Lessons Learned

I always learn things along the way. Many times, the things I learn relate to cycling and many times, do not. Even though the ride ended short of the planned ride, we rode. Time spent riding is better than any other time I can think of. Riding along some of the most beautiful scenery in the world with some of the greatest weather in the world is an added extra. Time spent with my brother, sharing each others company and sharing the experience along the way is even better.

We learned that 75 miles per day on this route was a bit much. On the flats or flats with moderate hills might be fine - but on this route, was too much. 50 miles per day was probably better suited for this ride - or 75 miles if we were supported with someone else carrying our backpacks. Speaking of backpacks, we learned that we needed to pack lighter - instead of a pair of jeans, we might pack a pair of microfiber sweats next time. I learned the hand pump I brought to pump my tires on a daily basis was worthless - go with air cartridges instead and save yourself the trouble. I learned that you need to make sure you are eating and drinking constantly when traveling 50 plus miles per day. You can dehydrate yourself very quickly if not careful. I learned the prevailing winds blow from the north to the south most days along the coast and the winds grow stronger by the hour after 11am.

Most of all I continue to learn that the journey is much more than the destination. It is all about the twists and turns along the way and the uphills and the downhills. It is about the adventure and what happens along the way - it's about the time spent riding with a wind at your back and the uncertainty about what the day will bring....

Pictures from the Ride

Here we are waiting for the train in Surf Beach station, about 8 miles west of Santa Maria. Here is where our ride endeHere we are along the climb from Santa Maria to Lompoc before Gary's injury.

Here I am after a downhill in Big Sur. We knew there was an uphill coming up in the next few minutes and there were no cars - so we rested in the middle of highway 1!

Gary taking a breather on a chair we found on the side of a cliff. This was at the halfway point on the Big Sur portion of our ride.

Here I am after climbing one of the hills in Big Sur. Notice the pain on my face as I try to catch my breath. Also, notice the circa 1927 guardrails which protected Gary and I from the 1500 foot cliffs.

Uncle Gary all wrapped up and trying not to get sunburned in the hot California sun. Notice the strap around Gary's waist which was used to help secure the backpack and took much of the weight off the back.

This is the red Cervelo I rode - all campy and about 16 pounds. I used Michelin Prorace 3's with about 120 pounds of pressure and two waterbottles. Campy Euros wheels and a Fizik saddle.

This is the backpack I brought - 14.75 pounds on my back for an average of 75 miles per day. Next time I pack a little lighter or use something else!

SFO to Lompoc- The End

Crap – I heard Gary yell from 20 yards behind me. I stopped and turned around and found him in pain on the side of the road. What happened I asked? It's a repeat of an injury I had a few years ago - it's my soles – the muscle that runs between my Achilles and my calf and it hurts. I knew our ride would be ending soon.

We left Santa Maria after having breakfast with my brother Larry who works at Fess Parker winery in Los Olivos, but had work in Santa Maria today. After a hearty meal of pancakes and sausage, we began our journey to Santa Barbara – a planned ride of 80 miles. After heading down hwy 135 to Orcutt – we headed south into the mountains over the pass into Lompoc where we planned to have coffee and rest. Halfway up the hill is when I heard Gary yell in pain – he wanted to keep it going, but I knew we would be ending our ride today. We limped up over the hill and down and over and across fields for another 13 miles and soon we were sitting at Starbucks in Lompoc.

I'm afraid Gary came up lame – my decision was whether to take him out back and shoot him, or let him live to enjoy another day. OK I said, you pay for business class tickets on Amtrak and we are done. Gary didn't want to stop, but he knew the last time he had the same injury, he was off his feet for 4 months. “This does not mean I can't stand at a craps table for three or four hours” he said. I nodded in agreement and we both agreed our journey was over – for this time. Gary has a sports doctor who resides at the Palms Hotel in Vegas at Craps table 6. Sunday, we fly in to have him examined.

Tomorrow, I'll add my post-mortum and things I learned along the way.

Into Central California We Go

Todays ride took us from the Blackbird Inn in Cambria to Santa Maria. We averaged 15.6 mph on this 78 mile ride. Even though Gary and have been using sunblock, we are both very red after todays ride. As most of the guys I ride with know, I don't drink much when I ride, even though I know I should. Today, I went through 6 bottles of water and Gatorade.

The ride took us through Morro Bay and into San Louis Obispo, where we rode down the same street the Tour of California finished last week. From SLO, we headed for the coast and we lunched at a great Mexican restaurant in Pismo Beach. After Pismo, we heaped through Grover Beach – which by the way – offers our first opportunity to hop on the Amtrak and head home – which we did not take. Gary was showing remarkable speed this afternoon. We both feel it was the extra beans at lunch – whatever, it helped him to propel along at a great pace.

We then headed inland and we came to a spot on the map that we could not figure out why we would not just take a road that appeared to be 5 miles shorter – until we saw a 1500 foot steeeep climb that the mapped route took us around. We gladly followed the map and went through some huge estates outside of Arroyo Grande. After Arroyo, we dropped down into the growing fields of the Santa Maria valley and stopped for some of the sweetest oranges I have ever tasted. We then took advantage of the 23 mph tailwind to travel the last 7 miles into Santa Maria – tired and starting to feel the effects of 4 straight days of 70 miles plus. I still am refusing to give Gary a massage. Tonight, we make a big effort to stay up past 8:30.

One of the Tougher Rides I've done

Today we began our ride after going to bed last night a 7pm – no tv and no internet and only my brother to talk with....The 73 mile ride began with a 1000 ft climb out of Big Sir – this would set the tone for the ride today. I think I remember that at some point on the ride, Gary commented about my shorts – my shorts had been worn and washed so many times, that he was now staring at what amounted to my naked rear end for miles on end. But I digress – this ride was spectacular – along the rugged cliffs of Big Sur. Curve after curve and hill after big hill – we must have climbed easily 5000 feet today. Two major climbs – the first one out of Big Sur and the next one soon after our lunch stop in Gorda – another 700 foot climb. In between were many many 300 to 500 foot climbs.

We climbed our way out of the Big Sur cliffs and down to straights of Pacific Valley and into San Simeon. We rode along the coast where elephant seals layed on the rocks and we smelled them as we cruised by. We climbed the last few miles into Cambria and found a cool small hotel at the edge of town. First thing I did was stop at a bike store and purchased new shorts – I had to spare my brother the agony of staring at my naked rear for the next 300 miles. I also purchased some chain lube – my chain was dry and my bike was making some awful noises! 73 miles at an average of 13.9mph and painful. All is not lost – the place we are staying has a tv!

Santa Cruz to Big Sur

We began our ride from Santa Cruz after going to bed a 8PM – exhausted from the day before's ride. Today, the ride took us through Soquel, Aptos, Moss Landing, Monterey, Carmel and up to Big Sir. We enjoyed fabulous weather with great riding through some hills after leaving Santa Cruz, then through the fields of flower growers and artichoke Farmers on the Monterey Peninsula.

After the hills out of Santa Cruz, most of the ride to Monterey was via farm roads and bike paths. All was well until we hit a huge hill climbing from Monterey to Carmel along hwy 1. After the climb, we enjoyed lunch in Carmel Valley, then struggled with the last 25 miles into Big Sur. The hotel Gary chose, was the Big Sur lodge which was located UP yet another hill in the National Forest. Great hotel, no TV, no telephone and no internet – thus the blog today one day late. 78 miles today and we both are tired.

San Francisco to Santa Cruz

So where are our bikes? This is the question we were asking the gate agent upon our arrival at SFO. After a nice flight on the very hip Virgin America Airlines (check out the purple and blue lighting in the planes), we were suddenly faced with the reality that our bikes might not have made the trip on the plane with us. After an hour of checking and re-checking, the bike boxes were finally located – apparently they had been sent to customs – so much for a hip airline.

The bikes, once found, arrived in good shape. Gary brought all of his measurements from his Trek in France and we used those to dial in his new bike – it fit like a glove. We pumped up the tires, changed into our riding gear and we were off by 9:30.

Todays ride consisted of climbing from SFO to the coast, which was a climb of about 800 feet with a headwind. Both Gary and I were flowing with adrenaline so the climb didn't see too bad. We had a great downhill to Pacifica and onto highway 1 and on our way down the coast to Santa Cruz.

We enjoyed a lovely tailwind while we made our way down south. We had many small climbs and we stopped breifly at mile 25 to get some gatorade and cliffbars. We thought we would stop for lunch after Half Moon Bay, but we found nothing except beautiful wind swept coastline until mile 60, where we stopped for lunch in Davenport. 12 miles later, we were in Santa Cruz and our 73 mile ride was done at an average of 16.4 miles per hour. Both Gary and I are feeling today's ride and tonight, we go to bed early with thoughts of tomorrows ride from Santa Cruz to Big Sur.

Both bikes performed without any problems. The backpacks took a little getting used to – our backs and necks are feeling today's ride, but nothing a few pills won't be able to help. We will leave earlier tomorrow and plan to stop more often – thats the plan!