i don't remember there being any reliable support from ojai via hwy 33 through ventucopa and then new cuyama on hwy 166 until you get to santa maria. if there was a general store or such, i missed it.
there is that usfs ranger station just after the final descent on hwy 33 heading from ojai (about 32 miles from ojai)...meant to check and see if they had a water fountain/water but forgot last time i chanced by.
the hwy 166 west from the junction with hwy 33 is straight as an arrow for miles but not very wide and with lots of big rig traffic between santa maria and maricopa/taft enroute to the 5 fwy/grapevine.
i can't really recommend it but if you take it, you'll want to pack all the food/water you'll need. hwy 166 pretties up substantially for about 10 miles or so once past new cuyama and as it climbs out of the valley.
the shoulder widens somewhat once you draw close to santa maria. it's approx 120 miles between ojai and santa maria with half of it scenic and the other half boring as hell with a headwind. i think it's better done
the opposite way from santa maria > ojai. cell service is nonexistent for most of those 120 miles.
the last people i recommended doing refugio heading south from san luis obispo encountered a road closure and were forced to take everyone's favorite racetrack-hwy 154. currently...it's open.
https://www.countyofsb.org/pwd/roadclosures.sbc
the 101 is plenty wide heading from goleta to refugio road. once out of goleta, there's no support except for the grocery store at el capitan state beach on the inland side of the freeway about two miles before the
exit for refugio rd. this is your last chance for supplies until you get to santa ynez, los olivos or solvang. it's about 16 miles once you start heading up refugio till you hit hwy 246 in santa ynez valley. first few miles
on refugio are relatively easy but then it comes on like a freight train for about 4 miles. if you can do gibraltar rd or hwy 33 to rose valley or farther summit, you can do refugio. road quality is pretty bad but when
you're going 4-7 mph, it's not a big issue. were you descending it? i wouldn't go faster than 25 mph. last half mile to the summit is relatively easy but the legs are pretty beat up by then. the descent is on generally well-packed dirt.
i wouldn't descend it too fast to avoid a wipeout but it's not as steep as what you just ascended. that said, your forearms will still get a workout from braking. i got off once to walk a little bumpy 25 yard stretch but
otherwise remained on the bike. i was riding 23's but you'll be happier with 25's, 28's or anything bigger than 23's. the descent is mercifully mostly in the shade. you will encounter some hikers walking along the trail.
the (downhill) dirt section of refugio is about 5.5 miles. once back on the pavement, it gets pretty with the sycamore trees. there will be multiple bridges crossing back and forth over the stream/creek that follows the road
for a few miles. this road looks smooth but has lots of "dimples" and unevenness (word?) and has a few rough bridge/road interfaces so i'd keep two hands on the bars until to the 246. i didn't have cell service the entire length of refugio rd.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1572410728
my vote? the 101 to refugio to foxen canyon road to santa maria.