The Coast Ride
“The ride from the Bay Area down to Santa Barbara [via Highway 1 and Highway 101 South] is amazing,” she says. “I stop in Solvang and Los Alamos so I can ride by my old house. And I know all the fun spots where I can stop and eat and enjoy. In Los Alamos, there’s a Central Coast barbecue shack called Charlie’s; I used to ride my horse to Charlie’s after working on the ranch all day and get a tri-tip sandwich—they have the best tri-tip sandwich ever. I also grew up going to Paula’s Pancake House in Solvang, which is pretty famous. But there’s also Ellen’s Danish Pancake House in Buellton, which is not as fancy but has (dare I say) better Danish pancakes. The trade-off is that Paula’s has mimosas and Ellen’s doesn’t.”
Make a trip out of it: Getaway Guide: San Francisco, Getaway Guide: Half Moon Bay, Beach Day Itinerary: Santa Cruz, California Coastal Spotlight: Monterey, Getaway Guide: San Luis Obispo, Getaway Guide: Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County
“In Solvang, I also love to ride up to Figueroa Mountain. When the wildflowers are blooming, it is gorgeous; you have lupins and poppies and shooting stars. It’s a long climb, so on a scale from one to challenging, it’s challenging—but it’s doable. You don’t have to go fast, and it’s not a very long ride. And with it comes the beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean from the top of Figueroa Mountain. It’s pretty special.”
Essential Biking Gear
Whether you’re planning a short bike ride or a multi-day excursion, here are the cycling accessories Tetrick recommends.
The Basics: An appropriate bike, a helmet, glasses, components, a cell phone, a credit card, an ID card, and plenty of water are essentials for any ride. Tetrick often uses her Camelbak to carry water, especially for longer journeys. (Fun fact: Camelbak is a California-based outdoor gear company.)
The Fuel: It’s important to carry your own nutrition with you, too, particularly if you’re riding off the beaten path or you’re not sure where you’ll be able to stop for food along the route. Tetrick relies on GU Energy Lab’s stroopwafel, energy gels, and chews to stay energized.
The Cool Gadgets: It can be convenient to have additional equipment and accessories for your biking adventures. Tetrick always brings her navigation and flat-fixing products from Lezyne, a San Luis Obispo–based company. The GPS unit is especially handy for mapping cycling routes and finding offline maps when cell service isn’t available. Take it from Tetrick: “It’s not like you can call an Uber wherever you go, so you need to be prepared.”
Pro Tips for Aspiring Cyclists
Feeling motivated to pedal along a new California bike path but not sure where to start? Here are Tetrick’s top three tips on how to start cycling.
Tip #1: Get a properly fit, quality bicycle. “You want a comfortable and reliable machine to tackle your region’s bike paths, parks, and open spaces,” Tetrick explains. “When I first started riding, it was intimidating to me. I didn’t have all the gear, and I was afraid about the technical aspect. I spent time working with my local bike shop and practicing riding it in a safe environment (like an empty parking lot or office park) before I hit the open road.”
Tip #2: Start small. “It may seem daunting to get out on your bike, but you can cover so much ground and explore the great outdoors,” she says. “Begin with small rides and pick a goal, whether it be a targeted event such as a mountain you want to climb or a bakery that you want to visit, and start building up to that.”
Tip #3: Find a buddy. “Having an accountability partner and a riding buddy is great,” Tetrick advises. “Check out your local cycling clubs, bikes shops, or bicycle coalitions to find like-minded people who will support you and get you out of the door and onto the open roads!
What cycling route will you try first? Let us know in the comments.