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Riding with an Amazonian and Jersey Shopping

3/21/2010

8 Comments

 
After yesterday's epic, I slotted in with the group ride out of Dr. J's bike shop.  Comprised mostly of what we would consider "B" riders and a large quantity of tri-athletes, including a woman who when she walked, her leg muscles shot out in every point on the compass. I was afraid of her. The tri guys were kind of arrogant, not like our humble tri's like Andrew, Nathan and Belinda.

We headed out for a 50 mile ride but I think 2 flat tires kind of took the steam out of the group.  We reached Foxen Canyon Road and passed Fess Parker's Winery.  Yes, that Fess Parker who starred as Daniel Boone and then went into California real esstate where he was very successful with 2 resorts and other properties.  He died last week at 85,  His winery kicks off a 1-2 mile climb and the group thinned.  Toward the top the climb got steeper and there were 3 of us, including the Amazonian woman.  We regrouped at the top and the Amazonian went off to take a leak except she suddenly stopped with a "Wow, take a look at this."  We walked over and there curled was a rattlesnake.  Cool!
  We hit the down hill and enjoyed a very long coast where it was decided we would cut the ride short and eventually reached Los Olivos, a tiny town 5 miles north of Solvang.  We regrouped and headed up a very steep and longish hill on Ballard Canyon Road.  I felt good and kicked it in gear and went around the Amazonian who muttered something that I took to be a compliment.  It felt good to reach the top first. Ended with only 40 miles but that was ok. 
Picture
I drove to Santa Barbara to hit Fasttrack, a bike shop owned by Dave Literri, Armstrong's former mechanic.  He always has some neat jerseys and today was no different.  On the way, I passed fields of beautiful orange, purple, white and yellow fields of flowers and always, Figueroa Moutain dominates the landcape.

Picture
Armstrong and Team Discovery trained out here prior to each of his 7 Tour wins.  They would climb "The Fig" at a relaxed pace, coast down the mountain and then turn around and hit it at race pace.  I climb it at a relaxed pace, coast down and hit a local restaurant.

Picture
Fastrack is basically a hole-in-the-wall crammed with bike parts and clothing.  Dozens of bike frames and a counter that is covered with bike parts.  Without a doubt, it's the messiest shop I've ever been in but it has character, including numerous jerseys signed by Armstrong and at one time, Dave rode for the US Olympic team.

Picture
Picture
On the Santa Barbara side of the mountain range is the climb up Gibralter.  It's length, average grade and switchbacks make it a twin of the "Alpe".  Maybe better with views of the ocean all the way up.

8 Comments
Sprocket
3/21/2010 08:13:57 pm

Is that Christmas lights on the house in the foreground? Nice work...enjoy reading about places I would love to ride; keep em coming.

Reply
Dude
3/21/2010 11:33:29 pm

You really need to learn some basic bike adjustment skills... adjusting bars and seat height should be a no-brainer for an avid cyclist such as yourself. Seriously.

Reply
Editor
3/22/2010 01:54:36 am

I know how to adjust the seat and bars and maybe can even change a flat. What I don't carry is an allen wrench with which to make on the road changes. I should but I don't.

Reply
Cindy
3/22/2010 04:10:28 am

Brings back great memories; anyone for Solvang next year? Planet Ultra puts on a great week of riding, most of these same places, also in March. Keep the pictures coming. Oh, btw, we had such a great ride on Saturday, not sure what made it so special...but everyone really enjoyed themselves, so relaxing.

Reply
Crank Arm
3/22/2010 11:37:12 am

Hey Mark, who is this Cindy chick? She is always getting cheap shots in on you.

Reply
Mark
3/23/2010 07:08:23 am

Crank Arm, Good question about this Cindy chick. She is a frustrated government employee who thinks she is over worked and under paid, despite all evidence to the contrary. She spends the day lurking on various message boards and flames everyone. She is mentally unbalanced. I just ignore her and frequently remove the more offensive comments.

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

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