Oxnard Amtrak to Carpinteria SB

Carpinteria State Beach is one of our favorite campgrounds due to the proximity of food and drink. The distance is moderate, and the hills are gentle.

BICYCLE ROUTE MAPS Link: coming soon...if I remember.

ROUTE: We will begin our tour at 10:00 A.M. (depart by 10:30) in the parking lot of the Amtrak station in Oxnard near 201 E 4th St, Oxnard, CA 93030. Riding north through town, on somewhat scenic country roads, and two great bike paths. Our destination is Carpinteria State Beach, where we will camp for the night. On Sunday, we return to Oxnard back the way we came. The distance each way is about 29 miles, mostly easy except for a few small hills.

FOOD: We will stop for lunch in Ventura about halfway to El Capitan. We will be joining Nick for a dinner feast at the restaurant of his choosing. Breakfast is anyone's guess.

CAMPGROUND: The hiker-biker camp fee is $10.00 per night. The campground has flush toilets and hot showers (you'll need a few quarters for the shower). We can purchase firewood from the camp host. The campground is flat with plenty of room for tents.

DIFFICULTY: I rate this trip as beginning/intermediate due to distance and a few small hills. If you consider yourself a beginner who is up for a challenge and in good shape, you are welcome to come. You should know that I use the word "beginner" with qualifications. I do not mean a beginning bicycle rider; I mean a beginning long-distance loaded bicycle tourist: i.e., you can already ride 30+ miles at 10-12 mph on a bike loaded down with 30-40 lbs of clothes, food, and camping gear. You also know how to fix a flat.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING? You will need to pack as you would for a backpacking trip (but no backpack) and a multi-gear bike in good repair with very low gears. If your bike has a triple crankset, a compact crankset, or very large cogs, it probably has very low gears. If you have a mountain bike with knobby off-road tires, I suggest you install narrow road tires – you will find your ride much less difficult. If you have a bike purchased in a department store (rather than a bike shop), you may have a very heavy bike, with poor bearings and unreliable hardware. If this is the case, I advise against using that bike. If all you have is a department store bike, but you are nevertheless a strong rider (an unusual combination) and still want to go, I can probably loan you an appropriate bicycle. You should also have a spare tube, pump, tire levers, etc. You will need panniers or a trailer to carry your stuff. If you need help with equipment or you would like to borrow a set of panniers, a trailer, or even a bicycle set up for touring, you can email me or call me at 310-266-8592.

WHY: The ride, the camping, the shared beverages, and the jokes. And… I hope to introduce more people to the joys of bicycle touring and camping.