PCH question

[calscrazy]

august next year i am coming to cali for a few days. i plan to ride a portion of the pch since i only have one day to ride. i will be staying in santa cruz. am i better going north torwards SF or south torwards LA.

[Speeddog]

Better off going north, IMO.

Truth be told, there's lots of roads in that area way better than PCH for riding.

[calscrazy]

what about a route like 9 north out of santa cruz to 236. run it through the big basin state park and connect back up with 9 north. take 9 north to 35 north. are those roads better? they are paved i hope.

[Speeddog]

what about a route like 9 north out of santa cruz to 236. run it through the big basin state park and connect back up with 9 north. take 9 north to 35 north. are those roads better? they are paved i hope.

Yeah, you're warming up now. 

My recommendation is to post up over in the MOB forum (San Francisco locals).
They'll know a good route for sure.

[ScottRNelson]

Better off going north, IMO.

Go south as far as Cambria, then turn around and come back.  It is rather flat and boring south of Cambria.  Highway 1 between Monterey and Cambria is one of the most beautiful roads anywhere.  If you just want to ride and don't care about the scenery, then ride in the Santa Cruz Mountains, but if you want a good road with spectacular views, take Highway 1 south.  The earlier in the morning you can get started, the better the traffic will be (and the less time you'll spend looking at scenery, because the road is great to ride too).

I have better photos, just not in my PhotoBucket account:



Edit:

Didn't realize this sub-forum was so s-l-o-w.  Sorry for digging up a thread from the past.