Santa Barbara Metric Century Course Description
(miles from start in parentheses)
From the start/finish at the Leadbetter Beach (west end of the parking lot), follow the chalk through the parking lot and get on the bike path. This path passes the yacht harbor and West Beach to the pier and then continues to the first stop light(2). Here you leave the bike path and follow the road to another short section of bike path to Butterfly Beach and the Biltmore Hotel. More level riding will take you to the Ortega Hill bike path (6) and then the community of Summerland (7). The mainly level route winds along Padaro Lane before entering Carpinteria (12). At Santa Ynez Ave the route turns left (100 mile riders go right) and continues through Carpinteria residential areas before turning toward the aid station at Carpinteria High School (15) where you will need to get your first bib punch.
The route is now in the lower foothills of Carpinteria and heading west to Montecito and Santa Barbara. For a while it rolls easily, but shortly after passing the polo field the climb begins in earnest. Short but steep Toro Canyon (19) is quickly followed by Ladera Lane (20). This is a continuous grade of 12% for a mile, but it does lead to a wonderful view looking back over Santa Barbara. From that high point the road mainly descends to San Ysidro Ranch (24) which you enter crossing a bridge (use care as there are two very short gravel sections here before the cobblestones). More foothills take you to the climb up Cold Springs Canyon. Then – one of my favorite sections of the course – Mountain Drive (rolling easily) leads to the second aid station (30) (there will be a bicycle maintenance facility here).
In 1 mile from the aid station the route splits with the Metric Century riders heading downhill (the Century riders head uphill into the mountains) with the significant climbs now over. Several downhill miles take one to Foothill Blvd that passes through the north side of Santa Barbara. There are a series of small hills (you’re about half-way done with them when you cross under Hwy 154) and the name of the road changes to Cathedral Oaks (35). In two miles you pass San Marcos Road (37) where the Century riders will rejoin your route for the balance of the ride. Miles of level riding on wide bike lanes follow taking you to the western edge of Goleta Valley. When you cross Hwy 101 on an overpass you are at Sandpiper Golf Course, the final aid station (44). Make sure your bib gets its second punch here and feel free to sit down and relax at the lovely lunch stop provided by Sandpiper on their course at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Leaving Sandpiper, the next five miles are a straight shot on busy (but good bike lane) Hollister Ave. You turn right when you reach “Old Town” Goleta (49) and continue past the Santa Barbara airport to a bike path at Goleta Beach (50). This bike path is a pleasant ride alongside Atascadero Creek with several bridge crossings. After winding through a quiet residential area and a short climb you turn right and enter exclusive Hope Ranch (56). While the view of the golf course and the lovely lake (Laguna Blanca) might entice you to stop, don’t do it: you’re nearly home. After winding through Hope Ranch (would you like to live here?) you pass an overlook of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands (worthy of a stop if you have a camera). A rapid descent to our next-to-last beach is followed by a 150’ climb (this really is your last climb!) and then a gradual descent that takes you back to the start at Leadbetter Beach. Relax, enjoy some refreshment, and take home your well-earned finisher’s prize.