Everything You Need to Know About Comova’s Coast(ish) Adventure Cycling Route

NOTE: The downloadable Coast(ish) Ride Guide (PDF) includes all the details below, plus detailed route descriptions, annotations on key route cues, and full cue sheets.

Essentials

Communication

Use the Coast(ish) WhatsApp group

At the start

Plan to arrive by 7:30am to check-in and load your bag into the luggage transfer vehicle. A ride briefing will take place at 7:45 and the group will rollout at 8am.

On the ride

Riders should be prepared to ride unsupported. The luggage transfer vehicle will depart each morning for that evening’s stopover. It may be possible for the luggage transfer vehicle to SAG a rider but it will likely be a significant wait.

Steve and Matt will lead the rides each day and can communicate with the luggage transfer vehicle as well as provide navigation support and help troubleshoot issues that arise during the ride.

Food

We will have beverages and light snacks for riders at the finish of each day’s ride. Riders will handle their own mid-ride food and off-the-bike meals.

Feel free to pack your own ride and recovery nutrition to be transported each day by the luggage transfer vehicle. See below  for recommended food options along the route, as well as dinner and breakfast options at each overnight stop. Each day’s gpx route file also includes POIs for services.

At the finish

We will aim to finish in San Luis Obispo by 1pm for a post-ride celebration at SLO Ranch Farms. There are public bathrooms (but not showers) you can use to change at the end of the ride.

The van shuttles will depart from San Luis Obispo by 3pm.

Itinerary

Day 1 (Feb 15)–San Francisco to Monterey

129 miles/6,600’ ele

Find your way to Crissy Field’s East Bluff Picnic Area at the west end of the main Crissy Field Beach parking lot.  If possible, arrange to be dropped off at the start or enjoy an easy 45 minute ride from Embarcadero BART along the waterfront. Arrive by 7:30am to check-in and load your bag into the luggage transfer vehicle. A ride briefing will take place at 7:45 and the group will rollout at 8am. A prompt start is mandatory given today’s 134 miles of riding*.

Recommended Services on the Route

Starbucks, Half Moon Bay (mile 32)

Whale City Bakery, Davenport (mile 70)

Los Pericos Market, Santa Cruz (mile 85)

The Power Plant Coffee, Moss Landing (mile 109)

 

Day 2 (Feb 16)–Monterey to King City

87-121 miles/5,000-7,500’

Our 8:00am rollout heads around the Monterey Peninsula along beautiful 17-Mile Drive. The long route heads down Big Sur on an out-and-back. Turn around at Little Sur Beach for 121 miles or shorten it to your liking. From Carmel the route heads inland over Carmel Valley Rd. and back into the Salinas Valley for our finish in King City.

Recommended Services on the Route

Carmel Highlands General Store, Carmel Highlands (mile 23 and 51)

Crossroads Carmel Shopping Center (multiple options), Carmel (mile 54)

Carmel Valley Village (multiple options) (mile 66) 

 

Day 3 (Feb 17)–King City to Cayucos

111 miles/7,400’ ele

We’ll roll out again at 8am and head for the notorious cold sink of Jolon Rd. Soon we’ll turn onto Nacimiento Ferguson Rd. for some gently upwardly rolling terrain across oak-studded woodlands before the epic descent down to the coast and more than 60 miles of tailwind-aided cruising along the southern Big Sur coast.  

Recommended Services on the Route

SAG support, Nacimiento Ferguson Rd. (mile 45)

Ragged Point Inn (convenience store and cafe), (mile 73)
 
Cambria Coffee Company, Cambria (mile 96)
 
 

Day 4 (Feb 18)–Cayucos to San Luis Obispo

63 miles/4,100’ ele

There are shorter options today, but those with the legs will want to cover the full route. Highlights include Montaña de Oro State Park (with a 2mi easy gravel option to access the best views) and the challenging climb up Prefumo Canyon and then down See Canyon to Avila Beach before finishing for a post-ride celebration in San Luis Obispo.

Recommended Services on the Route

Starbucks, Ralph’s and more, Los Osos (mile 27)

Kraken Coffee, Avila Beach (mile 54)

 

Support and Rider Expectations

Luggage Transfer

The luggage transfer vehicle, which will do double duty as emergency SAG, has limited capacity. 

Bags should not exceed 40L (~12”X12’X24”). Bags similar to the 40L Thule Chasm or Patagonia Black Hole would be ideal. You may also bring a small personal item like a musette bag or small backpack. We suggest leaving valuables such as laptops at home unless absolutely necessary.

Each morning you will be asked to deposit your bag(s) outside the luggage transfer vehicle 15 minutes prior to our rollout time. You will locate the vehicle at the base motel at the end of the day to retrieve your bag(s)

Rider Support

Riders should be capable of riding at a 13mph moving average in order to finish with daylight. without vehicle support. Matt and Steve will be your on-the-bike guides to provide limited support. They will carry satellite communicators and can communicate with the luggage transfer vehicle in the event a rider cannot continue.

But there will be no sweep vehicle to SAG or otherwise support riders on the route. This means carrying the hydration, food, layers, tools and other items you will need. 

The exception is on Day 3, where there are no services between King City and Ragged Point Inn at mile 66. The luggage transfer vehicle will provide water and some nutrition at a pullout on the descent of  Nacimiento Ferguson Rd. (~mile 44). 

At other times, the vehicle will take the direct route to each day’s overnight stop which means doubling back to gather a rider, although possible, will take a long time.

Bike Maintenance and Support

The luggage transfer vehicle will carry a mechanics tool kit, floor pump, and a limited supply of tubes, tubeless sealant, SRAM road brake pads (see right), and 11-speed chains. Know your machine and consider packing pads, a chain, spare batteries and anything else that might derail your ride.

Accommodations

Coast(ish) base motels at each destination offer basic accommodations close to services. Book at these motels or at one of the other suggested nearby motels. Keep in mind that bags will be dropped and picked up at the base motel. If you are not within walking distance, a bag with backpack straps might be a good idea.
Rates are constantly changing. We advise booking now. Call the numbers below directly and mention Comova (or Matt McHugh) as some of these motels have offered a special rate (noted) for our group. Confirm the cancellation time frame as well. If rain causes us to cancel we will notify riders by Feb 12.

Monterey Base (2/15) 

Rodeway Inn ($135+tax, king, 48 hr cancellation)
1374 Munras Ave
(831) 373-3252

Alternatives: Days Inn, Pelican Inn,
Red Lion Inn

King City Base (2/16)

Keefer’s Inn ($119+ tax, king, 24 hr cancellation)
615 Canal St
(800) 745-9050 (Ask for Tina and mention Comova)

Alternatives: Motel 6, Quality Inn

Cayucos Base (2/17)

Cayucos Beach Inn ($113+tax, king, 72 hr cancellation)
333 S Ocean Ave (805) 995-2828 (mention Comova)

Alternatives: Cypress Tree Motel (805-995-3917), Seaside Motel, Central Coast Inn (805-995-3614)

Food

Overview

Below are recommendations for markets, restaurants, bakeries and cafes near each base motel. Links are to Google Maps listings so you can check opening times and location. 

Monterey Base (2/15) 

Del Monte Shopping Center (across the street from Rodeway Inn) offers:

Starbucks, Chipotle, Poke House, Pizza My Heart, CPK, Subway, Dametra Fresh Mediterranean, Islands (gourmet burgers), Whole Foods, and more 

Elroy’s Fine Foods (15 Soledad Dr) is like a locally owned Whole Foods (closes at 7PM)

King City Base (2/16)

North from Keefer’s on Canal St., under 101, you’ll find the following options:

El Taco Bravo, Carl’s Jr., Subway, King City Pizza, Rite Aid and Safeway

South on Canal and R on River Dr gets you to:

Taco Bell, McDonald’s, KFC, Starbucks and an AM/PM convenience store

A bit further away on Broadway (we will coordinate a vehicle shuttle here if there is interest):

Denny’s and Castro’s Bakery & Deli, as well as several taquerias at Broadway and 2nd 

Cayucos Base (2/17)

Dinner options include:

Martin’s (Mexican and Italian) and Sea Shanty (sea food, salads, sandwiches and more).

Cayucos Super Market (more like a convenience store) is next to the Cayucos Beach Inn. 

For breakfast:

Bijou Bakery or Cayucos Coffee Company

Coast(ish) Fin(ish) (2/18)

SLO Ranch Farms offers a range of options. From a market with prepared foods to sushi, Paso Robles Brewing, kabobs, pizza, coffee, bakery, ice cream and more

Ride Finish Details

Finish Location

SLO Ranch Farms and Marketplace (871 Froom Ranch Way) a new concept in San Luis Obispo, highlighting local vendors ranging from pizza and ice cream to sushi and beer.

The luggage transfer vehicle will be onsite for you to grab a change of clothes. You can use the spacious public bathrooms to change. There will be no shower options at the finish but SAG will have abundant wet wipes.

Return to Bay Area

Our shuttle vans will be ready to depart from SLO Ranch Farms at 3pm. There will either be one van that makes a SF and East Bay drop off, or two separate vans heading separately to SF and the East Bay. 

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