Gravel Cycling & MTB — San Luis Obispo, California

SLO
GRVL

Underbike Everything

Join the Club See the Schedule

Scheduled Rides

Upcoming rides pulled live from our Strava club. Join on Strava to RSVP and get route details.

When We Ride

Wednesday Night Gravel Ride

5:30 pm start during DST
📍 Art's Cyclery, San Luis Obispo
Route varies — gravel roads, fire roads, and mixed terrain

Last Wed of the Month

5:00 pm start during DST
📍 Art's Cyclery, San Luis Obispo
Pismo Preserve — MTB & gravel trails

Women's Gravel Ride

2nd & 4th Thursday
5:30 pm start
📍 Splendor Ice Cream, SLO
Women's gravel cycling on the Central Coast

Saturday Group Ride

Posted by EOD Thursday each week
SLO County gravel routes — check Strava for details

Our Partners

Click any partner to learn more about who supports SLO GRVL.

SLO GRVL group gravel ride on a dirt road in San Luis Obispo County, California

About SLOGRVL

Dirt Roads.
Good People.

We're a gravel cycling and mountain bike community rooted in San Luis Obispo County. SLO County is one of the best places on earth to ride off-road — from fire roads above the Pacific to gravel routes winding through Edna Valley vineyards and the Santa Lucia foothills.

Whether you're pinning it on a gravel bike, running a hardtail MTB, or rolling a cyclocross rig — underbike everything and have fun doing it. All Central Coast rides are open. All levels welcome.

We're not a racing team. We're a community of cyclists who love exploring San Luis Obispo's back roads together — Wednesday nights, Saturday mornings, and women-specific gravel rides on Thursday evenings.

697+ Club Members
4 Weekly Rides
SLO County, CA

Ride the Central Coast

San Luis Obispo sits at the center of some of California's most diverse off-road cycling terrain. From ocean-view singletrack to wide-open gravel ranches, the Central Coast punches well above its weight. Whether you're chasing gravel miles, MTB laps, or a casual spin through wine country, SLO delivers.

Gravel Roads & Fire Tracks

SLO County is loaded with gravel cycling routes — long fire roads through the Los Padres foothills, ranch roads in the Edna Valley, and coastal backcountry tracks that rival anything in California. Our Wednesday night and Saturday gravel rides explore new routes year-round, from quick 20-milers to full-day adventures deep into SLO County's back country.

Gravel Cycling Fire Roads SLO County Edna Valley

MTB & Mixed-Surface Riding

Mountain biking in San Luis Obispo is seriously underrated. Pismo Preserve offers miles of flowy singletrack with ocean views. The Irish Hills give you punchy climbing and technical descents minutes from downtown SLO. We run regular MTB-friendly gravel rides — all bikes welcome, no race categories, no gatekeeping. Bring your hardtail, your full squish, your gravel bike with fat tires. Underbike it.

Mountain Biking MTB SLO Pismo Preserve Irish Hills

Women's Gravel & Inclusive Rides

Our women's gravel rides on the Central Coast run twice a month on Thursday evenings — a dedicated space to explore SLO's gravel roads without the pressure of a hammer-fest. New to gravel cycling? Perfect. Returning rider? Also perfect. These rides cover accessible terrain around San Luis Obispo and are open to all women and non-binary cyclists on any bike.

Women's Gravel Central Coast Beginner Friendly Thursday Rides

FAQ

Everything you need to know before showing up.

Do I need a gravel bike to join?
Nope. Mountain bikes, hardtails, full-suspension, cyclocross rigs — all welcome. Our motto is Underbike Everything: ride the least bike you need for the terrain and you'll have more fun than the person on a $10,000 build. Any bike that can handle dirt is the right bike.
What does "Underbike Everything" mean?
It means stop overthinking gear and go ride. Take a mountain bike to a gravel ride. Take your gravel bike on MTB trails. The point is to be out on the Central Coast dirt — not gear-shopping. The bike you own is the right bike.
Is SLO GRVL free to join?
Yes. Join the club on Strava for free — no membership fees, no dues, no applications. All posted rides are open rides. Show up, ride, repeat.
How do I find upcoming rides and routes?
Everything lives on the SLO GRVL Strava club page. Wednesday and Thursday rides follow a set schedule (see the schedule section above). Saturday routes are posted by end of day Thursday each week with full details — distance, terrain, and meeting point.
Am I fast enough? What's the pace like?
Yes, you're fast enough. SLO GRVL rides have no pace categories, no minimum speed, and no race atmosphere. Ride your own ride. Our culture is inclusive and no-pressure — if you can turn the pedals on dirt, you belong here.
Are the rides no-drop?
Mostly. Our community is about inclusion, not exclusion — if you want to ride, you belong here. That said, some of our routes go deep into SLO County backcountry where cell service is spotty and other riders may not be nearby. We strongly recommend downloading the posted route to your GPS or phone before every ride so you always know where you are.
Where do I start if I'm nervous about my first ride?
Wednesday Night Gravel Ride (WNGR) is your best entry point. It's a weekly, no-pressure ride where as long as you're giving it your best, someone will always be there for you. Show up, introduce yourself, and ride your ride — that's all it takes. Find Flavio Gibroni, they will keep you company.
Do I need to download the route beforehand?
Please do — some of our routes head off-grid into areas where cell service is unreliable and you may be riding without others nearby. Download the posted route to your GPS or phone app (Komoot, Wahoo, Garmin, or Strava) before you roll out. Routes are posted on the Strava club page, typically by EOD Thursday for Saturday rides.
What is the women's gravel ride?
The women's gravel ride runs on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, starting at 5:30 pm from Splendor Ice Cream in San Luis Obispo. Open to all women and non-binary cyclists on any bike — gravel, MTB, or anything else. No experience required. No hammer-fest.
What is the Pismo Preserve ride?
On the last Wednesday of each month we head to Pismo Preserve for a scheduled group ride — miles of flowy singletrack and mixed-surface trails with ocean views. Starts at 5:00 pm from Art's Cyclery. Any bike that handles dirt works fine.
Where do I find Saturday route details?
Saturday gravel routes are posted to the SLO GRVL Strava page by end of day Thursday each week. Check there for distance, meeting point, and any terrain notes. Routes vary week to week across SLO County's gravel roads and fire tracks.

Follow the Action

Club Activity

Live miles from SLO GRVL members riding the Central Coast. Join the club and your gravel rides show up here too.