Bike Forums - The SFVBC thread

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Quote:

Originally Posted by big john

Hey HB. Surprised to see you here! Yes, I will rest some, but that road bike is going to feel like a feather after slogging up hills on the 50 pound monster. Tough to keep Deb in sight, but valleygirl (Cathy) was amazing and even challenged Deb to keep up a few times. I think VG was carrying the least, but all the ladies kept it to the minimum. They were cold walking around at night, though. Tom and John took turns pulling the BOB trailer, that thing was pretty heavy and everyone kept teasing them about having a complete wardrobe in there.

John glad to see you are back with no mishaps. What a fun trip that was and everybody was perfect company.
I feel like a cheater, because I did carry the least amount of weight. Deb was packing a good 7 pounds more than me and you had way +++ pounds than me. I did suffer on occasion with lack of clothes , I will carry 5 more pounds next time. Hey speaking of next time, Utah next year? I'm in.

I'm glad to hear you all had such fun on this trip. Was this a credit card tour or did you camp?

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadfix

I'm glad to hear you all had such fun on this trip. Was this a credit card tour or did you camp?

+1 - and details! Ride report! Pretty please. I'd love to hear what you did as well. :)

I have some pictures, but I'm terrible about posting them. I still haven't figured out how to do it.
I'll work on it.

I got back yesterday at around 5:00 from Carpinteria after 9+ hours on the bike to go 93 miles, including Casitas Pass, Dennison Grade from Ojai, Grimes Canyon, Santa Susana Pass, and the small climbs up to the house. Normally not a tough ride, but on a 50 pound bike after 3 days of riding, well, you get the picture, I'm tired.
8 SFVBC members, Tom W, John A, Joel G, John H, Cathy S, Deb M, Vicki A, and Orrie F, met in San Luis Obispo on the 28th, with the men taking the train and the women getting a ride by car. We started the riding the next day with a nice loop to Morro Rock and back to Pismo Beach for about 70 miles. It was in Pismo that night that they bought me dinner and a lovely Tiramisu for my birthday, the day before.
The next morning found me in the hot tub at 6:30 watching the surfers, as our motel was on the beach. What a great way to start the day! There were two options for route slips to Solvang from Pismo, with both staying together until Los Alimos. Tom and John were taking turns pulling the BOB trailer and this was John's day, so his rear shift cable popped out at the start. Fortunately, there was a mechanic at hand and soon we were rolling down Highway 1. I hung back and realized on the first steep little climb that he couldn't get into his granny ring up front and was struggling to pull the trailer. Another visit from the mech and things were O.K., so we rode out of the fog into Los Alimos for lunch. We split up at this point with the other guys going over Drum Canyon for about 60 miles and I went with the ladies over Cat Canyon to Foxen Canyon. This was the best riding with miles of no cars and beautiful views. Deb and Cathy put the hammer down and vanished into the distance, while Orrie, Vicki, and I enjoyed the scenery and each other's company. Due to a glitch on the route slip, we got an extra few miles and ended the day with 90.
The third day on the road was a shorter 55ish mile route, but started with a section of Hwy 154 toward San Marcos Pass where there was no shoulder and speeding cars and trucks. After more than enough of that we found ourselves on a wonderful, quiet road winding through the hills and under that big bridge. We stopped at a quaint inn in the woods and could have stayed there for hours. Again, we split up with me and the women going on and the other guys staying behind to sample the cuisine that included quiche! After some more beautiful, tree-shrouded roads, we had to ride a little more 154 until we got on the Old San Marcos road for a rocket-ride drop into Santa Barbara, and a cruise into Carpinteria. Here, Cathy left us to get back to business and her son picked her up. I was doing laundry and didn't get a chance to say goodbye.
The next morning we split up for the last time with the other men taking a flat route to Moorpark for a train ride back to the valley, (Joel said the train went over Santa Susana quite easily), and the Hammer Princesses and I taking the highland option.
A great trip with the best travelling companions, everthing worked out wonderfully. Thanks, Deb, for the idea, thanks Orrie and Vicki, for all the great conversation, thanks Joel, for not snoring much, and thanks everyone for another great memory..
Did I mention the food? One great thing about touring is eating all you want of whatever you want!

Quote:

Originally Posted by big john

You should be tired, John! What a wonderful way to spend your birthday. I am so jealous. Amazing riding you guys did and I do hope some pics will be posted (Cathy, you can use photobucket). One of these days, I want to do a bike tour as I can't imagine anything better...oh, and the food. Must be nice. ;):D

Quote:

Originally Posted by merider1

You should be tired, John! What a wonderful way to spend your birthday. I am so jealous. Amazing riding you guys did and I do hope some pics will be posted (Cathy, you can use photobucket). One of these days, I want to do a bike tour as I can't imagine anything better...oh, and the food. Must be nice. ;):D

It's hard to beat a bicycle tour. Freedom to do what you want, stop, go, go left, right, the choice is yours. Meeting people and seeing town you never notice from the freeways. It's often described as moving at people speed. Sounds like a great trip Big John, can't wait for the pics. Makes me want to dust off my panniers and fenders and disappear for a week.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkadam68

Sorry I missed you, Brian. I saw you ride past my parking spot on your way to the start. My son & I did the #1 ride. Ended with about 26 miles. He hadn't ridden in awhile, so I was hesitant to take him on anything longer. Plus, I'll be racing at the Pontius Criterium tomorrow, so I had to take it easy. Hope to run in to you soon. :)

If you guys happen to be doing the #1 ride tomorrow, the wife might let me do that one before we go out for the day since I had to skip riding for her friend's graduation today.

Oops...sorry...just saw your post. No...we were in San Diego for the day (a very long one).

edit: On Sunday we ride in the PM after church.

Ahh, sometimes I feel really lucky to go to a church that starts at 11am!

i didnt see you there today urban

The ride today was fun, nice winds made it twice as interesting :)

I actually got my wife to do a ride with me instead! Of course, that entailed going to Santa Monica and renting trikes to ride down the bike path 10 miles. Those suckers would be fun with a slightly smaller cog and clipless pedals!!!

I think I'm going to do the #1 ride on Sat, so I can be back at home by 10:30 to celebrate mom's day with the mother-in-law. I probably won't stay more than a minute at the rest stop for that reason.

I'll be riding more with the club, so convenient---2 miles from my house and now that I don't work saturdays its going to be really easy to do.

Time to feel some early Sat morning pain again :p

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00107311.jpg
Nice views everyday.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00107221.jpg
John A. couldn't get into his granny on this hill, we adjusted it at the top.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00107921.jpg
Going under the bridge on 154.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00108291.jpg
Joel on the coast (shorter route), the last day.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00108251.jpg
John towing BOB.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00108231.jpg
One of the starts.

Yay, John! :beer: You got them uploaded! Great pics! Looks gorgeous out there (which it is). Thank you for sharing. :)

wow nice pictures, I wish I could have gone :(

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00107071.jpg
Big J, Orrie,and Joel
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00107041.jpg
I think that's Joel in the shadow.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../R00107001.jpg
Here's Deb. That backpack was heavy but she was still fast.

Nice pix. Thanks John.

Very nice photos John!

Looks like a great adventure. I hope I can do something similar some day.

John are thsoe sandbags??