Gallery - Solvang Spring Century
6:43 elapsed 5:45 riding time after 0:00 sleep (!)
03/13/10
Solvang Spring Century route - 99 miles 5,200 feet
new start location at the Golf Course, off we go at 0800
riding a century after flying back from New York on a redeye - yippee
found these guys while leaving Solvang - great paceline buddies
Avenue of the Flags in Buellton
bridge over Zaca Creek
turning into Santa Rosa Road...
the Santa Rita hills - home of the world's greatest Pinot Noir
paceline through the valley - roads still wet from overnight dew
Chardonnay waking up and enjoying the sun
passing the Rio Vista vineyard
Alma Rosa winery on the world famous Sanford and Benedict vineyard
winding through the hills into a headwind
the awesome Sea Smoke vineyard on the far hillside
a beautiful olive grove
exiting the canyon into Lompoc
max crowded at the first checkpoint, includes half-century riders as well as centurions
back over Zaca Creek
rollers on route 1 - some climbing here...
starting after a light is 'interesting'
these guys motored in the flats...
nicely escorted all around the course
starting the first climb - paceline shedding riders
up we go
crap - rider down near the top of the climb - not sure what happened
descending the other side - beautiful day looking out toward Santa Maria
more rollers
and more descents - not pictured, nasty crosswind
grapes sunning themselves in the Santa Maria valley
checkpoint two - turnaround for the half-century riders (yay)
leaving the checkpoint, paced with a 'fixie' - bet the descents are fun on that...
rode with this group for a while - nice disciplined paceline
57 miles in at the Santa Maria airport checkpoint....
leaving Orcutt, into the beauty of Cat Canyon
pacing is all very exciting but nice to be riding alone for a while
checkpoint in the canyon, a little more relaxed atmosphere with only century riders
still smiling with 70 miles done and only 30 to go (although lots of climbing :)
riding across farmland to Foxen Canyon
ancient vines guard the North end of Foxen Canyon
the ascent begins - about 18 miles to the high point
more and more vines near Bien Nacido vineyard
moo
steady climbing with a slight tailwind
almost there, nearing the crest at Zaca Mesa
at the final checkpoint after the top at Fess Parker winery - admiring the Pinot :)
looking down at Firestone vineyard after climbing above it
amazing beauty - and inside of 10 miles left, yay!
entering Ballard Canyon - one of my favorite places
fast descent but crummy road surface - caution required
reentering Solvang!
yay, made it! 6:35 elapsed, 5:45 riding time
(tired but happy)
the huge post-ride exhibition area - will fill up as everyone finishes
Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands beyond Santa Barbara; seen from San Marcos Pass