The signature ride of the entire central coast? It's a contender.

Start from downtown Los Olivos heading southeast. Ride the route counter clockwise as it's less steep and a dirt road section on Happy Canyon Road is better handled going up than down.

This loop climbs relentlessly offering great views along the route. It's the signature ride of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Linger near the summit where you'll enjoy vistas of the Santa Ynez Valley. Return via Figueroa Mountain Road.

You've earned a cold beverage and there's no place better to find one than Los Olivos with its 25 wine tasting rooms. Splurge and spend the night at the bicycle-friendly Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa.

Ride through wine country

A moderate level ride, the route follows busy 246 to Lompoc, a great spot for lunch. You'll be riding the shoulder on pavement that is in the process of being refreshed.

Film buffs will enjoy riding where “Sideways” was filmed in 2004, but if you hit half of the local wineries and tasting rooms, you’ll never finish your ride: Alma Rosa, Terravant, Pench Ranch, Spear, Clos Pepe – and you’re not halfway yet. After lunch in Lompoc you’ll return via Santa Rosa Rd where you’ll pass D’Alfonso & Curran, Sanford, Fiddlestix, LaFond, and Thorne near the end of this ride. Beer drinkers will head to Buellton's Figueroa Mountain and Firestone Walker Brewing Company.

One option is to take the AMTRAK Pacific Surfliner to the tiny Surf Station, and do this ride starting and ending from Lompoc. Passing-through riders will be tempted as the Pacific Coast Bike Route takes you straight into Lompoc – after riding Santa Rosa Road east to Buellton, you can then hop on the southbound 101 Fwy.

From Buellton head over to Los Olivos where 2 other great rides start: Drum Cyn Loop and the Figueroa Mountain Loop. Then when it's time to head south consider Refugio Pass.

Solvang is hugely popular with tourists of all types – its proximity to Santa Barbara, only 33 miles, makes it an easy day trip. Extend your visit by renting a bike and taking this delightful Solvang-Los Olivos loop ride.

You can start at either end of this route. If you begin in Solvang take Alamo Pintado Road to Los Olivos. Los Olivos is all about wine – there are 25 tasting rooms in town, plus lots of great food. Check out the Bear and Star in the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn and the superb Wine Merchant Cafe directly across the street. Beer lovers will be happy to find Figueroa Mountain Brewery in town and Mattei's Tavern will tie it all together.

When it's time to depart take Ballard Canyon Road. It's quiet with little traffic and the views are terrific. Visit Rusack Vineyards – it's your last wine tasting opportunity before returning to Solvang.

Check out Dr. J's in Solvang or Pedego in Los Olivos, both offer regular and electric bikes, both are right on this route. Want someone else to organize everything for your group? That would be Wine Country Cycling Tours.

Got fat tires? Don't mind a climb? Prefer it to riding along the freeway?
Consider this rugged alternative.

Today's your big ride – to get into Santa Barbara you must climb the coastal range, the Santa Ynez Mountains. This route keeps you away from the highway alternatives, you'll be climbing this quiet mountain pass far from automobiles. Start the day with Ballard Cyn Road, the scenic route from Los Olivos to Solvang. The Santa Ynez Valley side of Refugio Road isn't paved to the summit – you'll want fat tires for this climb. After the summit the road is rough with a thousand filled potholes. Take it slow on your descent.

This route takes you off the freeway as you enter Goleta. Pass through UC Santa Barbara and into Goleta Beach Park where you'll want to linger at the Beachside Bar-Cafe, (be advised – bike parking here has a lot to be desired).

Pick up the Obern Trail at Goleta Beach Park – the next several miles will take you on an off-road trail and quiet neighborhood streets. It's well lit at night, too. Once you're ready to move on follow the peaceful off-road trail to Modoc Road and into Santa Barbara proper.

Modoc Road is well signed as the Crosstown Route. To avoid urban traffic follow the route map closely as you zigzag through the westside. At W. Anapamu you'll ride up a corkscrew ramp to access the pedestrian overpass of the 101 Fwy which puts you in downtown Santa Barbara.

Russ Roca of The Path Less Pedaled writes of his ascents to Refugio Pass; two climbs separated by 5 years: California Dreaming: Revenge on Refugio Road.