Saturday, July 21, 2012
Fuel
Friday, July 20, 2012
Ride Report: Monterey Peninsula-Los Angeles, Summer 2012
Along with friends and family the Windbreakers have returned
home from an epic, multi-day 375 mile bicycling journey down the California
Coast, starting at the Monterey Peninsula and finishing in Los Angeles. Much of the route followed California SR-1,
also known as the Cabrillo Hwy and named for the great explorer Juan Rodriquez
Cabrillo. Cabrillo was the first
European explorer to navigate the coast of present day California.
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| Ride Leader Rick the "Rabbit" |
In a similar spirit of exploration and adventure, a total of
16 riders braved the winds, climbs, twists and turns of this most famous and
scenic coastline; all were rewarded with a fantastic adventure. Many thanks to our very own Rick “Rabbit”
Sullivan and his entire family for organizing the ride and taking good care of
all participants.
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| Directeur Sportif Stephanie |
Equally important on a ride of this scope is the role of Directeur Sportif (French for Sporting
Director). For this ride we had Stephanie,
the wonderful daughter of participant Steve Heron, filling this essential role. Thanks go to Stephanie for all her efforts
and organization to handle the support for the ride. Ride On!
Day 0 started with a group meet-up at the Sullivan house in
Upland. The caravan consisted of two
vehicles with support trailer including all bikes, food and support gear. Once the caravan left the LA metro area we
were headed north along I-5 over the Grapevine and into the Central Valley of
California. Following a lunch stop in the remote highway outpost of Lost Hills
we made our way west along SR-46; it was at this point in the journey that we
remembered we were entering into the Paso Robles area and its up-and-coming
wine region. A wine tasting stop was
therefore in order and no better place that at Tobin James. Following an hour-long tasting and purchase
of additional bottles for the bike ride, it was off again north on US 101 to
Monterey Peninsula and to our Pacific Grove hotel. Day 0 concluded with pizza and beer at
Gianni’s pizza in Monterey.
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| Day 1 Pacific Grove: Assembled at Start |
Day 1: Pacific Grove-Kirk Creek Campground
Under cool, overcast skies the riders assembled for pictures
and a mass start. Within minutes we were
cruising on the famous 17-Mile Drive; with views of the Lone Cypress Tree and
Pebble Beach Golf Links. Upon leaving Carmel we were now on SR-1, headed south
to L.A. Following lunch at the River Inn
and Fernwood we had our first big climb out of Big Sur. In and out of the cloud cover with views of
ocean coves and coastal canyons we finished 67 miles later at Kirk Creek. The reward was a breathtaking sunset over the
Pacific Ocean and fun with great friends and family.
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| South on SR 1 near San Simeon |
Day 2: Kirk Creek-Pismo Beach/Oceano Campground
At precisely 6:05 a.m. ignition on the supply trailer
generator was completed to begin breakfast and the all important coffee
brewing. At approximately 8:15 am the
riders exited the campground to head south.
More climbing immediately greeted riders, after a stop at Ragged Point
we dropped onto the San Simeon plain and into Morro Bay for lunch. Following lunch we rode through Morro Bay
State Park and the Los Osos Valley through San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach to
our campground finish at Oceano. Dinner
that evening at the nearby Old Juan’s Mexican Café. Our longest day at 95 miles.
Day 3: Oceano Campground-Gaviota State Park
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| Dr. Tom on Black Road near Santa Maria |
An 8:30 start from Oceano began Day 3…just a few miles into
the ride the group was met by a Caltrans roadblock and detour thorough
Nipomo. Rick and John’s route-finding skills
were used to navigate the group off the planned course and to the first
refueling stop at Black Road, our first climb of the day. Following this beautiful late morning climb
we soon found ourselves in the Casmalia Hills near Vandenburg AFB, and then
into Lompoc for lunch. Following lunch
we were back on SR 1 toward the coast and our camp at Gaviota. Unfortunately it was on this last leg of the
day that rider Kathy suffered a crash that took her out of the tour. She remained on however to finish and help
with support. Also on this day William, one
of our young “heads of state”, had an allergic reaction to a bee sting which
would take him out of Day 4. Dr. Tom was
busy that afternoon tending to riders;
later that evening many enjoyed a swim at Gaviota beach, a walk on the
pier and a great Italian dinner brought to camp courtesy of Stratton who joined
us for the remainder of the ride.
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| Rolling through Santa Barbara |
Day 4: Gaviota State Park-Ventura
Following a windy overnight the riders grouped up for the
Day 4 ride down US 101. We exited the
highway at Isla Vista for the bike path through UCSB and into Santa
Barbara. Following a beautiful side
route through Hope Ranch the peloton hit State Street and coffee at Handlebars
Coffee, a bicycling-themed coffee house in the downtown district. The ride continued through Montecito and
into Carpinteria for a stop at Island Brewing Co for a cold beer. The last leg skirted the coast at Rincon and
Emma Wood State Beach, then to our hotel at Ventura. After swims, showers and mass at Our Lady of
the Assumption, all regrouped at Anacapa Brewing Co. downtown for a great
dinner and viewing of the Tour de France.
Day 5: Ventura-Los Angeles (Griffith Park)
With some more weary than others, the riders met for
breakfast and planning for the last day of the tour. Ridemaster Joe had departed the night before
due to work commitments, but good news greeted the gang as William was able to
re-join. Equally good was that Kathy was
feeling better, though understandably not able to ride. This last day was to include some of the most
challenging riding of the tour; a difficult climb up the Potrero Grade and urban
riding through the San Fernando Valley. And
this last day took us much farther inland, so an early start was in order and
after packing up we were on the road at 7:30 a.m.
As we rode toward the Conejo (appropriately meaning “Rabbit”
in Spanish) Hills through the agricultural fields of Oxnard, the Potrero Road
climb loomed as a major challenge. All
accepted the challenge with gusto and panache, as we marched up the hillside
with selected segments at 18% gradient. Unfortunately
Josh, another of our heads of state, was forced to cut his ride short at the
first rest stop after the summit due to a pulled achilles. Then through Thousand Oaks, Agoura and
Calabassas and into the San Fernando Valley.
The last 20 miles featured an urban route along Ventura and Burbank
Boulevards, with the long-awaited finish at Griffith Park.
The finishing group gathered for a concluding dinner of
beers, burgers and stories from the journey at Clearmans Galley (“the Boat”) restaurant
in East Pasadena. Ride On!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Ride Report: Mammoth Lakes
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| North on U.S. 395 headed toward June Lake Jct. |
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| Dry Creek Road (Mammoth Scenic Loop) |
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