I live in the midwest, and I'm in the beginning planning stages of a two-week, Pacific Coast Highway ride. I'm thinking June 2008 at this point. My current ideas are:

- Ride from San Diego to Seattle, over 10-12 days, catching the entire PCH and some other good CA, OR, and WA biking roads. My thought is about 300-400 miles per day, with a couple rest days in between.
- Fly to San Diego, Fly back from Seattle.
- Have my bike shipped to San Diego, and shipped back from Seattle. (I'm not sure I want to trailer my bike from Illinois to CA, etc).
- Rent a big SUV and trailer that I can pick up in San Diego, and drop off in Seattle. This would serve as a chase vehicle (keep everyone's luggage, etc, and room on the trailer for a couple of bikes in case someone has trouble or just doesn't want to ride that day).
- Stay in pre-booked hotel rooms up the coast.

Right now I'm looking for two things...

1. Ideas...does my current plan sound crazy or unfeasible? Has any ever taken a trip like this before and can offer some advice (especially in the area of shipping bikes and renting the chase vehicle)??

2. People who'd like to join me. Ideally, there would be about 10 of us or so. That way, everyone would only have to take one turn driving the chase vehicle. I have up to three others who are interested at this point. It doesn't really matter where you're from...since we'd all just meet in San Diego anyway. If you are interested, PM me, or email me (ms_bealer@yahoo.com) and we can talk in more detail about my plans.

Thanks,
Mike B

 

sounds like an AWESOME trip. wish i could join you but it's next to impossible for me to get that many days off work.

 

I forgot to mention that I have a 6-page Word Doc written up as a planning document...Anyone who is interested, I would be hapy to email it to you...

 

I understand what you mean about getting that kind of time off work - that's one of the reasons for it being two years from now...Hopefully there will be some people that can get off work if they have two years to plan for it...

 

Unless you arer planning to push the bikes down the highway I don't think it'l take two weeks. I am driving from wv to ca, 5500 miles, so I'll letcha know how well it goes

taking highway 1 from where it begins in the north to carmel valley (monteray bay) where I am moving to.

In a week, leaving

 

I'm from Omaha, Ne and I recently just got back from southern Cali, you won't regret this the trip your planning. It absolutely gorgeous riding out there and the weather you can't really ask for anything better. Good luck on your trip.

 

I rode my F3 from Salem, OR to Washington, DC. I took the southern route through California and on over to Phoenix (one ride = 24 hrs). The second leg was from Phoenix to San Antonio. From San Antonio, I went to Columbia, SC and the last leg was to DC. I did the total trip in four days and was a little tender afterwards. The trip was for the most part uneventful with the exception of one break down in BFE. Luckily there was a bike race down the road and I was able to get back on the road in a few hours. My point is that two weeks should be plenty of time with some stops to enjoy the trip. How about challenging yourself and ride back? My road trip was worth every red bull and snickers bar. Best of luck to you!!

 

what's the update on this trip?...
doit the ol skool way and camp...

 

forget the trip from san diego up the coast to LA...if i were you i'd start in Santa Barabara.
PCH breaks up and turns into I5 from SD to OC...and it's no fun...
PCH then starts in OC again and turns into 101 in LA...and from LA to SB, no fun...
it starts getting better after that, as far as scenery, etc...

 

I can give you some road tips from Coalinga to San Francisco...all twisties and goat trails...