WHEN SPRING ROLLS INTO VIEW, and word of the AMGEN Tour of California schedule starts to fill a number of cycling-focused blogs and sites, a bike buff can start dreaming of covering some of the same regions. One of the main areas often seen on the news, with the famous cycling event, is the Central Coast. The pack of world-famous athletes will spin, at great velocity, but the iconic dells and hills and bluffs of the area behind the speedy riders are immediately identifiable by those who adore the middle part of the West Coast's biggest state. While the 2016 race'll visit the Monterey Bay area and Morro Bay, you can, at any time, take a few rides of your own with the help of Cycle Central Coast. These outings take in some of the most scenic parts of some California's most scenic stretches, and inland routes are included. "Where's the fun in keeping these routes all to ourselves?" asks the site. In the spirit of shared adventure, look for a few suggested rides near Cambria, as well as Eroica California 2016 routes. Maps, tips, and such all are given to lend interested riders the informational tools they'll need.
IF YOU WANT TO GET SOME HIKING IN... while pedaling through the area and along the Highway 1 Discovery Route, turn your handlebars toward the California Highway 1 Discovery Route, which lists the towns along the famous road as well as a number of "play" options. Some would correctly claim that the Central Coast is always in its prime moment, regardless of what the calendar says on the wall. But springtime's softness, those fog-pretty mornings and the flowers making a hillside showing, truly lend March into June extra oomph where the region is concerned. To soak all of that in from your cycle, or to catch it while on a stroll at Avila Beach or Cayucos or San Simeon, can be the real-world equivalent of entering a beautiful postcard. Spring kind of belongs to the Central Coast, in many ways, and if you ride, or hike, there's no reason not to seize the seasonal moment with recommended routes and trails.
