Training for Ironman Arizona is definitely turning out to be an experience of “train where you can.”  This weekend we are visiting family in San Luis Obispo which gave me the opportunity to pick from various epic Central California Coast cycling routes for my long weekend ride.

The last time I rode in San Luis Obispo, I chose to ride through the vineyards.  Not a big shocker for those who know me.  A bigger shocker was that I somehow had the discipline to not stop and taste wine.

This time I decided to ride a route that combined the rocky coast along the Pacific Coast Highway 1 and climbing the inland coastal mountains.  My thought was that this route would give me the opportunity to have long sustaining pushes along the highway and challenging steep climbs to help build that solid base.  In total, 79 miles and 4700 feet of climbing.

As opposed to riding in San Diego in August, I had to plan for climate fluctuations on this route.  In San Luis Obispo it was going to warm with a high of 81.  However, riding through Morro Bay and Cayucos it was going to be typically cold and foggy with a high of 67.  Climbing through the coastal mountains was predicted to sunny and in the high 80’s.  In other words, it was going to be hot, then cold, then hot, then cold, then hot all on the same day!

With that in mind, the plan was as follows:  Traditional cycling jersey to pack stuff in the back pockets, cycling vest to cut the cold wind on the coast, and a stop in Cambria for a sandwich and a piece of pie at Linn’s As Easy As Pie Cafe.

The ride began as expected.  Toasty in SLO and as I approached Morro Bay the sun vanished behind a thick and cold marine layer.

I turned off of Highway 1 in Cayucos onto Old Creek Road where the climbing began pretty much right away.  The climb would continue for the next 14 miles.

The initial climb took me up past Whale Rock Reservoir.  A quick warm-up for the big grinding that was ahead of me later.  Here, the marine layer began to disappear for the first time since Morro Bay which was about 10 miles behind me at this point.

Past Whale Rock Reservoir I descended into a classic rolling California coast mountain landscape.  It was dotted with oaks and blanketed with that famous goldenness.

Following the descent, the real climb began.  It would snake through open rolling hills and canopies of oaks.  Truly spectacular riding landscapes that I am fortunate to be close enough to drive to and enjoy.  This kind of riding is what people dream of when they think Central Coast California riding.  Especially when it involves very few cars.

After the first two miles, the first grind wall threw itself in front of me.  This would be a challenge on my Guru triathlon bike as opposed to tackling it on my Trek Domane road bike.  The next 1.5 miles would be at an 8 % to 10% grade with no break in the grinding action.  Fortunately, the scenery kept my mind off the task at hand and success was achieved.

The road returned to a more gentle climb that rolled through old ranches and more of the same canopies and rolling hills.

Finally, I crossed over Highway 46 to where it becomes Santa Rosa Creek Road letting me know that I had finished half of the mountainous portion of the route.  At this point, the road turned to almost a one laner and a horrible one laner at that.  Additionally, I started to hear a faint squeal from my rear tire.   It was rubbing on the frame.  Every now and then I have had this problem.  It usually happens when I have applied a lot of torque while climbing or have been riding on rough roads.  Both of which were the kind of riding I was doing right then.  That kind of activity seems to get the rear wheel out of alignment and on a triathlon bike, there is no room for anything out of alignment in the rear of the bike.

My immediate thought was that there was probably a bike shop in Cambria that could help me out with realignment if I could make it there.  My second thought was a bit more alarming.  Because of the first thought, my second led to a confirmation that I forgot to bring any kind of ID or method of cash or credit payment.  Not only was this depressing from the standpoint of paying someone to help fix my bike problem, but also I came to the realization that Linn’s sandwich and pie were not going to happen today.  Insert sad face here.

Then, I arrived at the second of the hard climbs.  This one would prove to be an even bigger challenge than the one before.  This was an entire half-mile with 13% to over 15% inclines!  Yes, on my triathlon bike.  Now, my tire was rubbing even more due to the intense torque.  At some sections, my front wheel actually came off the ground it was so steep.  I did almost all of it, but have to admit that I tapped out on the last 25 feet and walked.  I was so close.

At the summit, there was evidence that many had come before me.  Written faintly in chalk on the pavement were the words “Very Steep.”  I thought it was funny that it was at the top and not at the bottom.  Like you didn’t think we didn’t know that once we got there?

Following this summit, I checked my rear tire to see where it was rubbing.  Miraculously, it had fixed itself.  I did not want to descend fast and heat up a rubbing tire so much that it would damage it or even pop.

As I descended, I never really got going very fast anyway because the road was so bad.  In fact, my hands got tired from applying pressure to the brakes for miles.  The road was more suitable for a mountain bike.

The road wound down through the mountains to finally meander next to Santa Rosa Creek.  It was a beautiful little creek still flowing water in mid-August.  It also had a faint sulfur smell that was interesting.

I stopped to take a photo of the rushing water in the creek and noticed a small shrine on the tree next to me to a man named Dave Fishback.  It appeared to be a fairly recent addition although the end date of his life said 2013.  It wasn’t a sad shrine at all.  It looked as if it celebrated someone who was good-natured and likely fished a bit at this spot.

Finally, the road was better.  I noticed that the road improved as I came upon some very expensive homes on large parcels of land.  The better the house, the more important the road was to the owners or the more dollars they had to fix or influence the maintenance of the road was my guess.  Either way, I was descending and my tired hands and I appreciated the investment.

Nearing the last few miles of Santa Rosa Creek Road, I passed some family farms.  A few of these had fruit stands out front with products for sale.  Unmanned, there was simply a “Drop Money” pipe to pay for whatever you took.  Love to see that I keep running into these little stands all over the backroads of California when I am riding.  Very heartwarming.

Santa Rosa Creed Road ended at Main Street just outside of downtown Cambria.  Since I was penniless, and my tire seemed to realign by itself, I decided not to go into town and rather just start heading South back to SLO.  However, I remembered that I had stored a Larabar in my bike bag under my saddle about a month ago.  I took this moment to pull over for nourishment in front of one of the many Cambria super cute homes complete with their own vineyard in the backyard.  It no doubt was crawling with spiders (just joking) as Cambria is where they shot the film Arachniphobia.

While my bike was propped up against their barn on the side of the road, I looked up and noticed this funny metal arm and hand.  Not sure why it is up there.  That, of course, made it all the more interesting.

Back on the bike, I headed South on the iconic stretch of Pacific Coast Highway 1 along the ocean enjoying the rocky coast views.  Within a very short amount of time, I was back under the gray marine layer and enveloped by a dramatically cooler environment.

I started to pass my previously traveled territory of Cayucos, Morro Bay, and SLO.  That included the Cayucos pier,

Morro Rock,

and the other eight 20 million-year-old volcanoes that make up the “9 Sisters” lining the way to SLO from the ocean on the South side of Pacific Coast Highway 1.

It was hard not to think about food at this point 70+ miles into my journey and approaching 4,700 feet of climbing.  Fortunately, I had enough food in my water bottles and that Larabar earlier to make it to the end.  Still, I was looking forward to real solids as opposed to a formed brick of Larabar sustenance.  No worries, just more room for exceptional San Luis Obispo food that I love so much later that evening.