What we’re about
Do you want to get into bike touring but haven't tried it yet? Are you an experienced bicycle tourist who would love to share his / her insight about the joys of bike touring? Do you just want to go on an overnight trip or multi-day bikecation? This is the group for you if you're looking to connect with like-minded bicycle travelers on the west coast from San Diego to Vancouver.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- El Capitan State Beach Bike-Camp OvernighterCarpinteria Amtrak station, Carpinteria, CA
Starting in mid-November, El Capitan State Beach will close for a year for much needed repair and renovation. So let's head out for a final campout there this year before it's closed!
This is a 35-mile ride from the Carpinteria Amtrak Station to El Capitan State Beach. We'll ride through Santa Barbara and Goleta before ending up at El Capitan State Beach. We will return via the same route-- almost (we'll skip the gravel section).
(See Route). Leaving from the Carpinteria Amtrak Station, we will ride roads into Santa Barbara. There we will stop for lunch (around noon) at 3 Pickles, a sandwich and salad deli in Santa Barbara; it has outside seating where we can sit near our bikes. (You can also bring your own lunch and sit with us.) From there we will head to Goleta, partially using the Obern Bike Trail. We'll cut through UC Santa Barbara, and then stop at a grocery store in Goleta/Isla Vista where people can buy food for camp, if desired. After that, we'll travel on a short scenic gravel path along the Ellwood Mesa Bluffs. (The Monarch Butterfly Grove is nearby, and November is the season for them being there, but bikes are, rightfully, not allowed there. We'll just ride by the outskirts). Finally, we use the 101 highway (bikes allowed) to end up at El Capitan State Beach. where we camp for the night at the scenic Hike&Bike campground.
The route is a mixture of all road types and surfaces-- streets with and without bike lanes, separated bike trails, gravel paths, and a stint on the freeway where bikes are allowed. All bikes are fine. On the dirt path through Ellwood Bluffs, we recommend a gravel or all-terrain bike with a minimim 1.5 inch tire. It may be a little rough with smaller-width tires, but the rough parts are only about 0.25 miles, and the full dirt section is only a couple miles long, so smaller tires will manage. Later on the freeway, there is a wide shoulder that will separate us from the car traffic. There will be ups and downs with some brief slopes up to 5%. All are welcome but please be sure you are comfortable riding the 35-mile distance unloaded (without any bags).
We will camp at the El Capitan Hike & Bike. The fee is $10 per person, purchased at a kiosk, credit card only. Flush toilets and showers are available. Showers are $1 for 2 tokens, which gives you 4 minutes.
Meet at the Carpinteria Amtrak Station at 10:30 am. There is overnight parking at the station.
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Disclaimer: This bike-touring and camping group ride is a meeting of like-minded people gathering for a time of fun and social interaction. No organizational responsibility is implied in the creation of this event. Upon registering for this event, you acknowledge that participation in the event is done out of our own risk and you accept responsibility for your own safety. - Lower Moro Campground OvernighterSanta Ana Metrolink Station, Santa Ana, CA
This is an intermediate level ride.
This is a 39-mile loop to Lower Moro Campground in Crystal Cove State Park, starting from and returning to the Santa Ana Metrolink Station. The ride in Crystal Cove State Park is an up-and-down off-road dirt trail, requiring gravel, mountain, or all-terrain bikes. The first day is 18 miles; the second day is 21 miles. This ride is labelled "Intermediate" because of the steep climbs in the state park. The label only indicates the work involved, not the required skill level; anyone who wants to try is welcome-- if you have to push your bike up hills, that is fine! (There will be places where all of us will be pushing!).
(See Route Blue=Bike Lane on Road; Green=Bike Trail; Red=Street with no bike lane; Dotted Line=Off-Road Dirt Trail) Taking off from the Santa Ana Metrolink Station, we ride on bike lanes and bike paths through Santa Ana and Irvine to arrive at Crystal Cove State Park, where we ride hilly dirt trails to the campground. On the way there, we'll stop at an In-N-Out for lunch (there are other fast food places in this shopping center). There is also a Trader Joe's in the same center to pick up food for the evening.
We return to the station the next day via a different route.
Our camping location is a primitive campsite, with only a picnic table. There is a decent pit restroom; there are no showers. There is no water at the campground. So we'll have to carry in enough water to last through dinner and breakfast. (A suggestion is to carry enough bottles to fill up at the In-N-Out when we're having lunch on our way to the campground. ) This is also a pack-in-pack-out campground so we also have to carry our trash out.
Please note: E-bikes are not allowed in Crystal Cove State Park, as per these notices:
http://www.crystalcovestatepark.org/rules/
and this notice.MEETING UP.
We will meet at the Santa Ana Metrolink Station (601 N Santiago St, Santa Ana, CA 92701) at 12 noon. There is overnight parking at the station.Cost is $4. This covers the cost of the campground, and any left over will help pay for the cost of maintaining this meetup account.
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Disclaimer: This bike-touring/camping group ride is a meeting of like-minded people gathering for a time of fun and social interaction. No organizational responsibility is implied in the creation of this ride. Upon registering for this event, you acknowledge that participation in the event is done out of your own risk and you accept responsibility for your own safety.
