Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

California Training/Eating & Drinking Report

4/6/2009

3 Comments

 

Some Background: My journey to an annual cycling vacation in California started with a business trip to Santa Barbara.  I'll never forget stepping off the small commuter plane at the SB airport, seeing the mountains to the east and the ocean to the west. After arguing unsuccessfully for golf's ruling body, the USGA, to reverse a decision that had gone against us, I promised myself to return to the area for a vacation.  The following year I brought the wife and children out, with bike.  While they enjoyed the area, the lack of hot temperatures did not make the vacation ideal for them but for me, it wsa nirvana,  I rode up Gibralter, a classic climb that switchbacks back and forth with fabulous views of the Pacific, rode with some locals and saw a movie called "Sideways" about two guys vacationing in an area called Santa Ynez Valley.  After returning home, I researched Santa Ynez and its many small towns like Solvang, Los Olivos, Los Alamos, Buelton, Santa Maria, etc.. and discovered the area wsa a very popular destination for cyclists, including the Discovery Team (Armstrongs team) and Team CSC.  There was also a monster climb the locals called "The Fig", which is up Figueroa Mountain.  The following year I shipped my bike out, followed it out a few days later and using the Royal Scandanavian Inn as a home base, rode each day while eating and drinking, a lot. I've had some neat experiences out there and will build on this blog with recollections over time.  The below is from my 2009 visit:

Eating/drinking/training week got off to a bad start....no, the bike arrived ok...no, no, it went together just fine.  The trouble started when I went to a local restaurant (Hitching Post) with the intent to order only an appetizer but the allure of many entrees dancing off the page was too much to resist for one who has no willpower so I ordered a large meal instead, a very large meal.  Returned to the hotel and had a bag of M&Ms.  Egad's, no wonder I always gain weight out here.

On Saturday, Planet Ultra ran a double century.  Cyclists start as early as 5:30 but to have the time recorded the official start time is 7:30 with the winner clocking in around 9 hours.  I jumped the route a few miles in and couldn't hold a wheel of any of those going for a sub-10 hour, 200 mile time, including a guy riding a fixed gear bike with a wrench strapped to the frame. I couldn't figure that out and had to ask about it.  His ancient bike didn't have quick release skewers so in the event of a flat he needed
the wrench to loosen the nuts. Soon the "12 hour" types came along and got in a 6 man pace line for 25 miles.  Get this, I never had to take a pull.  Every time we came to a stop and the group reshuffled, I was always at the back!! How's that happen? Eventually we reached an area with which I am not familiar (somewhere north of Santa Maria) and I had to drop out, eventually reaching Los Alamos at mile 80 and facing the 800' Drum Canyon climb, ouch.  The double century types would hit it at mile 180.  I got over it and enjoyed a strong tail wind back to Solvang and ended with exactly 100 miles, This was a "flat" route with only 4800' of climbing. 

The vegetation is interesting as I ride the mountains and valleys.  On the one hand, there is cactus but the landscape is dominated by centuries old white oaks with Spanish moss like what you see in Savannah, GA..weird. The apple trees have not yet budded yet the migrant workers are picking enormous strawberries from the fields. I don't get that since strawberries are picked in Ohio well after everything has leaved.  The trees all have leaves except for some fruit trees.  In the mountains there are vast fields of purple and orange wild flowers that, in the wind and from a distance, make the area look like it is on fire.  Dozens of cars line the winding, (and friggin steep) mountain roads with people taking pictures.  I have not seen a cloud in 5 days and probably won't see one for the next 5 days.  There are many wineries of course but probably just as many cow farms, horse farms, pecan orchards, really anything that grows anywhere is growing here.  For me, it is nirvana.  The valley is ringed by mountains and the roads are nearly vacant, even though this is California. 

After Saturday's 100 mile effort, on Sunday I rode up Figueroa Mountain via the flatter Happy Canyon
route.  9.5 miles and 3500' of elevation gain means you can sit for most of the ride but it has great character.  Road is very narrow and there is a 3/4 mile stretch of unpaved, rock, hole, gravel & dirt section that requires careful navigation.  Eventually you cross a saddle and plunge into a side canyon before crossing three streams and then begins an unrelenting stretch with no respite from the climb.  My goal was to set a new personal best but within a mile of the top a car passed me going slightly faster than me and the narrowness of the "road" made it a challenge.  Then the guy stopped at a cattle guard to let another car come through but that would have required me to stop so I pulled left of center, held up my hand for the oncoming car to stop, which it did and passed the other car.  I beat my previous best by 15 minutes and celebrated at the top, looking over the vast wilderness of the Los Padres Forest and Santa Ynez Mountain range.  Ended the day with 50 miles and 4800' of climbing.  Took Monday off to sightsee and then on Tuesday headed again for Figueroa Mountain (locals just call it "The Fig") to go up the Happy Canyon route again, coasted down to Los Olivos for lunch and then headed back up the mountain via Figueroa Road which is shorter and far steeper.  Lots of 20-25% sections in there but thankfully, there are 4-5 recovery sections. Ended the day with 70 miles and 8400' of climbing.  When Discovery trained out here they would go up at a relaxed pace adn upon coastig to the bottom, reclimb it at a race pace.  Unreal.

The next day I headed out to remote Jalama Beach.  Although the route puts you out onto Highway 1, there is a large berm and 2 miles later Jalama Road is reached.  The next 14 miles is tough climbing, punctuated by a 2 mile steepish climb before finally coasting to the beach and the little market that serves the famous Jalama Beach burger.  It doesn't take long to burn the burger calories and after 76 miles I was back at the hotel (Wine Valley Inn) for a glass of recovery wine (or maybe two).  On April 2, I headed out Foxen Canyon, passing Fess Parker's Winery (yess the Fess Parker
who played Daniel Boone and is alive and well) to the top of Tepsuquet.  I came across the folks from Cycling Escapes and they seemed to be enjoying their tour.  After reaching the top of Tepsuquet, I coasted down about half way but lost interest in going all the way to the bottom and 50 miles.  Returned to the hotel with 94 miles.  I took a well deserved rest day on the 3rd and spent it roaming around and enjoying the fantastic views.  Even dropped into Santa Barbara and visited the Santa Barbara Winery Tasting Room.

On the 4th I did a route that included Cat Canyon, Drum Canyon and Foxen Canyon with a rest stop in the interesting old town of Los Alamos.  75 miles on this day and 42 on the final gave me 493 miles for the trip with 37,000' of climbing.  This is the 4th straight year I have enjoyed my 10 days in Solvang and hope the streak continues for a long time.








3 Comments

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.