The Fiesta Cruiser Bike Ride is the biggest and longest running event in Santa Barbara that I had never heard of! It happens every year on the Sunday at the end of Fiesta. This 2016 article in the Independent by Casey Kellogg traced it back to Fiesta 1979 and claimed that the ride grew to 1,200 riders by 2012.
2016 was the first year that I did the ride. I did it again in 2019 and I did it again this year. Here are my many photos and here are my videos.
This year I was pleased to see that police left the riders alone and the riders were generally well behaved. Riders gathered before noon at the Dolphin Fountain in preparation for the ride out to Goleta Beach. Thanks to John Palminteri for showing up to give the event some well-deserved positive coverage.
Here are links to his two videos on Facebook. First, at the Dolphin Fountain.
Then the start of the ride on State Street.
He kindly posed for me as we stood together at the Dolphin Fountain.
These riders posed for me before the launch.
Here is my video of the ride starting up State Street. Then in front of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Then on State Street on the long hill near Los Olivos Street.
When we got to Hollister and Nogal we were greeted by various vendors offering drinks and food. Including a fund raiser for the Santa Barbara Saints Youth Football League.
This couple posed for me. As you can see, the woman is appropriately dressed for Fiesta.
Tawnya used to swing dance with me and she greeted me there. Thanks to Michael Montenegro for shooting this photo.
The Bike Jam people provided music as they pedaled their heavy rig the entire route. They were full of joy and energy!
The riders poured in for quite awhile as seen in this video. Note the massive gray Ford truck that forced its way into the crowd.
The crowd stayed mellow and people hung out and danced to music from DJ Luck-E
Riders socialized, ate, danced and relaxed in this area for at least an hour as some dribbled in and others dribbled out. After about 45 minutes, I headed on to Goleta Beach so that I could catch people arriving there. A number of enterprising vendors set up along the route, including this one near the end of the ride.
Here I merged five short videos showing the final approach near Goleta Beach. On the path next to Highway 217. A clip showing a guy on a modified tall bike dealing with some challenges of other riders getting a bit close. Riders further back on the path. Listen to the guy selling tri-tip sandwiches “before they are all gone”! He was very generous with the tri-tip. Probably a pound of meat for ten dollars! Watch for the riders popping wheelies. Finally, the scene as the riders crossed the bridge into Goleta Beach Park.
Here are some of the riders on the bridge.
In the park people relaxed, hung out and feasted.
These people kept their barbecue loaded up with burgers and other meat. When I asked if I could buy some they gave it to me for free. How cool is that!
Most of the riders were on regular bikes. But about a third were on E-bikes. And then there were some fun “tiny art cars”. You might recognize Justine Pannier from Solstice riding on this artistic version of a VW micro-bus. Riding on the back is another Solstice participant, Tina Korisheli.
Goleta Beach Park offered what was probably the highlight of the day for me. A young man Merwan Yettou who has an organization called Motivated By Success Bike Life. MBS for short. He reaches out to kids to help them avoid gangs by focusing on their long term future. And by showing them cool things like amazing bike stunts.
Merwan very kindly did many takes showing off for me to shoot on video. It was very challenging because there was a lot of car traffic. We eventually moved to a safer location in Goleta Beach Park with less traffic. Here I have merged ten clips of his stunts into one short video.
Here is a still shot that captures his calm confident skill in a rather challenging spot!
This has to be one of the most diverse crowds I have had the pleasure to spend time with. They all share a passion for the joys of bicycling in our beautiful area. I met a few people who have a loose group called “Legends” who seem to have been doing the ride back to the beginning, about 45 years ago. Everyone is welcome. Riding in such a big group gives you extra energy, even if you think it might be beyond your usual limit. Even if you just go part way you are sure to have a good time.
Mark your calendar for next year: The Sunday at the end of Fiesta. Meet up before noon at the Dolphin Fountain.
I will end with a few more photos, but check my gallery for lots more!
– Robert Bernstein
I was walking up State Street, near Del La Vina & State, and saw all the bicycles going by. I wondered what was going on since it was obviously an organized ride. Now I know and will look forward to watching next year. Thanks.
Super event that’s been going on for ages. Loved the bugler at the start! Never figured out why they always stop off at Nogal though…. ; )
Thanks for documenting it, Robert.
Always my favorite part of Fiesta.
I have lived here since 1978. Never knew of this! What year did it start?
Great question. I’m guessing early 80’s, but I’m sure someone here knows the history better, and may have some classic photos to prove it!
Go Cady!
Thank you all for the kind words. The opening paragraph explains the history and links to a more detailed history. Are you able to read that OK?
Yes, the stop at Nogal is a bit confusing if you are doing the ride for the first time. The last time I did it they stopped at Talevi’s Wine and Spirits. Which used to be Miratti’s Liquor. This time it seemed people mostly stopped for the pop up food, drinks and DJ music. It is also about the half way point on the ride.
The first half of the ride tends to stay together. But the second half is more strung out and broken up. The ride originally went out to Isla Vista and to the bluffs and dirt jumps beyond that. But law enforcement started fencing off the bluffs and otherwise discouraging that part of the ride. It seems more mellow now that it ends at Goleta Beach County Park.