I know the pain of an Eastern winter all too well
I think I still have post-traumatic stress from it...but when ever it seems to set in, the sun comes out!
UCSB must have been an awesome place to study abroad (....or several!....I'll get me coat). I haven't done any of the Bath House rides yet, just going solo.
I live near Cottage/Samarkand, and so far my courses are 1) the quick one down Las Positas, past Hendry's, then up and around Hope Ranch; 2) up San Roque Rd to Foothill/Cathedral Oaks/Rt 192 then out all the way to the end of Goleta at Bacara and back on Hollister or the coast trail bike path; and the longest 3) up Alamar to Foothill, then up to the Botanical Gardens, then back down to Foothill/Rt 192 which I take all the way out to Montecito and cut to the coast toward Summerland on Sheffield or Toro Cyn Rd, then return closer to the coast.
All have been great-- I also did a ride up on El Camino Cielo up on the ridge line, but only once so far. But alas, I've been doing all my longer road rides on the IF. I think the Chance would be really fun on the Hope Ranch ride and #2 in particular though.
If anyone has recommendations of local rides worth checking out I'd love to hear them!