Echelon Santa Barbara

11/10/2023

Saturday: Attention Gravel Grinders! Angostura GROAD (Gravel/Road): With another wet winter predicted this is the peak time to ride along Paradise Road through the upper Santa Ynez Valley dressed in its beautiful fall colors and across the SY River to make the ascent up the dirt backside of Gibraltar. It’s a long climb, but the road has been in excellent condition. Bring plenty to eat and drink, there is water at the campground before we leave the pavement, and if we take Arroyo B***o there is a little market at the campgrounds there. The route will go over OSM/Painted Cave down W. Camino Cielo, across 154 to Stagecoach Rd, down that wonderful descent under the bridge to Paradise Rd., 10 miles of rolling countryside with some potential water crossings to the dirt. Time permitting we’ll take a little sidetrip to the abandoned mercury mine, then up and over and either down Gib or back across Camino Cielo to Painted Cave, etc. OR: From the top of Painted Cave we’ll take Camino Cielo to the former Glass Factory target range and take the Arroyo B***o trail down. Here is a link to a Strava that shows the maximum – your mileage may vary: Angostura GROAD Meet at the wide part at the bottom of Old San Marcos Road, 8:00 AM - I repeat: 8:00 AM!

Also on Saturday, for the less adventurous, there is the Saturday Vieja Valley Ride formerly known as the Echelon Saturday Ride. A sometimes spirited romp around Hope Ranch, up La Cumbre to Foothill/Cathedral Oaks climaxing with a sprint at the top of Glen Annie. There are several regroups. If you’re not familiar with the route, either get a buddy or download it to your Garmin/Wahoo/whatever. Vieja Valley School, 8:30. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44476852

Sunday Sunday Sunday: Echelon Sunday Club Ride: The Mission, 8:30 The classic. Echelon Sunday Ride There are variations - more miles, hills – but this is the basic. Non-drop, several regroups. Coffee after.

09/02/2023

Happy Labor Day Weekend Riding!
First Saturday of the month is the Echelon Trek Ride, rolls from the Goleta shop at 8:30, this Saturday, September 2! This is a short, 18-mile, mostly flat, medium paced ride that returns to the Trek Store for coffee and treats. I'll be leading us out, and doing extra (probably Farren Road) if anyone want to join.

Also on Saturday is the Vieja Valley fast-ride, rolls from Vieja Valley School at 8:30. Fast punchy Hope Ranch Hills, then out to Cathedral Oaks and Glen Annie and back along the bike path.

The Sunday Echelon Ride is on, rolls from the Mission at 8:30, backside of Gobernador Canyon route. This is a super-fun moderate paced group ride. Regroups, no drop!

Also on Sunday, there's the Zone 2 ride departing from the East Beach lot at 8:30, Jim G to lead. This ride is a click or two slower than the Echelon Sunday Ride. Echelon Sunday and Zone 2 riders typically meet for coffee and food at the Lighthouse, on Laguna and Haley.

Finally, little gravel for Labor Day- We'll meet at the Mission at 8:00 or at the base of OSM at 8:30 and head up to hill and ride the West Camino Cielo loop. We'll stop at the glamping store on the way home for a snack. It should be perfect weather. Giddy up ! Hope to see you there!

08/29/2023

Many of you have likely received this email about cycling on State St. I urge you to have a(nother) look at it and consider voicing your opinion to the Santa Barbara City Council as they are on the verge of voting to ban cycling on our town’s main drag.

Yes, I know it is a touchy if not controversial subject for some, even more so with all the stories about out-of-control ebikes and wheelie kids. And yes, I know that some time I myself was for keeping bikes off of the car free portion of State Street – my thinking has evolved.

The issue is definitely still in play and now’s the time to speak up. Clearly there are other routes more conducive to cyclists to use, but for many, residents and tourists alike, this is a vital road. Banning bicycles is possibly the least creative and least forward-thinking solution to finding a way to making this work. Take a minute and send an email to the Mayor and City Council!

If we don’t stand up for ourselves who will?

Thanks for your participation!

The following appears under the MOVE Santa Barbara County header

Tell S.B. Mayor & City Council: "Bikeways, YES!
Banning Biking, NO!"

E-Mail your comments or speak at this Tuesday's Council meeting

urging City officials not to ban bicycling on State Street blocks!

Your voice is needed!

With only five days of public notice and no prior outreach to affected groups or organizational representatives, TOMORROW (Tuesday, August 29) at 2PM, Santa Barbara City Council will consider 8 or more recommendations for immediate implementation along the downtown stretch of State Street. One recommendation we support is a speed-restricted bikeway to delineate

08/26/2023

Dear Echelon Riders,

The Vuelta a España is upon us! Tomorrow all World Tour teams and three Pro teams will start off with a short, fairly technical TTT, just under 15k, giving us all a chance to see this year's third and final Grand Tour selection of riders. This Vuelta is stacked with GC stars! First of note, there's Jonas and Rog on the same Jumbo Team with the American mountain domestique Sepp Kuss pulling on the longest and steepest climbs. Of course, last year's winner Remco Evenepoel is in top-form after winning the Worlds' ITT, although he may be short on help, at least until next season when Mikel Landa joins Quickstep. Could Enric Mas finally pull off a win for Movistar and Spain? Not a lot of sprinters, but just about every GC hero, sans Pog, will be racing!

Weekend rides are on! It will be hot! Vieja Valley fast-ride, rolls Saturday from Vieja Valley Elementary School at 8:30. Sunday Echelon Classic, from the Mission at 8:30, usual regroups, no drop! Also, the Zone 2 Goob loop on Sunday, same route but a little more user friendly.

Hope to see y'all out there, stay safe!

08/22/2023

Echelon will be doing a two day overnight ride on Oct 14th and 15th. If you have been on one of these rides then you know they are a lot of fun. If you haven't then please come out and join us. Here's the info/sign up page. It's free ! (well you have to pay for a hotel room).

Echelon Cycling Club is a non-profit bike club in Santa Barbara, California started in 1984.

08/04/2023

Saturday is the Echelon Trek Ride, rolls from the Trek shop, formerly Bob's, at 8:30. Michael will be leading us out on this moderate paced, relatively flat 19-mile ride. Some of you may want to do extra after a return to the shop for coffee and treats.

Echelon Sunday Ride is on, rolls from the Mission at 8:30. Usual regroups at Viola Fields, top of Bates, Gib water stop, and the Polo Fields.
And don't forget the Z2 ride starting at 8:30 on Sunday from East Beach! It's the same ride with a more mellow pace.
See you out there!

07/28/2023

The weekend is upon us!

Saturday: There will be a group doing something different from the usual Vieja Valley Ride and heading to Ojai and taking the long way back. We’ll be going early to beat the heat – climbs first, of course, and enjoying the cool coast on the way back. Ojai Ride: we start at the Mission at 7:30AM. We’ll stop for refreshments in Ojai, bring lots of fluids and snacks – it’s a long one!

Sunday:
The Echelon Sunday Ride –starts at the Mission @8:30.
Also Sunday:
Zone 2 Ride – East Beach 8:30, a gentler ride covering much of the same route.
Don't forget to hydrate and use your sunscreen!

07/20/2023

New Thursday Evening Mountain Drive Out & Back Ride

Since the days are long and the evenings so pleasant let’s try something new! Meet at the Mission for a 5:00 PM Roll. We’ll take Mission Ridge to Mountain Dr. all the way to Bella Vista to the San Ysidro Ranch. That might be a good turnaround for some, while others might wish to continue through the Ranch, up the Park Lane climb. We can turn around there, or time permitting, continue to Ladera. This will be a friendly-paced ride, regrouping at the top of the short climbs, riding carefully along the beautifully winding road (you could be in France or Italy up there), enjoying the views and the excellent road surface. I hope you’ll join me for this new addition, it would be great for it to be a regular summertime ride.

Mountain Dr from The Mission is a 26.2 mi Cycling Route. Discover this route and more at Strava. Visit today!

07/07/2023

RIDE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEKEND!
Saturday: Some of us will be joining the Saturday Morning Vieja Valley Ride (formerly the Echelon Saturday Ride). 8:30 Roll from Vieja Valley School for a quick ride around Hope Ranch, up La Cumbre, Foothill/Cathedral Oaks with a sprint finish at the top of Glen Annie. There are several regroups. Most will return at the end of CO via the bike path/UCSB; a group of us will enjoy the ride up the coast to Refugio with the turnaround at Circle Bar B. https://echelonsantabarbara.org/Vieja-valley-long-version

Sunday will feature the Echelon Sunday Ride, 8:30 roll from The Mission. The usual route, with options to add miles and hills. This is a friendly-paced ride, with several regroups, water stops, and a potty stop at Viola Field; a great opportunity to learn and practice group riding skills. We’ve been having a great turnout – let’s keep it going. https://www.strava.com/routes/2912126004714421612

For those who prefer an even friendlier pace, please join Jim Garwood on the Zone 2 Ride rolling from East Beach at 8:30.

A New Ride: Since the weather is so nice and the days so long – Thursday Evening Mountain Drive: The Mission at 5 PM. We’ll do an out and back enjoying one of our most beautiful routes, Mountain/ Las Canoas/Bella Vista. It’s hilly, of course, but no extended climbs and the road is in great shape. Let’s see if we can make this a regular, seasonal ride. Let me know if you’re interested.
https://www.strava.com/routes/3112490257748993314

Mountain Drive from The Mission is a 26.5 mi Cycling Route. Discover this route and more at Strava. Visit today!

07/03/2023

Dave Lettieri led
Fourth of July Ride (for those willing to go the distance):
Whoever is up for it will meet at the Dolphin Fountain for an 8:00 AM roll. The course will be the Santa Paula Loop – clockwise, coast first, less headwind on the way home. This should be a well-attended ride; it’s advertised as a “Steady ride” – we’ll see what that means. It’s an excellent course, best done before it gets too hot.
The route is something like this, only start finish at the pier: https://www.strava.com/activities/8574005628

07/01/2023

Epic First Saturday Shop Ride.
Did you miss out? Join us tomorrow!
SUNDAY FUN DAY!
8:30 from the Mission for the slightly faster-paced folks
8:30 at East Beach for those concentrating on riding in Z2 or just those who don’t want to worry about sprints.
Both groups meet up at Viola Fields so no one is missing out on the fun.
The weekend is just getting started!

07/01/2023

First Saturday Trek Shop Ride
8:30 am from the shop in Goleta (old Bicycle Bob’s shop)
Here's the route for tomorrow:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42052292

Summary: Obern trail then Hope Ranch, Hendry's, Las Positas bike path then Modoc bike path back to Obern trail back to Trek shop.

~19 miles, ~500ft of climbing. Pace will be moderate ~15 mph with ~4 regroupings.

Hot coffee and yummie pastries after the ride!

bike path, thru Hope Ranch, Hendry's, Las Positas, Modoc, bike path back to start - 18.7 mi, +543 ft. Bike ride in Goleta, CA