Tag: California

1984 Bike Tour: Day 68 – End of the road

OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA — Bruce and I achieved the goal — to ride from coast to coast — that we'd made up our minds to accomplish two years ago. It seems like the end arrived too soon.

Fittingly, this was one of the easiest days of the trip. From 2,727 feet, we were coasting down to sea level. Soon after leaving our pace quickened and we had to slow for switchbacks and suddenly we began passing orange groves. It was all so California. We passed a mission, but we didn't stop to investigate. As Lazy Louie would say, all the hills went down and we had the wind to our backs.

Traffic increased as we hit residential areas, and James nearly had a head-on as he sped around us in the van. We were all riding together, and each tried to be the first to spot the ocean. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2020/07/19/1984-bike-tour-day-68-end-of-the-road/

1984 Bike Tour: Day 67 – Final toasts in the glow of a Coleman lantern

The last full day on the road ended in warm camaraderie making toasts around a picnic table. But it began much chillier than that for me.

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I was slow waking up as I felt totally exhausted from the day before, when I had left everyone else at a cramped motel room in Ocotillo and headed up here on my own. I was finally breaking camp when I heard the crunch of tires on the road leading to the campsite. It was James in the blue van. Everyone was worried about me. They got an early start and would be passing by soon. He offered to carry my gear. No, I brought it this far, I’ll take it the rest of the way….

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2020/07/18/1984-bike-tour-day-67-final-toasts-in-the-glow-of-a-coleman-lantern/

1984 Bike Tour: Day 66 – Strange lights in the desert

ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK, CALIFORNIA — Too much heat? Not enough water? Too much pedaling through the desert? Too close to the end of the trip? I can't explain it, but I isolated myself from the group today and rode up to a solitary campground in the desert.
Expecting another hot day, we set the alarm for 4:30 but didn't really get going for hours. We all stopped for pictures at the Arizona-California border then cycled on Interstate 8 near the Mexican border through an area aptly named the Imperial Sand Dunes…

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2020/07/17/1984-bike-tour-day-66-strange-lights-in-the-desert/

Seattle Bike Show limits weekend event due to coronavirus; Seattle Bike Swap, Sea Otter Classic postponed

You’ll want to check for possible last-minute changes before heading out to watch or participate in bicycling events because of growing concern over COVID-19. Organizers in the US and Italy have just started reacting to the epidemic.

So far, we have limitations at this weekend’s Seattle Bike Show and postponements of Seattle Bike Swap and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2020/03/06/check-for-bicycling-event-cancellations-due-to-coronavirus/

Tour of California bike race host cities announced for 2019

It’s hard to believe the Tour of California is celebrating its 14th year in 2019.

I remember anxiously awaiting the pre-race announcements for the event that was scheduled to start in February 2006. What was the route? What were the teams? Who would be the top riders (George Hincapie, Floyd Landis, and Levi Leipheimer competed)?

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2018/12/05/tour-of-california-bike-race-host-cities-announced-for-2019/

Wildflower Century bicyclists found relief in Paradise, CA; now Paradise needs relief

The historic wildland fire that swept through Paradise, California, has left 42 people dead and countless others missing. Officials sifting through debris estimate that more than 6,000 structures are destroyed.

Thousands of bicyclists have enjoyed the northern California town’s hospitality over the years on the annual Wildflower Century presented by the Chico Velo Cycling …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2018/11/13/wildflower-century-bicyclists-found-relief-in-paradise-now-paradise-needs-relief/

“Cycling the Pacific Coast” is definitive guidebook for West Coast adventure

If a bicycle tour of the Pacific Coast is in your sights, you should consider using “Cycling the Pacific Coast” by Bill Thorness.

The book published by Mountaineers Books is nothing less than the definitive guidebook for those traveling the 2,000 miles from Vancouver, BC, to the Mexican border.

Bill Thorness, a Seattle-based author and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2017/12/19/cycling-the-pacific-coast-is-definitive-guidebook-for-west-coast-adventure/

California wildfires spark bike ride cancellations; narrow escape by bike; Leipheimer house destroyed

Bike ride organizers in Northern California have postponed at least one event and changed the route of another as firefighters battle horrific wildfires in several counties.

Not wanting to hamper efforts to control the wildland fires, organizers also realize that air quality in the region is not ideal for outdoor exercise.

The 10th Annual …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2017/10/12/california-wildfires-spark-bike-ride-cancellations-route-changes/

Hit and run suspect in charity bike ride arrested in California

A man who swerved into a group of bicyclists on a charity bike ride in Marin County this weekend and fled found himself in police custody less than 12 hours later.

Four cyclists participating in the Jensie Gran Fondo charity ride were struck by the man when he swerved into the group; 1 was airlifted to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2017/10/09/hit-and-run-driver-who-swerved-into-charity-cyclists-arrested-in-california/

‘Breaking Away’ star will appear at vintage bicycle show and ride

Actor Dennis Christopher is returning to his role as a bicyclist to participate in the Eroica California vintage bike show and ride in April.

Christopher, 57, played a young cyclist in the 1979 coming-of-age movie “Breaking Away”, in which he and a group of friends figure out their roles in life after high school.

Known …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2016/02/02/breaking-away-star-will-appear-at-vintage-bicycle-show-and-ride/