Saturday, April 13th Rides
MAIN: “Hog Canyon and More” (48.5 miles, 2400 vertical feet) Saturday, April 13th, Main Ride
SHORTER OPTION: “East and North and Just a Bit of Hog” (33 miles; 1100 vertical feet) Saturday, April 13th, Short Ride
Let the rides begin! But first, let’s gather in the parking lot for some introductions and a modest amount of instructions. Our plan is to launch today’s ride from the Adelaide Inn parking lot at 9:05 a.m. sharp! Please try to be timely, so that the rest of the peloton is not left waiting around for you!
Our first ride, which we’ve called “Hog Canyon and More,” is the lead off ride for this year’s Gran Fundo. The route cycles mostly quiet vineyards and farmland to the east and north of Paso Robles, mildly ascending the beautiful Hog Canyon Road and returning to Paso through the old town of San Miguel. The hillsides should all be magnificently green, with wild flowers likely.
To avoid busy intersections crossing 101, we will head south from the hotel down Riverside Drive into the heart of Paso Robles, turn left on 13th Street and cross over Highway 101, turn left again on North River Road and follow it until it crosses under Highway 46. We then take the first right turn at River Oaks and use that to connect to Buena Vista and the rest of the ride.
We suggest that we ride together as a group for the first 6-8 miles or so, because there are several turns to be made and we don’t want to lose anyone. You should also note that when the route reaches the Paso Robles Airport, it will turn right and proceed around the south end of the Airport, rather than make a left hand turn there as in past years. The route is essentially flat until we reach Hog Canyon, which rises gently from the valley floor to its intersection with Ranchita Avenue in Monterey County, where we will meet the SAG wagon for the only SAG stop of the day. From there we will enjoy about 10 miles of gradual downhill riding, plus some rollers, into the town of San Miguel, which sits just off Highway 101 north of Paso Robles.
Many enjoy stopping for a cold drink at the Elkhorn Bar, reputed to be the oldest continuously operating saloon in California. There is the option to zip back to the Adelaide Inn down River Road rather than ride the mapped route, described below. River Road crosses San Jacinto Creek, but not on a bridge. If water from the winter rains is still running, it may be impossible to safely pass through it. If that is not available, the full route will be the only way back. We will check the water level prior to the ride and advise the group.
Here is a key turn to make on the way back to Paso when doing the full route: When riding south on the Main Street of San Miguel, you need to turn right on 10th Street, follow that under Highway 101 and then ride south on a frontage road until entering the wide shoulder of 101 for a short stretch. We exit onto San Marcos Road, which we will follow west until it becomes Godfrey Road and then Chimney Rock Road, another of the stunningly beautiful back roads of Paso Robles. We ride Chimney Rock Road until it intersects Adelaide Road, which will take us back to the Inn.
For riders who prefer a shorter ride of just 33 miles, we have drawn up a route we call “East and West and West and Just a Bit of Hog.” It covers much of the same terrain as the main route, but does not climb all the way up Hog Canyon Road or come back via Godfrey and Chimney Rock. Note that the Option route will not have a SAG supported stop.