All routes are all well marked and fully supported. Rest stops along the ride routes feature energy food and drinks, bathrooms, and mechanical and medical assistance. As part of the five-star experience, all rides are assisted by support vehicles and law enforcement officers once underway. We also have sweep vans, ride officials and course marshalls that make sure no participant is left behind.
We are excited to share with the Best Buddies Challenge community our plans for all-new five-star routes for the 2017 Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle! While we are awaiting final permit approvals for our new routes, we wanted to share some exciting news and encourage you to get your Best Buddies planning underway.
The 2017 Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle will feature a loop course starting and finishing at the beautiful Hearst Ranch. After many route test rides, our staff and expert logistics team are excited to announce our new 100-mile, 60-mile, and 30-mile loops, which will be just as beautiful and challenging as you have come to expect. Our treasured 15-mile ride and 5k walk/run will be the same as in years past, starting from Ragged Point and the Hearst Ranch, respectively.
All events previously held in Carmel—including our Friday early check-in, opening ceremonies and Saturday morning’s 100-mile start lines—have been relocated to the Hearst Property in San Simeon. There will be no events or activities in Carmel. We are encouraging all riders to plan accordingly! A detailed schedule of events with venue-specific addresses will be posted on the website and emailed out shortly.
Due to the change to this year’s event, we’ve worked with a number of hotels located in San Simeon and Cambria to provide special Best Buddies rates, available here. We hope you are as excited as we are for this incredible new route!
We hope you are as excited as we are for this incredible new route!
In friendship,
The Best Buddies Challenge Staff
Our new century ride loop course keeps the thrill of the Pacific Coast Highway from the start at Hearst Ranch down to beautiful Morro Bay before climbing east to Atascadero. After the fast undulations through the Central Coast Wine Country of Pomar, riders will head back towards Cambria on Route 46 before taking on a once-in-a-lifetime challenge of Santa Rosa Creek Road featuring a short steep climb and a 7-mile descent!
Start Time: 7:00 am | Rest Stops: 6 | Total Elevation: 6,106ft | Ride with GPS Map (route export available)
The 60-Mile loop course will mimic the start of the 100-Mile from Hearst Ranch down the Pacific Coast Highway before riders turn left onto Old Creek Road in Cayucos. This road features 10 miles of beautiful but challenging climbs above Whale Rock Reservoir up to Route 46. Here they will join the century riders on Santa Rosa Creek to finish the final section heading back towards Hearst Castle.
Start Time: 8:00 am | Rest Stops: 4 | Total Elevation: 3,904 ft | Ride with GPS Map (route export available)
This route will feature the same start at the Hearst Ranch, heading down the Pacific Coast Highway past Cambria into the town of Harmony (population 18). Riders will then turn back towards Cambria, stopping on Santa Rosa Creek Road before heading to the Hearst Ranch finish line.
Start Time: 9:30 am | Rest Stops: 2 | Total Elevation: 1,279 ft | Ride with GPS Map (route export available)
Our 15-mile route starts at Ragged Point and travels down the Pacific Coast Highway to Hearst Ranch. This is a course is great for novice riders. The terrain is rolling to flat, without any long climbs. There are no rest stops along the way, but there are official support cyclists and vehicles on the road.
Start Time: 11:00 am | Rest Stops: 0 | Total Elevation: 730 ft | Ride with GPS Map (route export available)
Led by Olympic Gold Medalist, Carl Lewis, and beginning at our Hearst Ranch Finish Line in San Simeon, runners and walkers follow a mostly flat route along the Hearst Ranch beachside property on a mix of pavement and dirt trails.
Start Time: 10:30 am | Rest Stops: 0 | Total Elevation: 202 ft
