Multi-day rides in CA and east
06-12-20, 08:25 PM
#1
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Multi-day rides in CA
Looking for multi-day, supported rides in CA this summer. Can be along the coast or east of the Sierras into Nevada. I'm thinking 3-5 days, 60-100 miles/day. Road only.
Anything in operation?
Anything in operation?
06-13-20, 03:24 AM
#2
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this is probably the wrong year to ask your question given everything going on in the last three months here in the us. it's likely going to be all self-supported.
if you're feeling the need to escape (and i get it), going oregon/california coastal will be better than inland. you'll have better/more frequent support
and the coastal temps will be less severe vs inland in the next few months. fly to portland, ride to astoria and then down to san francisco and fly back home.
could fly to reno and hit lake tahoe/death ride area, then drop down to sacramento and fly back.
or fly to san francisco and ride to san luis obispo (slo) and train it home. or blow off the train and just ride all the way home.
or train it up to slo and ride back home.
could do a bunch of west side sierra climbs but summer temps dictate early starts with really hot and longish finishes for most of the climbs. prob better in late sept-early nov.
or stay local in socal...ride from home to ach/hwy2 and stay in wrightwood one night. ride up to big bear lake area the next day. over onyx pass
then down to the basin and back home on the longest, hottest but easiest day on day three. have mulled over this exact option with a fellow forumite more than once lately.
if you feel like driving 8 hours north and slowly making your way back via car, you could hit bryce canyon np, zion np, north rim of the grand canyon, south rim of the grand canyon.
sunset crater national monument and the sedona area before heading home (and possibly red rock canyon and/or valley of fire state parks near las vegas-def morning rides-depending
on your sched/timing). you could easily stretch out the north rim grand canyon ride into a century/all day affair but the rest of the rides could be two a day (morning ride-drive-afternoon ride).
and if you're feeling like a climbfest, you could do a lot worse than hitting the 395 hwy/eastern sierra corridor and staying in bishop a few nights. hit 5-10 epic climbs like
horseshoe meadows, whitney portal, onion valley, rock creek, hwy 168 east to the white mtns and bristlecone pines, hwy 168 west to south lake, glacier rd, tioga pass, et al.
if you're feeling the need to escape (and i get it), going oregon/california coastal will be better than inland. you'll have better/more frequent support
and the coastal temps will be less severe vs inland in the next few months. fly to portland, ride to astoria and then down to san francisco and fly back home.
could fly to reno and hit lake tahoe/death ride area, then drop down to sacramento and fly back.
or fly to san francisco and ride to san luis obispo (slo) and train it home. or blow off the train and just ride all the way home.
or train it up to slo and ride back home.
could do a bunch of west side sierra climbs but summer temps dictate early starts with really hot and longish finishes for most of the climbs. prob better in late sept-early nov.
or stay local in socal...ride from home to ach/hwy2 and stay in wrightwood one night. ride up to big bear lake area the next day. over onyx pass
then down to the basin and back home on the longest, hottest but easiest day on day three. have mulled over this exact option with a fellow forumite more than once lately.
if you feel like driving 8 hours north and slowly making your way back via car, you could hit bryce canyon np, zion np, north rim of the grand canyon, south rim of the grand canyon.
sunset crater national monument and the sedona area before heading home (and possibly red rock canyon and/or valley of fire state parks near las vegas-def morning rides-depending
on your sched/timing). you could easily stretch out the north rim grand canyon ride into a century/all day affair but the rest of the rides could be two a day (morning ride-drive-afternoon ride).
and if you're feeling like a climbfest, you could do a lot worse than hitting the 395 hwy/eastern sierra corridor and staying in bishop a few nights. hit 5-10 epic climbs like
horseshoe meadows, whitney portal, onion valley, rock creek, hwy 168 east to the white mtns and bristlecone pines, hwy 168 west to south lake, glacier rd, tioga pass, et al.
Last edited by diphthong; 06-13-20 at 03:56 AM.
06-13-20, 01:03 PM
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Yep, I’m almost halfways back to Sacramento now, and couldn’t help noticing how Reno keeps trying to show up on my map. 🤔😉 After all, I’ve never been to Reno or Lake Tahoe. 🙄😁
06-13-20, 02:22 PM
#4
Bike touring webrarian
Can you be more specific on what you consider "supported?"
Does this mean a commercial tour where someone drives a SAG wagon, carries all your gear, provides the food and a place to stay?
Does this mean solo with hotel stays? Campgrounds?
I have no idea on organized tours in this area. Hard to believe that they could get enough people to make them even feasible.
On very nice ride on the coast is to get up to Fort Bragg or Mendicino and ride down to San Francisco. This should take 3 days, though given your distance they will be "short" days for you. There are campgrounds and towns with motels at reasonable distances. You can take a couple buses from SFO/downtown SF to Santa Rosa, where you can get a bus up to Fort Bragg. Alternatively, you could ride up to Santa Rosa in a day, hope the bus (not sure about taking a bike on board). I wrote an article about this quick tour.
Note that while San Francisco is just now trying to slowly re-open places up, the counties north of San Francisco are are much closer to fully (socially distanced) open.
Does this mean a commercial tour where someone drives a SAG wagon, carries all your gear, provides the food and a place to stay?
Does this mean solo with hotel stays? Campgrounds?
I have no idea on organized tours in this area. Hard to believe that they could get enough people to make them even feasible.
On very nice ride on the coast is to get up to Fort Bragg or Mendicino and ride down to San Francisco. This should take 3 days, though given your distance they will be "short" days for you. There are campgrounds and towns with motels at reasonable distances. You can take a couple buses from SFO/downtown SF to Santa Rosa, where you can get a bus up to Fort Bragg. Alternatively, you could ride up to Santa Rosa in a day, hope the bus (not sure about taking a bike on board). I wrote an article about this quick tour.
Note that while San Francisco is just now trying to slowly re-open places up, the counties north of San Francisco are are much closer to fully (socially distanced) open.
06-13-20, 07:15 PM
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If I had 3-5 days I would skip the support aspect and use Mammoth Lakes as a base camp to take in several rides from there. If you like being at altitude with scenic vistas, and you enjoy climbing, this is a great destination. Besides the Mammoth Lakes Basin, Reds Meadows, Minaret Vista, Mammoth Scenic Hwy, June Lake Loop, Benton Crossing, Rock Creek Road to Mosquito Flats, and Tioga Pass into Yosemite are all within reach of Mammoth Lakes.
06-13-20, 07:30 PM
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Can you be more specific on what you consider "supported?"
Does this mean a commercial tour where someone drives a SAG wagon, carries all your gear, provides the food and a place to stay?
Does this mean solo with hotel stays? Campgrounds?
I have no idea on organized tours in this area. Hard to believe that they could get enough people to make them even feasible.
On very nice ride on the coast is to get up to Fort Bragg or Mendicino and ride down to San Francisco. This should take 3 days, though given your distance they will be "short" days for you. There are campgrounds and towns with motels at reasonable distances. You can take a couple buses from SFO/downtown SF to Santa Rosa, where you can get a bus up to Fort Bragg. Alternatively, you could ride up to Santa Rosa in a day, hope the bus (not sure about taking a bike on board). I wrote an article about this quick tour.
Note that while San Francisco is just now trying to slowly re-open places up, the counties north of San Francisco are are much closer to fully (socially distanced) open.
Does this mean a commercial tour where someone drives a SAG wagon, carries all your gear, provides the food and a place to stay?
Does this mean solo with hotel stays? Campgrounds?
I have no idea on organized tours in this area. Hard to believe that they could get enough people to make them even feasible.
On very nice ride on the coast is to get up to Fort Bragg or Mendicino and ride down to San Francisco. This should take 3 days, though given your distance they will be "short" days for you. There are campgrounds and towns with motels at reasonable distances. You can take a couple buses from SFO/downtown SF to Santa Rosa, where you can get a bus up to Fort Bragg. Alternatively, you could ride up to Santa Rosa in a day, hope the bus (not sure about taking a bike on board). I wrote an article about this quick tour.
Note that while San Francisco is just now trying to slowly re-open places up, the counties north of San Francisco are are much closer to fully (socially distanced) open.
06-15-20, 01:00 AM
#7
Senior Member
Man, the Lake Tahoe area is great! Several State Parks with hike and bike sites on the California side: Grover Hot Springs, DL Bliss, Donner Memorial, and many other camping options, too. Lots of paved bike paths if you're into that, too. Just be aware that bears can prowl the campgrounds, so use the provided bear boxes and keep a clean camp.
