Two weeks ago, I did my first "consecutive day" bike ride - and it was terrific. Seven days of great riding, 430 miles - it's called "Sierra to the Sea." It starts up in the Sierras, at Bear Valley, (still snow on the ground at 7000 feet!) and ends up seven days later in San Francisco.
The first day started with a thirty mile descent, going down from Bear Valley on our way to Jackson. But somehow the day also included 4845 feet of climbing! over 72.6 miles. Our second longest day, Jackson to Ryde, was 74.7 miles, but only 2110 feet of climbing. Most days were around 60 miles.
The event is put on by the Almaden Cycling and Touring Club. On a scale of 1 to 10, it rates a 20. Not only have they gotten the routes down to absolute riding perfection, taking you thru some of the most beautiful (and lightly traveled,) roads in California - but it is extremely well organized. No detail has been overlooked; one can tell they've been doing this for over 20 years. All the staff are volunteers (they work one day, ride the next) and their enthusiasm really makes a difference.
In addition, since the ride has no commercial bent, and is put on by cyclists for cyclists - they have really thought of everything to make your trip a great one. For example, although every rider gets a route sheet every day (and the route sheet is really well done, with all kinds of detail,) every turn, for 430 miles (!) - is marked with an arrow on the road surface! Not one arrow, four arrows! All placed consistently in the same fashion for every turn! Unbelievable. (Two support staff get up every morning around 4am to do this!)
The trip is completely catered, with every breakfast and dinner, plus every day we had two rest stops overflowing with good stuff to eat! (So good in fact, that I came home, after 430 miles and almost 24000 feet of climbing, weighing exactly the same as when I left.) Also two sag wagons in case you need them.
Since you camp every night, (except in Calistoga, where most people go to a motel) the price is very reasonable (around $650). Many riders (who came from all over the country, BTW) have done the tour 4, 5 and more times! But I'm not surprised, and I fully intend to do it again myself.
If you like to ride through beautiful countryside - this is for you. Look it up next year...
Len Nathan
More pics from the 2010 Sierra to the Sea.