Monday, April 14, 2008

500 Mile Bike Ride Wrap-Up

Pictures from the trip













All is said and done. The miles are totaled. The damage is healed.

Thumbs Up Tour 08 Stats
Miles from SF to LA - 511.5
Fastest Speed - 45 MPH
Showers taken - Four for me including final shower in LA (I believe Caitlin took three... gross)
Bike problems - I had none (Caitlin had two mechanical problems and one seat problem)
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I consumed - 17.5 (I did not finish one in San Luis. When we returned from the destroyed tire day, it was waiting on the counter where I left it)
Most expensive gas - $4.849 premium (we didn't buy any there)
U-Turns - Three (but they were only like two miles each and all happened right after another...)
Patches on one tube - Six (tube was never repaired to working condition)

Day 1 SF to Santa Cruz
Miles 89.54
Time Riding 7:34:39
Max Speed 37.5 MPH
Avg Speed 11.8

Day 2 Santa Cruz to Big Sur (I deleted my actual counts)
Miles 86.7

Day 3 Big Sur to San Luis Obispo
Miles 110.28
Time 8:35:27
Max Speed 38 MPH
Avg Speed 12.8 MPH

Day 4 San Luis Obispo to San Luis Obispo
Miles 19.61
Time 1:37:07
Max Speed 30 MPH
Avg Speed 12.1 MPH

Day 5 San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara
Miles 112.95
Time 8:23:54
Max Speed 45 MPH
Avg Speed 13.4 MPH

Day 6 Santa Barbara to Los Angeles (Venice Beach)
Miles 92.40
Time 6:58:03
Max Speed 37.5 MPH
Avg Speed 13.3 MPH

My Extra Rides
Moraga to SF (I also rode BART)
Miles 9.1

Oakland Airport to Moraga
Miles 23.49
Time 2:10:34
Max Speed 24 MPH
Avg Speed 10.7 MPH

LAX to OAK Airports
Miles ~400
Time ~1 hour
Max Speed ~500 MPH

That is it. Biking 500+ miles was successfully completed.

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

500 Mile Bike Ride: Day 7

I bikes over 500 miles in 6 days, enjoying the beautiful view of the California coast. I got to see friends along the way and had a blast. Then, I got on a plane and traveled 400 miles in one hour.

However, riding in cars and flying in a plane did not mean I was done biking. When I arrived at the Oakland airport I got my bike box and began to assemble it outside. Due to Bart having jerk policies, I rode to my old house in Oakland and visited more friends. After visiting, I was able to get on Bart and finish my last leg of my ride from Orinda to Moraga. Thus, adding another 20 miles onto my ride (but I won't really count these miles in the ride log, as they were commuter miles outside of the SF to LA ride.

That is it. I will compile everything and give a quick overview with the fun facts and a couple more pictures, but I am going to relax now. Enjoy your day! Spring is here and the weather is beautiful, so I am going back outside.

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

500 Mile Bike Ride: Day 6

We made it! Sitting in LA traffic never felt so good.

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

500 Mile Bike Ride: Day 5

Today, Caitlin and I started where we started day 4. We had a 20 mile déjà vu ride. Then Caitlin rode by our dumpster and did not get a flat. Yay!

The ride was long, windy, and dirty. It had its ups and downs. On one of the downs, I broke my land speed record for a non motorized vehicle. Going down a 7% grade for 2 miles is intense and awesome (Caitlin did not like it and was scared).

Lompoc is the winner for friendliest people, but this could have been from being the only place we loittered in front of a busy grocery store.

Santa Barbara did not start off so well. On our one block walk to get burritos I got hit with some fruity, slurpee smelling drink. I had maybe walked 50 ft and was halfway through the first and only crosswalk, when I see a kid look right at me and throw his drinking from the passing car. Oh well, now my one and only sweatshirt smells like juice.

One last thing... not only did Caitlin get a flat. She lost her wallet walking from downtown San Luis Obispo to Jes's home. I saved the night and found it.

Less than 100 miles until the end of our ride at the fabulously famous Venice Beach (not the Venice Beach we passed in the middle of nowhere).

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Sunday, April 6, 2008

500 Mile Bike Ride: Day 4

After 20 miles and riding through Pismo Beach, Caitlin found a nail (more like Caitlin got a flat and I found a nail in it).

I tried and tried to patch it up. First we fixed the huge hole from the nail. Then, there was a hole from the tire levers. Then, there was a smsller hole by the nail hole. After a while, I looked at the rim and saw it was damaged and causing more holes. Fixed that, but 5 patches in one spot is a bit more than I like to use (3 is usually my max before the tire is retired).

All in all, day 4 is cancelled. Day 5 and 6 will be joys of fun; we thought the last 3 days would be nice, but now it will be a double century finish. I think it is time for the beach...

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500 Mile Bike Ride: Day 3

Party at the pump!

Woo hoo! I am glad that my bike doesn't use gas because $4.69 is ridiculous. That picture was taken halfway through day 3, but first I want to explain day 2.

Day 2, left Santa Cruz. Lost the ocean. Rode through farm land. Saw artichokes. Saw a sign for deep-fried artichokes and really wanted to stop. Did not stop.

That was pretty much day 2 (there might have been a few u-turns, but that is just standard). We set up camp in Big Sur and passed out by 10.

Day 3 was insane compared to day 2. I don't really remember everything. We rode out of Big Sur at 8 am and arrived in San Luis Obispo around 8 pm. The first 50 miles were a lot of hills. Hills are no to fun going up, but awesome going down.

After the hills we got burgers at Ragged Point and some bikers laughed at me. I guess there isn't a lot of comradery between guys pedaling bikes and guys with motors on their bikes. But some guys with sexy, tight leather were definitely checking out my spandex.

There was a 10 Ferrari salute as we passed by Hearst Castle. The rest was just making Caitlin go as her knees were grinding into her leg bone. I don't know how we made it all the way. We now are sore and have some pretty awesome sunburns... I post some pictures later. I think I have the new trend in tanning; maybe I can get on that tanning show when we get to LA.

That about sums it up. I need to pass out.

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Friday, April 4, 2008

500 Mile Bike Ride: Day 1

We made it!!!! (well we made it to the coast... then passed Venice Beach... I don't know what Venice Beach was doing in Northern California, but I almost took a picture and declared victory... and we really made it to Santa Cruz)

Stories from the Road
Before the ride started Caitlin's roommate asked for rent (which was already late), but Caitlin doesn't believe in checks so she tried sending money online. Caitlin also doesn't believe in computers. Long story short, Caitlin needed to find a B of A in the morning. She got tricked in Daly City by a B of A sign that led her to two ATMs. I looked up the next bank on my phone. We arrive in Pacifica, find the bank, and Caitlin finally pays her rent. Back on the road!

We then start a climb on highway where there are no shoulders and construction... I look back to see how Caitlin is doing and she is off her bike waving her arms. Her rack fell off. Thanks to REI, the rack came with bolts that did not fit the mounts on the frame. Anyway, as I am looking at the problem and thinking how screwed we are 20 miles into our ride, a construction worker came to see what is wrong. We decided that we could fix it with a longer bolt and a nut to hold it on (the original bolt fell out and is gone forever). Now, all we need is a harware store. The construction worker points and says, "ACE is right there." The saying within a stones throw doesn't do this situation any justice. I could have thrown a boulder or at least rolled it the 30 ft to ACE's front door.

All said and done, Caitlin and I were back on the road after enjoying a nice hour in Pacifica. Note: the next five or so miles had no shoulder and there was something people call Devil's Slide...

Caitlin and I then enjoyed lunch in Half Moon Bay (picture below or above? I don't know where Google puts it). Watched the surfers in the water and I called my dad to tell him we survived riding on the edge of cliffs. My dad had some sad news, but had a good attitude. My Uncle died in the night. My dad said, he was glad to have someone out in the world with the wind in their face at a time like this. He mentioned my Uncle would want the same thing, so now I will continue the ride in the honor of my Uncle; his spirit will fly down the hills with me.

On a lighter note, I will be releasing fun facts at the end of the trip for everyone to bet on. Here is what you can place your bets on:

Number of miles biked.
Fastest speed.
Showers taken.
Bike problems.
And how many peanut butter sandwiches I eat.

Hints:
I would bet more than 89 miles 100% of the time.
Two cars honked.
We passed some motorcycle guys, then they passed us and honked, and then they passed us again and honked (I guess that means we passed them again).
Tomorrow I will be wearing neon clothes as we ride off from Santa Cruz.
Our ride is officially the Thumbs Up Tour 08.

And last but not least, big thumbs up to Greg Rijavec for a place to stay in Santa Cruz.

Riding in memory of John Dickson the third,
Alan Dickson

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

500 Mile Bike Ride: The Set Up

The Challenge
500 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than seven days.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

I, Alan Dickson, have set out on a bike ride that will challenge my body and my mind on a test into the unknown. Luckily, I am not alone. I will be riding with Caitlin Kelly and there will be many other supporting people along the way.

I am not afraid that my body will not be able to handle the ride. Two years ago, I was riding around San Francisco delivering packages without lunch or breaks for over eight hours. A few snacks, a little water, some good tunes, and a great view will be all that I need (sunshine would be a bonus). Hopefully, Caitlin is ready as well.

My mind is working through possible unknown situations that could occur. My Uncle is in the hospital with a small chance of survival. Knowing what his state will be this week is not possible. I will ride knowing that he supported my trip wholeheartedly. If I make it to LA, then I know that my uncle and I have used the same spirit to face our challenges --- the spirit to live. If anything changes, then I shall face it as it comes.

Right now, Caitlin and I are on the road facing the challenges that come our way, remembering those challenges of the past, and are excited for the challenges in the future. Enough about me, go out there and give me something to read about! I need to focus on pedaling, cars, and potholes.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Gearing Up

Setting up for the come back. Tomorrow is the official launch, right now is just preparation.

I am currently packing and testing my mobile blogging; be ready for instant information about my challenges.

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