San Luis Obispo backroads

[sunrisesvrider]

I've heard there are some good roads to ride around the San Luis Obispo area and am considering going up there for a couple days. If anyone is familiar with the area, I'd like to Know if it's worth the trip.

http://www.socalsvriders.com/maps/slob.gif
Microsoft Streets and Trips 2003 map file (http://www.socalsvriders.com/maps/slob.est)

[sandie]

during the week, hwy 46 and the little roads that shoot off of there would be awesome for riding...i say during the week because on the weekends, unless you get out fairly early, you're bound to run into quite a few cagers doing the wine tasing thing

this is actually a bit north of San Luis, but not too far

there is also hwy 1 from there on up to the bay area...that's some nice cruising

anyway, here's a link to a wine tasting map...but it shows 46 (and 41 which isn't as curvy, but would probably still be fun), along with the other roads in the area

http://www.pasowine.com/index.php?page=wineries/map

have fun! i envy you!

[ward]

there are some good roads, I think it's 58, just north of SLO but south of atascadero, goes out past santa margarita and is twisty and gorgeous, it's so narrow in places that there's no yellow line at all. that road goes all the way out the road to bakersfield.
and like sandie says the wine country, 46 from the 1 to the 101.

also, see canyon road off the avilla beach exit just south of SLO is pretty fun,

http://www.socalsvriders.com/maps/slob2.gif

most of the curvies off that map you posted are not actually there, those are dirt roads or trails. there's no good motorcycling near cuesta grade as far as I know and I lived there for 5 years

[sunrisesvrider]

Sandie & Ward - Thanks for the information. I'm going to try to get Kurt and Kris to take a few days off and go up there with our bikes. A little father, sons bonding. Ride the back roads all day and drink wine all night.

[gregbenner]

If you go to Atascadeo, and then east towards Creston there are some really nice roads( I got some great advice from the local harley dealer in Atascadero). There is a small lake just a few miles south (I believe) of Creston which you can sort of loop around (might be santa mararita?). If you get a more detail map you should see it.

Also, depending on where you are leaving from, if you exit the 5 freeway 60 miles north of LA at Frazier Park, go west about 10 miles, then right over the mountain to Los Pinos, to the 166 , left (west). Stop at New Cayama for lunch and on to the 101, just north of Santa Maria (south of Nipomo). To me, much nicer than the 58,, super elevation changes through Los Pinos, blablabla.

This is a favorite day trip for Connie and I to have lunch at Shell beach (about 10 miles before SLO).

Have fun, greg

[sandie]

Originally posted by sunrisesvrider
Sandie & Ward - Thanks for the information. I'm going to try to get Kurt and Kris to take a few days off and go up there with our bikes. A little father, sons bonding. Ride the back roads all day and drink wine all night.


i gotta get my dad back in the saddle...we need some father/daughter bonding like that

[bling_thing]

Kurt & all,

When you going?

I have a best buddy up there with an old Yamaha 1000 that wants to play, and wants me to come up.

[swll360]

Originally posted by sunrisesvrider
I've heard there are some good roads to ride around the San Luis Obispo area and am considering going up there for a couple days. If anyone is familiar with the area, I'd like to Know if it's worth the trip.

http://www.socalsvriders.com/maps/slob.gif
Microsoft Streets and Trips 2003 map file (http://www.socalsvriders.com/maps/slob.est)

For anyone who doesn't know....

Hit this route this past weekend. All i can say is, it is really worth it. Especially if you're gonna be up here at Button Willow for the weekend. 58 has everything. Really tight canyon roads, the kind that you have to hit in first gear, Long Sweeper, i'm talk'n 115mph sweeper, rolling hills that if you're moving fast enough YOU WILL CATCH AIR. 229 is a single lane road. Freshly paved and perfect. Just got to watch those blind turns for cars. Old 41 has some sick-Sick-SICK S-Turns. 46 to or from the coast, Huge Sweepers. I could go on and on but i think you'll get the point. If any of you head up here, Hit me up a with PM and let me know when and i'll set up a ride with a bunch of us here in the valley. Definitely Worth it.

See you on the Twisties....

[Swell]

These are some of the crazy routes that my buddies took me on for my first out of town ride!!! 58 is definately a more advanced road. I did fine but it was like plenty of blind switch backs with cliffs on one side or the other. One of the neatest roads I belive was called oak park off of hwy 1. I was conned into going for a lunch trip from bakersfield to morro (120 miles) each way and we ended up racking up 400. A slower pace and I would have paid more attention to the road names.

[rohara]

You all might have already seen this but I like this website

http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm

It has a section called Central Pacific Coastline
that has some nice rides, like going from Paso Robles to G14 to Naciemento-Ferguson Road to Highway 1 by Big Sur. It makes a nice loop from SLO and back (going either way).

[U235Power]

Originally posted by ward
there are some good roads, I think it's 58, just north of SLO but south of atascadero, goes out past santa margarita and is twisty and gorgeous, it's so narrow in places that there's no yellow line at all. that road goes all the way out the road to bakersfield.
and like sandie says the wine country, 46 from the 1 to the 101.

also, see canyon road off the avilla beach exit just south of SLO is pretty fun,

http://www.socalsvriders.org/maps/slob2.gif

most of the curvies off that map you posted are not actually there, those are dirt roads or trails. there's no good motorcycling near cuesta grade as far as I know and I lived there for 5 years

You have to be an employee at Diablo Canyon to get on Diablo Canyon Rd highlighted on your map, otherwise you won't make it past the security guards... I will vouch for the fact that it is a pretty nice road and very scenic too.

[Tillers_Rule]

Looks like some good roads. Hopefully I can hit up soon one of these days.

[orangetrak]

..is Jalama State beach/park. It's not a long road, and I've yet to ride it but I hear it's great with great sunsets. Someone told me the burgers are to die for.

Jalama State Beach (http://www.jalamabeach.com/aboutthepark.html)

Cheers, Doug

[ward]

Originally posted by U235Power
You have to be an employee at Diablo Canyon to get on Diablo Canyon Rd highlighted on your map, otherwise you won't make it past the security guards... I will vouch for the fact that it is a pretty nice road and very scenic too.

yeah, that's not the right road highlighted, I was talking about See Canyon road, which is on the way out there.

[Tillers_Rule]

Cool, thanks for the heads up ward.

[GsxrGregor]

Originally posted by orangetrak
..is Jalama State beach/park. It's not a long road, and I've yet to ride it but I hear it's great with great sunsets. Someone told me the burgers are to die for.

Jalama State Beach (http://www.jalamabeach.com/aboutthepark.html)

Cheers, Doug

Jalama's a great road, just watch out for this one turn as you're getting close to the beach. It's really bumpy and tightens up real fast. I went wide into the dirt on it once, another friend of mine was surprised by it on two occasions. The other thing that can be a bitch at times is the wind... 25-30mph at times. Otherwise, there is little traffic and lots of nice twisties :)

[U235Power]

How far can you go out See Canyon before it turns to dirt???

[cracked lid]

Took this on the last leg of my trip heading east from the 101 just north of San Luis Obispo. Plenty of curves in the beginning and end sections as you climb the hills. Lots of fast sweepers as well as some really tight ones. A little dirt and small rocks in a few spots so be careful. The middle section is pretty straight, but has a lot of little up and downs, like a roller coaster. It's fun to ride this part really fast. Best of all, almost no traffic at all. All told it's about a 90 mile stretch before connectin with the 33 and I passed 2 cars, saw maybe 10 coming the other way nt counting the group of 6 guys on sportbikes.

http://www.socalsvriders.org/maps/slob58.gif

[cyclox]

there are some photos of Hwy 58 in my album. I really liked that road. Very little traffic mid-week.

[Rocko]

you HAVE to do the 229.

have shelly show ya where it is.

[U235Power]

I did that ride on Monday (8/23)... There is absolutely no civilization out there... It was pretty cool at the beginning and the end as you approach Rt. 33, but other then the rollers along the straight section, the middle 40-50 miles was dreadful....

229 is awesome, pretty tight, but nice... I would recommend checking it out. I ride that on my bicycle sometimes too.

41 between Creston and Shandon is my favorite stretch of road in this area I think... There is plenty to choose from, so it's hard to pick an absolute favorite.

[cracked lid]

Originally posted by U235Power
I did that ride on Monday (8/23)... There is absolutely no civilization out there... It was pretty cool at the beginning and the end as you approach Rt. 33, but other then the rollers along the straight section, the middle 40-50 miles was dreadful....


You just didn't go fast enough. That part goes by really quick at high enough speeds.

[pinhead875]

58 is fun. I ran over... I mean a squirrel ran in my path on that road. I will try to never go on 229 again unless it is blocked off. It is an unmarked road with blind curves and hills. Almost hit a 'Busa coming the other way once cause he was... well not on his side of the road...
Oh yeah if you plan on going 58, I suggest some armor that will let the wind go through... It gets damn hot out there.

[randex]

Originally posted by U235Power
You have to be an employee at Diablo Canyon to get on Diablo Canyon Rd highlighted on your map, otherwise you won't make it past the security guards... I will vouch for the fact that it is a pretty nice road and very scenic too.

That's a road I really miss. Do they still pay you $3.50 to drive it?

[U235Power]

Originally posted by randex
That's a road I really miss. Do they still pay you $3.50 to drive it?

No, it's the access road to the power plant.... I don't think they'd be able to pull off making us pay to drive to work...

[ward]

that's actually a really strange road, since it was designed to be able to truck the reactor core up it, so the entire road has no crown or banking on the turns to make the ride smoother for a long trailer

[randex]

Originally posted by U235Power
No, it's the access road to the power plant.... I don't think they'd be able to pull off making us pay to drive to work...
Understand. When I worked there it was written into the IBEW contract that we'd get paid $3.50 per day for the 8 mile drive. Aaaahhh.... the good old days...

[U235Power]

Originally posted by randex
Understand. When I worked there it was written into the IBEW contract that we'd get paid $3.50 per day for the 8 mile drive. Aaaahhh.... the good old days...

Ahhh, I miss read that the first time... You got paid to ride the road... Nice... I'm an engineer, not in the union, so I don't know if they still get paid or not... I do know they have a sweet deal that if they are working over-time they get paid from the time they leave their house, not when they get here...

The curves definitely do lack banking, but it's still a fun road, especially when I come to work or leave on off hours and avoid all traffic...

[ward]

I believe the 3.50 was to compensate for all the crazy tire wear that came from driving on the oddly banked (non banked road)

[randex]

I wish I had a bike at the time. Unfortunately, I had to drive my truck. Oh well, still enjoyed it (and miss it)......

[deaner14er]

As was said earlier, 58 will work you. Blind alot of the time and not consistant road quality in some inconvenient places. Careful. We medevac people off of this road and 41 E between the 5 and the 101 every now and then.

G14 is fun too

So is Old Creek when it is dry.

[CC_05_SV]

I actually live in Atascadero, and there is thousands of miles of good road. If anyone lives near me I'm looking for some people to ride with cuz I mainly ride alone. Anything towards creston is good also some good roads in Cambria and north of paso Robles. Also cops leave you alone on the backroads unless you do something really stupid. Stay away from 229.