Yea, Amtrack to Emeryville - Oakland, BART under the bay , to SF, then keep the ocean on your right, all the way south.
slick tires on a MTB will be fine.. a 1.5~1.75" wide tire will be sufficiently wide for road riding..
enjoy the scenery, you on the right lane,will be able to pull over without crossing oncoming traffic, unlike if you were northbound.
Trekking /butterfly handle bars are a popular choice of European Touring cyclists .. and they take all the controls off straight bars ,
and offer multiple hand locations ..
I have 2 bikes thus equipped.. One a Koga world tour Trekking bike with 26" wheels..
....
slick tires on a MTB will be fine.. a 1.5~1.75" wide tire will be sufficiently wide for road riding..
enjoy the scenery, you on the right lane,will be able to pull over without crossing oncoming traffic, unlike if you were northbound.
Trekking /butterfly handle bars are a popular choice of European Touring cyclists .. and they take all the controls off straight bars ,
and offer multiple hand locations ..
I have 2 bikes thus equipped.. One a Koga world tour Trekking bike with 26" wheels..
....
Last edited by fietsbob; 09-14-17 at 09:43 AM.
09-14-17, 04:10 PM
#5
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SoCal
Posts: 489
Bikes: 2014 Bruce Gordon Rock&Road, 1995 Santana Visa Tandem, 1990 Trek 520, 2012 Surly LHT
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 211 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 43 Times
in
35 Posts
A lot of people will tell you that you can only tour on this or that "approved" bike and gear. Yet there are people that tour across the country on three speed mixte frames (or single speeds) with handlebar baskets and backpacks and completely enjoy the experience seeing the country and meeting people. They don't know they are doing it "all wrong". That being said, yes you can tour from Santa Monica to S.F. along the coast. Though as others have noted, I would do it the other way (north to south), unless of course you are using it as transportation to get to S.F.
As noted by others, I would use some narrower slicks (knobbies could get uncomfortable after miles on paved roads). As to closed roads in Big Sur, there is a completely rideable inland route. My wife and I did a loop ride last fall (before the closure), and enjoyed the inland portion just as much as the coast. Different scenery but beautiful, and most of it was on less traveled roads than US 1.
As noted by others, I would use some narrower slicks (knobbies could get uncomfortable after miles on paved roads). As to closed roads in Big Sur, there is a completely rideable inland route. My wife and I did a loop ride last fall (before the closure), and enjoyed the inland portion just as much as the coast. Different scenery but beautiful, and most of it was on less traveled roads than US 1.
09-14-17, 04:25 PM
#6
Every day a winding road
A lot of people will tell you that you can only tour on this or that "approved" bike and gear. Yet there are people that tour across the country on three speed mixte frames (or single speeds) with handlebar baskets and backpacks and completely enjoy the experience seeing the country and meeting people. They don't know they are doing it "all wrong". That being said, yes you can tour from Santa Monica to S.F. along the coast. Though as others have noted, I would do it the other way (north to south), unless of course you are using it as transportation to get to S.F.
As noted by others, I would use some narrower slicks (knobbies could get uncomfortable after miles on paved roads). As to closed roads in Big Sur, there is a completely rideable inland route. My wife and I did a loop ride last fall (before the closure), and enjoyed the inland portion just as much as the coast. Different scenery but beautiful, and most of it was on less traveled roads than US 1.
As noted by others, I would use some narrower slicks (knobbies could get uncomfortable after miles on paved roads). As to closed roads in Big Sur, there is a completely rideable inland route. My wife and I did a loop ride last fall (before the closure), and enjoyed the inland portion just as much as the coast. Different scenery but beautiful, and most of it was on less traveled roads than US 1.
09-14-17, 04:47 PM
#7
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SoCal
Posts: 489
Bikes: 2014 Bruce Gordon Rock&Road, 1995 Santana Visa Tandem, 1990 Trek 520, 2012 Surly LHT
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 211 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 43 Times
in
35 Posts
"A lot of people"? Really? It is my experience most people will say to tour on whatever suits you. Of course everyone will have their own opinion on what they think is best. Nothing at all wrong with that. And far from "will tell you that you can only tour on this or that "approved" bike".
09-29-17, 02:48 AM
#9
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 3,114 Times
in
1,683 Posts
i'm still waiting for someone to go south from los angeles north to san francisco against prevailing winds and on the less scenic side of the road just for giggles.
09-29-17, 06:00 AM
#10
Every day a winding road
09-29-17, 07:28 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18415 Post(s)
Liked 15,545 Times
in
7,329 Posts
09-29-17, 07:35 AM
#12
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,879
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1802 Post(s)
Liked 1,439 Times
in
989 Posts
Since you mention using a MTB, are you planning to do this on the roads (hwy 1, interstate 101, etc) or looking for an off-road/dirt road path?
09-29-17, 05:03 PM
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
09-30-17, 07:00 AM
#14
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,879
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1802 Post(s)
Liked 1,439 Times
in
989 Posts
That changes everything. While there are a lot of farm roads in the Salinas Valley, I have no clue how you'd get there from Santa Monica (Santa Monica Mtns fire roads, maybe the Los Padres Mtns have a good network, too?), nor what you'd do once you got near San Francisco area (Santa Cruz Mountains & other coastal ranges).
Idea: for info on possible northern Calif MTB routes try posting a thread in the Northern California forum. Someone there might be familiar with routes in the local hills in that area. Overall I think you're going to have to use a lot of asphalt roads to get there from here.
Idea: for info on possible northern Calif MTB routes try posting a thread in the Northern California forum. Someone there might be familiar with routes in the local hills in that area. Overall I think you're going to have to use a lot of asphalt roads to get there from here.
Last edited by skidder; 09-30-17 at 07:08 AM.
09-30-17, 09:13 AM
#15
Banned
Get a lot of USGS topographic maps they will show roads .. and terrain.. can you read Maps? have a Compass?
10-03-17, 04:46 PM
#16
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
10-03-17, 04:48 PM
#17
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That changes everything. While there are a lot of farm roads in the Salinas Valley, I have no clue how you'd get there from Santa Monica (Santa Monica Mtns fire roads, maybe the Los Padres Mtns have a good network, too?), nor what you'd do once you got near San Francisco area (Santa Cruz Mountains & other coastal ranges).
Idea: for info on possible northern Calif MTB routes try posting a thread in the Northern California forum. Someone there might be familiar with routes in the local hills in that area. Overall I think you're going to have to use a lot of asphalt roads to get there from here.
Idea: for info on possible northern Calif MTB routes try posting a thread in the Northern California forum. Someone there might be familiar with routes in the local hills in that area. Overall I think you're going to have to use a lot of asphalt roads to get there from here.
