Dionigi
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Santa Cruz & Pittsburgh
One of the great bike touring adventures of the world is riding along the California coast. Here in Santa Cruz we see an endless parade of Americans and Europeans fulfilling their dream of riding from San Fransisco down the central coast, passing through rugged and majestic Big Sur on their way south to San Luis Obispo. Almost all are under 40 and riding either lightly packed road bikes or true touring bikes with front and rear matching panniers. 90% of the bikes have drop handlebars and gear for the endless amount of ascent.
So it seems silly for a 70 year old couple with step-through electric bikes to join the fold. Well, we did and loved every minute. To clarify, our trek was abbreviated. It was a 100 mile round trip between Santa Cruz and Monterey with 2000 feet of ascent, but still the sense of adventure was present.
The Gear
Our bikes were 2019 Riese and Müller Nevo; one had dual batteries and the second one carried a second battery in a trunk bag. Lynn, who is 80 pounds lighter than me, carried her 7 pound spare battery and I carried the 27 pound panniers loaded with 2 battery chargers, change of clothing, rain gear and a signed copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude. So I was the mule and Lynn was the trailblazer. Our Google navigation directions were channeled into the Sena helmet speakers, making every turn well known in advance. The bikes were flawless, the hard tail design provided the most effect transfer of power on paved surfaces and the upright riding position, although a wind catcher, was the most comfortable.
The Proper Attire
This might not be our strong point, with my stout Calabrian form a spandex outfit would contour oddly. Luckily, there was a 50% discount at the Santa Cruz Patagonia outlet, so I opted for green climbing pants to clash wonderfully with my discounted orange jacket. Lynn, not wanting to buy Patagonia, even at a 50% discount, opted for her Zumba outfit paired with a purple puffy jacket. We were noticed!
What We Saw on Our Way to Monterey
For the southern route from Santa Cruz to Monterey we headed into the hills toward the Elkhorn Slough. The route was through rolling hills surrounded by farm fields. The hill climbing did its job by raising our heart rate to our target numbers.
The Acknowledgment
On these back roads there is a continues flow of trekker traffic in both directions. So who do you acknowledge with a simple hand gesture? As the senior tourer riding in the relaxed upright position, shouldn’t we be acknowledged? It doesn’t work that way. In fact, I’m not sure what’s the proper protocol other than some primal feeling similar to two dogs meeting for the first time.
The farmers’ fields dropped us into the town of Marina and the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail. This 18 mile trail parallels the blue skied framed seascapes of Monterey Bay. After 50 miles in four hours we made it to our destination.
Accommodations
The image of riding down California Highway 1 on a Tout Terrain Silkroad touring bike and then stopping at dusk to build a fire and pitch a tent on a remote central coast beach is not lost with age. But checking into a Hyatt and sitting in front of a remote controlled simulated fireplace after an overpriced mediocre dinner also has its merits. A hot shower, king sized bed and countless USB ports is priceless.
What We Saw on Our Way back to Santa Cruz
On Monday morning we started our return to Santa Cruz, this time electing to go against the Google bike path and follow the coast line while zigging slightly inland past the agriculture processing plants and endless fields of strawberries, artichokes and brussel sprouts. This is the heart of the nation’s produce production. This is the land of John Steinbeck. The field hands are no longer from Oklahoma, but from our southern neighbors. The work is still backbreaking and the workers are still trying to better their lives. The workers at this level, I guess, will always be demonized by those not bending over in the hot sun. After the sobering fields we find ourself in Moss Landing at Phil’s Fish Eatery. Back on the road after lunch, the only possible route takes us onto the shoulder of Highway 1 for a 2 mile interval, again zigging in and out of the farmers’ fields.
The Confrontation
On the final leg of our 100 mile odyssey, we were stopped at a traffic light on Soquel Ave when we noticed, in our massive Busch and Müller mirrors, 3 German kids came towards us (I say German but they could have been any generic northern European). Their road bikes were laden with touring gear. But to our surprise, they aggressively jockeyed in front of us. Big Mistake. The traffic signal was on our last climb to our home, our turf, our hood.
Yes, it was a true age and culture confrontation. The one German (maybe Dane) looked at me like a 30 year old looks at a 70 year old in a competitive contemptuous situation. The challenge was on.
As the light turned green, the Germans (could be Swedes, no they’re too passive) stood on their clipless pedals and swayed and grunted to build their ascent. I, by contrast, squatted into my Mary Poppins position and put the bike in turbo. The NorEuros ate my dust. At the hill's crest my legs flew into a victory split (split might be an exaggeration).
On Tuesday, after a good night’s sleep, we returned to our non-touring lives. Our bikes transformed back to errand-running, grandchildren visiting, transports.
So it seems silly for a 70 year old couple with step-through electric bikes to join the fold. Well, we did and loved every minute. To clarify, our trek was abbreviated. It was a 100 mile round trip between Santa Cruz and Monterey with 2000 feet of ascent, but still the sense of adventure was present.
The Gear
Our bikes were 2019 Riese and Müller Nevo; one had dual batteries and the second one carried a second battery in a trunk bag. Lynn, who is 80 pounds lighter than me, carried her 7 pound spare battery and I carried the 27 pound panniers loaded with 2 battery chargers, change of clothing, rain gear and a signed copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude. So I was the mule and Lynn was the trailblazer. Our Google navigation directions were channeled into the Sena helmet speakers, making every turn well known in advance. The bikes were flawless, the hard tail design provided the most effect transfer of power on paved surfaces and the upright riding position, although a wind catcher, was the most comfortable.
The Proper Attire
This might not be our strong point, with my stout Calabrian form a spandex outfit would contour oddly. Luckily, there was a 50% discount at the Santa Cruz Patagonia outlet, so I opted for green climbing pants to clash wonderfully with my discounted orange jacket. Lynn, not wanting to buy Patagonia, even at a 50% discount, opted for her Zumba outfit paired with a purple puffy jacket. We were noticed!
What We Saw on Our Way to Monterey
For the southern route from Santa Cruz to Monterey we headed into the hills toward the Elkhorn Slough. The route was through rolling hills surrounded by farm fields. The hill climbing did its job by raising our heart rate to our target numbers.
The Acknowledgment
On these back roads there is a continues flow of trekker traffic in both directions. So who do you acknowledge with a simple hand gesture? As the senior tourer riding in the relaxed upright position, shouldn’t we be acknowledged? It doesn’t work that way. In fact, I’m not sure what’s the proper protocol other than some primal feeling similar to two dogs meeting for the first time.
The farmers’ fields dropped us into the town of Marina and the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail. This 18 mile trail parallels the blue skied framed seascapes of Monterey Bay. After 50 miles in four hours we made it to our destination.
Accommodations
The image of riding down California Highway 1 on a Tout Terrain Silkroad touring bike and then stopping at dusk to build a fire and pitch a tent on a remote central coast beach is not lost with age. But checking into a Hyatt and sitting in front of a remote controlled simulated fireplace after an overpriced mediocre dinner also has its merits. A hot shower, king sized bed and countless USB ports is priceless.
What We Saw on Our Way back to Santa Cruz
On Monday morning we started our return to Santa Cruz, this time electing to go against the Google bike path and follow the coast line while zigging slightly inland past the agriculture processing plants and endless fields of strawberries, artichokes and brussel sprouts. This is the heart of the nation’s produce production. This is the land of John Steinbeck. The field hands are no longer from Oklahoma, but from our southern neighbors. The work is still backbreaking and the workers are still trying to better their lives. The workers at this level, I guess, will always be demonized by those not bending over in the hot sun. After the sobering fields we find ourself in Moss Landing at Phil’s Fish Eatery. Back on the road after lunch, the only possible route takes us onto the shoulder of Highway 1 for a 2 mile interval, again zigging in and out of the farmers’ fields.
The Confrontation
On the final leg of our 100 mile odyssey, we were stopped at a traffic light on Soquel Ave when we noticed, in our massive Busch and Müller mirrors, 3 German kids came towards us (I say German but they could have been any generic northern European). Their road bikes were laden with touring gear. But to our surprise, they aggressively jockeyed in front of us. Big Mistake. The traffic signal was on our last climb to our home, our turf, our hood.
Yes, it was a true age and culture confrontation. The one German (maybe Dane) looked at me like a 30 year old looks at a 70 year old in a competitive contemptuous situation. The challenge was on.
As the light turned green, the Germans (could be Swedes, no they’re too passive) stood on their clipless pedals and swayed and grunted to build their ascent. I, by contrast, squatted into my Mary Poppins position and put the bike in turbo. The NorEuros ate my dust. At the hill's crest my legs flew into a victory split (split might be an exaggeration).
On Tuesday, after a good night’s sleep, we returned to our non-touring lives. Our bikes transformed back to errand-running, grandchildren visiting, transports.
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