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If you don't already, you should know that the PCH is full of people in hire cars, and RVs, who are bad drivers, in a foreign country. The tourists in Mustangs are one thing but the RVs are something else, they're often driven by tourists who normally drive a standard car and have little idea how to drive a large vehicle, or of the clearances involved.
I have a colleague (confident cyclist, generally awesome person) who cycled all over the world and she said she was nearly taken out by several RVs on that road and wouldn't do it again.
Having driven down it, it's not some quiet open road idyll, it can actually get quite busy.
I thought about doing it, decided not to, then after driving it and talking to said colleague was glad I didn't.
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Thanks for the info Fox.
That surprises and disappoints me. I've read lots of accounts of people who've done it from crazyguyonabike and they've all really enjoyed themselves. Do you know what time of year your colleague went? I'll be going in April so I am hoping it won't be too full of summer holidayers? I've street viewed quite a lot of it and seen not a car in sight (I realise this isn't science of any kind...)
Sheesh... talk about putting a dampener on my plans ;-)
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Yeah sorry, I don't mean to piss on your bonfire! I just wouldn't want you to not consider these things.
I don't know, but if you go in April that would probably be a lot better. We were there in September, which is when the weather is most reliable so it could have been the busiest time of year, I don't actually know when it is busiest.
I was surprised by the reality compared to Streetview if I'm honest, but then it was a probably busy time of year.
I'm no expert, just a few RVs came pretty damn close to taking my wing mirror off, which tied in with what she said.
But forewarned is forearmed right. Maybe get one of these? ;)
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PCH is also full of tourist leather clad, (motor) biker-wannabes, cruising on their hire harleys, looking smug with their wives on the back.
Look out for the seals. Highlight.
Go to http://www.coachella.com/ (if you're into that type of thing) sold out but people sell tix out at the ticket booth.
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I've read more accounts whilst on the late shift, streetviewed extensively and I've bitten the bullet. Hopefully it'll be fine...
Forget streetview as it can't give you a feeling of the PCH from the perspective of a cyclist. Leaving the European tourists in rented mobile homes out of the equation there is still a lot of traffic along the PCH until one gets beyond Santa Barbara--- the normal route to SF is via Interstate 5. Personally I think the worst part is probably between Santa Monica and Malibu. We used to use helmet mirrors. Unless you are used to riding 200+ miles a day--- its generally a two day trip LA-SF by bike (with a few hours sleep in a field, resp. roadside)-- and have gathered experience riding highways I think going the other direction is probably nicer: LA to SD. One can also these days take the train back. LA to SD passes through a lot of quite scenic towns and coastlines. With a distance of around 200 km it can be done in a day but planning 2 days allows for some relaxed stops. The run LA-SF comes from BEFORE the 70s bike boom. It was a kind of "rite of passage". In High School it was the thing to do "once"-- its interesting to note that when I lived in SF back in the early 80s, nobody seemed to care about going SF-LA (most cycling friends thought it was mad). Cheap one-way flights between SF and LA made the trip affordable. Taking two days to ride Highway-1 by motorcar might be nice and tiring with scenic stops (Big Sur etc.) but by bike it just pushing through as one has nearly 500 miles to collect in two, max. 3, days and there is no turning back and no chance to relax until after the flight home...
P.S.: I don't think April/Easter/Spring break is the best time of year. Not only is there more traffic but it can get pretty cold along the way--- nothing like riding in the dark, cold and tired along roads that seem to go on and on and on. Thinking back... mid to late June was popular--- at the start of summer vacation (although one friend, I recall, did not want to wait and did it alone on a school weekend heading out from Hollywood after school and flying back Sunday). -
^^I'd love to but cannot afford.
^well, I've booked my flights to SF now so I will just have to see how it is. I can take as long as I want. I'm not racing down the coast so most certainly won't be aiming for three days. More like 7/8 days. The freedom of that time means I don't have to ride in the dark and I can just stop at one of the many campsites along the way once I get tired/bored/cold.
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I drove down PCH from SF towards LA a couple of years ago. And yeah it was in a Mustang convertible but what the hell. Was early May and road was not that busy at all. Great journey, would have loved to have ridden down.
+1 on the seals
Just one note of warning, we passed a bunch of road works on the way down and at one point the road was closed and we had to make a detour up into the hills and back down. It was actually one of the highlights of the trip as the scenery was amazing. It would have been a big climb on a bike, but if you have the time and the legs then no bother. Check out the Caltrans website before you set off.
Well jelly...
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Yep, I'm sure it will be amazing. When I drove down I really enjoyed driving the twisty bit. My passengers in the back less so, they were a bit green by the end :)
It is a beautiful and spectacular road.
vunugu there is nothing wrong with a Mustang. Especially a Shelby GT.
I was driving a Kia (sad face) but am personally more of a Challenger man.
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Currently staying in LA in Silverlake (leaving tomorrow). It has been awesome, so many people hate on LA but if you avoid the stupid tourist traps then it's an awesome place to hang out. Streets are busy but cars are pretty slow and roads massively wide. Generally seems much more chilled than riding in London (although I didn't bring my bike). Popped by Golden Saddle Cyclery this afternoon - worth a visit - Kyle is really sound and has an awesome dog.
Drove from SF to LA 2 years ago down PCH. This was in March and it was mostly not too busy although a little cold until LA. Spotted a few cyclists, mostly panniered up. You should be fine so long as you are sensible. Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and Morro Bay all seemed pretty nice (stayed in Morro Bay) from what I can remember. There were a couple of other towns along the route that didn't see as appealing, so worth researching where you plan to stay.
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Possibly a bit out of the way but I have rented a couple of times from Sprockets Cycles in Redondo beach. They have a couple of different BMCs, it's expensive but you don't need a crazy deposit like you do at Helen's. They are also flexible on kitting them out, gearing was 53/39 with max 25t on the back which I asked them to change - they put a compact on for me. They have Red 10 speed kit.
Plus you'd get a nice ride home along the bay after you pick it up.
Did this route while I was out there. From Echo Park you can easily get into the Santa Monicas or even up Mt Baldy - would have loved to have tried that but too far from the South Bay for me
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Cheers for this, will look into it.
I was actually going to stay in Redondo Beach but decided to do beach separately and having a few days in Carpinteria.
Which doesn't seem to have bike hire... but sure I can rent from Santa Barbara down the road from there.
Have done the beach path and stayed in Venice and Santa Monica on previous trips so trying to go more inland, e.g Griffiths Park, Pasadena.
Might still do beach path on beach cruiser with partner though, as it is pretty good. I do need to bear in mind that it's not a cycling holiday though!
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@chez_jay - sounds like a nice trip. You could contact The Cub House in West Pasadena and see if they can help.
https://www.instagram.com/itsnotabikeshop/
http://cubhouse.cc/
https://teamdreambicyclingteam.com/pages/the-cub-houseReally is my favourite bike shop ever. Also hit up Golden Saddle Cyclery. They're in Silver Lake - also very nice guys and may have a demo bike you can borrow.
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Moving to Los Angeles - Anyone ridden much there?
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I've had a change of plan now. Instead of staying in LA for two weeks, I'm going to ride the Pacific Coast Highway from SF to LA and then stay at my sisters when I'm finished :-)