The first light of day peeks through the gap of the curtains in my hotel room. I shuffle over from the bed to catch an initial glimpse of what lies below. From my seventh floor perspective, it could’ve been any vast body of water and any beach in any city. But it wasn’t. It was … Continue reading Cycling the French Riviera

The rapid-fire clang! clang! that rang out as my bicycle’s two wheels impacted the steel plate covering the expansion joint at the near end of the bike path bridge gave me fair warning it was time to feather my brakes. But I was too slow to respond. Two hours later, on that furnace-hot June Arizona … Continue reading Crashing and the Aftermath

Solvang and Santa Barbara, CA September 13, 2018 Distance:  23.4 miles Elevation: 715 feet Moving Time:  3 hours 6 minutes Conditions:  Start — Sunny, 65 degrees F.  End — Sunny and 75 degrees Today's Takeaway: We became tourists today. I re-introduced myself to my wife, Diane, today. I've been so consumed planning my ride down the central … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 6 — Solvang and Santa Barbara, California

Avila Beach to Lompoc, CA September 12, 2018 Distance:  44 miles Elevation: 2,219 feet Moving Time:  4 hours 7 minutes Conditions:  Start — Foggy, 61 degrees F.  End — Sunny and a cool 71 degrees Today's Takeaway: There are those who have wealth and those who work hard to feed those with wealth. Maybe it was the … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 5 — Avila Beach to Lompoc, California

San Simeon to Morro Bay, CA September 11, 2018 Distance:  30.5 miles Elevation: 952 feet Moving Time:  2 hours 49 minutes Conditions:  Start — Sunny, 64 degrees F.  End — Not a cloud in the sky, 71 degrees Today's Takeaway: Time slowed down on this outstanding Tuesday. Today's ride brought me back to the California of my past … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 4 — San Simeon to Morro Bay, California

Big Sur to San Simeon, CA September 10, 2018 Distance:  60.9 miles Elevation:  5807 feet Moving Time:  6 hours 36 minutes Conditions:  Start — Sunny, 71 degrees F. End — sunny, 74 degrees Today's Takeaway:  Hills are the bane of my existence. Two years ago, my sister-in-law, Stephanie and I were biking a mile-long hill near our Arizona … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 3 — Big Sur to San Simeon, California

Monterey to Big Sur, CA September 9, 2018 Distance:  23.5 miles Elevation:  1,780 feet Moving Time:  2 hours 25 minutes Conditions:  Start — Foggy, 57 degrees (F). End — sunny, 74 degrees Today’s Takeaway: It was a day of beauty and nice people. Today’s ride is complete, and I meet my wife at the River Inn, a […]

Monterey, CA — Transition Day September 8, 2018 Distance:  20.1 miles Elevation:  677 Moving Time:  2 hours 13 minutes Conditions:  Start — partly cloudy, 62 degrees (F). End — sunny, 69 degrees Today's Takeaway: First days are the most difficult (even in paradise). My wife and I are finally ready to enjoy today's relaxing ride around the … Continue reading Pacific Coast Bike Tour — Day 1 —Monterey, California

Last summer, on the next-to-last evening of riding the week-long annual cycling event known as RAGBRAI, my friend, John, a former college classmate and I were sitting near the stage of the organization's tent city listening to musicians do their thing. After our second beer, we agreed that the daily rides of 50 to 75 … Continue reading RAGBRAI and Beyond