Wildflower Century - 05/03/2025

https://slobc.org/wildflower/ 2025 Wildflower Century Date: May 3, 2025 Location: Creston, California The San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club invites you to join us at our annual Wildflower Century. We offer challenging 35, 50, 65 and 80 mile routes on quiet rural roads through oak woodlands, vineyards and ranch land in Paso Robles Wine Country. The event is limited to 1000 riders so register early to save money and ensure your place in this classic rural ride. Our Century Events The SLOBC’s Wildflower and Lighthouse Century bike rides are traditional club events. They are opportunities for individuals and groups to gather together to enjoy sharing a fully supported day of riding. They are not races, they are not timed and we do no provide any individual rider recognition, rewards or trophies. Our rides are club financed, planned and staffed. We partner with community groups and organizations that we in turn support through donations. We support bicycle events, programs and groups and, we advocate for cycling throughout SLO County. Our goal is to enhance bicycling in our communities. Shell creek view in a good year Field beside Shell Creek in a good year, Photographer: Will Benedict Wildflower Century Highlights Prices include all costs and transaction fees Ride beautiful rural roads E-Bikes without throttles are welcome. Refer to E-Bike Specifications Cue Sheets & Digital Route links Rest Stops well stocked with good tasty food Robust SAG support Bike Mechanics at Start and key Rest Stops Enthusiastic and friendly volunteers Post-Ride Meal that riders have rated as Excellent includes a choice of omnivore or vegetarian entrée and sides plus dessert and drinks. Local beer and wine for cash purchase Tickets are available at the meal for non-riders Your registration fee supports our Donations to Bike SLO County, other local cycling organizations and programs as well as the communities and groups that support our rides. Order custom Short and Long Sleeve Jerseys and Wind Vests during early registration. Clothing will be mailed to you before the event. Jerseys are made locally by Voler: Why American Made Matters. Image of Wildflower jersey design Purchase custom Short Sleeve Jerseys and T-Shirts during Check-In while supplies last. Short Sleeve Jerseys and T-Shirts from past events will be on sale during check-in. Follow us on Instagram and use #slobcwildflowercentury and #slobc to see images from other riders and share your posts. Riders can download full resolution event photos by Captivating Sports Photos for FREE after the event. Riders climbing Huer Huero Road. Climbing Huer Huero, Photographer: Greg Lozaga Routes This event is not for inexperienced riders or those who have not trained on roads with comparable profiles. All routes take riders through varied environments and include significant climbs – short does not mean easy. Please review the route maps before you register. We want you to be successful and enjoy the day. The RWGPS files provide both plan and profile views of each route. Once opened, if you move your cursor along the profile, it will show the mileage, elevation and % grade at that point. Note: Our RWGPS routes include access to files, that when sent to a Garmin or similar devise, can provide turn-by-turn navigation. Or, if you have a RWGPS account, opening our routes in the RWGPS app on your phone can provide turn-by-turn navigation. Note: Ascent numbers shown in the chart below in parenthesis (e.g., 4800 ft.) are based on feedback from past riders. 2025 Routes RWGPS Route Slips 80 Mile Route (4800 ft) 80 Miles 80 Miles 65 Mile Route (3800 ft) 65 Miles 65 Miles 50 Mile Route (3200 ft.) 50 Miles 50 Miles 35 Mile Route (2300 ft) 35 Miles 35 Miles Download the Wildflower Information (pdf) that provides an overview of the ride and the roads being used. A Brief Description All routes start and end at the elementary school in Creston. All routes head south from Creston on O'Dovovan Road for a flat five mile warm up. Riders then turn right onto Highway 58 and a 1.5 mile climb over the first hill before turning left onto Huer Huero Road. Huer Huero Road includes five, likely dry, water crossings spread over four sections of gradual climbing and three shorter steep climbs. Think of it as stair steps to reach the intersection with Parkhill Road. Immediately after turning left onto Parkhill Road, 35 and 65 mile riders turn right onto Las Pilitas Road for an enjoyable descent to Pozo Road and then the Ancient Peaks Rest Stop. After turning left onto Parkhill Road, 50 and 80 mile riders continue on Parkhill Road to the new Turkey Flat Rest Stop. From the rest stop, continue on Parkhill Road that becomes Pozo Road and leads to the Ancient Peaks Rest Stop. After the Ancient Peaks Rest Stop, all riders turn left onto Pozo Road until the intersection with Highway 58 where everyone turns right onto Highway 58. There are two climbs along 58 before you turn left onto Highway 229 for one last climb before a long gradual downhill into Creston. Turning right onto O'Donovan Road in Creston will end the ride for the 35 and 50 mile riders. 65 and 80mile riders will have a rest stop at Creston Elementary School before heading out for their second loop. After the Creston Rest Stop the 65 and 80 mile riders, turn right onto Highway 229 to Highway 41 where they turn right across the bridge and then immediately right onto La Panza Road for a long gradual climb. From the high point La Panza descends to Highway 58 where riders turn left onto 58 and proceed to the Shell Creek intersection. Turn left onto Shell Creek Road and the Rest Stop. This is where the most beautiful display of wildflowers can be seen if we get appropriate rain. After enjoying the flowers and rest stop, riders return to Highway 58 and turn right. Stay on Highway 58 and turn right onto O'Donovan Road back to Creston and the post-ride meal. Three cyclist on Parkhill Road. Parkhill Road, Photographer: Bruce Easton Wildflower Safety Approved helmets are required to be worn by all riders. NO HELMET, NO RIDE! All minors must be accompanied by an adult This event uses public roads and riders must abide by the California Driver’s Handbook - Section 7: “Laws and Rules of the Road” All riders are expected to follow Safe Cycling Best Practices Rear-view mirrors to monitor overtaking vehicles and cyclists are encouraged. Portable audio devices using ear pieces are discouraged. (California law mandates that ear pieces be used in only one ear.) Friday Spaghetti Feed Come to Creston Friday night to check-in for the ride and load-up on carbs at the annual Spaghetti Feed put on by the community to benefit the Creston Women's Club Scholarship Fund. Price: $15.00 (adults), $6.00 (children under 10) cash or check.purchase at the door Date: Friday, May 2, 2025 Time: 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM Location: Creston Community Center Meat and vegetarian spaghetti sauces! Wine, Beer & Desserts available for purchase Saturday Coffee & Hot Chocolate We partner with a local group to serve Free coffee and hot chocolate at Creston Elementary School from 6:30 to 8:30 AM Saturday morning. The SLOBC donates to the group and they may be selling some snacks for cash to raise additional funds. Partners These organizations and businesses partner with us to provide Volunteers, Places and Food, Supplies & Services to support the safety and enjoyment of our riders. Wildflower Century 50 & 80 Mile Routes San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club Follow Orange or Pink Signs 80 Mile Riders Start Between 7:00 & 8:00 am 50 Mile Riders Start Between 8:00 & 9:00 am Wildflower Century 50 & 80 Mile Routes San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club Miles Total Turn Road Miles Interval 0 South O’Donovan Road 5.5 5.5 R Highway 58 1.4 6.9 L Huer Huero Road 3.5 10.4 C Toilet Stop 2.4 12.8 L Parkhill Road 7.5 20.3 L Black Mountain Road 0.35 20.65 Stop Turkey Flat Rest Stop Open 8:30am - 11:30pm U Black Mountain Road 0.35 21 L Parkhill Road 2.5 23.5 C Pozo Road 14 37.5 L Rest Stop Entry 0.1 37.6 Stop Ancient Peak Rest Stop Open 8:30am - 1:00pm U Pozo Road 0.1 37.7 L Pozo Road 3.3 41 R Highway 58 3.4 44.4 L Highway 229 7.9 52.3 R O’Donovan Road 0.1 50 Mile Riders Done: Go To Post Ride Meal 80 Mile Riders Go To Creston Rest Stop 52.4 Stop Creston Rest Stop Open 9:30am - 1:00pm U O’Donovan Road 0.1 52.5 R Highway 229 1.1 53.6 R Highway 41 0.1 53.7 R La Panza Road 9.8 63.5 L Highway 58 2.7 66.2 L Shell Creek Road 0.2 66.4 Stop Shell Creek Rest Stop Open 10:30am - 2:30pm U Shell Creek Road 0.2 66.6 R Highway 58 9.2 75.8 R O’Donovan Road 5.5 81.3 End End Before 4:00pm Post Ride Meal Open 11:00am - 4:00pm Highway Cautions The State of California cannot confirm that this route meets all of the criteria set forth in Section 1000 of the State’s Highway Design Manual. It is the re sponsibility of the event organizers to inform orally and in writing each partic ipant to ride with caution. • Stay alert for occasional potholes and sand • Fast traffic on Highway 58 - Keep Right • Caution at 5 dry Water Crossings on Huer Huero Road • Note Caution Signs along Route • At mile 31, take the lane to decent Rinconada Hill - Rough Shoulder Safe Cycling Practices 1. Ride as far to the right on roads as practicable • Move left as required to avoid hazards • Take the lane when it would put you in danger for a vehicle to pass • Take the lane to make a left turn 2. Call out approaching vehicles: “Car Up;” “Car Back” • Move right as practicable and into single file to permit vehicles to pass 3. Point out road hazards 4. Signal your intentions and call it out: “Stopping” 5. Pass other riders on the left and call it out: “On Your Left” 6. Leave the road completely when stopping. Choose or move to a spot where a SAG vehicle can completely leave the road when stopping to assist. 7. Obey traffic laws - Always honor right-of-ways at intersections 8. Be courteous and acknowledge drivers who are considerate of cyclists. Course Hours Riders that start before their staged start time may reach rest stops before they are open. The course closes at 4:00pm. Riders on the course after 4:00pm will not have SAG support. Communication All SAG vehicles and Rest Stops have HAM operators to support communica tions during the ride. There is little cell service on the routes. 9-1-1 Emergency (805) 593-3333 CHP Dispatch Center

Friday Spahgetti Feed Did not take photo of the home made baked goods, spent 10 dollars on pineapple upside down cake, macadamia cookies and two strawberry cupcakes for morning breakfast

Post ride meal