California Coast Classic Bike Tour to travel through San Luis Obispo County
–The California Coast Classic Bike Tour (CCC) presented by Amgen, an 8-day flagship fundraising ride for the Arthritis Foundation, today announced the route for its 2018 edition, which will cover 575 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles this September 22-29.
2018 Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic Group
“CCC is such an iconic ride,” described Shannon Marang Cox, ride director for the CCC Bike Tour. “Riders get to experience so much of California: the Golden Gate Bridge, the otters of Monterey, the golden hills of the Salinas Valley, the wine country of the Santa Ynez Valley, the breathtaking coastline, and the picturesque beaches. It’s truly a bucket list event, and the support is unparalleled.”
As in 2017, the CCC will detour inland to avoid sections of Highway 1 that were rendered impassable by the immense Mud Creek landslide last year. Current estimates for partial completion of repairs in mid-Sept. 2018 are too late for this year’s ride.
Tour organizers, looking to refine and enhance the 2017 route, have unveiled new plans for three of the eight legs of the 2018 CCC:
Day one remains unchanged, with a rollout from Pier 39 in San Francisco and an 83-mile leg to Santa Cruz. On day two, instead of stopping for the night in Monterey, CCC participants will ride the famous 17-Mile-Drive and press on to Carmel, where they will sleep at Saddle Mountain Ranch, a well-appointed campground. This is the first year the ride has stopped overnight in Carmel.
On day 3, the tour continues south through California’s picturesque Carmel Valley to King City, which earlier this month hosted Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California bicycle race. Riders will gain 3,700 feet of elevation over 58 miles.
The destination for day 4, Paso Robles, remains unchanged, but the second half of this day’s leg route been modified to reduce the total elevation gain by approximately 2,000 feet over the course of this 64-mile leg.
On day 5, the California Coast Classic rejoins its traditional coastal route into Oceano, continuing through Santa Ynez wineries to Buellton on day 6, past Solvang into Ventura on day 7, and arriving in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 29.
“We’ve consulted with experts and insiders, vetted every option, and carefully monitored updates from CalTrans,” said Marang Cox. “The route we’ve chosen is inspiring and sure to be enjoyable for all.”
Registration for the California Coast Classic, named one of “The 30 Best Road Biking Trips” by Outside Magazine, is capped at 250 riders and expected to sell out again in 2018. The eight-day, full-service, fully supported ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles raises funds to support the research, advocacy, and programs of the Arthritis Foundation. It is open to beginner and experienced riders who commit to a fundraising goal. More information is available at the CaliforniaCoastClassic.org.
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