MountainAdoras Senduro Challenge

What is the Senduro?

A monthly cross-country mountain biking challenge in the Santa Barbara backcountry

Intro to the Senduro

Watch the video below to learn more about the Senduro:

Details

    • Mileage: Rides will range from ~15 - 30 miles

    • Elevation: Typically ~3000-5000ft in elevation gain

    • Location: Typically in the Santa Barbara and Ojai back country (Los Padres National Forest), with some occasional challenges within a 1-2 hour driving radius.

    • Explore and get to know the local terrain ⛰️

    • Expand your biking skill set 🚵‍♀️

    • Break down limits and discover what’s possible for you 🚀

    • Have fun with friends! 💃

    • Complete the course at some point within the month

    • Must be completely self supported

    • Track your ride on Strava to participate in scoring

    • Be prepared and ride safe!

  • At the following monthly club meeting, we’ll do a ride debrief to share highlights, photos, and learnings from the ride.

    There will be prizes for the following categories:

    • Fastest Time

    • Most Style Points

    • Personal Best/PR

  • Many of the local cross-country mountain bike rides that we will be doing are in the backcountry, out of cell service, and are physically challenging. Be prepared to support yourself.

    • Physical fitness: rides could take anywhere between 3-10 hours to complete depending on the ride and your fitness. Make sure you are mentally and physically prepared to spend this amount of time sweating it out on your bike!

    • Whenever possible, go with a riding buddy.

    • Tell someone your plans and when they should expect to hear from you again if you’ll be out of service

    • Bring extra water, food, a first aid kit, repair materials, extra layers

    • Consider bringing water treatment so that you could get water from streams if you run out

    • Consider bringing a satellite tracking device that has SOS capability. (If you want to know more about this, reach out to katelongcor@gmail.com)

    While it’s important you understand the risks involved, don’t let this scare you! These rides are well within reach of beginner and intermediate riders with a bit of preparation. In addition, there are members of the Mountainadoras community who would be more than happy to support you as you take the leap to backcountry riding. We want to see you out there so please reach out with any questions we can answer to help you feel confident taking on the Senduro challenges! (Contact: Kate Longcor | 978-505-9062 | katelongcor@gmail.com)

  • For any further questions and to coordinate riding the Senduro with other members, join the Senduro channel in the MountainAdoras Discord!

Submit Your Senduro Route Ideas!

February Senduro Challenge

February Senduro Challenge

Route:  Ojai > Carpinteria Convergence | 27 miles miles | 6300 ft 

  • Ojai to Carp mega-send highlighting recent work done on Ocean View and Franklin Trails

  • This is a challenging, all day ride. Be sure to bring lots of water, food, and any repair kits you need.

January Senduro Challenge

January Senduro Challenge

Route:  Cold-Springs Angostura |  18.5 miles | 3,123 ft 

  • Park/Start at Top of Angostura Pass 

  • Bike across Camino Cielo to Cold Springs Trail (paved road) 

  • Drop down into Cold Springs Trail (single track)

  • Traverse Gibraltar trail past the silver mine (single track)

  • Bike up Angostura Road, back to car (fire road)

December Senduro Challenge

Route:  Figueroa Mountain Loop | ~40 miles | ~4,900 ft elevation gain

  • Start & End in Los Olivos

  • Climb up to the top of Fig Mtn via Happy Canyon

  • Return to Los Olivos

  • Optional: Attend the Christmas Fair in Los Olivos!

Group Ride on Dec 7, 2024

Meet at 10am in Los Olivos (Park Here)

November Senduro Challenge

November Senduro Challenge

Route:  Camuesa Loop | 11 miles miles | 1800 ft 

  • Park at the turnout on the left at the end of Paradise Rd (before the gate)

  • Road/Fire Road Climb

  • Flowy, Rolling single track down

  • Return on Paradise road

September Senduro Challenge

September Senduro Challenge

ROUTE: Little Pine Mountain Out and Back: 24.4 Miles | 3,835 ft

  • Start on Paradise Road at final Day Use area before the First Crossing.

  • Ride across the first crossing, pass the restrooms and take the first LEFT

  • Take the next RIGHT as you approach the Upper Oso Campground (no longer in use)

  • You’ll come to a closed gait go under/over and continue onto Buckhorn road

  • Follow Signs to Little Pine Campground

August Senduro Challenge

August Senduro Challenge

Route:  West Camino Gravel Grinder | 5017 miles | 5700 ft 

  • Park near the bottom of Old San Marcos Pass

  • Road bike west to Refugio Pass

  • Climb Refugio pass and take a right onto Camino Cielo

  • Continue climbing to Santa Ynez and Broadcast Peak.

  • Descend back east on Camino Cielo before a final climb up to Lizard’s Mouth. [GRAVEL]

  • BE VERY CAREFUL descending 1.5 miles on the 154.

  • Turn right onto Old San Marcos to descend back to the car

July Senduro Challenge

Route:  Carp > Ojai > Ventura Loop | ~43.5 miles | ~2,300 ft elevation gain

  • Start & End at Lucky Llama

  • Take the 150 over Casitas Pass to Ojai

  • Take the bike path from Ojai to Ventura

  • Take the coastal bike path from Ventura back to Carpinteria

June Senduro Challenge

Dream it

June Senduro Challenge Dream it

Route:  Front Country Freestyle! | 17 miles | 3100 ft 

  • Park at on Mountain Drive

  • Bike up Gibraltar to the No Shooting Sign

  • Gibraltar Road is a strenuous but beautiful road climb up 1,500 feet.

  • Descend, West Fork Cold Spring, a shale based flowy downhill trail of moderate difficulty.

  • Short, but technical climb up Cold Spring Trail - South

  • Descend Hot Springs, which is a rocky descent, as is Girard Trail. Lower McMenemy is back to easier flow.

  • Bike back on the road via Mountain drive!

May Senduro Challenge

May Senduro Challenge

Route:  Sulphur Mountain Loop | 29 miles | 2900 ft 

  • Park at Sulphur Mountain Trail Head

  • Gravel/Mountain bike Sulphur Mountain Trail

  • Turn left on Ojai Santa Paula Road to drop back down into Ojai (road riding- be mindful of cars as you descend through the pass!)

  • Once you get into Ojai, you can take the bike path back to Sulphur Mountain Trail head

April Senduro Challenge

April Senduro Challenge

Route:  Cold-Springs Angostura |  18.5 miles | 3,123 ft 

  • Park/Start at Top of Angostura Pass 

  • Bike across Camino Cielo to Cold Springs Trail (paved road) 

  • Drop down into Cold Springs Trail (single track)

  • Traverse Gibraltar trail past the silver mine (single track)

  • Bike up Angostura Road, back to car (fire road)

March Senduro Challenge

Route:  Tour de Montana de Oro | ~18 miles | ~2,600 ft elevation gain

  • Start & end at Hazard Peak Trail Head

  • Up East-Boundary / Hazard Peak, down Barranca

  • Take Islay Creek fire road over to Oats Peak trail

  • Go to Oats Peak summit, down the Beebe trail, and back to the Hazard Peak trail head.

  • Extra credit for going the last few hundred yards on foot to the Oat summit!

February Senduro Challenge

Route: 19 Oaks + Camuesa | ~16 miles | ~2,900 ft elevation gain

  • Park/Start on Paradise road

  • Climb up Lower-Oso to Camuesa Connector (fire road)

  • Pass Camuesa downhill and continue onto 19 Oaks (fire road)

  • Ride down 19 oaks (single track)

  • Ride up the Camuesa connector AGAIN (fire road)

  • Ride down Camuesa trail (single track)

  • Ride out paradise road (pavement)

January 2024 Senduro Challenge

Route:  Sisar-Gridley Senduro |  23 miles | 3,800 ft elevation gain

  • Park at Gridley Trail Head

  • Bike/Shuttle to base of Sisar Canyon (paved road) 

  • Climb up Sisar Canyon Road (fire road)

  • Bike across Nordhoff Ridge (fire road)

  • Down Gridley Trail (single track)

Extra Credit: We will score just the 23 miles on the trail, but extra credit for any riders who do the ride without a shuttle, and bike the extra ~8 miles + 1000 ft of road between the two trail heads!

Insider Tips: 

  • Start early, especially in winter when sun sets early

  • Carry lots of water & snacks (no place to refill on trail)

  • Stop for a well-earned beer at Topa Topa in Ojai after : )