Days 29-30: More Sights and Dead Legs

After a shorter, abbreviated ride into Lompoc, I was anxious to get to work on Day 29. Today was a Friday and a longer, 70+ mile was on the docket. That ride went well, but the following day, I cut short the planned 76 miles from Carpinteria to Santa Monica. Chris once again kept herself busy, although I will double up on the next post with her activities. This post has some information about my gear, following up on a question my friend Jim posted weeks ago in the comments.

Riding

Day 29: 69 miles, 1259 feet elevation (no whees, one giant UGH!)

Day 29, a Friday, was a long but pleasant ride. Not many hills. A bike shop owner I talked to in Lompoc told me the hills were behind me. It had a bit of everything. Out of Lompoc, the first 40 miles were along Highway 101. This is a freeway with a wide shoulder. The shoulder was relatively debris-free, except for broken glass that I had to keep an eye out for. The road began with a long, 15-mile climb that was steady but not steep. The downhill that followed was steep and scary. I was tapping the brakes all the way down as cars were going 65 mph, and crosswinds buffeted me. One huge "UGGGHHH."

Then, I got off the freeway at Isla Vista and wandered through towns, including the lovely Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is another college town with numerous bike paths and stunning oceanfront views. I met Chris for coffee, where we met and chatted with many nice people, including the coffee shop owner (who also rode bikes) and a couple who had recently moved there from Santa Fe. The bike trails wandered through campus and then into neighborhoods before turning into a bike lane on a road next to Highway 101 (at least I wasn't back on the highway). 

For some reason, my Garmin ended my ride when I stopped for coffee in Santa Barbara. So there are two Relive videos for this ride.

Day 30: 25 miles, 466 feet elevation (no real hills, no whees or ughs)

On Day 30, I just didn’t have it. Usually the legs loosen up after 5-10 miles, but not today. They hurt and it was a lot of work. When I met Chris for coffee in Oxnard, I decided to quit riding for the day and put the bike on the car. We drove together down the Malibu coast. Wow! This is really pretty coastline. Quite dramatic with cliffs on your left and the ocean on the right. The first 15 or so miles would have been a good ride, but soon things looked to be pretty dangerous cycling. Chris says she would have vetoed my riding at some point where traffic was heavy and cars were parked in most of the shoulder areas. I can see why one participant in the Pacific Coast Bike Route Facebook group told me that, for them, this was the most dangerous segment of the trip. 

The Gear

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Jim asked about some of the equipment I am using on my bike. This is pretty down into the weeds and probably more for the bike enthusiast reader.

I ride a 2022 Specialized Roubaix Comp (that link has a lot of details). It is my second Roubaix; I bought the first in early 2016 (a 2015 model on sale).  I had my eye on the Roubaix because, while it is a road bike, it is not a racing bike. It has a slightly more relaxed geometry, making it more comfortable to ride than a pure racing bike. The bike’s Future Shock has an adjustable shock absorber. The new version also allows for wider tires (up to 33 mm), which further enhances comfort. Another comfort feature that I added later was a Selle Anatomica saddle. A friend recommended this seat, and I love it. The bike also has front and rear hydraulic disc brakes.

My bike features a SRAM Rival eTap AXS drivetrain, which is a system of parts that enable me to change gears smoothly and keep moving. The gear shifting is wireless and electronic, so instead of cables pulling, tiny motors move the chain at the push of a button. I’ve got a wide range of gears—a 10–36 cassette on the back wheel and 46/33 chainrings up front—small ones to make climbing steep hills easier and bigger ones for speed on the flats. It’s a modern setup that makes riding more efficient and takes some of the fuss out of long days on the road.

The trend in cycling these days is toward wider tires with lower pressure than in the past. Science is showing that this can help make a bike perform better and deliver more comfort. I like that. I ride 32 mm Rene Herse Stampede Pass tires. I appreciate that Rene Herse conducts extensive scientific research on tires. They even publish a pseudo-academic journal, Bicycle Quarterly, which this science nerd appreciates.

As a science nerd, I also like to know details about my riding. That’s why I have a Garmin 840 bike computer. If you have been following the blog, you know that I bought this a week ago when my previous Garmin’s screen popped off mid-ride. The bike computer provides lots of information about a ride, while it is happening and beyond. During a ride, I know my speed, the grade of hill I am climbing, how many miles I have ridden, the number of pedal strokes I am doing per minute, and much more. I also know how much power I am delivering to my Favero Assioma Duo pedals (I watch the 3-second average). My geeky mind loves this stuff.

The Garmin also shows me my route for the day. I have built my routes in Ride with GPS a handy mapping tool. I can create routes on my laptop or iPad and then upload them to the Garmin. I get turn-by-turn directions. The map even beeps at me if I go off course (though it didn’t do that the other day when I got five miles off course). Ride with GPS and the Garmin were really useful today as there were many turns and different roads and trails I took in Marin County, into San Francisco and on to Half Moon Bay.

I conducted extensive research before purchasing my latest helmet. It turns out that Virginia Tech University (shoutout to alum and reader Wynn) does research on bike helmets and publishes its results. I have tended to favor Specialized as a brand, and they had a highly rated and comfortable helmet for me, so I bought the Prevail 3 a few weeks before this trip. They say helmets deteriorate in sunlight and should be replaced every few years. I also use a handy rear-view mirror that attaches to my glasses.

For clothing on the bike, I tend to opt for bright colors and comfort. I also wear three different jerseys on this trip (I brought a fourth, but I don’t think it is bright enough, so I stick to three). One is a basic bright neon yellow/green. The other two are Poudre Sunrise Cyclist jerseys designed by Erik Cox, who rides with us. The jersey, as you can see, is brightly colored and stands out. There is a matching vest that I wear every day for warmth and the extra pocket it provides. I also wear Pactimo 12 Hour Bibs, which are very comfortable and help prevent saddle sores (a problem I experienced on my first long bike ride to Wisconsin).

Bike lights further enhance safety. I use the Garmin Varia light on the back of my bike. This light features built-in radar that detects traffic and triggers my bike computer to beep, alerting me to an approaching car. My bike computer also shows a red dot moving closer, showing the car’s approach. On the front, I use a NiteRider 1200 and typically have it set to blinking. On tours like this (not at home), I add another light to my bike helmet.

What's next?

I am real excited to have my buddy Rich ride the last few days of the ride with me to the U.S.-Mexico border. He lives here in the Los Angeles area and will be a guide. Rich rode across country three years ago, around the same time I did, although via a different route.

Chris and I also have a rest day and plan to meet with three different groups of friends out of our Newport Beach area stay. More to come.