JAUNTS : Bike Trip Up the Coast Offers Exercise, Beauty : You can tackle the 60 miles of birds, greenery, dolphins, surf, sand and asphalt all in one day or a bit at a time.

Here is one way you can breathe some life into that tired old resolution to lose weight and get in shape: Bike along the coast between Ventura and Santa Barbara. You can tackle it all at once, or work your way up to the 60-mile, round-trip ride between the two cities.

“This is a very popular ride,” said Jon Avery, owner of Avery’s Open Air Bicycles in Ventura. “It takes in a lot of the best that this coast has to offer.” The route follows the Pacific Coast Bicentennial Route.

Here is what you will see, stage by stage, along the way:

STAGE 1

Starting at the Ventura Pier, get onto the ocean-front bike path and follow it west up the coast past the Ventura County Fairgrounds. It winds inland along the Ventura River, taking you past a wetlands area rich with herons, egrets and other birds.

The path goes across the river, through the Emma Wood State Beach County Park and back up the coast. Keep an eye out for dolphins slicing through the water. There is a fair chance you will see them, along with stunning views of the Channel Islands.

At the three-mile mark, the bike path ends. This is a good goal for the inexperienced or those with children not accustomed to riding in traffic.

STAGE 2

Continuing, you will be on the Pacific Coast Highway--one of the scenic wonders of Ventura County. (Be sure to cross to the bike lane on the right side of the road so that you aren’t facing oncoming bicyclists, Avery cautioned.)

The road hugs the water’s edge. Sometimes at high tide--especially this time of year--waves splash over the rocks. The route takes you past the beach communities of Solimar and Faria and past a mile-long stretch of RV campers.

At the nine-mile mark, you will come to Hobson County Park, a beachside campground. This is another good turn-around point, or a good spot for a breather. It has a snack bar, restrooms and water.

STAGE 3

The road continues under the freeway and past a Ventura County fire station, dead-ending before La Conchita. Here is where you take a short dirt path along a fence to get on U.S. 101 for a short hop (0.8 mile) to this tiny beach community.

“A lot of people are intimidated by riding on the freeway,” Avery said. But the marked shoulder is wide, providing some space between you and the whizzing traffic. “It’s really not that bad.”

If you exit in La Conchita at Santa Barbara Avenue, you can make a side trip to the Seaside Banana Garden. Heading back to Ventura at this point is dangerous, however, because you have to dodge traffic to cross the freeway.

Continuing west along the freeway, the next exit is Bates Road, about the 15-mile mark. Bicyclists must exit here: Go down the ramp and back up the on-ramp, getting back on the freeway and up a long hill, finally exiting at Highway 150. Go left toward the ocean (take in the view) and get on Carpinteria Avenue for the ride into Carpinteria.

(Alternative: Exit at Bates Road, go right up steep Rincon Hill Road--taking in the magnificent mountain views--then go left onto Highway 150, crossing the highway to Carpinteria Avenue.)

Carpinteria is about the 18-mile mark, and another good place to turn around or take a lunch break.

STAGE 4

If you decide to keep going, stay on Carpinteria Avenue through town, turn right on Santa Ynez to cross the freeway, and take a left onto Via Real. This freeway frontage road takes you past nurseries, the lushly green Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, and on into Summerland. At the 23-mile mark, this is another lunch and turn-around point.

(Alternative: Before you hit Summerland, take secluded, tree-shaded Padaro Lane, along the ocean side of the freeway.)

STAGE 5

Continuing, go through Summerland, up steep Ortega Hill Road and down, hooking onto Jameson Lane, another frontage road that runs through Montecito. This turns into Coast Village Road, taking you through downtown Montecito, past some ritzy eateries. Follow it down under the freeway to Cabrillo Boulevard. The adjacent bike path goes past the Andree Clark Bird Refuge and the Santa Barbara Zoo. The last stretch is along the beach to Stearns Wharf, the 30-mile mark.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE

Take Olive Mill Road to Channel Drive and cruise by the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel. This turns into a scenic bike path that winds down to Cabrillo Boulevard.

On the way back, be aware that the stretch of freeway riding is a little longer. (Watch out for parked cars.) Here is a bright spot, though: According to Avery, if you start early in the morning, often there is a gentle tail wind on the way back.