California Central Coast & Wine Country

† 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:  This trip offers the best in Spring cycling in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, enjoying both the coast and inland wine country. We'll meet in the college town of San Luis Obispo (SLO) and the next day head up the coast through Morro Bay, then inland to spend three days in Paso Robles, home to many great wineries and wonderful rural cycling. We then head back to the coast and to the quaint town of Cambria where we’ll spend two nights and we’ll get the chance to either ride up the coast to check out an Elephant Seal rookery and the southern end of Big Sur up to Ragged Point or arrange a visit to Hearst Castle.  We’ll then continue south along the coast to the surf town of Pismo Beach for one night and then back to SLO, riding through the many vineyards that surround it. This time we'll be staying downtown and will be there for the Thursday night Farmer's Market, a wonderful event of food and fun. After leaving SLO, we'll have a mix of the coast and inland on our way to Santa Maria. Our next day is our longest ride, taking us south over rural roads through Lompoc and into Solvang. We spend three days in Solvang, a quaint Danish-themed town which is part of the Santa Ynez Valley famous for its wineries and the movie Sideways. Many options are available for riding on the layover days. When we leave Solvang we ride inland through the heart of the wine valley along Foxen Canyon Road and return to Santa Maria. Our last day of cycling is back to our original hotel in San Luis Obispo through the tiny town of Arroyo Grande and continuing through the vineyards of San Luis Obispo County.

RIDE RATING:  The ride is rated 2B with an average of 43 miles per day and 2160’ of climbing. There are eight days of required point-to-point riding and five days of optional loop rides. Several of the required days have longer or shorter routes available.  There is one long day of 57 miles and 3100’ of climbing and one fairly hilly day with 45 miles and 3300’ of climbing. Much of the riding is on lightly-travelled roads with little or no shoulder, but some is on state highways; riders must be comfortable with traffic.

COVID REQUIREMENTS:  All participants must be fully vaccinated and be prepared to present vaccination documentation for viewing by Ride Leader if requested. 

WEATHER:  The temperatures should consist of highs in the high 60s to 70s and lows at night in the high 40s to low 50s, so mornings will be brisk.  Though it’s California, there is a chance for some rain as it’s still Springtime.

LODGING & MEALS:  The tour will include stays in an assortment of hotels and quaint inns, with most considered mid-range, nice, but not luxury. Three breakfasts will be included, and all hotels not offering complimentary breakfast have restaurants on site or within close walking distance. There will be three group meals included. Overnight stays will be in San Luis Obispo (3 separate nights), Paso Robles (3 consecutive nights), Cambria (2 consecutive nights), Solvang (3 consecutive nights), and Santa Maria (2 separate nights).

LOGISTICS:  The tour will start and end in San Luis Obispo. We’ll meet on 20 April 2023 and the last day will be 4 May 2023, with check out that day and 3 May the last riding day.  We suggest flying direct into SLO or into Los Angeles or San Jose airports and renting a car to drive to San Luis Obispo or taking Amtrak. The hotel we start and end with will store bike boxes and cars for the entirety of the tour.

TANDEMS AND E-BIKES:  We welcome both tandem riders and those who wish to ride E-bikes.

BIKE RENTALS:  Foothill Cyclery (https://www.foothillcyclery.com/book-your-rental) in San Luis Obispo offers rental bikes.

COST & ADMINISTRATION:  Cost estimate of $2450 per person plus the $50 BAC fee includes 14 nights lodging double occupancy, luggage van, Happy Hours, a wine tasting event in Paso Robles, 3 group dinners, and 3 breakfasts. Deposit will be $1000 plus the $50 BAC fee with the final payment of $1450 due 15 January 2023.  Single supplement is estimated to be an additional $1325.  All routes will be available in RideWithGPS, and printable cue sheets and .gpx files will be emailed to attendees.

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 15 January  2023 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 $1325 solo supplement and stay on the ride.  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.  Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office by 15 January 2023. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour.   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 cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the cancelling 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 solo 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 keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Before participating in any BAC tour, members should review their medical coverage and assess whether what you have is sufficient. If it isn’t, you should purchase additional travel medical coverage.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

SIGN-UP:  To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee ($50) and the initial tour deposit ($1000) by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.