I Bike Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours

My husband and I (late 50s, casual cyclists from New York State enjoyed a beautiful February 14 ride with William, owner of I Bike Santa Barbara Wine Tours. The points of interest will be familiar to any fans of Alexander Payne’s great film “Sideways.” William provides everything you need: bikes, water bottles, power bars, helmets, encouragement. We signed up for the mid-level “Wine Lovers’ Ride” but then extended it a bit to the full 15-mile “Classic” because it was so enjoyable gliding by the vineyards and ranches with bison, alpacas, and horses (not to mention the cute Danish town of Solvang, where we nabbed free tastes of European cheeses and fudge . Waiting at the end of our ride was a delicious olive oil tasting at the Rancho Olivos farmstand and then the vaunted iBike Italian-flavored al fresco luncheon at the spacious Brander winery (following a 5-wine tasting, of course! . We also had a fun wine tasting in Los Olivos, where Mikael, the owner of Kaena wines, impressed us with his passion for wine and his home state of Hawaii. Will was an excellent low-key tour guide and Santa Barbara fan who shared lots of area lore and tips. We highly recommend this wonderful day riding through gorgeous countryside.

This review is long overdue! My friend and I went to Santa Barbara back in November and are still talking about this tour. We went with William on the longer bike tour with electric bikes. Highly recommend the extended bike ride! The views were unbeatable. William was an amazing tour guide. Very knowledgeable and had the cutest lunch prepared, which was also delicious. I have been on several wine tours and going by bike was one of my favorite experiences. Must do if your in Santa Barbara! Had a great time with our boy William!

Amazing day out with such a lovely host. Loved learning all about the wine region and sampling the best wines I've ever tasted. Had to buy two to bring home to the UK.

Last weekend I went on and I Bike Santa Barbara Wine tour and had a wonderful experience. There are a lot of good posts that paint a picture of the experience so I'll give you a few pointers on how to make the most out of the tour. 1. Rent the E-Bike It doesn't matter if you think you are in great shape or not the e-bike gives you the option of controlling the intensity of the workout. If you'd like to slow down and take in the scenery you can! 2. Learn how to use the E-Bike before the start of the tour. Practice on using the peddle assist before the group starts off. That way your not trying to figure it out during the ride. 3. Stay at the front of the peloton If you stay in the front you'll be able to peddle up to William, your tour guide, and ask questions about the history, wine, food, almost anything. Engaging in conversation with the tour guide will help you develop a deeper appreciation of the area. Follow these three pointers and you are sure to have a great time!

My husband and I booked a tour for our anniversary and we have been talking about it since it ended!! If you are wondering if this is for you... just do it. Beautiful scenery, lots of wine, a fun time with a little exercise, good conversation, a delicious lunch... YES PLEASE! William is THE best tour guide we’ve ever had and we’ve been on lots of group tours. Will be doing this again with our friends because we just have to share this great experience!