Ride Report - Santa Monica to Santa Barbara Century
Keith P.
1.27.24
Perhaps excepting an invitation to a Century ride was overly optimistic. I haven’t ridden more than 35 miles at once in recent memory - Maybe the proposition should have given me pause, but a foolhardy challenge is just what we need to feel slightly nervous about from time to time.
The plan was to ride from our homes here in Los Angeles to Santa Barbara on a route exactly 100 miles away. A “Pier to Pier” ride, from the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel to Stearns Wharf on the other end.
Hugging the coast, we would follow a “mostly” flat course, with about 2,900 ft of elevation gain over the entire distance.
Not without any climbing, but predominantly gradual climbing, of short, and rolling hills along the Pacific Coast Highway.
It was fun to think about what food to bring for an average of 200 - 300 calories per hour of riding.
I tried out Tailwind, a hydration drink mix "with electrolytes and calories."
I had two bottles, one with water, and one with Tailwind in them at any given time. I definitely think it helped to mix “drinking” calories as well as eating them.
Laying everything out the night before my kids were impressed with the proposed undertaking. I had to manage expectations and tell them my goal was reaching half the distance.
The group met at 4:45 in the morning so we could be on the road by 5:00. Most of my cycling friends are younger, more frequent and thus stronger riders than I am, and several announced they were now planning to not only ride the 100 miles to Santa Barbara, but now also ride back. They laid out a brisk pace with brief stops to get them to the finish with ample time for their return trip.
Riding early by bike light is always a treat. Devoid of its usual measure of traffic, Los Angeles is a different town in the dark, and your required level of city-riding spatial vigilance can relax to a pleasant degree.
It was cool out but not cold, and I took off my riding jacket early on.
I had hemmed and hawed about cutting the zip ties on my racing basket and leaving it behind... In the end, I recognized whatever loss in aerodynamics was going to be negligible for me, and having a place to shed layers and plastic bags of dry roasted peanuts was a welcome convenience.
The stretch of PCH in Santa Monica is one of the few that doesn’t have an ample shoulder for bikes to stay out of the right lane. We rode in a column, pulling each other along in a stream till we reached the hills at Pepperdine University.
I’ve learned I can climb most things if I gear down to where I can keep my legs loose, put my head down and not watch how far off the top is. This also requires not trying to “keep up,” so I tried to convince my friends not to wait and to go on ahead.
They were reluctant, but eventually yielded.
A relief in some ways. I love to chug along and stop whenever I want to take pictures or take a break.
Here is where I misread the layout of some concrete barriers and ended up having brunch with a steam shovel.
Here is my stop at mile 50 - First goal achieved.
This patient braggart thought he was going to get some of my granola bar.
He did not.
The family wasn't scheduled to leave home and collect me for some time, so I figured I would, as casually as I pleased, keep covering ground until they did.
I took a wrong turn in Oxnard, ran out of water, and ran into a headwind that almost did me in for the day.
Eventually I found a gas station and a tailwind, and after a breakfast burrito for lunch, thought I would ride at least as far as the wind was willing to push me. With swept back bars it's easy to sit tall, or stand and turn yourself into a sail. I was quickly back on track with little loss of time and marginal additional distance.
Keith P.
Part 2:
50 miles turned into 60, and 60 inched toward 70, and I knew if I got to 80 I'd be too close to 100 to stop.
It was hoot. I felt good. Tired but not exhausted. Sore, but with none of the chaffing and agony I thought I might expect.
More a matter of not stopping than pushing through a wall.
I was also surprised by how much of the distance was covered on dedicated bike paths along the way. They were numerous and well isolated for long stretches, and when they were non existent, they were most often connected by a frontage road.
I ate some bugs. I ate some almond croissants.
The coast gave way to foothills just before dropping down into Santa Barbara, and just as the mini van pulled up behind me. I sent them on ahead to meet up with me after the last 8 miles of the ride.
(That's 103 not 3)
Here I am, proud of myself. I don't think I expected to go the full distance really.
Always feels good to accomplish something new.
The cheering crowds were of course overwhelming.
No flats or slow leaks on the Snoqualmie Passes.
The Hillborne preformed like the absolute champ we know it to be.
I have insoles in my vans, but could feel how a stiffer soled shoe would help on long trips like this one.
Overall a fantastic Southern California ride.
Keith Paugh
Los Angeles, CA
Armand Kizirian
ian m
Sally Bidleman
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Chris Halasz
Ben Adrian
Patrick Moore
Pacific Coast One Hundred
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When thou didst not, savage, know thine own meaning,
But wouldst gabble like a thing most brutish,
I endowed thy purposes with words that made them known.
Patrick Moore
Keith Paugh
Armand - Yup! Looking forward to it.
Will we see your Platypus there?
Ian, Sally & Ben - Thank you! Very kind of you to say.
Chris - Yes. Rode out, and returned home the same day by car.
Put together that ride and I’ll take the train up to join you guys! It is beautiful out there.
Patrick - I agree.
I don’t know if I should be any measure, but I say go for it! I bet New Mexico would have amazing desert routes to map out.
- The “Racing basket” is just a Wald basket that they cut down to half height. (I think they look cool)
- The odometer/speedometer is a digital bike computer built into analog guts. Omata One is name. They are so rad. Measures speed, time, distance, and elevation gain, and then syncs with your phone to record the data. Picked this one up used.
On Feb 2, 2024, at 1:57 PM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:
odometer/stopwatch/speedometer.
Patrick Moore
...
