Tour Summary

I have done a Trek Travel Avid cyclist camp, a Carpenter Phinney camp and a Cycling Escapes camp. I can do any cycling camp that appeals to me, and I will do two more Cycling Escapes camps this year.
- Mike Abney
Duration
6 Days / 6 Nights
Meals
5 Dinners
(Breakfast - Cont.)
Distance
400 miles
Elevation Gain
27,300 feet
2012 Dates
April 8-14
Sept 9-15
2012 Price
$2,495.00
Single Room
$350.00
Rider Limit
15 Rider Limit
Bike Rental
$245.00
Highlights
Big Sur
Hearst Castle
Cambria
Pismo Beach
Solvang
Lodging
Big Sur Lodge
Cavalier Ocean Front
Shelter Cove
Wine Valley Inn
Dining
Big Sur Lodge
Moonstone Beach Grill
Nepenthe
Cabernet Bistro
The Vineyard
Start / Finish
Cambria, CA
Solvang, CA
Airport Shuttle
Santa Barbara, CA Before Tour: 12:00 After Tour: 3:00pm
The ride support, meals, hotels and logistics are totally sufficient to allow me to focus on the ride, and make it a consistently outstanding trip each time. I especially appreciate that you put tough climbs on most days. No surprise, but by staying focused to these goals, I enjoy being with the riders you attract.
- Bruce Tranen

Big Sur & California Coast

Day 1 - Santa Barbara Shuttle & Orientation

We'll meet in Cambria, California, where our hotel overlooks the beach. Or fly into Santa Barbara, where a shuttle will pick you up at 12:00pm and take you to our hotel in Cambria. After checking in, you'll have the chance to set up your bike, we have any tools you need. At an early evening orientation we'll provide an overview for the week, make introductions, and answer any questions you have.

You'll also have time to visit Hearst Castle if you like, which is only 3 miles from our hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight, with various restaurants within walking distance.


Day 1 - Cambria to Big Sur


This is our favorite coast road ride in the world! Better than Amalfi Italy. The ride along the Big Sur Coast is nothing short of spectacular! Today we ride it from the south. Tomorrow we ride it from the north. That means we do it twice! You'll know the curves of the scenic Byway intimately by the time we are done. Our hotel for the night is the popular Big Sur Lodge. Nestled in the forest cliffside, you'll be able to watch the sun set over the ocean while enjoying a superb dinner at Nepenthe.

67 miles / 5,000 ft. elevation gain

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Day 2 - Big Sur to Cambria


Views abound as we ride the entire Big Sur coastline to Cambria for the second time! Along the way we'll pass lighthouses, sea lions, and San Simeon's Hearst Castle. Enjoy the best views on the California coast. If you have never seen this section of the Pacific coastline you are in for a treat! After such an epic ride it's only right that we stay on legendary Moonstone Beach in Cambria. If you still have energy after the ride you may want to visit the famous Hearst Castle which is 3 miles from our hotel.

70 miles / 5,000 ft. elevation gain

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Day 3 - Moonstone Bay to Pismo Beach


On day three we head south along quiet canyon and coastal roads through the seaside towns of Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo and Pismo. We'll ride by the famous Morro Bay rock and Morro Bay State Park, before turning inland toward San Luis Obispo and riding through the hills to the seaside resort town of Pismo Beach. Our hotel for night, the Shelter Cove Lodge, sits perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

72 miles / 4,200 ft. elevation gain

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Day 4 - Pismo Beach to Solvang


Day four we leave the coast and head inland toward the wine country of the Santa Ynez Valley and the danish town of Solvang. Just east of Santa Maria we'll pick up a favorite local ride, Foxen Canyon Road, and glide past wineries and pastoral hills on our way to Solvang and the Wine Valley Inn, our home for the next two nights.

70 miles / 3,800 ft. elevation gain



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Day 5 - Canyons & Vineyards


In our two days in Solvang there will be time for exploring all the shops and wine tasting at the local wineries made popular in the film "Sideways." Today we will ride along quiet country roads beside popular wineries as we wind our way around the foothlls of the Solvang Wine Country. After the ride we'll go wine tasting at our favorite wineries!

70 miles / 4,000 ft. elevation gain

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Day 6 - Figeuroa Mountain Loop


Get ready for amazing views on the third day's ride! Today we ride up Figueroa Mountain, which rises nearly 4,500' feet above the Santa Ynez Valley. Lance Armstrong used this climb as part of a 100 mile training loop starting from Solvang. This is a climb you will not forget, and you'll earn the dramatic views before the giant descent into the charming town of Los Olivos.

50 miles / 5,300 ft. elevation gain

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Shuttle to Santa Barbara


After our ride on the last day, we say goodbye to our new cycling friends and shuttle to Santa Barbara, where you may wish to stay over the rest of the weekend or catch a connecting flight home. We should arrive in Santa Barbara by 3:00pm.

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