2020 #RIDETOSEAOTTER
Mill Valley, CA to Monterey, CA
April 14-15, 2020
Welcome to the second annual #ridetoseaotter event. Studio Velo and Moots have partnered to bring you two incredible days of mixed terrain riding in Northern California. We will cover over 200 miles and climb 20,000 feet over these two days. You will ride some of our favorite trails, ascend many challenging climbs, descend flowy trails beneath the redwoods, take in incredible Pacific Ocean views and even ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. There is no better way to get to Sea Otter.
Our accommodations will be equally spectacular and unique. We will be staying in a house, originally built in 1912 by the family who owned the local logging company, on a prime plot of land and the very back of a canyon. Right at the base of the ridge separating the property from Butano State Park, the property is covered in 1,400 year old Redwoods, and has been restored in the last 9 years by its new owner. It’s an amazing slice of Northern California history.
Our meals will be prepared by our favorite chef Chris Dressick, featuring local, seasonal ingredients and portions designed to keep you fueled for this ride. We will also have award winning beer on tap, ready for immediate post ride consumption. We will dine in an outdoor setting unlike anything you have experienced before.
RIDE A MOOTS! For this special trip we have partnered with one of the industry leaders in the gravel market, Moots. We are excited to present you with an opportunity to ride a dream bike as you ride from San Francisco to Monterey, CA.
BRAND PARTNER
Luggage/Gear: Our Sprinter van will provide support throughout the ride and will also transport all gear.
Transportation: All ground transport included and on the road vehicle SAG support.
Airport: SFO International
Guides: Our SV ride leader will be on the front each day assisting you throughout each day of this remarkable journey.
Accommodations: We will be staying in a house, originally built in 1912 by the family who owned the local logging company, on a prime plot of land and the very back of a canyon near Butano State Park.
Road Food & Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners are included, as are ride nutrition, and hydration.
Trip Guide: Chris Reed
Double Occupancy: $650
Includes accommodations, on-road vehicle and guide support, ride nutrition, recovery and meals.
DAY 1: SV to PESCADERO
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/17809115
Distance: 92.4 miles
Elevation: 9700 feet
7:00am | Arrive at SV for bike setup, bag drop and light breakfast
8:00am | Departure
4:00pm | Tentative arrival
Arrive at SV Tuesday April 9th by 7:00am. We will set bikes up for you and load bags into the SAG vans. Having a small day bag with kit you may want to have access to during the ride is advisable. We do not have long-term parking in the immediate vicinity, however you can leave your car just a couple of blocks away if needed.
We will be providing coffee and light snacks at the start of the ride, so you may want to eat a more substantial meal before arriving.
The ride will start by taking us part way up Mt Tam, before we make our way to the Golden Gate Bridge, via the Headlands. We will head south through San Francisco towards Pacifica, before heading over Planet of the Apes. Then we continue south on Rt 1 to Half Moon Bay, where we will grab lunch. Following lunch, we head inland up an incredible single track climb through the Redwoods, taking us to a sweeping descent back towards Rt 1. From there we will take the back roads into Pescadero, all the way to the back of the canyon, where we will spend the night.
We will have cold beer, snacks and showers ready when you arrive. Ride time should be about 8 hours, so we’ll have a few hours to relax before we feast for dinner.
DAY 2: PESCADERO to SEA OTTER
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/17809119
Distance: 112 miles
Elevation: 10,200 feet
7:00am: Breakfast is served. Pack bags and vans.
8:00am: Departure
We will have a couple mile warm up for our tired legs before we start the long dirt climb up through Butano State Park. Once we reach Skyline we will head south for a few miles before jumping on an incredible winding single track descent. This then provides us with the opportunity to climb back up to Skyline from the East side, before continuing south. Skyline will turn to Summit Road, and we will take this to our lunch stop at the Summit Store.
Following lunch, we continue on Summit Road and then Highland Way toward Buzzard Lagoon and then get back on some dirt. We will climb up through Nisene Marks before getting on an amazing descent beneath the Redwoods as we drop into the small town of Aptos.
From here, the majority of the climbing will be behind us, and we can spin out the legs for the remaining 40 miles as we work our way (mostly on road) to our final destination, which is a house that Moots is renting for the week. Here we will be able to enjoy a beer, shower and get ready for the trip back to Mill Valley.
Following the completion of the ride, once everyone has had a chance to shower and clean up, we will shuttle riders back to Mill Valley (approximate 3 hour drive).
WHAT TO BRING:
The most important thing to bring is a good attitude. Everyone on this ride has been invited because they have demonstrated the ability to ride a bike well and to be a good person. The purpose of this ride is to have an incredible experience with great people, taking the best possible route down to Sea Otter while enjoying the ride, the scenery and the company.
Riders will need to bring their own pedals, cycling gear (helmets are mandatory) and après apparel as well. Spring weather conditions in this area can be a bit unpredictable, so it’s best to be prepared for both sun and rain, as well as warm and cold spells. We will have SAG vans meeting up with us throughout the day, so using a daypack for easy access to your gear will be helpful.
We also recommend bringing a cycling computer and uploading the routes (linked in the welcome packet) if you have mapping abilities on your device. Our plan will be to stay together throughout the ride, but this is just a good precaution.
Just as the conditions during the ride can vary, so can the conditions where we are staying. Best to have warm clothes for the evening just in case. A towel and flip-flops for the showers are recommended as well.
OTHER DETAILS:
Many of you will be riding beautiful handmade bikes built by Moots. Take some time to truly enjoy them.
We would love to get some great images from this ride, so we may ask you to join in on some pictures throughout the ride. And we would love to see, and for you to share your images from the ride, if you are open to sharing them with us.
Following the completion of the ride on Wednesday, once everyone has had a chance to shower and clean up, we will shuttle riders back to Mill Valley (approximate 3 hour drive).