CA Coast: San Francisco to Santa Barbara

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW
Start with a surprising day with a ferry ride to San Francisco, ride along the Embarcadero and across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito before heading south through Golden Gate Park to the oceanside town of Pacifica. Then spend eight days cycling the famous and spectacular coastal route, riding the pristine San Mateo coast, the Monterey Peninsula, the 17 Mile Drive, the incomparable Big Sur, and the rolling Hearst coastline before swinging inland beyond Pismo Beach. Continue for two more days through strawberry fields, ranches, and vineyards before crossing the coast range on the old stagecoach route to descend steeply into Santa Barbara.  We return to Oakland by Amtrak.

RIDE RATING
This tour is an enhancement of an earlier San Francisco to Santa Barbara tour.  It is timed to be after the rains and before the tourists, but be prepared for some of both. The ride is a solid 2B, with some harder options. The longest day (the 2nd day) is 66 rolling miles with 3150 feel of climbing; the average day is 47 miles with 2250 feet of cumulative climb; and the toughest day is 49 panoramic miles along the Big Sur coast with a series of climbs totaling 3690 feet.  Much of this ride is on Highway 1; riders must be comfortable with traffic and the intermittent absence of shoulders.  Our club has ridden these roads for more than 25 years, and we think this route is the most spectacular 400 mile ride in the country.  GPS tracks will be offered, but it is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS.

WEATHER
The weather on the coast ranges from an average low of mid to high 40s and average highs in the mid 60s. Precipitation is anyone's guess as we were in a drought until this winter, but weather.com has rainfall for the month averaging anywhere from 0.98 to 1.49 inches.  Expect the unexpected.  Temperatures can range from cool and rainy to warm and dry.  Be prepared for all kinds of weather.

LODGING & MEALS
We are staying in motels starting in Oakland's Jack London Square next to the ferry dock, an oceanside Best Western hotel in Pacifica just south of San Francisco, a Best Western in Santa Cruz (surfers' heaven), a Days Inn in Monterey (home of the famous aquarium), cabins in the park at Big Sur, a motel 300 feet above the crashing surf on the cliffs of Ragged Point, another Best Western hotel in Morro Bay (working fishing port), an inn in Santa Maria (broccoli fields and oil wells), a garden lodge in Solvang (Danish capital of America) and Spanish Mediterrean motel in Santa Barbara before taking Amtrak back to Oakland. Ride ends Tuesday morning April 24 in Oakland, CA.  All lunches and most dinners are on your own.  There is one group dinner the first night.  Breakfast is included at 4 of our 10 hotels.

LOGISTICS
The tour starts in Oakland, CA at 5PM on Friday, April 13, 2018 and ends in Oakland, CA on April 24, 2108. Oakland International Airport is the closest airport and you can take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to the 12th Street BART Station where you can call the hotel for a shuttle to the hotel.  When leaving the hotel shuttle will take you to the BART station.  We will be leaving bicycle suitcases in the hotel while we are gone.  We will be taking the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Santa Barbara back to Oakland's Jack London Square, so please bring a carry on size suitcase, as you will have to take it on the train.  Mary Loomis will be our van driver.  The van's primary role will be to transport luggage and supplies.  While it will be available to assist with any emergencies, it will not serve as a sag vehicle and participants are expected to complete the ride each day.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
Cost estimate of $1600 per person double occupancy for 11 nights, 4 breakfast, and 1 dinner, Amtrak train ticket, luggage transfer, maps, route sheets, daily route review with happy hour drink and snacks, and sightseeing information.  Tickets for sight seeing and ferry tickets are not included in the cost.  Electronic versions of maps and route sheets will be sent, and participants are expected to print their own copies of them.  GPS tracks will be provided for those who want them, but it is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS before the trip begins.  Initial deposit $800 with additional payment of $800 on September 1, 2017.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY
It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own.  However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until September 1, 2017 to find a roommate.  If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee) or pay the $1100 single supplement and stay on the ride.  The single supplement is paid directly to the Ride Leader by check and is due September 1, 2017.  If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.

CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Ride Participant Responsibility
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP

To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. You will then be contacted by the Ride Leader. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non- refundable BAC fee and $800 tour deposit by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description. Waitlisting is encouraged.