Bicycling Monterey to Salinas – Route and Information

Another interesting ride from Monterey to Salinas,  after being so fortunate, to see a part of what appeared to be a bike race – though the details are sketchy – though more research is in order. Also seeing a walk a thon that originated at Dennis the Menace Park. It did seem to be quite the day for Outdoor Activity so I was glad to have made the trip out there.

MST (Monterey Salinas Transit) Public System

To do that – was actually quite simple, I will admit that early on because there seemed to be a lot of fog I ended up using Bus 20 To Monterey via MST. It was on this bus I saw another cyclist – looked like he was packed for a tour on the same bus. I thought about getting a photo of his rig and him but missed the opportunity. I figure should add some media shots to this blog so stay tuned. After the ride and seeing the other Bicycle Tourist – since it was still early decided to get off at Edgewater and ride from Sand City To The Job Site job site by MPC.When I got off the bus still was foggy but I had time so I went for the ride.

Travel Monterey ~ Edgewater Shopping Center

As you leave from Edgewater you need to take a right and follow it down to turn left, around the back of some of the stores there in the shopping center. Relatively simple route as you come around you have a bit of a climb up the hill to reconnect with the trail but once on it, pretty good ride. That was really only a warm up if you want to call it anything as from Edgewater it is not to many miles from point A to Point B. Let’s talk about the ride in Salinas to Catch the 20 may be a bit more interesting. As I have been having some issues with the BC600 I believe it is. Will have to double-check that info and update it here but have found it has a tendency to reset itself sometimes and I have no idea why. The route spoke about here has a part of it on the bus, now more often than not I’d rather ride the full stretch, as it only equates to about 30 miles (30 miles = 48.28032 kilometers) round trip from there and back again. Though the only real challenge is if you decide to follow Blanco Road via Davis in Salinas as that is often the more direct chosen route for most cars. Yet as I think about it you are on a bike, so there are other options that would not have the same wind factor which makes blanco a challenging ride, as there is a lot of wind down that stretch depending on what time of day it is.

Back to the subject at hand,when bicycling there are certainly alternative routes some of them are mentioned at MTY County Dot Com that offers some of the approaches to experience Monterey County by bike, as well as presenting alternatives to the route prescribed. One of my personal favorites is to Follow Reservation around until I come to a turn off on the left that enters into the long retired Fort Ord. That then offers you unparalleled experiences and numerous miles without cars, on both road and an extensive collection of Single Track trails, giving you a different perspective as you are traveling the backwoods. From there you are able to connect to 17 Mile Drive, when you travel into Pacific Grove and from there you can most certainly travel into Big Sur if you are in a touring mood.

In closing Monterey County, has a well established system of paths and connecting roads to make your bicycling experience here on this part of the Pacific Coast Trail, a wonderful experience and an opportunity to see things from another perspective.

Road, Water and a Crash

Riding To Hartnelll (www.westernstage.com) tonight for my little brothers performance in Mame, I started following proper procedure and was riding with traffic and in the road. All was well until I chose to turn back onto the sidewalk for some reason, there was water flowing and for some reason I mistook it and turned right into the flat side of the sidewalk and went down along my right side my pants leg ended up in part of the water and though my near was barely hurt it seemed my elbow took the brunt of the road rash that is a constant since most of Paradise is now paved.

As I also thought about it, perhaps it was just the clearest message that could be sent why I should spend the majority of my time driving as any other vehicle instead of switching to pedestrian to regularly. The lesson learned and the road rash as a reminder, makes me think about my techniques on the road, why it is better to bicycle as a vehicle, and why that should be a constant in someone who Bicycle Commutes on a regular basis.

There is a reason why Vehicular Cycling is constantly promoted, and spoke about in length, this experience became an example of why it is often better to travel in the road just as any other vehicle would, the lesson however harsh often needs to be learned and the reminder in and of itself can be powerful.

The Not So Slick Bike Thief …

Also why Cable Locks Often Fail and the possible solutions for it.
I have always known the importance of security of a bike, but had to learn the hard way on more then one occasion;

“There was a time not so long ago I did not think about it as such a high priority, bike security until I myself had to experience the loss. Looking back my bike was not truly secure as was assumed. A simple lock and chain less then the recommended thickness in a location expected to be secure and the bike not all that expensive though modified to my preference. It only took a moment … the camera I expected to be watching the bike … is blocked by a service vehicle and as I watched the tape moments only out walks the thief and my bike. I must say walking was not a preference of mine.” via http://su.pr/1JCw7k

Making mistakes is often the best teacher, and to have some stories you can laugh about, when an idiot tries to be slick and steal a bike. Particularly if this same idiot is completely oblivious to the most apparent deterrents. Things such as a camera, another person who is working on the carts just outside and in broad daylight to boot.

Yet he figured he was slick, so he hangs out by the bike for awhile first, a basic single speed beach cruiser, then pulls it just hard enough to break the cable lock, which must of been a very weak cable as he was able to take the bike off the rack and start riding it towards Safeway (www.safeway.com) which is about five minutes from Target (www.target.com) across one intersection. He was so slick in fact while my brother sat there and watched him he had tried to hid the bike in the bushes, change his shirt and walk casually away except for the fact everything he did was first witnessed by the camera, second by my brother but he was slick change his shirt to make it seem like he is someone else.

To bad the case was already made, the witness found and talked to and the camera video verified all pointing back to this “slick” thief with his long beard and hair. Not to mention the security were right on it, so needless to say he didn’t get far before he was in handcuffs and on his way to the clink to try and tell his story walking.

Short but sweet, this serves as a reminder that often to many people who are perhaps casual riders, don’t realize that no matter the bike or the design, there is always people who are out to get what they can. And those cable locks that tout security, only to give the person who spends the money a false sense of security. They are not even close to what could be considered a deterrent, better to take the time and invest the money in a solid U-Lock and learn the proper technique of securing your bicycle. Otherwise this cable lock that lulled you into pulling the card out of your wallet to purchase it will also prove to be the only reason that your bike became an easy target for a thief with bolt cutters.

The Ride and the Adventure on Two Wheels By Human Power.

The Wonders of A Bike and it's Load.

An amazing ride today, not only because it was a beautiful day but the fact that I did the entire ride with only two pieces of bread with Peanut Butter on them in the morning and water for lunch, nearly running over a skunk on the way back. This article tells the story, of one day’s ride and the weekend to come and the rides it will entail.

To start the day, I begin to ride to the workplace, to catch a ride from there into Carmel By The Sea, as there was only an hour between the time I arrived and the time I was supposed to be there. Had I started earlier, or known earlier about the position, I would of rode my bike round trip, but was only made aware of the need right around 8a this morning. So had to eat quick jump on my 21″ Giant Rincon and cruise on over to the office. I made good time actually, was about 5 minutes early when I arrived so gave me time to cool down a bit and get some extra water then load the bike up on the car with it’s rack on the top. It was one of those racks I see every now and again, had a center restraint and the front and back on ratcheted straps, which increased my confidence as it seemed to be a well built rack. I will have to find out the company that makes it and add that to this post later.

We took the ride from Salinas to Carmel by the Sea, was not to bad, though would of been better by human power, the only challenge with that though for me from Salinas to Monterey takes about two hours, which would not of worked when you have only an hour. It is not to say that on a bike it cannot be done, but instead to say there are other alternatives like a bus with racks on the front like the ones MST (Monterey Salinas Transit) uses that enables you to combine public transit, using Environmentally Friendly Vehicles, and Human Power – Pedaling point to point, travel by Human Power.

Once I arrived in Carmel by the Sea – Dismounted the bike and locked it up, I thought about it later, considering that many of the people in Carmel by the Sea have a tendency to leave their car doors open, partly because it is Carmel by the Sea, and the people who frequent it, are not usually the sort that would steal a vehicle or rummage through your car.Even so I still decided to lock my bike up as the saying goes better safe then sorry. Why I also took the individual pannier off the rack on the back because one of the securing points had been damaged so it was not as solid as it should be particularly with tires at their Max PSI. Which in my case was 65 psi, as they are really Hybrid Tires, the exact Model is the Drifters which I have found to be an amazing product and has covered many miles and still running strong they max out at 2.20 which is a pretty big tire though they excel on road and even some Mountain Biking. It is a very versatile tire.

With the bike locked up – the bag in my custody the day begin, fortunately I was able to do alot of walking, may not of made up for the ride I should of taken, from Salinas to Carmel by The Sea and back again, but it was a good workout nonetheless. It does seem that Human Power is often the preferred mode of transit in the Shops of Carmel, and I was glad to see that. To many, at least on my side of the tracks, seem to choose a car over human mobility. Which is often also why there is that tendency to add some extra poundage, because a car is a lazy way to travel. While walking, biking, or public transit are often better options then driving your own car, because at least then you get some exercise even if it is only to transfer between two buses. At the very least using Public transit makes sure there is at  least a few less cars habituating the roads.

The day went fast as it often does, when you are constantly on the move or constantly busy, as you begin to just focus on what you are doing, and in that effort more gets done and time flies by, which it really did today even if it was only about a 5 hour day. To make it more unique, I took 30 minutes for my lunch, in that time I did not eat anything just drank water. Up to this point I was working on a breakfast that only consisted of two pieces of bread and some Peanut Butter on them. As in another sense it was a test to see if that – as the entire breakfast can keep you going enough for one day with about a 3+ hour ride traversing 4 cities in a hybrid route with bits of  highway and connecting points to bike lanes from streets using proper vehicular cycling technique to show those who drive that a bike should also be considered a vehicle as it legally is just that. All the while giving you enough energy and drive to keep cranking those pedals.

As the workday came to a close I checked to make sure that going uphill on Ocean in Carmel by the Sea is the proper way to reconnect to Highway 1 – which is the connecting point of Carmel By The Sea and Pacific Grove. Which then connects into the bike trail from Pacific Grove to Marina, en route to Salinas. A well established route covering just about all of Monterey County, with well connected routes making bicycling a great thing to do throughout. Once everything was verified I begin a gradual ascent first, until I was about a block or two away from Ocean & Monte Verde, when the real climbing begin, as ocean becomes quite steep going back up to Highway 1. Once I arrived at the top, the ride was not so bad, though I really felt the climb up so cruised pretty slow for the moment 12 mph is pretty slow when I am usually running at least 15 or 16 on a regular ride. It’s not time trial speed or status, it’s a speed I am happy with and with that consistent effort I get where I need to be. Along Highway 1 I realized there was still more climbing though it was a more gradual incline, then anything else and in that realization I understood better why the speed seemed overly slow.

The nice thing is not long after as I took the exit heading towards Pacific Grove off of Highway 1 and shortly thereafter I was greeted by a nice downhill. Before that though in the first leg of that exit I damn near hit a skunk. That had to be the closest I have ever been to one of those, the skurge of the roads, even after death you know they were there because they wreak royally. Fortunately I maneuvered well enough to make sure I came no closer and that my tire never touched that little beast. Afterwards I just kept on, getting things done, and then the downhill.

This was a massive and long downhill, with plenty of curves to make it interesting, where you could easily reach speeds of 40 or 50 miles an hour on a bike if in the top gear and pounding the pedals all the way down, No picnic but clearly a great way to recover from a long and steep climb like Ocean Avenue in Carmel by the Sea by just cruising, pumping the brakes if need be to keep a gradual speed even down such an amazing hill. I had more fun then you can imagine but I was also careful to make sure things got done and I didn’t end up on the ground bleeding from road rash. Even from this point on this downhill, since I was going into Pacific Grove to return to the Multi Use Path, it was primarily downhill so that improved my overall speed considerably. As I reached the bottom of the hills through Pacific Grove I reconnected with the path that was going from Pacific Grove towards Marina to connect back into Salinas.

I was certainly in for a surprise, as I entered into Monterey by Fisherman’s Wharf, I saw first what appeared to be a an Art’s And Craft’s Fair and then later down the road, I also saw the Classical Cars, that were all lined up in the parking lot there, and remembered from times previous, that this was a great time to visit Monterey, though the difference this time was simply I was in a bit of a rush to get back into town so only looked around briefly and pounded the pedals some more. Once I got into my groove, I was cruising strong, traveling at a constant 19mph speeding down the paved road that served as the Bike Path.

There is a point on the path that was recently added, that detours off to the old Fort Ord, which was an active base for many years but was closed down sometime back, now used as open space and great Mountain Biking Single Track with it’s diverse terrain and exciting vistas. Well worth checking out in the link offered above about Monterey County they have some great maps to give you an idea about Fort Ord. Following this bike path is nice, in part because you are farther from the traffic and your view is more clear of the ocean that is near. It has a bit more climbs, though each one is well worth the effort. As you continue on, the climbs are not as difficult because you get in a groove, the only challenge I had today was with the fog that got to rolling in, and it was dense, to a point where you could see maybe five feet in front of you particularly with the glasses fogging up, made for an interesting ride though as fog always does so in the end it worked out well.

Once I got into Marina the fog lifted, and the sun was shining a bit so made for a nice ride as the route continues through there until you make the turn onto Blanco which for a rider who is relatively new to bicycling as a vehicle instead of as only a toy, may find difficult as it requires you to leave the bike trail and cross about 2 lanes of higher speed traffic in order to make the turn so that you will continue on Blanco although you can continue straight ahead if you rather, it is a bit longer a ride with a bit more difficulties but can get you to the same place without having to deal with the turn to Blanco.

For me though I made the maneuver work, got to where I needed to be in the turning lane and transitioned smoothly to Blanco. The nice thing about Blanco is that almost immediately you have another fast downhill which makes the ride even more enjoyable, and once you get past the downhill you have a clear route all the way into Salinas whether you turn onto Alisal or Davis. Regardless of how you enter Salinas, you will notice there are quite a few bike routes throughout Salinas, though the bike Culture is not so apparent but it exists.

The ride back into town was uneventful, though in conclusion I made great time, and glad I had the opportunity to experience this ride and plan to do it again in the not to distant future, minus the skunk at least.

Ride For A Cause – One Example

Phil’s courageous journey has consisted of of nearly 8,000 miles of riding in various climate and traffic conditions while facing frequent elevation changes. He races in honor and remembrance of his late uncle who died from acute Leukemia (cancer). Phil also hopes to raise $48,000 in funds from this ride that support research for a cure. He will be returning to our home town of Tipp City, Ohio tomorrow, Monday September 14th at 6PM in the CVS parking lot.

via http://twitter.com/delta40

Proves the simple point that all things are possible with each rotation of a pedal, and for a cause to boot. Really that is a great way to fund a tour – in helping a cause further progress, to the direction of solutions,to help something make the progress it needs to make. This is only one example there are others, of people who have decided to live their life on a bike, in fact Family On Bikes is doing just that, together home schooling their children and touring the country by human power and on two wheels.

Just as I am thinking about a bike tour cross the country to see my relatives, figuring either later this year or early in summer next year depending, really need to get back out there and tour. Which is the plan in the not to distant future, how many others who are reading taken bike tours?

Bicycling Smarter – Be More Aware.

The wonders of bicycle commuting, as a part of the journey to be had and the experience of driving your bike as a vehicle, with traffic in the flow, to make sure that it is clear to the drivers of the cars who still seem lost to the convenience instead of the benefit of riding a bike instead of driving a car.

Iris Murdoch – The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.
The Red and the Green

Bike Right Homie

A good book on bicycling smarter then the average joe blow.

Human Power – Earth & Conservation

On a good day with blue skies and warm weather, listening to the sound of the water flowing from a fountain, constantly moving and flowing as the day is passing July slowly fading away I begin to think of how quickly summer will become fall, the foliage in beautiful tints of red and orange a season lazily passing onto the next. Close yet so far from a season often associated with Joy and Family as the last few months fade away to become history before they were the present.Enjoying the here and now, but what of the future, if nothing is done to conserve this natural beauty?

Enjoying each day as we have the opportunity to experience it makes sense to me as I am sure it makes sense to you, yet in that idea perhaps the most important things are forgotten of a future that is yet to become real, but is entirely dependent on the present day and the choices made to keep this wonder of the world in it’s pristine shape, simply by decreasing our carbon footprint. Since we have such a minuscule amount of time on this earth when considering the time that it has existed, what we each do, right now and in the present can make or break the future of this planet.

Decreasing the carbon footprint should really be the highest priority, of our existence and it is simpler then you might think, to make even a little bit of a difference in contributing  to help lessen the impact of Global Warming, on today’s generation and the generations yet to be. Why not make a difference now then wait until it is to late?

The steps to make that happen are relatively easy, far as such things go, it is merely a matter of making some choices of traveling by Human Power instead of Mechanically Produced Power, that we have been long taught as the only way, according to the media we need to for some reason support the outsource big oil companies by driving big vehicles instead of remembering that there is such thing as human power, think Flintstones, at least their vehicles with stone tires were human propelled.  This is the same media that tells us we should marry, have kids and so on and so forth, not that those ideas are bad but they follow a same false ideal. That is not the only way to live just as driving a car is not the only way to get around and get things done. The problem often is “Selective Ignorance” to go for what is Convenient even at the loss of health, simply because you did not want to get out there and walk, get some exercise or simply because you are dealing with Sensory Overload from an inundation of media attention on issues that sell, not real issues of the good of people and the opportunities to step away from what you know, to remember that we have long been able to travel by Human Power, whether by foot or bike so the only thing stopping us today is the person in the mirror or the simple lack of awareness of people, that it is possible to revert to ways not so long ago were common.

To really start thinking for yourself is really the first big step in a new direction, to remember 1+1=2 and the simplicity of it is you know that because you thought for yourself, you did not subscribe to someones view who claims 1+1 actually equals 3 and that is the facts, offering a convincing argument. The point being to make a change we need to separate ourselves from what the media tells us, or how the Joneses are doing and why for some reason you should follow them blindly to whatever end. Once you start using your mind as the powerful device it actually is, and to really think for yourself it would become more clear that there are alternatives such as walking or bicycling, car pooling or what have you, any little thing that offers the benefit of better health and the opportunity to breathe fresh air.

Starting today is simply taking one opportunity instead of going for the keys and making a beeline for the car understand that shops are convenient yes, so convenient in fact that even now most of them are within walking distance, so make a beeline for the sidewalk and take the walk, or even better dust off that old bike that has been sitting in the garage put some air in the tires and give it a once over and sit on it and ride. If you don’t have a bike, there are plenty of ways to pick  up one or keep it simple and take a walk instead. Every little bit we each do that will pollute less makes a difference for the bigger picture, the Global Warming, and the decrease of your carbon footprint, Now is a good a time as any so why not start today?

Thanks for taking the time to read this through, why not offer your view in the comments down below or Connect with me at Twitter via avidcyclist_ray or Friendfeed as Knatchwa.

Bicycle Monterey ~ Remembering Lessons

Just the other day only a few days ago, I took a bicycle ride with my brother out to Monterey, CA ~ a route we have followed more then one time but always made for a great day’s ride. This ride was no different, except that it also helped me remember from experiences before at how important it is to always be prepared for the worst.

As was the case this time, as we had begun the trip just as we usually do following Old Boronda Road through the fields and away from the traffic, and took the turn to connect to California Highway 183 which is the route from Salinas to Castroville which also connects to the well known Pacific Coast Trail that goes South to North and back again. The reason this part of the route was chosen was because it adds some miles to the bicycle ride and it’s a nice way to go when you have the time and just want to enjoy each rotation of the pedals. Not to mention it also connects directly into the Marina Section of the Multi Use Path that goes from Castroville to Pacific Grove. All seemed to be going smoothly, as we traveled through the cities cruising at whatever chosen speed until we were just leaving Sand City’s Edgewater Shopping Center when it happened.

Although it did not come as so much of a surprise, as really it was expected, when his rear tire went flat, as a result of low air pressure or a faulty tube the valve broke at the base, not a sharp object but simply the valve breaking at the base. Considering he is riding a Giant Rincon with Disk Brakes the fix was not so difficult then you might imagine following is the steps taken;

How To Fix A Flat Tire @ Helium

We were able to get back on the road quickly. Though it also helped me remember preventative measures.

In that article there is detailed instructions on how to fix and keep going when riding even a short distance, using the key element and simplest fix possible though it is also one of the most important fixes each cyclist should know and can do blindfolded if you catch my drift.

The lessons learned, have been many of the same lessons regular cyclists experience day by day … to get out there and ride is to be self sufficent mostly, from being able to fix your ride to quick jerry rigging to get you where you need to go. On that point below is a list of some of the things I never leave home without when on a long distance ride;

An Extra Tube, at least one, a portable pump and the tools to do the job.

A first aid kit because you never know what might occur though usually keep the very least I need depending on the ride in the sense of a single track, or primarily off road track vs a road route, I will usually carry more in the first aid kit and for more technical rides I usually bring along a helmet.

A good attitude is imperative and the willingness to deal with the worst that nature throws at you to realize that at the end of the ride is the reward of a ride well enjoyed.

The extra tube I have found to be ome of the most important things, as I have never really liked  dealing with patch kits, whether it was because I was using a lower quality patch kit or not hard to say, but what I do know is that it is better to have another tube make the switch and take the ride home then try and patch it and see what happens. Not to say patch kits are not handy, since even with a new tube it is possible that it may puncture or pop, rather I would use it as a last resort, which would mean I should carry at least one besides. On my earlier 110.71 mile ride on my old Schwinn I was fortunate as the worst that happened is the tire went flat in Watsonville, I had a separate tube and there was Air Compressors at the nearby gas station so I fixed it and finished the ride, with a Burger King Cheeseburger no less.

The first aid kit, you may think there is no chance that you could get hurt on riding a bike, but I have found this is not always the case, as you never know, my own experience on the road has taught me albeit the hard way that I need to be prepared, as road rash happens, regardless how good a bicyclists you are. Even on some earlier rides out to Monterey coming down from Veterans Memorial Park I misjudged a turn, as the ride from the top of the hill is fast and curvy there, and went over the railing. Blood dripping I still made the ride down and got home all on my bike even with blood flowing. When I got home I realized how important even a basic First Aid Kit was a necessary part of the whole process. Since then I have always carried it with me in fact it came in handy on the ride I made a video on;

Remembering the journey over Old San Juan Grade which still remains one of my favorite routes even though it consists of some major climbing, the top of the hill has a nice little area to relax, once you reach the top and the view is well worth the ride up, as it goes from Salinas, to Old Stage Road and up over Old San Juan Grade, will go into more detail about that route in another post. But in the video it does give you an idea about the injuries my younger brother experienced on the downhill run of that exciting hill.

It was truly a remarkable experience and worthy of explanation, of climbing a mountain descending a hill and losing it on a corner nearly there at the bottom but kept on riding even after that. Fortunately for us when we got into San Juan Bautista we met a couple of Officers from the local precinct who after talking with a us a bit understood that my little brother needed some medical help. The rest of the story can be found A Ride and an Unexpected end which can be found at the original blog on blogspot. as it is a bit out of the scope of this particular article, as the lesson learned from one experience and others was that it is good to carry a First Aid Kit wherever you may go particularly on rides at distance, along with the knowledge of how best to use what you currently have in the smallest of cases. Some of the basics I carry;

Alcohol Swab Pads

Extra Bandages

Some Aspirin

And a Calling Card Just in Case

That should also work well for you in whatever journey you take by bicycle,or on two wheels by human power from point A to Point B and back again.Which generally speaks to the medical  carry on for any journey by human power. As well as something learned from my own experiences in traveling and following through on the choice made not so long ago to experience life on two wheels.

Some other suggestions are more or less, pretty self explanatory;

• Purchasing and carrying along a portable pump with an extra tube.
• A patch kit, as a last resort ~ because often it only good enough for single use.
• Carrying these things along with a simple Mini Tool can help with most basic repairs that are necessary on a bike.
• And of course carrying a book on bicycle repair, is also helpful in most matters.

In closing, there are many things that should become a necessary part of every bicyclists, hiker, or walkers standard tool belt, to be prepared for the better or the worst.

My First Bicycle Tour 2003

    Remembering my first bicycling tour, seemingly so long ago, and yet so apparent, as I remember how much fun it was when I speak on it time and time again. Don’t know if I have some photos of it but if I do I am certain that I will add them to this mix soon as I can get it done. Since July is Bicycling & Health Month it seems appropriate to speak on what really got me started on my first real tour from Salinas, to Big Sur and North to Half Moon Bay and back again.  In total this was about two weeks worth of riding and camping going south to north and back again, my first tour but no doubt not my last.

    Along the way meeting interesting people who were on a similar journey going to their own destination, but all in all this select group of people with whom  I had an opportunity to associate will also be remembered. As they each brought something more to the mix to my understanding of what Bicycle Touring is really about. These were people who followed a similar wavelength as they chose to camp instead of stay in Motels as they traveled North or South by Human Power. Most took the trip because of the beauty of Highway 1 and the wonders of the Pacific Coast Trail, a route that follows along the amazing California Coast from Canada to Mexico. Some were going as far as Tijuana, others far as South America all by bike and through human mobilization. Carrying Tents, Pans, Sleep Bags, all packed compactly into the Panniers of the bike, many of which were both front and back. How many bicycle tourers get around, at least those who have decided to keep their journey low impact. Here I was with only my rack and everything I needed for the bike tour that even at the time I was not sure where I would go with it, all packed into a backpack, the tent on top, must of been quite the look of a bike that was a bit overloaded, particularly since at the time I was riding a Schwinn Ranger 2.6fs that I had only recently purchased from Target, as even before that point I was a constant bicycle commuter. Partly because it made sense and partly because before this first tour I was working in a warehouse, Central Cold Storage in Castroville, and traveling from Salinas Monday through Friday, The nice thing was that the job even if it was not such an exciting one was through a temporary agency, so once the job is done I get paid and I could take the trip, even with a budget of only a couple hundred dollars. I found that really you don’t need that big of a budget when taking a tour for week long trips or so, and since I had seen from Ken Kifer’s (may he rest in peace) advice on taking a low impact bike tour, that included camping and increased level of self sufficiency. Enabling the person who is traveling by human power to travel immense distances and camp where he/she could, not unlike the Indians of old who traversed the lands and camped as they went, to find the best food in the hunt to bring home to their family after the journey was complete.

    In that there are dual options, since you are basically self contained you can travel anywhere you like and just as long as you have food to eat you can really just keep riding on, and certainly I understood this but since it was my first tour, I followed the route many have done before to stay in established campgrounds, to go to the store to get my food and to cook it on my aluminum sterno stove which seemed to work quite well for the needs of a relative student of bicycle touring. Certainly there were other options, but I saw this at Safeway here in Salinas and picked it up before my departure to destinations unknown. Along with finding the lightest and easiest, items, snacks, soups and the like that could easily be boiled or heated up, so as to only carry with me the bare necessities as far as food goes I was about finished with the shopping before the great ride that was yet to come.

    Initially I figured I would take a ride to Big Sur, because as always for many a bicyclist that is a great draw, the sights are amazing, the route spectacular even if not entirely bicycling friendly, as Highway One, well is a highway, and as a result of that there is not much of shoulder, but most drivers on that road seem to be more accepting of tourers, partly because they are most likely tourists as well and since Highway One is always such a busy route for cyclists going North, South or just cruising the route for the experience. Not to mention such camping grounds as Pfeiffer State Park, Andrew Molera, and Kirk Creek Campground. Also Highway One has also been a part of the Amgen Tour Of California, Sea Otter Classic and so many more. With Highway One’s Climbs and Downhills, amazing vistas this same route has been the subject of many books, to many to list here, so really Highway is a premier location for bicycling tours, or any sort of tour as can be seen by the RV’s sometimes seen or the wide variety of vehicles, including motorcycles, it is so famous in fact the local Public Transit System, Monterey SalinasTransit has bus 22 that drives from Monterey To Big Sur Nepenthe daily through the summer months and for special events. As a result the awareness of this route spreads worldwide, for it’s unique experience and astounding vistas and views of some of the most beautiful coastlines Pacific Ocean on the west coast of the Americas.

    My first destination on this great ride, was to be Salinas to Monterey, to stay at the Veterans Memorial Park as I had been there previously, as more or less a scouting run, to see how it would be to ride from Castroville to Monterey and up Skyline Boulevard to the top of the hill and stay at this particular park. As I had also received a recommendation from a good friend of mine that Veterans Memorial is a good park and the price not so bad at 7 dollars a night to stay in the Bike & Hike Area. To explain a bike and hike area, is usually attune to a community based area, with common space, using the example of Veterans Memorial, the bike & hike area is just off the main road with a long picnic table in the center with space enough for multiple tents in a groved area. Generally at least when I went there, there was about three others besides myself who had stopped there. We each had our own tent, but to eat we basically came together at the main table. Which worked well because oftentimes, in my experience at least most serious bicycle tourers, always are pretty friendly and can appreciate the effort you made to get there as they had done the same on a bike up the hill to camp at Veterans Memorial. So in that sense the community based hike & bike area often became an interesting place to just chat about the topic we were all passionate about, that of bicycle touring or bicycling as a life choice.

    As it was my first day out, upon arrival at Veterans Memorial Park, I noticed that on my back rim there had been almost a complete wheel failure with a total of four spokes had broke of about 36 on that rear wheel on this Schwinn Ranger. I did not find that out until I was at the top of the hill and looked at my bike as it had become a bit more difficult to pedal that last part of the route even though I still did. You see a bicycle wheel is usually consistent of 36 spokes whose only purpose is to work together to balance the wheel, keeping it true, which in it’s simplest terms is to keep the wheel balance between the brakes, usually caliper or disk that would otherwise be ineffective when the wheel is out of true. For example if a wheel is out of true there is a tendency to have alot of drag thereby slowing the movement forward. In my particular case though it was nearly wheel failure as the system nearly failed. So to remedy that situation I took a ride down to Monterey with only my front brakes engaged while my back brakes were not. Fortunately for me though I had become used  to working with the breaks bit by bit, as the front brakes are far more effective at stopping, so the downhill from Veterans Memorial was fast but I made it down and stopped over at Aquarian Bicycles in Monterey where I was able to purchase a whole new rim and have it installed the same day. Which worked out well because I was able to get back on the road for the next stage of my trip relatively quickly. Aquarian Bicycles though not my first choice did their job well at this particular time and for that I was appreciative and since then I have been back but my personal favorite shop would have to be Bear Bikes here in Salinas, because the owner of the shop Brian does his job well and makes sure you get the right parts at a price that is not to excessive.

    Well once I had everything back operational and Aquarian took care of it, though if anything the price was a bit steep, I headed in the direction of my next destination, which was to be Big Sur, Pfeiffer State Park as mentioned earlier. I headed out to the Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail en route to Pebble Beach where I planned to connect with Carmel Highlands, so the ride through Pebble was pretty fast, but later I realized I had missed quite alot of what Pebble Beach had to offer but that is a tale for later. Upon connecting to Highway 1 via Pebble Beach, after going against traffic in order to connect to the right point, I finally just decided to go with the bus, remember this was my first tour and it seemed the stretch of Highway I needed to travel to connect to Carmel Highlands was not available to bikes, of course it did not make much sense but I just went with it not knowing about an alternative route there. So I jumped on the bus, paid my fare and loaded up my Schwinn on the front bicycle rack, getting off the bus at the Point Sur Lighthouse. Which in and of itself has an amazing history behind it, and on that day I figured it would make history for me to as it was the first starting point along Highway 1 in my very first tour, it was the point where I started to see how amazing touring by bicycle can be. I am happy to report this was the last time I rode the bus for all the rest of my bike tour was by my own power, on my Schwinn with the one backpack on the rack and the tent everything I needed packed not so neatly on a rack with a new rim beneath it.

    From Point Sur Lighthouse I continued southward heading towards Pfeiffer State Park, as that was to be my first location to camp for the night, and I made the most of the day and my time in the saddle by cruising along and enjoying the scenes. Now Highway is no ride in the park, most of that route has some amazing hills 15% grade or more on occasion, and when you are traveling by human power it can be difficult, unless you decide to focus on the eventual descent, after the amazing climb that rewards you with astounding vistas of being able to see the wonders of Highway 1 and Big Sur for yourself, as the route also offers turnouts, a chance to get off the road and look out over the ocean and it’s unadulterated view of this amazing coastline. To add to the enjoyment of the ride I met another cyclist, using his touring bike loaded only a bit both with front and back and we talked for a bit. I tell him I was making 7mph up the hill and for me that was exciting, maybe not in comparison to his bike but the big difference was he is on a touring bike and I was on a mountain bike, and difference in tires and size of bike as well as design, all are contributing factors to getting the best ride out of the machine. Nonetheless I was proud of my 7 mph uphill as previously never was quite that fast, since then I have improved, in fact in these days on a good day with not to steep a slope I can make the uphill at around 15-20 mph depending on wind and other contributing factors. The good thing about this cyclists I met on the top of one of the hills of Big Sur overlooking an amazing ocean is he congratulated me on that pace up the hill, and made me feel good about taking the trip and for that I am forever appreciative.

    Once I took the time and enjoyed the chance to relax after the climb I was ready to go, as those kind words from an unnamed bicyclist who was on his own tour invigorated me, and made me want to go more and go farther, to improve my climbing speed and to really make the most of this journey, this amazing experience of a tour by human power along one of the most amazing highways in California. This of course was only the beginning, and it just keeps getting better, as I begin to recall the many experiences I had on that one singular journey in human mobility.

    There of course were more hills, but you know once you overcome one the others become easier, as you learn to set the rhythm and pace to make that climb the most successful ever, as a challenge in and of itself to improve your self in becoming a better bicyclist, not unlike a sailor who once establishes his sea legs is more effective in his objective to tour the seas and be steady on his feet just like being steady in your pace. The wonderful thing about bicycles is really you choose your own pace, you are not in a race, not trying to break speed records, you are just enjoying the air, the experience and the journey as it is a lesson in growth of who you are and the confidence you have in yourself as a person. Remembering the way we as people once were, as self sufficient sentient beings who are experiencing life in our own way. The days of times past where we were not so concerned with having the latest and greatest toy’s we had a garden and we grew our own food. Convenience was nice but not so apparent. rather being happy about what we did ourselves not what someone else did for us, and then said we need to use this paper called money to go and buy somet4hing.

    Another hill past another climb coming soon, but I was in the zone then, feeling good, moving forward and handling the hills one after another improving each time, certainly I took a few more breaks but not so many as I had a renewed energy, the excitement of what will be the next sight to be seen, the feeling of blood flowing through my legs my muscles working hard but feeling good because of it. A loaded bike seemingly becoming like nothing but a feather as each hill had a nice downhill, where I would cruise or I would pedal just to see how fast I could go. Of course I was careful to, because any mountain road has many turns and twists and you need to always be in control of your machine, to be able to work the breaks enough to slow down just to accelerate moments later. All seemed well I was coming down off another mountain moving fast close to the side of the road … and suddenly I feel something hit my shoulder, I did not fall or shudder I just wondered what it was and why it had hit me. Later I found out that as I was going down the hill there was a point near the bottom, where there were multiple cars in my way parked on the shoulder so being a good bicyclist I moved out a little bit into the road to get around them safely. It was at this same point that a truck was driving behind me and apparently his right mirror had hit me on the top of my shoulder, fortunately the mirror was designed, as most newer trucks are to collapse inward when it hits something, and this time it hit me. He stopped and asked how I was, I said “I’m fine thanks …” and we both went about our merry way to wherever each was going. I was fortunate it was nothing serious, but the lesson was learned hopefully for him as well as me that it is still important to be careful no matter what type of vehicle you are driving.

    That would probably be the only real down point of this entire tour, well that and the failed wheel, but it was minor, no one was hurt and I kept riding, at this point I had come upon more or less a flat stretch so just cruised along, cars kept passing me by but I paid no real attention to them, instead I was focused on the ride, on the future and on the destination I had nearly reached. As I passed places such as Ventana Inn, and other numerous other motels, variations of campgrounds I came up on Pfeiffer State Park, took the turn and cruised in, looking around, trees surrounding me the sounds of the woods about me, except for the cars but there was far less of those now then on the main stretch of Highway 1. Just the drive into Pfeiffer on my bike made me slow down a bit and take in the sights. It was amazing, just to cruise along breathe the fresher air usually a result of the abundance of trees, the natural beauty surrounding me even if I was driving up a paved road. When I arrived at the entry station I looked inside, there was a nice looking girl in there, and we talked for a bit, I wanted to know about the campground and where there was Bike / Hike Areas, and found out the price was quite manageable, specifically for bicyclists, it cost me about 10 dollars for the night there, though a bit more expensive then Monterey I soon found out the price was well worth it.

    As Pfeiffer State Park, has a plethora of services available to those who camp there, including a general store, campfires, plenty of simple hikes and longer ones if you feel up to it, all in an environment nearly devoid of all ideas of Civilization. Which was one of the things I was looking for in a campground, though there was plenty of amenities if you really wanted to revisit what otherwise would be considered society, places such as a laundry room and the like. The point being that Pfeiffer presents both sides of the equation dependent on what brought you there. When I learned about the Bike & Hike area though I was even more pleased, as far as it went. The hike and bike area was near the front gate not to far in, there was a bathroom nearby with showers that even though they cost you a few quarters were usually pretty warm and in the bike and hike area it was a nice meadow with multiple optimal locations to pitch tent, all within a grove of redwood tree’s and individual picnic tables and a fire pit. When I was there not so many at that location, as I understand it many went farther south to Kirk Creek Campground which seemed to be a good location for camping based on recommendations from Adventure Cycling Association as many seemed to be following their guide then ones such as Lonely Planets Pacific Coast Guidebook which admittedly I was not using at the time but have heard many recommendations in more recent experiences from other bicycle tourists was brought to my attention. The general consensus is that both Adventure Cycling and Lonely Planet provide great guides to experiencing the Pacific Coast trail fully, but as the first time bicycle tourer, I had not idea at the time but after the tour I learned quite alot. Within the redwood covered grove I set up tent, brought out my trusted Sterno Stove and made my dinner, soup if you had not guessed it. It was a good dinner though none the less. I don’t really go to much into the menu planning on this tour as each person is different but my objective is to speak on more of the experience not the food I ate each night.

    After dinner I decided to lay down, to take some time to just listen to the silence, to the forest, to let my mind relax and my body enjoy a well earned rest in a wonderful place. The night was not so exciting, I had a few conversation with the few other cyclists who were there but not so much as in Monterey, instead as I laid down to sleep I thought about how much of a journey I will have tomorrow, when I was expecting to ride out to Andrew Molera State Park and stay the night there then choose to either go south or go north to experience something different and to find new places and new experiences yet to be had. It was nice to be able to just relax there, not have to worry about nothing, just experience it for what it was an opportunity for relaxation and self reflection. The surrounding redwoods and the silence of the forest was about me, and in that natural environment clarity of thought came much more easily then it would otherwise come when I am at home or in the city. With that uh huh moment I closed my eyes and slept to the sounds of the woods, the most relaxed I had been in a long time.

    As I awoke the next morning, to the pleasant dew in the redwood grove I stretched a bit and took some deep breaths, to enjoy fully the air that was so much more clear in this forest then it was in the city, some of the others were just waking up to so we chatted a bit and I made some breakfast, oatmeal seemed a good idea, using my trusty Sterno stove I took my time in warming the water and then making the oatmeal, something so simple yet so tasty at the same time. To be made with a simple stove and to be experienced as fuel for the ride up ahead, it was nice a good opportunity to think some more about what is next on this journey, at this time I had no idea where I expected to go I just figured I would do my best to experience it fully because it made sense to me and really in my opinion sometimes a tour that is more off the cuff then planned can make for a much better experience, again going back to what Ken Kifer (RIP) that he did not usually plan out his trips he just went and found out where it lead him. I figured I would follow suit and see where I would end up, there was minimal planning sure but at the very least it was better to just go and crank the pedals to see something different and explore something new.

    That was the objective as the next day truly begin, breaking camp and minimizing the space it would take on my rack and pack, everything I had used the night before all fit quite nicely into the backpack, once the sleeping bag was put on the bottom and the pack was properly laid down, using the old standby of jumper cables to secure the pack so as I rode it would not fall off the rack, and then putting the tent on top securing it as well and I was ready to go. As I look back I must of been quite the sight but I was not trying to follow suit, or to do what others had done. Instead I was approaching it as best as I was able. At that time I did not even have panniers though I knew what they were so my entire design was a very simple one. I always figured a minimalist approach to a tour can be a good thing, so as not to carry to much when it is not entirely necessary to really carry anything but the basics. Not to mention the fact for all intensive purposes, this was my first tour and in that idea, was to be definitely a learning experience. Indeed that was what this was becoming.

    With everything all packed up, and after checking my bike for any issues that may become major before the journey really begin again I was on my way, pedaling slowly at first as I was warming up one rotation at a time. After following the road back out to Highway 1 to continue my journey south headed towards Andrew Molera State Park, even knowing it was not the most amazing park, I liked the view it afforded once you arrived, and the fact that Andrew Molera is a more primitive park, meaning it has less of the necessary amenities, and it is usually presented as a walk in or bike in park, that presented a wide open meadow for camping, numerous trails and a beautiful view of the mountains where watching the sunset is a rare treat. Along with easy access to the beach and if you so choose you can also take a horseback ride with Molera Horseback Tours. One of the main reasons this was decided as the next location is first because there is history there, as a family used to go there, and of course there are many other good memories of taking that trip both in a car, on a bus, where I met a young girl who was traveling to a protest and going about it while backpacking across the country. She had some amazing stories to tell and every single one of these stories told by other bicyclists, hikers, backpackers just made me want to to keep on, to continue this exploration of the world on two wheels or by anything human powered. whether walking or bicycling.

    Really the route to Andrew Molera was not to far since I was already on Highway 1 but as always this Pacific Coast Trail was always full of new sites and experiences, things to see chances to stop when you are following it at your own pace the legs working the wheels turning crank by crank up the mountains for the amazing vista at the top, rewarded with a nice long and fast descent if you chose it. At this time in the journey I decided to go with a much more relaxed approach, not so much pounding pedals down the hills but instead just cruising along working the brakes as necessary to keep control at the next corner or turn. It seemed it went fast but the sights were seen and the experiences had.

    For every time I cranked the pedals, I knew I was one step closer to another location I may not of seen in quite the same way if I never took the time to take a ride instead of just drive the same stretch time and time again. When you travel such a beautiful stretch by your own power at your own chosen speed, the opportunity presents itself sometimes to just pull off to the side and enjoy the scene, to look out over the water and know in any other way this experience would not of been the same. As at your own pace, you can stop awhile by choice, without the pressure of the other drivers who seem to be in to much of a hurry, to get wherever they feel they need to get to so quickly. On a bike you go at your own pace, no one is trying to hurry you up, you are not polluting the environment so much as most of the same cars are. As you crank the pedals time and again, you know through the consistent effort you will get the same place as the driver of a car would while being able to just take your time, meandering along the coast just cruising the miles with no need to hurry.

The Choice to Bicycle – Life On Two Wheels Made Long Ago Read more about my Journey in bicycling @ Bicycle Journeys And as I say to all those who are interested make it a point to RIDE ON!

Bicycling & Life

Welcome to the new version of Bicycling as a  Life Choice, as I prefer this over the blogger design I figured I would redirect thoughts and ideas here about bicycling and health. Both of the subjects that I am currently working on for this coming Month of July 2009, to set my focus on my health and on bicycling.