Bike Tour
California Assoc. of RV Parks & Campgrounds
People often think of campgrounds as base camps for hikes into the wilderness. But have you ever thought of using a campground as a base camp for a bicycle tour?
“It’s possible in California,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds, which hosts Camp-California.com, the statewide travel planning website.
“There are literally scores of organized bike tours across California that range from 7-mile family friendly rides to strenuous multi-day tours through some of the most scenic parts of the state. And since campgrounds are located near most of these routes, they can be used as base camps for bicycling adventures,” Sipe said.
Camp-California.com is a statewide travel planning website that complements information on campgrounds, RV parks and resorts with activity information on bicycle tours, food and wine events and other outdoor activities across the state.
Sipe noted that a growing number of campgrounds offer fully furnished park model cabins and other rental accommodations, so bicycling enthusiasts do not even need to have camping equipment to use them as base camps.
“Campgrounds are increasingly trying to accommodate everyone, whether you like to tent camp or spend the night in luxurious cabin or cottage with your own kitchen and bathroom,” Sipe said.
Many campgrounds also have bicycle rentals for those who would like to simply explore the immediate vicinity of the campground. But for those who are contemplating more rigorous bicycle adventures, here’s a sampling of websites with additional resources on upcoming bicycle tours.
Following is a sampling of upcoming bicycle tours:
— San Diego Tour de Cure, April 18, Del Mar Fairgrounds, San Diego County: This is a fundraising event to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. Bicycle routes are 7, 26, 62 and 100 miles. http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TourAdmin?pg=entry&fr_id=10152
— Central Coast Double Century, May 9, Paso Robles: This 211-mile ride starts and ends in Paso Robles and includes 14,000 feet of climbing. The route includes a section of scenic State Route One. www.centralcoastdouble.com
— Tour of the Unknown Coast, May 9, Ferndale: This event includes five different routes ranging from a 10-mile ride with no hills to a 100-mile ride that event promoters consider to be California’s toughest century. www.tuccycle.org
— Motherlode Century Bike Ride, May 9, Coloma: The Motherlode is conveniently staged in the springtime foothills of California’s Gold Country and offers five riding options from 28 leisurely to 97 challenging miles.There will be SAG support, meals, snacks and a riverside post-ride BBQ served along the American River. This ride helps support the American River Conservancy and El Dorado Trail. www.motherlodecentury.com
— Apple Blossom Bike Tour, May 17, Placerville: This event includes a family friendly route for ages 8 and up to a more difficult metric half century and a metric century ride with 7,000 feet of climbing. www.appleblossombiketour.com
— Strawberry Fields Forever, May 17, Watsonville: This event features 30, 65 and 100-mile bike rides through some of the most scenic areas of Santa Cruz County, including the region’s strawberry fields. www.strawberryfields.org
— Cycle The Sierra, June 20 - 24, Grass Valley: This is a five-day, 300-mile loop through the northern Sierra Nevada mountains starting in Grass Valley and looping south and east to the June Lake area before heading north to South Lake Tahoe and Truckee and back to Grass Valley. Campgrounds are already arranged for bicyclists along the way. But recommendations are provide below for cyclists needing a place to stay before and after the event. www.cyclethesierra.com
— Best Buddies Challenge, Sept. 12, Carmel to Hearst Castle in San Simeon: This is a fundraising event for Best Buddies International, a global volunteer movement that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This event includes four different rides along scenic State Route One of 15, 30, 62 and 100 miles. www.bestbuddieschallenge.org
— Lighthouse Century, Sept. 26, Morro Bay: This is a 100-mile loop that starts and ends at Morro Bay High School. Three different 100-mile routes are offered, all of which include portions of scenic State Route One. www.slobc.org
— Bike MS Bay to Bay Tour, Oct. 17 - 18, Irvine to San Diego: This two-day bike tour is designed to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://bikecas.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=26037&pg=entry
For more information on bicycle tours in California, visit www.tourofcalifornia.org. For additional information on things to see and do in California, including campgrounds with onsite rental accommodations and activities, please visit www.Camp-California.com