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05-13-03, 01:01 PM
As I posted a couple of weeks ago business has, sadly, brought me to San Diego. I know, I know, but I think I will muddle through. I will just have to get used to temperatures in the 60s after a few weeks of high-80s/90s and high humidity back home in the swamp.
John E, one of our vintage buddies here on BF not only offered to meet me for a ride, he let me ride one of his vintage stable, a very nice Peugeot he got at a garage sale. John, meanwhile was riding his 1950's era Coppo (is that the correct spelling, John?). So what you had was two vintage cylists on two vintage cycles. I don't even want to add up the combined ages of the 4 participants involved.
Following John's instructions I took the commuter train up a couple of stops to meet him at the station where he had stashed the extra bike in his bike locker. Within a few minutes we were rolling. A few hundred meters down the road we pulled into a Performance bike shop to top off the tires and water bottles. While we were there it seemed like an appropriate place to have a picture taken (sorry for the glare off my head :eek: !). Of course the shop guy suggested we take it in front of their NEW bikes. Right there between us on the floor is a Giant TCR. If I ever buy a new bike that would be a candidate.
We rolled out of the shop and headed uphill. Now keep in mind that where I come from the only "hills" we have are overpasses and levees (to keep the lake and river out since New Orleans is BELOW sea level). The first couple of miles were no big deal, but when John said "Well, here is the start of the Torrey Pines climb." I was looking up at something like I have seen only in very small bits, but this one kept going and going. I got into the smallest gear I had, 34/23, and proceeded to grind uphill. Actually, it wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared. My cadence probably didn't exceed 40 rpm, but we just took our time. John was very kind and didn't run off up the hill like I had the feeling he probably could have. It wasn't easy, but I never got out of breath or suffered. At the top John showed me around the old lodge. It was originally a restaurant, but now is part of the state reserve and serves as a visitor center and museum. We saw the stuffed cousin of one of the local fauna whose aroma we had enjoyed on the way to the top. John caught a glimpse of a live one right behind the restrooms while I was inside. I'm glad he wasn't looking for a warm spot to spend the evening!.
Other than a few rolling spots much of the rest of the ride was downhill. John led me through the campus of UCSD, including a drive by of the UCSC Bike Shop where, as John says, "Cycling is academic." Pretty neat for a university to have it's own bike shop! It really says something about how popular cycling is out here. Once through the campus John led me another couple of miles down the road to the head of a bike path that would get me started on 12-15 miles back to downtown San Diego while he headed north about the same distance home. He had thoughtfully printed out maps and instructions to get me back "home" safe and sound. Much of the way was on bike paths, including a mile or two that was so separated visually from roadways I could almost have been in some deserted canyon by myself except that I could hear the traffic not too far away. Another stretch that went on for what seemed like several miles winds along the water in the Mission Bay area. Riding lazily along the shoreline in the early evening was a wonderful experience. It is a mixed use path where the speed limit is 8 mph. Luckily, I figured I had plenty of daylight left so I was in no hurry and enjoyed seeing so many people out walking, jogging, and skating.
When I got to the end of the bike path I had a moment of uncertainty, but before I could pull out the map I noticed that there was a Bike Route sign with arrows pointing the direction of 2 or 3 destinations, including "DOWNTOWN". How fine is that? From then on I just followed the signs which seemed to be there right when I needed them. Once I got to the edge of downtown I was able to head right to the hotel.
I had an absolutely wonderful time. Thank you, John, for taking time to show me around a beautiful area and for providing a bike for me to ride. I was MUCH more comfortable riding a good old road bike. John is very active in the San Diego bicycle coalition, and many of the bike paths, lanes, signage, and old streets now dedicated to bike are due to the efforts of John and his friends. Well done, John. Thanks for the time you spent with me and the time you devote to improving cycling.
Regards,
Raymond
John E, one of our vintage buddies here on BF not only offered to meet me for a ride, he let me ride one of his vintage stable, a very nice Peugeot he got at a garage sale. John, meanwhile was riding his 1950's era Coppo (is that the correct spelling, John?). So what you had was two vintage cylists on two vintage cycles. I don't even want to add up the combined ages of the 4 participants involved.
Following John's instructions I took the commuter train up a couple of stops to meet him at the station where he had stashed the extra bike in his bike locker. Within a few minutes we were rolling. A few hundred meters down the road we pulled into a Performance bike shop to top off the tires and water bottles. While we were there it seemed like an appropriate place to have a picture taken (sorry for the glare off my head :eek: !). Of course the shop guy suggested we take it in front of their NEW bikes. Right there between us on the floor is a Giant TCR. If I ever buy a new bike that would be a candidate.
We rolled out of the shop and headed uphill. Now keep in mind that where I come from the only "hills" we have are overpasses and levees (to keep the lake and river out since New Orleans is BELOW sea level). The first couple of miles were no big deal, but when John said "Well, here is the start of the Torrey Pines climb." I was looking up at something like I have seen only in very small bits, but this one kept going and going. I got into the smallest gear I had, 34/23, and proceeded to grind uphill. Actually, it wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared. My cadence probably didn't exceed 40 rpm, but we just took our time. John was very kind and didn't run off up the hill like I had the feeling he probably could have. It wasn't easy, but I never got out of breath or suffered. At the top John showed me around the old lodge. It was originally a restaurant, but now is part of the state reserve and serves as a visitor center and museum. We saw the stuffed cousin of one of the local fauna whose aroma we had enjoyed on the way to the top. John caught a glimpse of a live one right behind the restrooms while I was inside. I'm glad he wasn't looking for a warm spot to spend the evening!.
Other than a few rolling spots much of the rest of the ride was downhill. John led me through the campus of UCSD, including a drive by of the UCSC Bike Shop where, as John says, "Cycling is academic." Pretty neat for a university to have it's own bike shop! It really says something about how popular cycling is out here. Once through the campus John led me another couple of miles down the road to the head of a bike path that would get me started on 12-15 miles back to downtown San Diego while he headed north about the same distance home. He had thoughtfully printed out maps and instructions to get me back "home" safe and sound. Much of the way was on bike paths, including a mile or two that was so separated visually from roadways I could almost have been in some deserted canyon by myself except that I could hear the traffic not too far away. Another stretch that went on for what seemed like several miles winds along the water in the Mission Bay area. Riding lazily along the shoreline in the early evening was a wonderful experience. It is a mixed use path where the speed limit is 8 mph. Luckily, I figured I had plenty of daylight left so I was in no hurry and enjoyed seeing so many people out walking, jogging, and skating.
When I got to the end of the bike path I had a moment of uncertainty, but before I could pull out the map I noticed that there was a Bike Route sign with arrows pointing the direction of 2 or 3 destinations, including "DOWNTOWN". How fine is that? From then on I just followed the signs which seemed to be there right when I needed them. Once I got to the edge of downtown I was able to head right to the hotel.
I had an absolutely wonderful time. Thank you, John, for taking time to show me around a beautiful area and for providing a bike for me to ride. I was MUCH more comfortable riding a good old road bike. John is very active in the San Diego bicycle coalition, and many of the bike paths, lanes, signage, and old streets now dedicated to bike are due to the efforts of John and his friends. Well done, John. Thanks for the time you spent with me and the time you devote to improving cycling.
Regards,
Raymond