Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition

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Bicycling in Santa Barbara County

photo of cyclists

Some of the finest year-round bicycling in the US is available on and off road within Santa Barbara County. There are active bicycling clubs to help you start, hone your skills, share rides, and competitively race. The following are covered in this and linked pages:

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Regional Bike Clubs

There are at least fourteen active bicycle clubs and groups within Santa Barbara County. They all welcome new members and visitors alike. Some clubs have web sites, as shown by the active links in their names. Some club presidents have email, as shown by the email links in their names. All phone numbers are area code 805.

map of Santa Barbara County

Free Bikeway Map

photo of map front

  • The 2006 edition of the Santa Barbara County Bike Map is currently available. It's absolutely beautiful and available free from the Traffic Solutions office. For a printed copy, email Joann Hart. The map is additional available online in a number of images to view and print. The individual files are large, so be patient. Choose from North County maps, or South County maps.
  • The project was underwritten by Traffic Solutions (a division of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments) and Caltrans District 5. Members of the Bicycle Coalition and bicycle clubs throughout the County helped verify and recommend the vast network of bikeways shown. The map also contains bike safety tips, legal information, and useful contacts.
  • Only paved routes are shown on the map. For off-road biking, look at the book list
  • and online sources later on this page. Or check with a local bike shop.
  • map detail of UCSB
  • Here is a detail of the map showing how to use the Coast Route which passes through the University of California, Santa Barbara campus.
  • Perhaps the nicest enhancement to bicycling is the network of named bike routes on the South Coast. The colored routes on the map reflect the 324 South Coast bikeway route signs that were installed late in 1998.
  • photo of bike sign
  • Pictures and information about creation of the bikeway signage program can be found at this page of the site of signage consultant Jack Biesek. Two elements of the signage program that have yet to be funded are in-street bike logos along the routes, and several "wayfinding" maps of the entire network on permanent pedestals at key South Coast locations.
  • Layout for the map was done by Maps.com. We're delighted with this fine and very popular guide to bicycling.

Bike Shops

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Bicycle Bob's shop in Santa Barbara.

These shops sell bicycles and accessories. We have added details about offerings if the shops have supplied them. All phone numbers are area code 805. Those shops designated with the green word "DISCOUNT" offer a discount to Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition members. Look here for discount info.

  • Carpinteria
  • Bikesmiths, 5441B Carpinteria Avenue, 684-3150, email jim@bikesmiths.com. They provide precise, artistic and durable bike building and repair for any bike: road, mountain, city, comfort and cruisers.
  • Rincon Cycles, 5100 Carpinteria Avenue, 684-9466
  • Goleta
  • Bicycle Bob's, DISCOUNT, 250 Storke Road #A, 685-6799, email bicyclebobs@aol.com.
    With new bike purchase: 10% discount on parts and accessories, and one year of free tune-ups. Very helpful staff.
  • Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique, 880 Embarcadero Del Mar, Isla Vista, 968-3338, email info@ivbikes.com.
    Rentals $15 a day, $30 a week, $50 a month. New and used mountain bikes, hybrids, beach cruisers, etc. Recumbent BikeE with shock, $1099. We accept trade ins.
  • Varsity Bike Shop, 6547 Pardall Road, Isla Vista, 968-4914.
  • VeloPro Cyclery, DISCOUNT, 5887 Hollister Avenue, 964-8355, email mail@velopro.com.
    Mountain, road, city, and BMX bikes plus trikes, accessories, and repairs. Bikes by Kona, GT, Raleigh, Gary Fisher, Santa Cruz, Dyno, Redline, Free Agent, and Powerlite.
  • Lompoc
  • Bicycle Connection, DISCOUNT, 223 West Ocean Avenue, 736-4849
    Bicycles for the entire family from adult to kids. We also do repairs on all makes and models. Ask about our 90-day lay-away and tune-up specials.
  • Bicycles Unlimited, 660 North H Street, 736-4064
  • Santa Barbara
  • Avast, 416 Anacapa Street, 636-1950, email avastsantabarbara@hotmail.com. Specializing in BMX bikes and skateboards.
  • Bicycle Bob's, DISCOUNT, 15 Hitchcock Way, 682-4699, email bicyclebobs@aol.com.
    With new bike purchase: 10% discount on parts and accessories, and one year of free tune-ups. Very helpful staff.
  • Commuter Bicycles, PO Box 300, Santa Barbara 93102, 569-5381, email eric.14@cox.net
    Commute bikes from Fuji, Incline, Van Dessel, Merida and Xtacycle. Accessories from Planet Bike.
  • FasTrack Bicycles, 118 West Canon Perdido Street, 884-0210, email fastrack@sb.net.
    All road bikes. Personal and professional service.
  • Hazard's Cyclesport, DISCOUNT, 110 Anacapa Street, 966-3787, email bruce1@hazardscyclesport.com.
    Oldest bike shop in Santa Barbara (established 1914). Carry bikes by: Specialized, Cannondale, Softride, Electra, Griffen, Calfee. Sponsor of Santa Barbara Triathlon Club, UCSB Mountain Bike Club, UCSB Triathlon Club, Cielo Velo Bicycle Club, Complete line of accessories and expert repairs.
  • Open Air Bicycles, DISCOUNT, 224 Chapala Street, 962-7000, email mfasth@aol.com.
    We sell Trek and Schwinn bicycles, America's #1 amd #2 selling brands. We also stock a complete line of all major accessories. We service all bikes.
  • Play It Again Sports, 4850 Hollister Avenue, 967-9889, email zbrasel@hotmail.com.
    Good selection of used bicycles and other sports equipment.
  • VeloPro Cyclery, DISCOUNT, 633 State Street, 963-7775, email info@velopro.com.
    Mountain, road, city, and BMX bikes plus trikes, accessories, and repairs. Bikes by Kona, GT, Raleigh, Gary Fisher, Santa Cruz, Dyno, Redline, Free Agent, and Powerlite.
  • True Flight Cycle Works, 416 Anacapa Street, 845-7385, email peterzakarian@gmail.com.
    A full-service repair shop. Bikes by Jamis and KHS. Vintage cruiser bikes, fixed-gear specialists, and high-end consignment sales.
  • Santa Maria / Orcutt
  • Mad Mike's Bikes, DISCOUNT, 1108 East Clark Avenue, Orcutt, 934-2003.
  • Main Street Cycles, DISCOUNT, 311 East Main Street, Santa Maria, 922-5577, email info@mainstreetcycles.com. Mainstreet Cycles is a pro level shop without the attitude, they have all the essentials for your cycling needs.
  • Play It Again Sports, 2530 South Broadway, Santa Maria, 614-0072, email PIAS11224@aol.com. Good selection of used bicycles and other sports equipment.
  • Pedal Power Bicycles, 1740 South Broadway, Santa Maria, 349-2294
  • Solvang
  • Dr. J's Bicycle Shop, 1693 Mission Drive, 688-6263, email cyclist75@earthlink.net.
    Full service bike shop. Juvenile, BMX, freesytle and cruiser bikes; men and lady's single and multi-speed beach cruisers; cross and comfort bikes; mountain bikes; and road and touring bikes. Complete lines of accessories, maps, helmets, and car racks. In-shop service for all bicycles.

Bike Rentals

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Wheel Fun Rentals, DoubleTree Resort.

  • Goleta
  • Isla Vista Bicycle Boutique, 880 Embarcadero Del Mar, Isla Vista, 968-3338, email info@ivbikes.com.
    Rentals $15 a day, $30 a week, $50 a month. New and used mountain bikes, hybrids, beach cruisers, etc.
  • Santa Barbara
  • Open Air Bicycles, 209 State Street, 962-7000, email info@openairbicycles.com.
    Rent a quality Trek or Bianchi road bike by the day or week. Bring your own pedals and swap them out if you wish.
  • Wheel Fun Rentals, rent a mountain bike, beach cruiser, tandem, trike or 4-wheel surrey by the hour, day or week. Charge the rental fees to your room if you are staying at either hotel:
  • 23 East Cabrillo Boulevard, 966-2282.
    633 East Cabrillo Boulevard (at the DoubleTree Resort), 966-2282.
    1111 East Cabrillo Boulevard (at the Hotel Mar Monte), 966-2282.
  • Santa Ynez
  • Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling Tours, 3630 Sagunto Street, 686-9490.
    Rent a road, hybrid or mountain bike, either by itself or for one of their tours of the local vineyards and countryside.
  • Solvang
  • Wheel Fun Rentals, 475 First Street, #6, 688-0091.
    Rent a mountain or hybrid bike or 4-wheel surrey.

Books & Maps on Santa Barbara County Bicycling

photo of Coast book

Here is a list of guides for bicycling within Santa Barbara County. The following stores have some of the listed books and maps. All phone numbers are area code 805.

  • Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 829 State Street, Santa Barbara, 962-8509
  • Borders Books & Music, 900 State Street, Santa Barbara, 899-3668
    7000 Marketplace Drive, Goleta, 968-1370
  • Chaucer's Books, 3321 State Street, Santa Barbara, 682-6787
  • B. Dalton Bookseller, Santa Maria Town Center East , Santa Maria, 922-7929
  • Pacific Travellers Supply, 12 West Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, 963-4438
  • Adventure Cycling Association, Bicycle Touring Maps. The best US bicycling maps available. Pacific Coast Section 4 covers 365 miles between San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Pacific Coast Section 5 covers 245 miles between Santa Barbara and Imperial Beach. There is lots of information about riding conditions, camping, bike shops, history, and more. $11.00 each directly from Adventure Cycling.
  • Delaine Fragnoli, Mountain Biking California's Central Coast Best 100 Trails. Fine Edge Productions. As the title says, it describes 100 off-road rides between Big Sur and LA, many of which are in Santa Barbara County. List price $18.95.
  • Joanne Rife, Bicycling Country Roads from San Jose to Santa Barbara. Western Tanager Press, 124 pages. Includes maps, route instructions for fifty bicycle trips ranging from 10 to 70 miles in length. Explores some of California's most marvelous areas. List price $9.95.
  • Tom Kirkendall and Vicky Spring. Bicycling the Pacific Coast. Mountaineers Books. Subtitled "A complete route guide Canada to Mexico," it gives very detailed and understandable directions—particularly on how to find your way through San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. List price $14.95.

Online ride sources

  • Santa Barbara Outdoors. Raymond Ford has published two bicycling books, both of which are now out of print: Santa Barbara Road Rides (1995) and Santa Barbara Mountain Bikes (1992). The good news is that information from both books has been transferred to Ford's web site www.sb-outdoors.org. It has sections on mountain biking, road rides, and many other aspects about our County's trails. Ford believes that bikers and hikers and equestrians can all get along together in sharing our trail system.
  • Central Coast Cycling. Rick Sweet has put online a number of rides that you can take in the northern part of Santa Barbara County. They are grouped as road rides, pleasure rides and mountain bike rides. The site is www.centralcoastcycling.com.
  • SB Bicycle Coalition Rides. Our own rides are available online to print out and take at any time. Look here.