Utah Cliffs Loop

It's that time of the year again! For 2013 I am looking into doing an out of state multi-day bicycle touring trip. This year I am eye-balling the Utah Cliffs Loop in Utah.

 
This 286 mile loop starts and end in St George and the road surfaces are approximately fifty percent dirt and gravel roads and fifty percent paved roads.
Because of this combination of bike paths, paved roads, and rugged back-country tracks, a good mountain bike – preferably one that's fully suspended – is the bicycle of choice. However, a hard-tail or even my bike with no suspension will work fine. So I will have some decisions to make on whether I will take my Haro Werx, or my Salsa Vaya as my bicycle of choice (Meet my bikes)

Anyway, I have some map-studying to do and I will keep this blog up to date on my plans moving forward. Timing for my trip is somewhere end September begin October.

6th Day, Gaviota State Beach Park to Santa Barbara

Left Gaviota State Beach Park around 7 AM. Had a small package of cold cereal for breakfast, and planned to have a decent breakfast in Santa Barbara.

Almost all of the 36 miles to Santa Barbara were on Highway 101 (Garmin GPS Plot). Lots of truck traffic on the highway! The only good part was that the shoulder next to the highway was wider than the actual lanes of the highway. There was one section on a bridge where the shoulder was non-existing. At that point it was all about waiting for the right moment, and then pedal as fast as you can to the other side before traffic would come from behind again.

Arrived at 9:30 AM in Santa Barbara and had a nice breakfast with a good coffee.

Arrival at Santa Barbara Wharf

During my breakfast I reflected on the journey from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, and what was still to come if I wanted to bike all the way back home. After contemplating  for a while I decided to go with my earliest plan; stop in Santa Barbara. If I would like to bike all the way home, I would have to push 2 days for 100 miles a day on a “not so interesting route”. Meaning, parts that are not scenic, or I have ridden many times before (SD-County Coast-line).

After discussing this with Saskia, she agreed to pick me up on Saturday, stay the afternoon and night in SB, and then drive home together. After looking at some hotel options, I found out that the Tourist Hostel also had small cottages that rented for $99 a night. Instead of a dorm, you would have  your own room with a bathroom, and a small kitchen

Summary of my trip:

Day	Milage	Elev.Gain	Cal. Burn	Avg. Spd	Max. Spd
1	62.41	3064	3891	12	34.4
2	74.51	2671	4427	12.9	35.7
3	59.45	5498	4357	11.7	31.8
4	81.35	4856	5424	13.1	33.2
5	81.41	3416	5180	13.6	33.8
6	35.91	946	2172	13.9	27.4
Totals:	395.04	20451	25451

# of broken Spokes:               2

# of flats tires:                 1

# of “scary moments”:             2

# of nights camping:              3

# of nights in motel:             2

# of times pushing bike up-hill:  2

Weights:

Bike: 27 lbs

Gear: 50 lbs (including 3 bottles of water)

Lessons learned:

If you think that you did not pack enough stuff,  you can remove at least an extra 10 lbs!

You can never have enough tools to fix your bike.

On a touring-bike it is OK to have a granny gear.

Chamois butter is your best friend, trust me!

Even the Dutch Diesel will have to push his 77 lbs bike+gear uphill now and then.

Thank you!

Thank you Saskia for letting me ride this adventure, AND picking me up in Santa Barbara.

Thank you blog-readers that posted motivations and/or witty comments on the blog, or face-book links.

And last, but not least, thank you California drivers for not running me over!

5th Day, Obispo to Gaviota State Beach Park

Today (Thursday) I got up early again, wheels rolling out of San Luis Obispo at 7:30 AM. I stopped for breakfast around 8:30 AM in a restaurant build within 2 old railroad cars; It consists of two streamlined passenger cars: a smooth-side diner and a fluted Budd obs-lounge.They served an “el-cheapo” weekday breakfast of 2 eggs, 2 links, hash brown potatoes, and whole wheat bread.  Al for $5.99.

While I was having my breakfast, Tyler (another touring cyclist who started in SF) rode by again. Over the last few days we have been passing each other several times. Typically he passes when I am having a break, and later I will pass him uphill. Today we met twice on the road, exchanged some chit-chat, and then each continues their own pace.

Today there were several long stretches without any markets or gas stations for refueling, so while enjoying the beautifull views, I had to plan my water and food carefully.

Beautifull Views

Just before a long climb up to Lompoc,  I was running out of water, but was able to divert my route for half a mile in to the town of Orcutt. Filled up my 3 water bottles, and treated myself for a strawberry ice-cream at “Dr Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab” ;o)

Dr Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab

In Lompoc I stopped for lunch at “Panda Express” and had a “Panda-bowl” with chow-mien and Orange-Chicken. Yummy! Out of Lompoc I saw a whole bunch of horses. I wasn’t sure if those were from the Lompoc horse sanctuary.  A Dutch friend did a photo-shoot seminar in Lompoc a few months ago. Took a picture, maybe she recognizes them.

Horses in Lompoc (Sanctuary?)

Trip ended uneventful (no flats, no broken spokes) in Gaviota State Beach Park after riding ~83 miles (Garmin GPS Plot) and several thousand feet of climbing. Had again a “hiker/biker” site, now for $10.

Hiker/Biker Site

The hot showers were next to my campsite, and I was spotless clean again for 3 quarters.  That was 50 cents for the body, and 25 cents for shampooing my cycle-gear.  Hey…a man wants to smell good while riding his bicycle! Even my swallow friends up in the attic approved of my cleanliness  ;o)

Peeping (Tom) Swallow

Since there were no stores around, I had to settle again for noodles and tuna. Had some nuts for desert and went to bed around 8 pm.

Tomorrow I will decide whether I stop in Santa Barbara, or keep going as far south as I can. At this moment it is clear that riding home to Ramona before Sunday is out of reach. I might as well enjoy the beautiful Santa Barbara with my wife for a day (if she is willing to pick me up...).

4th Day. Yes!!! Flats!!!

Today was predominantly flat. Some heavily climbing at the start, but nothing to complain about. Or do I just not want to sound like a broken record.?! Anyway ,check the stats of my 80 mile ride.
Again beautiful scenery. Check out this panoramic pic:

Beautiful Scenery

Had breakfast at a local whale watching diner. The single service of oatmeal didn't keep the diesel going (engine stalling). Had pancakes to keep the engine running.

Had a deer running in front of me for almost a mile. She couldn't go left or right. After a mile she found a spot to escape the terror of my blinking headlight.



As stated, from San Simeon on it was mostly flat. Did average 20 mph on some 6 mile stretches. Passed San  Simeon camp-ground where I and my family camped a few years back. Good memories!

San Simeon had many locations with seals that where sunning on the beach. You could smell them from half a mile away :o)

Smelling while chilling

San Luis Obispo I stopped at a bike shop to get some spare spokes and get rid of my troublesome pedals. Good timing! In front of my motel a second spoke broke... 

Dutch Courage!

 Morale of the day: Have courage in the things you do ....and seal it with a kiss!

PS Dutch Courage means "having courage when drunk" ;o) Cheers!

3rd Day, Big Sur

The third day went frrm Monterey to Lime Kiln State Park in Big Sur. You can find the route again on the Garming GPS link. And guess what today's entertainment entailed?



Yes...hills!

But before we get to those exciting hills...rewind. Alarm went off at 6:00 AM. I had breakfast at 7:00 AM ; nice continental breakfast (all for $44). Had Wheat bread with strawberry jam.
I left at 7:40 AM and was within 10 minutes back on PCH Bike-route. There I met my first hill of the day where I had to push the bike up!
YES...THE DUTCH DIESEL PUSHING HIS BIKE UP HILL!!!!
And if that was not embarrassing enough, 40 miles into the ride was the 2^nd hill I had to push the bike up again...aaaghhhhh.
The whole ride were beautiful coastal sights

Beautiful Coastline

Saw sea otters chilling on there back and seals bathing in the sun and making noise.

Seals chilling in the sun

Arrived at 2 :30 PM at Lime Kiln State Park. Had to pay $5 for the site :o) Little store for food 2 miles up the road. Cellphone coverage 4 mile up the road. Wanted to let Saskia know I was OK, and had to bike 9 miles roundtrip to let her know! If you do not believe me, see Garmin plot for prove. Let's say those were "bonus miles".

Pitched tent, and had a beer and cooked oodles of noodles with Tuna. Yummy!

My Crib...

Beer on da Beach



Noticed that my Achilles of my shorted leg was hurting. I have been biking 3 days with platform pedals because my SPD’s broke down in SF. My SPD shoes have shims for my leg difference.  Suspect that the lack of shim is causing this. Attempted to fix my SPD pedals with some makeshift tools and lock-tide. We will see tomorrow if that band-aide works. Have my platform pedals and tools at hand to swap them again when needed.

Tomorrow I will try to get to moro bay, maybe San Luis Obispo.

2nd Day, More rolling hills

The 2nd day started  at the Ano Nuevo State Reserve KOA Campground. I got up around 6:30 AM. and made myself some delicious oatmeal out of a package.....yummy! After that a quick shave, change in cycle clothes, and pack all the stuff in the panniers. Wheels rolling at 8 AM-ish.
The initial goal was to get a campground 20 miles south from Monterey. That would be around 95 miles for the day.
Within 30 minutes in the ride I had a view of the sea on the right and strawberry fields on the left. This one farmer advertised discount for cyclists, and reminded the cars with a homemade sign that they do not own the road.

Strawberry Farmer likes Cyclists

An hour and a half in the ride I stopped at Whale City Bakery and had my morning coffee and the best Carrot Muffin ever! They had all kind of other good stuff, and the bakery was packed with locals (always a good sign).

Whale City Bakery

Then a few hours later my plans for the day took a turn. I hit a bump in the rock and heard a "clung". One of the spokes in my rear wheel broke. First spoke in 8 years, but had to be on my trip :o( Now the good part it that I brought a cassette tool to pull the gear cassette in case I would brake a spoke on the drive-side. (you need to remove the cassette in order to put in a new spoke on the drive-side). The bad thing was that the spoke broke on the non-drive-side and the Dutch Diesel forgot that he has disc-brakes, and also then needs to remove the disc-roter. The latter is bolted with torx screws....which I did not bring...aaaagghhhh. As a work-around I used an emergency spoke; a wire contraption (see below picture).

Emergency Spoke

This could bring me to the next bike-shop....which were all closed because of memorial day :o( . Thank God Ace Hardware store down the street was open, and had a Torx set on the shelf. And off we go again....until 4 miles later I got my first flat tire.

Now you need to understand that fixing a tire is normally a 5 minute task. But on a touring bike you first need to remove all your panniers before you can do anything. When you are finally done (with whatever you are fixing) all the bags need to go back on again.

Needless to say that both spoke and flat set me back 2 hours in my riding-day. With all the 75 miles of rolling hills, and headwind on the last 20 miles I called it quits in Monterey. You can find all the details of the ride on the Garmin GPS Plot.

After not finding a campground, I called Saskia to run a "hotels.com" search and 30 minutes later I was at my $44 motel INCLUDING breakfast! Not bad if you keep in mind that I paid $38 the night before on the Campground :o)

1st day: Start in San Francisco.

Got up at 6 AM and had breakfast. Around 7 AM I left for the Diridon CalTrain station in San Jose to catch the 8 AM 423 train to SF and arrived there ~9:30 AM.From the SF CalTrain station it as ~7 miles to the bottom of the Golden Gate Bridge, where my trip officially started.

From here it was a grueling 60 mile ride of up and down, and up and down, and up and down. Did I mention there was a lot of up and on? Normally I like climbing a lot, but with an extra 50 lbs on the bike...not so much. You can look at the Garmin GPS Plot for all the details.
Anyway despite my complaining about the "rolling hills", the ride went well and I arrived at the KOA camp-ground close to the Ano Nuevo State Reserve around 5 pm. Pitched my tent, took a shower, and loaded myself with some carbs; pasta with salmon and an nice beer. Tonight will be an early night. I am tired, and need to be rested for tomorrows ride, which is planned to be between 80-100 miles.