GETTING THERE & BACK : Options to consider
The tour will start near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, and end at the Santa Barbara Airport in Goleta, just north of Santa Barbara.
There are numerous transportation options to these two major destinations.

SHUTTLE VAN to San Francisco and home to Orange County:
With the addition of a 2 passenger vans for tour support, and a 3rd one way van to San Francisco, we are able to offer shuttle service from Orange County to San Francisco, and from Santa Barbara back to Orange County. This is the type of van used by airport shuttle services so your luggage must be limited to carry on, and the bulk put on the truck with your bike. The cost will be $60 to San Francisco and $40 to return to Orange County.
Space is limited so if this is interesting let us know right away to reserve your seat. Combine this option with our bicycle transport option (see below) to make your trip as convenient as possible. We took the first wave of "hitchers" who sent in their payment of $60 North or $100 round trip... and rented a 3rd van We may hav eroom for a few more if interested. We have 2 vans home from SB & have acouple seats left, $ Reserves Seats but check & see if already full! Email us to get a seat...

ONE WAY CARS (cheap & quick):
During the recent scouting trip, we visited several of the car rental facilities at Santa Barbara Airport (Fairview Ave off ramp on 101) and found some interesting options.

Avis, Hertz and Budget all have one way cars from Santa Barbara Airport to San Francisco at attractive rates ($56 to $70 per day just walking in off the street) and cars may be returned at a number of locations in downtown San Francisco. You do not need to return to an airport location! San Francisco is compact so the car could be returned at a location convenient to your lodging the night before the tour.

All of them said to check their websites for the absolute best deals and of course if you have frequent flyer miles or other program points this could be an ideal use of those.

PARKING you car is always a concern and the Santa Barbara Airport has long term parking for $45 per week plus $9 per additional day (rates as of 11/08). The lot is within an easy walk of the car rentals.

If you and a friend (or two or three) take the tour offered option of bike delivery to San Francisco, you can drive your car to Santa Barbara, park in the lot, and drive a one way rental to San Francisco. Your car is then waiting for you in Santa Barbara at the end of the tour. Simple, cheap and convenient.

Downtown San Francisco has excellent public transportation to get you around town. Buses, the famous cable cars and BART all cover a lot of ground, and BART goes to both San Francisco and Oakland airports if your choices take you to an airport.

AIR TRAVEL (expensive & real quick):
Both San Francisco and Oakland airports have good service if you are on a tight schedule or averse to a long drive. Starting just in time for our tour: Virgin is flying SNA-SFO for $57; May 2nd 6:45 flight gets you to SFO at 8:30; 8:45 gets you to SFO at 10:15... SanDiego-SFO $69. Southwest flys 8:30-10:10 (SNA to Oakland) for $59, 8:35-10:15 San Diego to San Francisco for only $49. BART / Bus into San Francisco & find your bike waiting to roll!

AMTRAK (cheap but real slow):
Amtrak service to the Bay Area will probably take a long, full day and involve some changing between their train and bus service. Expect to depart Orange County early in the morning and arrive at Fisherman's Wharf late evening.

DRIVE (not cheap but real convenient):
Drive yourself to Santa Barbara & then use one-way car, bus/train, plane to get to San Francisco. Your car will be waiting for you in Santa Barbara to drive home... Or park in San Francisco & get back to San Francisco from Santa Barbara on your own.

BICYCLE TRANSPORT:
The airlines and Amtrak will take bicycles as luggage if boxed and will charge. Check with your airline for details but $100 is common. Check with Amtrak for details of your specific routing for details on traveling with your bike.

The tour will offer bicycle transport from Orange County for an additional charge. That would free you up to just take your carry-on by train, bus or plane & find your bike waiting in San Francisco on May 2nd. We rented a truck to handle all th ebikes we are taking. Bikes will need to be at an undisclosed OC location on April 29 or 30 to be loaded in th etruck Thurssday night, and will be waiting for you in San Francisco for $50. Bikes will be loaded in Santa Barbara and be driven back to OC on May 9th - to be picked up on Sunday, May 10th for a $30 fee ($80 both ways) We are asking for this fee up front with the deposit as we need to know who is interested to be able to rent the right sized truck... Be aware that while we are cyclists and will try to be careful with your bike, some scrapes'n'scratches are part of life on a bike tour and we will not be responsible for damage to your bicycle while in our care. It's always safest if it's in your hands.

March 1st