Love pedaling in sunshine and soaking in views of wineries and olive groves from your bike?
If you’re contemplating a bike trip this spring to kickstart your training or to get away from the cold for a few days, California in March is unbeatable for North Americans and Europeans alike. Here, we’re sharing our top ten reasons why cyclists may want to put our Paso Robles tours in March on their 2024 to-do list. Trips are capped at a maximum of 14 riders, so sign up soon, or your chance to train in California sunshine may be snapped up!
An Easy Break from Winter Weather
Even though mid-March sounds like it should be spring weather, New Englanders, Midwesterners, and Canadians know that winter is far from over when March 12 rolls around. inGamba’s Paso Robles trip falls right in the two weeks typically considered ‘March Break’ for North Americans, making it the perfect time to escape to some sunshine to build your base. The average temperature in Paso Robles in mid-March? In the high 60s, with plenty of sun.
Flights May Be Cheaper—or More Convenient
If you’re a North American looking at flight options, there are more budget airlines, more flight times, and fewer layovers when flying from JFK to San Francisco. And as with any inGamba trip, you don’t need to BYOB—we have a beautiful fleet of Pinarellos waiting to be ridden, plus a Castelli inGamba kit for you. You can get away with just a carry-on for a trip like this, making it even easier. Bonus: if you’re traveling from anywhere in North America, you’ll also have much less jet lag so that you can make every day of training count.
The Coffee
The owners of Handlebar Coffee raced in Europe before opening a cafe and roast coffee in Santa Barbara, California, and their knowledge of the perfect European espresso sipped at a table outside a tiny cafe helped them recreate that experience stateside. Their beans are what we brew on every trip, making each sip of coffee in the morning (or afternoon) feel like a moment.
The Wide Open Views of the Pacific Ocean
When we spoke to Eros Poli, the gold medalist and former Italian pro who will be leading this adventure, about his favorite parts of California, he immediately said that the views of the Pacific were incredible. These rides showcase the vastness of California’s landscape, from the San Lucia Mountains to the bright blues and grays of the Pacific Ocean as you pedal down the coast. Highway One is one of the most classic cycling routes in the country, and we’ve elevated the ride with full on-road support along the way, plus soigneurs here to help with anything you might need.
Elevation and Roads that Rival European Classics
Think a ride in California is going to be flat? Think again. The inGamba Paso Robles ride climbs over 12,000 feet in four days, which puts it on par with our European excursions in the mountains—twisting, winding roads with almost no cars in sight? We’ve got those. Those climbs in the canyons, the descent into Morrow Bay, and that final roll into Paso Robles? Unbeatable.
The Post-Ride Massage (and Laundry Service)
When inGamba says we’re a luxury bike tour, we genuinely mean it—down to the post-ride details like your daily laundry and a massage from a professional cycling soigneur who knows how to prepare your legs for tomorrow’s ride.
Your stay at Hotel Cheval
Just named the top small hotel in the country by TripAdvisor, it’s impossible to beat the level of service and comfort at the Hotel Cheval in Paso Robles. It’s just off the town square, so it’s quiet at night for a great sleep post-ride, but easy to walk into the charming downtown for a little off-bike excursion in the afternoon.
The Best Pinarello
Even if you’re a short flight away from California, bringing a bike with you to do a bike tour can be a huge hassle. Not when you’re on an inGamba trip: You’ll be riding the Pinarello Dogma F Disk with SRAM RED eTap AXS—no need to pack up your bike and lug a giant bike bag through the airport. We have that covered, along with a complete Castelli kit, so all you need to bring is yourself.
It’s an Easy Add-On to a Family Vacation
Do your kids want to go Disneyland? No problem—you can meet them there on Tuesday morning after your final massage and a celebratory glass of wine. It’s only a four-hour drive from the finish at Paso Robles to Disneyland, and inGamba’s concierge can help you plan the perfect family vacation for after your ride.
The Pinot Noir, Of Course
Paso Robles was named Region of the Year in 2013 by Wine Enthusiast. Even Italian wine lover (and Olympic gold medalist) Eros Poli says that California’s Pinot Noir is far superior to the offerings in Europe… That may be why he flies to the US twice yearly to lead this ride!
