Originally Posted by
nesdog
Just a day or so after you, three of us met at Moopark Amtrak station and rode to State Street, Santa Barbara. I think we cracked 1000 feet of climbing but not sure! (especially as Ortega Hill Rd was closed and we used the bypass). Had a great pizza lunch at Rusty's and grabbed the train home for a 62 mile day. Likely traveled the same route as you did.
I am sure that you cracked over 1000 feet of climbing; I had 2,250 feet of climbing that day. I don’t do Ortega Hill anymore, especially heading south from Santa Barbara, too crazy during that short stretch of road.
A better climb is Greenwell Avenue. If you are heading north on Via Real, you turn right on Greenwell, (in Summerland) ride it to the top and come down on Ortega Ridge Rd. That climb was featured a couple of years ago, the year of the Montecito mudslides. It is not a long climb but there is a KOM to be had as you crest at Ortega Ridge.
Sounds like you had a great time. 👍