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

Lights, Camera, Climbing!!!

3/22/2010

0 Comments

 
Picture
So, today was the day to take my first crack at Figueroa Mountain, or as the locals call it, "The Fig".  I noticed a layer of maritime fog had moved in overnight but it always burns off by 10:00am and if you can get to the foot of the mountain in time, you ride into the fog and at approximately 1000' up you break through into brilliant sunshine.  As I approach the mountain, the fog was already lifting, as shown above.

Picture
Here's a good image of a winery, winding road and the Fig in the back ground.  The approach is rolling with no difficult climbs but some how, 1000' is gained prior to...

Picture
...the official start of the climb, as designated by the dead tree, the sign and usually some one has chalked, "The Start" on the road.  This week alone, there are at least 3 tour groups out here and the organizers like to paint or chalk different road markings for inspiration to the cyclists.  It takes me around an hour and thirty minutes to cover the 3500' and roughly 10 miles.  I think the record is 57 minutes.  Coming off the crummy weather of February, I wondered if I would be forced to unclip some where up there.  I would like to show images of the way up, especially the packed dirt and stone section that adds character but to do so requires me to stop and I did not want to.  Another cool section is, after reaching the saddle (shown in the image.  That is not the top.) the road drops steeply around 500-800' and all that gain is lost but you cross 4 streams and the water that splashes up usually is welcome.

Picture
I labored mightily and became despondent when it appeared I was going to go over 1:30.  Every time you reach the top of a switchback there is another and no sign of the top until literally you are at the top.  Very strange. I cursed my winter weight, lack of cycling, steepness of the road, the effect of aging but suddenly, there was the last ramp, a grueling 18% stretch and I arrived at 1:30:27.  Better than last year's first time by 5 minutes but behind my best time by a few minutes.  Still, at the top the Los Padres forest of 2 million acres stretches farther than the eye can see and it feels great to stretch out under a lone pine and rest.  Soon, others summited as the day sees many come up from both sides.

Picture
People come by the thousands to view the spectacular wild flower displays that exist on the sunnier southwest facing slopes.  Here is just one of many patches of color and after remounting my bike a mile later I came across....

Picture

....a production company filming a zombie movie.  One of the guys applying make-up had a T-shirt that said some thing about prostitutes atnd zombies but this movie is something about a dungeon and zombies.  I asked if I could take an image and all said yes except the zombie who said no but I snapped anyway.  They had a huge spread of food and drinks laid out and I hoped they would offer me a drink as I was out but they did not.  I continued to coast down to the bottom, passed Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch and soon reached Los Olivos, where I stopped to refuel.  Only 49 miles but 5100' of climbing and that was enough.
Hope most of you are enjoying these reports.  For me, it is a way of documenting my comings and goings for reading 30 years from now when I can not do this anymore so please understand when sometimes the content may come across as self serving. No one cares but me about times and distances but for me it is important to document.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    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 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    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.