Frequently Asked Questions
About The Traditional California Coast Classic Bike Tour
Click here for FAQ about the Remote Ride X Challenge
Click here for Donation Handling Procedures
Will Highway 1 be open for the September 2021 Tour?
Yes, Caltrans has worked tirelessly to repair the damage at Rat Creek and the road through Big Sur reopened to through traffic on April 23, 2021.
Will there be a live in-person CCC Tour in 2021?
We are committed to conducting the in-person tour portion of the 2021 CCC along our traditional Highway 1 route this September. Our permit applications are being processed, Highway 1 is open and we are full speed ahead with our planning process. Cheers to getting back on the road together in September.
How many cyclists participate?
The ride is capped at 250 riders since we go to seaside towns and quiet roads not open to larger groups.
How much training is required? Can I do this?!
Absolutely! The CCC is a fully supported ride open to novice to expert cyclists. If a rider is not feeling up to completing part of the ride or just wants a bump up a hill, our sag support is always at the ready to give a lift in our comfortable air-conditioned vans.
We provide a Training Plan and Calendar written by our CCC experts with ideal daily and weekly targets which build incrementally as the tour approaches. We will help you get ready to breeze down the coast.
Is there a mass start time for each day? A cutoff time for completion each day?
CCC is a tour, not a race. There is no mass start. Riders may ride out any time between within an hour window each morning (usually 7:30-8:30 am) and go at their own pace to the next base camp. We close the course as twilight approaches, so if anyone falls far behind due to a later start, an extra-leisurely pace and/or a long lunch, our team will bump them up to the next rest stop or camp before dark, but most arrive in camp/hotel between 2-5pm.
What do we eat? Are meals included?
The food provided on tour is healthful, delicious, plentiful and included in your Rider Package. Our incredible catering team serves a hot buffet breakfast and dinner each day in camp, which include items like made to order omelets, ribs, salmon and offer variety to satisfy a range of preferences and nutritional needs.
Rest Stops are placed every 20-25 miles and offer hydration, bars, gels, chews, PB&J sandwiches and lots of other refreshments to fuel your ride. Our route offers a bounty of outstanding restaurants in case you wish to treat yourself to a relaxing lunch as you ride through a town, You’ll receive our Must-See Guide for reference.
We also host a Social Hour each night in camp featuring activities, snacks and local wine and beer tastings.
Do I have to join a team? Does it change my fundraising minimum if I join a team?
No, but teams have a lot of fun and often collaborate on training rides, fundraising events and helping new riders with logistics. Ask us for referrals if you are interested in joining a team.
Are there resources provided by the organization to assist participants toward the fundraising goals?
You’ll receive a Fundraising Handbook brimming with advice, tips and ideas. Once you register, you’ll receive a personal fundraising website link to include in your emails, letters and social media posts. We are also fundraising experts who can help design a customized plan to reach the minimum fundraising goal. We have helped many who were nervous about reaching the minimum surpass it, so don’t be intimidated. It’s very attainable.
What are the Fundraising Minimums and Fees? What’s included in the Rider Package?
Riders pay a registration fee from $55-125 to sign up. The fundraising minimum to participate is $3300-$3500 and includes the following:
● Official California Coast Classic Apparel Package
● Camping Fees (Hotels are available and optional at rider’s expense)
● Fully supported Rest Stops on the route to include all fuel needed to complete the ride: food, hydration, gels and snacks
● Mechanical Support
● SAG Vehicles and Shuttles
● 5-Star Catered Breakfasts and Dinners
● Nightly Entertainment and Social Hour
● Kick-Off Breakfast in San Francisco
● Closing Ceremony Celebration and Lunch for rider plus one guest in Los Angeles
● Daily Luggage Transfers
● An unforgettable adventure, breathtaking views, friendships and fond memories to last a lifetime!
If I do not reach the fundraising benchmarks by the deadlines am I disqualified from participating?
No, we just ask you to guarantee the difference on a credit card and you’ll have until November to continue fundraising to your goal. Some riders do the bulk of their fundraising during and after the ride when they can post photos to social media and include a recap of the journey in post ride emails and letters.
What are the details to send funds via check, donor-advised fund or a matching gift?
Check out the Donation Handling page for all the details.
Should I camp or hotel? What should I bring if camping out?
If you enjoy camping, we recommend you camp. Camping fees are included in the Rider Package and most of our riders choose this option. Our base camps are the center of activity and where meals, social hours, bike mechanics, massage teams and amenities are located. We provide nice shower trucks with plenty of hot water and a charging station for phones and other electronics. You’ll just need a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. We’ll provide a Rider Handbook with lots of info when you register and a Travel Planner in spring with host hotel room block info.
If you are not a camper, we have great hotels with negotiated rates that riders may book at additional expense (average of approximately $170 per night). Some choose to camp most nights and enjoy a hotel a few times during tour for the best of both worlds.
Are the campsites near hotels? Is transportation provided from camp to nearby hotels? Are there participant rates/reserved blocks of rooms at hotels near the campsites?
Yes, yes and yes! Campsites are located near host hotels, in some cases on the same property. Luggage trucks will deliver your gear to your hotel or campsite each day. Registered riders receive our Travel Planner with location, group rates and booking instructions. Logistics are all coordinated to make it a seamless experience for our riders.
How do I get my bike to San Francisco?
We work with professional bike shipping vendors which offers Pack and Ship service. Consult the Bike Shipping Guide for details HERE.
Is there a minimum age requirement to participate?
Yes, participants must be 18 years or older to join the tour as a rider or volunteer per our insurance policies. Campers under the age of 18 are not permitted on the tour.
Can my family/friends join me on the tour? And bring a vehicle/rv?
We love for others to join the party, but please let us know if you are planning to bring a guest along so we can share details and guidelines. We have very limited overnight parking and tent camping spaces in some locations and cannot always accommodate extra vehicles (especially rvs) or campers. We also ask that tour guests purchase a meal ticket for each meal they join to help offset our costs and ensure our catering teams make enough food for hungry riders. You can also ask about volunteer opportunities.
Can I bring my dog?
We love dogs, but some of our sites are not dog friendly and some participants prefer a pet-free environment. We advise participants to kindly leave pets at home for compliance with our permits and the safety and comfort of all participants. Dogs are strictly prohibited at the finish line venue, Palisades Charter High School.
I’m not registered, but can I just join in for one leg of the tour?
California Coast Classic organizers strongly discourage bandit riding, even for those who are part of the CCC community, friends of registered riders or those who do not plan to use support, aid stations or other tour resources. Although it is probably not their intent, unofficial riders could adversely impact the event in a variety of ways.
Despite being a 501(c)(3) charity, The Arthritis Foundation is required to secure a multitude of permits from three districts of the California Department of Transportation and nearly all the municipalities we travel through on the California Coast Classic Bike Tour route. There are mandates to rent signage, procure insurance, collect waivers, pay for CHP/local law enforcement monitors and put in traffic controls. All of these requirements pose a significant cost to the Foundation.* Some entities even calculate permit fees on a per rider basis. There are caps for how many riders can be on route according to event permits.
Complaints about cyclists along the route will be directed towards the organizers whether or not the cyclists in question are officially part of the ride. If an unregistered rider has an issue on route, it would likely affect the event.
Official participants put forth considerable effort and personal expense to take part in the CCC Tour including training, fundraising/self-funding and getting themselves and their gear to and from the ride. They may react negatively to cyclists who would join in without registering and doing what is expected of all participants.
Cyclists are advised to register as official participants if they wish to ride in the CCC Tour. Volunteering is a great alternative for those who want to be involved with the CCC Tour and support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to conquer arthritis.
*Note that because of our corporate partners whose generous contributions cover most of the operational costs of the ride, the funds that the riders raise go directly to our mission to help patients and their families.
For help or more information about the California Coast Classic,
Shannon Marang Cox at [email protected] | 213-634-3772
Debbie Daugherty at [email protected] | 213-631-7528