Rally Rides

The Best Scenery and a Variety of Distances and Difficulty
26 Rides to Choose From! Ride Any Time, Any Day During the Rally.

Road Biking Routes

Once you are registered at the Rally, you will be given route instructions for approximately 25 routes varying from 10 to 100 miles., all starting and ending at the fairgrounds You can ride as much or as little as you desire. The rides are generally unsupported and allow you the freedom to stop to rest and eat where you would like. The longer routes are all routed through locations where food and water are available.

Riding is the principal reason most people come to the Rally and the Paso Robles area provides some outstanding cycling with friends and family. Riding less than a mile takes you out of town and into the country through rolling farm and ranch land past the many vineyards and orchards of the area. The stronger riders will want to consider making the trek out to the coast where they can visit Morro Bay or Cambria

Check out the abundant number beautiful back roads in Paso Robles that are perfect for cycling. View this map of the area map.

Group Rides

Don't know anyone or coming by yourself? To facilitate finding riding companions and to meet new people, we are selecting a number of rides each day where you will meet at a designated time and place with a ride leader.

Supported 100 and 60-mile Rides

Join us for one day of riding and enjoy the scenic Paso Robles area while riding your bike. Food stops, route maps and directions, route signage and on-the-road support will be on hand. Camping and showers will be available the night before and after in the fairgrounds.

Rally participants pay only $10. Register Online here as you sign up for the Rally.
Non-Rally participants: $45 (camping and catered Pancake Breakfast on Saturday morning is extra)
Learn more and sign up here

Velo de Femme 40-Mile Ride (Women's Ride)

Back again by popular demand and sponsored by the City of Paso Robles, we have added a new twist to the ride. We will be leaving from the downtown City Park this year with a send off from the mayor. The Velo de Femme is for women of all riding abilities to discover that they can go on a bike ride without their significant other. Men will be strongly discouraged to accompany the women riders. There will be leaders in front, middle, and rear to ensure that no one will be dropped. You'll ride to a rest stop at Sylvester Winery where you can enter in a raffle. Raffle gifts will be profvided by local merchants and the Downtown Merchants Association. Following the ride there will be a workshop/clinic. Trek Bicycles women's support will be on-hand as well.

The ride itself is a fairly easy to moderate route going north along the river, then turning eastward on the gentle rolling hills of Estrella Rd. past Star Farms, skirting the airport, past Sylvester Winery (a rest stop if desired), continuing south on Buena Vista Dr., crossing Hwy. 46 on Golden Hill and onto Creston Rd. (Note: There are notations on the route slip showing where to cut the ride short if desired). A turn on Neal Springs heading west will bring you through the backway into Templeton where you will find the Templeton Farmer's Market at Templeton Park (6th & Crocker). The Saturday-only market closes up at 12:30, so be sure to get there in plenty of time to shop around. After a rest stop in Templeton, the ride continues through the town heading north back to Paso along roads by the 101 Fwy, through downtown Paso Robles and back to the fairgrounds via Riverside Avenue. This ride is designed to give women the courage and satisfaction of accomplishment to ride on their own. Hopefully, they can achieve it on this ride

Geo-Cache Ride

This is a high- tech version of hide and seek, geo caches hidden all over the globe, 40 are hidden within 10 miles of Paso Robles. Caches are hidden and contain a log book for you to register your find. Some are large enough to have small trade items. If you take an item, leave something else in its place. You will need a GPS receiver and a pen for this ride. The coordinates for each cache are listed along with a unique 6 digit “waypoint” identifier for that cache. Once you return home, log in your finds using the waypoint identifier on the computerized database at www.geocaching.com. The ride is put together by Rally participants Jeff and Mike Bailey. NOTE: This route is NOT in your route packet. Pick it up at the registration table.

Mountain Biking Routes

Paso Robles also has some excellent off-road riding for mountain bikers and a couple of routes for mountain bikes are available. Because the best mountain biking is not close enough to the fairgrounds, a couple of off-road routes with remote starts (and directions to the start location) will also be available.

Competitions

These are "recreational" competitions however awards will be given for the winners at our awards gathering and giant raffle on Sunday evening.

To Hill Climb at Hilltop--3 miles

The Willard Hellman Memorial Hillclimb is one of the Rally's major competitions and whether you plan to compete or just watch, you need to get over to the event location. Here's the way. This flat little ride through the back streets of Paso Robles will get you there and back with plenty of energy to spare just in case you decide to give the competition a try.

PROFILE: Only about 100 feet of elevation gain, most in the first half of the ride. No major hills. All on city streets. HILLCLIMB DATA: 0.17 mile long with about 110 feet of elevation gain with a mean gradient of 12%.

To The Time Trials ---22 miles (**)

Want to go out and watch or participate in the Dave Smith Memorial Time Trial Saturday morning? Here's the quickest (though not the most scenic) route out and back. It's just a straight 10 miles east on Hwy. 46 and then 10 miles back. There is a more scenic route using Union Road which you can take on the return back. If you are interested in this alternative, you can ask for directions at Registration.

PROFILE: A gentle climb at the beginning as you climb out of the river valley and then rolling hills thereafter. A steep climb coming back as you leave Estrella Road. Route entirely on Hwy. 46.

2009 Rally Ride Sampling
(26 routes will be available for you to choose from)

To Hillclimb at Hilltop --- 3 miles (*)

The Willard Hellman Memorial Hillclimb is one of the Rally's major competitions and whether you plan to compete or just watch, you need to get over to the event location. Here's the way. This flat little ride through the back streets of Paso Robles will get you there and back with plenty of energy to spare just in case you decide to give the competition a try..

PROFILE: Only about 100 feet of elevation gain, most in the first half of the ride. No major hills. All on city streets.

HILLCLIMB DATA: 0.17 mile long with about 110 feet of elevation gain with a mean gradient of 12%.

Paso Robles Old & New --- 8 miles (*)

Here's a ride that views our host city from both sides. First, the older portion on the west side of the river, and then you cross over on the 1st Street /Niblick Rd. Bridge to view the newer portions of the city. Finally, you return back over the new 13th Street bridge to finish your ride. Paso Robles is truly a city that combines the old with the new.

PROFILE: Only 210 feet of elevation gain, 70 of which comes in one hill on Navajo. No steep hills. Mostly city streets but some "suburban".

Only One Left --- 10 miles (*)

If you are used to riding in the big city, you know what a pain making left turns can be. Paso Robles is hardly the big city, but here's a ride that eliminates all but one of those nasty left turns. Avoiding the left turn means you wind around quite a bit, making 27 turns in 10 miles, but what better way to view the city from all angles. The entire ride is in the older portion of Paso Robles on this side of the river. Why is there only one left? Well, we wouldn't want your big city skills to disappear completely..

PROFILE: 370 feet of elevation gain with only a few short hills. All on city streets in old Paso Robles.

A Really Nice Little Ride --- 10 miles (*)

We can remember not so many years ago when this ride got you out to the country in only a few miles. There's still some open space left however, so you won't want to miss this short tour of the area southeast of Paso Robles on the other side of the Salinas River. Before you know it, you are gliding down Union Road back to the start and saying to yourself, "My, that was a really nice little ride!"

PROFILE: 380 feet of elevation gain. Three moderate hills in the 40 to 70 foot range. Ends with a nice downhill on Union. Suburban and country roads.

River Frolic --- 17 miles (*)

Head south along the west side of the river to Templeton and visit this picturesque little town. (There's a grain elevator in the center of town). Take your time and look at some of the shops or grab a bite to eat in one of the cafes. Then cross the river and frolic back on the other side. You will climb to a great view of the Salinas River Valley before you coast back to the start..

PROFILE: 480 feet of elevation gain, most of which is a long gentle grade along El Pomar and one short but steep climb on River Road. A mixture of country, suburban, and city streets.

Fruit & Nut Ride --- 11 miles (**)

We run this ride most years because it's the only short ride we have that is a bit more strenuous than the other short tours around town which we offer, and sometimes that's just the kind of ride you want. Besides that, the ride ends with a visit to Jardine Ranch for a chance to purchase dried fruits and nuts. Before you reach the ranch, you tour the residential areas of old Paso Robles, but this route takes you up into the hills a little bit to give you a little extra workout..

PROFILE: Approximately 700 feet of elevation gain with several short but moderately steep hills. City streets.

A Little Pain On Barley Grain --- 11 miles (**)

This one used to be called "Ain't No Pain on Barley Grain", but who are we kidding? The first thing you are going to see when you turn onto Barley Grain Road is a sharp little hill. At the top of this short little hill is a beautiful view. This route is an extended version of "Getta Thrill on Golden Hill". The additional miles take in Barley Grain Road and a portion of Spanish Camp, both of which are very pretty and worth the extra effort. As they say, "No pain, no gain on Barley Grain".

PROFILE: 590 feet of elevation gain with several short hills and one long grade on Hwy. 46. The hill on Barley Grain is steep, but only a couple of hundred feet long. Mostly suburban streets with a stretch on Hwy. 46.

Templeton Treat --- 24 miles (**)

Templeton is a nice little town just a few miles from Paso Robles which makes it a nice breakfast or brunch destination. If that is your plan, this ride is right up your alley. It starts with a spin through the countryside to work up an appetite. By the time you reach the top of El Pomar Road at about the half way point of the ride, you have done almost all of the climbing. From there, it's a cruise downhill and into Templeton followed by a short (and relatively flat) return to Paso Robles. PROFILE: 1060 feet of elevation gain, almost all in the first 12 miles. Except for the initial climb on Creston, most of the climbing is in a long gentle upgrade. Mostly country roads with some urban streets.

To The Time Trials --- 22 miles (**)

Want to go out and watch or participate in the Dave Smith Memorial Time Trial Saturday morning? Here's the quickest (though not the most scenic) route out and back. It's just a straight 10 miles out on Hwy. 46 and then 10 miles back. There is a more scenic route using Union Road which you can take on the return back. If you are interested in this alternative, you can ask for directions at Registration.

PROFILE: A gentle climb at the beginning as you climb out of the river valley and then rolling hills thereafter. A steep climb coming back as you leave Estrella Road. Route entirely on Hwy. 46.

Star Farms StopOver --- 25 miles (**)

Hands down, this is the most popular ride at the Rally, especially young riders. Dean Porter, proprietor of Star Farms on Estrella Road, has once again opened his beautiful property to the Rally. You are in for quite a treat. Would you believe a lake with a sandy beach complete with tiki huts? How about volleyball or croquet? Maybe a jump on the trampoline? Bring your lunch and your swimming suit and make a outing of it. Cookies and bananas will be available. Many riders spend most of their day there. A great place for the kids.

PROFILE: 630 feet of elevation gain, but most of this is on the return which has several rolling hills. A more direct return is offered which avoids these. Mostly country roads with some Hwy. 46.

Saturday at the Farmer's Market --- 27 miles (**)

For those of you who like to combine riding and shopping at the same time, then this ride is for you. Every Saturday from 9:00am to 12:30pm, the Templeton County Park is the host for this Certified Farmer's Market. Touted by people who know their markets, this is one of the best on the Central Coast. Enjoy the selections of locally grown fruits, vegetables, organic produce, dried nuts and herbs, homemade crafts and gifts, and fresh meats and seafood as well.

PROFILE: The route traverses the rolling hills of Creston and South El Pomar Roads before coming around to Templeton. The return to the fairgrounds is fairly easy via El Pomar Dr., Neal Springs, and So. River Road.

Round Trip to Creston --- 30 miles (**)

Creston is one of the little towns that dot the countryside hereabouts. Known to many as the starting location of the Wild Flower Century, it makes a nice destination for a quick 30 mile jaunt. There's a country store in town and a colorful old bar (The Long Branch) to refresh yourself before the return. The route out is a more scenic, less traveled but more hilly route than simply taking the straight shot out Creston Road. This provides some nice country scenery. The return is the direct, mostly downhill, 13 miles along Creston Road.

PROFILE: Approximately 800 feet of elevation gain. Most of this is in the rolling hills on your ride out. There is virtually no climbing on your return. Country and suburban roads.

No Stresseo on Geneseo --- 23 miles (***)

This ride proves how easy it is to get out of town in Paso Robles. Although you never get more than 10 miles away from the start, you spend a lot of time in the country on this one. We give it a 3 star rating because there are several hills, but at 23 miles, it's really not that "stresseo". Put your cares behind you as you pull out of Paso Robles on Union Road. Forget all your frustrations amid the undulations and gyrations of Geneseo. Lay back along Linne relaxing in this rural ranchland. Keep your cool crossing Creston, continue past Paso High and drift into dreamland as you drop in on the new developments on River Rd. You finally finish at the fairgrounds feeling fine, fantastic and fulfilled. Better than a session with a psychiatrist and at a fraction of the cost..

PROFILE: 920 feet of elevation gain. Many rolling hills with a couple of long grades (a mile or more). Almost entirely on country roads with some urban riding at the start and end.

Wine Taster's Tour --- 30 miles (***)

This has been a Rally tradition for a number of years now in one form or another. The current version cuts out some of the hills to give you more wine, and less whine. It gives you a chance to visit five local wineries: Peachy Canyon Winery, Castoro Cellars, Donati Family Vineyard, Norman Vineyards, and Halter Ranch Vineyard. By arrangement with these wineries, if you choose to purchase any wine during your visit, you don't have to carry it on your bike. The Rally will pick it up for you and you can retrieve it Sunday evening at Registration on the fairgrounds. Even if you don't stop to taste the wine, this is a pretty ride. Some of these wineries will be providing wine for tasting at the Saturday night wine and cheese party at the Rally. Note: The late suggested start time is because the tasting rooms often do not open until 11:00am.

PROFILE: 1920 feet of elevation gain. That's a fair amount of climbing for a 30 mile ride, but it's not as bad as it sounds. A few short, sharp hills in the early portion of the ride are followed by a long up-grade on Vineyard Road and continuing on the first portion of Adelaida Rd. However, except for a 4 mile grade on Adelaida, most of the climbing is broken up with short downhills allowing you to catch your breath. The route finishes with a terrific 9 mile downhill which we think is the best downhill at the Rally. Mostly on country roads with a short portion on Hwy. 46.

Mission to San Miguel --- 33 miles (***)

San Miguel is a quaint little town north of Paso Robles with an old Spanish Mission. Unfortunately, the earthquake a couple of years ago severely damaged the Mission and it remains closed. However, the gift shop next door is open. The old general store in town used to be our mainstay for refreshments, but it has been closed for some time now. But there is a new deli shop at the northeast corner of Mission St. and 14th St./River Rd. that has all the necessary foodstuff you need for your return to Paso Robles. Your ride back lets you explore some real country backroads. Be sure to stop by Sylvester Winery off of Buena Vista Dr. for a refreshing break. It's an oasis out in the wilds of the back country.

PROFILE: 1050 feet of elevation gain. The majority of this is on the rolling hills of the return, particularly on Cross Canyons Rd. and Ranchita Canyon Rd. Also a short, steep climb on Buena Vista. Country roads.

Around the Hills to Adelaida --- 34 miles (***)

This route is so popular that it has been offered at the Rally every year for the past 25+ years. Sometimes this route is a bit strenuous, but the scenery and solitude of the backroads west of town are well worth it. Be sure to stop at Norman Vineyards where there will be restrooms, refreshments, and water for all of you. There are reports of riders spending the entire afternoon there. Truly this is one of the prettiest rides at the Rally. Many take a slightly shorter and easier route back from Norman Vineyards. This is the same return found at the end of the Wine Taster's Tour. NOTE: These roads are not wide and have many blind turns. Although traffic is not high, we have received complaints from residents in the Adelaida area about our cyclists riding too far out into the lanes for safety. Please ride single file.

PROFILE: 2170 feet of elevation gain. No long extended climbs, but many rolling hills gently climbing for the first half of the ride. There is a very fast, thrilling downhill on Chimney Rock Rd. that will make the climbing worth it for some. The break at the Norman Winery makes this route less difficult than it might otherwise be. Mostly country roads.

What's Gnu at the Zoo? --- 35 miles (***)

There are plenty of animals to be seen in the countryside around Paso Robles. There are cattle, sheep, horses, and even some deer, buffalo, llamas, ostriches, and wild turkeys (if you know where to look), but for the more exotic types, such as lions and tigers (but no gnus, so we've been told), you need a zoo. Fortunately, we've got one. Just take this ride down to Atascadero and visit the Charles Paddock Zoo (small fee). Never let it be said the Rally doesn't offer something for everyone. Lunch is available at or near the zoo. The ride is very pretty whether you visit the zoo or not, but add in a visit to the zoo and you have a very delightful day.

PROFILE: 1420 feet of elevation gain. Many rolling hills (most on the way down to Atascadero) but no single hill climbs more than 100 feet. Mostly country roads with some residential streets in Atascadero.

Changing Faces of Pretty Places --- 37 miles (***)

This ride was formerly called "White Faces & Pretty Places". The "white faces" referred to the many cattle seen grazing along the route. The cattle nowadays are few and far between. The evidence of the past is still there: the grassland, the old barns, feeding troughs, and even a street named "Hereford". But it's not hard to see where the cattle have gone. Many a grassy hill is now planted in rows of vines. So the face of the area is changing, but it's still very pretty. The route heads first to Templeton and then skirts the edges of Paso Robles before heading into the country east of town. You will love Linne Road and Geneseo Road.

PROFILE: Approximately 1500 feet of elevation gain. Most of the gain is in short hills, but there is a 1 mile climb on Geneseo. Mostly on country and suburban roads.

Velo De Femme (2009) --- 40 miles (***)

This Saturday-only ride is offered by the Rally for women who enjoy the camaraderie of other women riders and discover they can go on a bike ride without the guys. Men will be strongly discouraged to accompany the women riders. There will be on-road riding tips and a clinic at the end of the ride. The ride will be lead by experienced women riders who will make sure no rider is left behind. This year, the ride is sponsored by the City of Paso Robles and will start from the City Park. A map/directions to the park will be available. The mayor will send the riders off in grand style. At the rest stop, all riders will be entered in a raffle. The gifts are supplied by local merchants.

The ride is fairly easy to moderate going north along the river, turning eastward past Star Farms, by Sylvester Winery (a rest stop), through the east side of Paso Robles, and on to Templeton where you will find the Templeton Farmer's Market at Templeton Park (6th & Crocker). This Saturday-only market closes up at 12:30, so be sure to get there in plenty of time to shop around. After a rest stop in Templeton, the ride heads north back to Paso Robles to the city park for scheduled festivities. Then it's back to the fairgrounds via Riverside Ave. NOTE: There are notations on the route slip showing where to cut the ride short if desired.

Hog Canyon Heaven --- 44 miles (***)

The joy of riding a bike in this area becomes apparent when you choose to ride this Rally route. These far-out canyons are so out in the country that you probably will be the only person on the road. It starts out along the river on N. River Rd., up River Oaks, then traverses Buena Vista Dr., skirts the airport, and rolls into the upper reaches of North SLO County. NOTE: For all you wine tasters, there is a fairly new winery called Silver Horse Winery off of Pleasant Rd. Be sure to stop by and enjoy the view as well as the wine from this hilltop location. As you come to the Monterey County Line and beyond, the road narrows to almost one lane. Up and over a hill and your in hog heaven in Hog Canyon. A gentile downgrade for six miles makes for an enjoyable ride. Returning via Estrella Rd. takes you by Star Farms where you may stop for water and restrooms (and maybe cookies too) and enjoy the lakeside retreat with many other Rally cyclists who are spending the day relaxing. Continue back to the fairgrounds along River Road. Please note that food is not available on this route. Be sure to bring enough for this ride.

E Ticket to Atascadero --- 51 miles (****)

Disneyland is where the term "E Ticket" comes from. Even though they don't use them any longer, it's come to mean a really good ride. You'll have to ride this one to see if it qualifies. As the name implies, it's a nice ride on country roads down to Atascadero and back. Atascadero is a place to take a well deserved break. The fast two mile downhill on Hwy. 41 into Atascadero will make you think it's worth the "E" rating, but the climb on South El Pomar Rd. on the return may have you thinking twice. But don't let that deter you - in this case, the "E" rating is for the scenery..

PROFILE: 2240 feet of elevation gain. About 600 feet of this is on Creston Rd. getting out to Hwy. 41. There is another 400 feet on Hwy. 41 before the big downhill. A 500 foot climb on South El Pomar completes the big climbs. The remainder of the gain is in short rolling hills. Mostly country roads with city streets in Atascadero.

Santa Margarita Express --- 53 miles (****)

We have a couple of rides, which we tend to alternate, which are basically the reverse of each other: this one and "229 is Mighty Fine". Both go to Santa Margarita, another of the small towns that dot the area around Paso Robles. Both ride Hwy. 229, a very fun stretch of road. This route rides it on the way out (the other coming back). Both go through Atascadero. This route hits it on the way back (the other on the way out). The route also allows you to hit Creston and Templeton, so this is really quite a tour of the small towns around here. Most of the hills are in the first half with a mostly flat run back from Santa Margarita.

PROFILE: Many rolling hills with a long up-grade (5 miles) on Hwy. 229. The return is fairly flat making this an easier ride than some of the shorter routes. Mostly country roads with some city.

Cambria Triple Option I --- 60 miles (****)

Offered every year since 1979, the Cambria Triple Option is a series of three rides to Cambria on the coast. All three options leave Paso Robles together heading to the coast along Highway 46. A long but mostly gentle uphill takes you to the top of Hwy. 46 followed by a nine mile downhill as you head into Cambria for lunch. Cambria is a nice little coastal resort town with plenty of little shops to look into. After lunch, you choose which of the options you would like for dessert. Option I is an easy (well, as easy as it can be) return going back the way you came. But remember that nine mile downhill is now an uphill! Of course, you do get finish with the (mostly) downhill back into Paso Robles

PROFILE: Two major climbs as you climb over the ridge between Paso Robles and the coast and then return. It's about 1300 feet of gain going to the coast but about 1600 feet on the return because you are coming from sea level. Most of the ride is on Hwy. 46 and Hwy. 1. This is the easiest of the three options.

Cambria Triple Option III --- 62 miles (*****)

See Cambria Triple Option I for the beginning of this ride. After lunch in Cambria, Option III offers a great challenge. It begins with an absolutely beautiful ride along a creek in the shade of tree lined Santa Rosa Road. When you ride this route, you can hear the babbling brook with some parts so shady, that the road is almost dark. But there's a price to pay for this peaceful beginning. As you break out of the trees, you see the daunting hill in front of you. Once you crawl your way up through some corkscrew turns, be sure to stop at the top and look at the view back down. Santa Rosa Rd. eventually dumps you back onto Hwy. 46 for the quick return (mostly downhill) back to Paso Robles.

PROFILE: 4290 feet of elevation gain. This Option is about the same distance and has only a little more elevation gain than Option I. However, the steep portion of Santa Rosa climbs almost 800 feet in about two miles which is very steep. This gives this Option the higher difficulty rating and makes it the most difficult of the three options.

Cambria Triple Option II --- 70 miles (*****)

See Cambria Triple Option I for the beginning of this ride. After lunch in Cambria, Option II takes you south along Hwy. 1 to Cayucos (an antique lover's heaven) for an optional lunch/snack stop. From there you climb up Old Creek Road past the Whale Rock Reservoir and along a tree lined road which gets rather steep in places, but is so pretty, you really won't want to miss it. After a brief downhill, you hit Hwy. 46 again and head back into town.

PROFILE: Approximately 4700 feet of elevation gain. This return includes some rolling hills on Hwy. 1 to Cayucos, and then the climb up Old Creek which totals up more gain than the other options. Because of this and the extra miles, we've upgraded this ride to a 5 star rating. However, we still think it's not as difficult as Option III because the climbing is not as steep and it is more scenic (which takes your mind off of the climb).

2009 Metric Century --- 64 miles (****)

This is a shortened version of this year's century. You ride a similar route as the century riders looping inland to the east, through Templeton, and then heading to the coast. You don't actually go out to the coast and San Simeon as the full century riders do. Instead, you climb over Vineyard Road and Willow Creek Road heading for Adelaida. Then down Chimney Rock Rd. into Hwy. G14 back to Paso Robles and the fairgrounds.

PROFILE: Approximately 3000 feet of climbing which is spread throughout the course. Mostly country roads with a portion on Hwy. G14 (Nacimiento Lake Dr.).

O'Donovan's Delight ---68 miles (****)

Delight? Well, if you delight in doing hills maybe. As it turns out, the five miles on O'Donovan is about the only long, flat stretch on the route. Plenty of ups and thrilling downhills on this one as you ramble in the countryside southeast of Paso Robles on your way to Santa Margarita. Most of the hills are not very long, but there is the six mile climb up Huer Huero which is memorable. After a refreshing stop at the country store in Santa Margarita, you are ready for the fast run down El Camino Real and through Atascadero back to the fairgrounds (with a few small hills along the way).

PROFILE: We haven't ridden this one with an altimeter, but we'd guess it would rack up 3 to 4 thousand feet. There are many rolling hills with a long climb up Huer Huero Rd. You will remember this as a hilly ride. However, except for Huer Huero, none of the climbs are that long.

San Simeon Century --- 100 miles (*****)

The destination for this year's century is San Simeon, a small town on the coast, which is known primarily as the home of Hearst's Castle. We start with a loop out in the country near Creston, and through Templeton before heading to the coast. Then it's out Hwy. 46, with a few interesting detours via Jack Creek and York Mountain Roads, before heading north through Cambria and onward to San Simeon. After making a loop around Sebastian's General Store, retrace your route back to Paso Robles on Hwy. 46 to complete your ride.

PROFILE: Approximately 6000 feet of elevation gain. With that much climbing, this is not an easy century, but the climbing is spread fairly evenly throughout the ride. Nonetheless, there is some steep grades on York Mountain Rd., and of course there is that 9 mile climb coming back from the coast which is unavoidable. Coming near the end of the ride as it does, it is bound to make an impression on you. Just take it easy - you have all day. A mixture of country roads, Hwy. 46, and Hwy. 1.