Asana Cycles
Asana Cycles
Solvang Double, 200 miles on a 29er
A double century is a 200 mile bike ride. The Solvang Double, was a 200 mile loop starting in Buellton, Ca, going thru Solvang then over to the back side of Santa Maria, over to San Luis Opispo, Los Osos, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, and back to Buellton.
The bike: Hunter 29er with frame bags.
I have done a fair number of doubles in the last few years. In 2009 my buddy Rob and I did 3 doubles which qualified us finishers of the California Triple Crown. Last year I made an attempt at the Tour Divide, and I’m no stranger to 100 mile days while on a bike tour down the Pacific Coast.
The Solvang Double came to me from my buddy Rob. The idea was that he’d ride his fixie for the first time to complete a double century. I figured, I’d ride The Hunter, and pull most of the way. In my typical fashion, I started to do a little bit of planning, doing some training, a few weeks at over 250 miles, a ride here and there at 100 miles. Either way... riding a steel 29er for 200 miles can pose some challenges.
Challenge #1. Rob is not able to make it Solvang. This now means that I actually have no real reason to be there, other than I’m registered, and its something that is on my calender.
Callenge #2. Weather. For the second week we have been getting a deluge of water. The weekend prior, Cambria received 3-5 inches, depending on exact location. HWY 1 has 3 major land slides, completely closing the HWY from Ragged Point to Palo Colorado Canyon north of Big Sur.
Morning of the event comes around, I’m up at 4am, for the 5am roll out. Its a no brainer, get up and ride.
200 miles in 14hrs
My first and only real stop was at around mile 170 in Los Alamos where I ate 1/2 PB&J sandwich and drank a coke. In 9hrs I had covered 140 miles, with 18 minutes of non-moving time. That time was from stopping at 2 of the check points to simply top off water, and then of course some traffic stops in the city of San Luis Obispo.
It rained, it was windy, but at least it was not cold enough to hail. All in all it was another day on the bike. With the experience from my attempt at the Tour Divide, a ride like the Solvang Double plays out its reality of being a coastal california spring double. That is to not say it did not have its challenges.
With the weather, 105 riders out of 484 registered, did not even show up! That left 379 to come to the start line. 92 riders did not finish. Leaving 287 finishing. At 14hrs even, that placed me at 83rd. 83rd out of 287, on a steel 29er...
March 26, 2011 8:34 PM