Dan's
AIDS/Lifecycle 6 Pictures
Day Six (Friday 6/8/2007) - Lompoc to Ventura
89 Miles
Click on the picture to expand
Day Six would start with the usual routine. Wake up early, eat, go to Sport's Medicine for deep stretching and taping, packing up the gear and tent and hitting the road. One thing would be different though. I decided I was going to try it with the fixed gear. I knew I could handle the climbing but I wasn't sure about the 3 mile 7 1/2% descent after the morning climb. I had flipped the wheel around the day before so I was ready to go. This day is my favorite day because I love the coast and Santa Barbara. The morning was cool but not wet like it had been in previous years.
The climb out of Lompoc's River Park Campground is immediate but very gradual. You climb for 12 miles. Then after the Rest Stop One in the picture, there is that three mile fast, no, very fast descent. I would be relying on my brakes the whole way down since I was using the fixed gear. I was nervous. As predicted, I found that the fixed gear was very hard on my legs and I did not want to risk the rest of the ride, so at mile 30 on the coast, I stopped, and flipped the wheel making the bike a single speed configuration again but now I could coast. What I found is that I have a new found respect for the fixed gear riders. What they do is really tough. And it's not something you just start doing. Like anything, you need to work at it to become good at it.
After lunch at mile 50, we rode into Santa Barbara. How beautiful is this?
On the bike trail on the Santa Barbara beach.
Coming up was the unofficial rest Stop, Paradise Pit. It is put on by the local Santa Barbara cyclists and is something to look forward to.
Paradise Pit!
Me with Ginger Brule. I had a Pralines and Cream cone after this. Outstanding!
Me posing with the Paul Mitchell Girls at the Pit.
Back on the road (or path I should say).
Another shot.
At mile 71, the Water Stop. This occurs before we get onto a very fast Highway 101 on the way to Ventura.
At Rest Stop Four, the theme was "In The Navy". And there I was!