The wife and I just signed-up to do a cycling tour that includes the Santa Barbara stages (finish one day, start the next). Also five full days of cycling in and around Santa Barbara County. Great area for some amazing rides, scenery, winery tours (included), food, entertainment.
We are taking our tandem for every day but the Figueroa Mountain day. We rode part of that ride before and there is an option to cut-out the climb. But she just committed to doing the full 72 mile (36 out and back) the day before. So I'll take my Tarmac SL4 and see if the legs can still light-it-up the next day.
For more details see http://www.winecountrycycling.com/html/follow_tour.html or call Tim, the owner.
JP