Thursday, June 4, 2009

Longest ride ever! Pacific Grove to Castroville

I got a late start at 11AM from Pacific Street in Monterey. I did my usual warm up to Lovers Point and stretched at the end. I decided to make my trip to Marina. When I got to the Walmart area, I just said, "fuck it, lets go to Castroville."

I made my way on the bike path. The road parallel to the freeway was scary because truckers drove down the same narrow frontage road. Oncoming trucks were hazardous because one they passed me going the opposite direction, their tailwind was hella strong carrying dirt and rocks. I felt a small rock hit my helmet. So that was pretty bad.

Once I got to Castroville, I stopped there at the 76 gas station just to rest a bit. I was contemplating if I should just go to Moss Landing because the smoke stacks seemed so close. I will go there in a future trip.

One crazy thing happened...I was biking on the path between Seaside and Marina. From afar I could see two "sticks" on the path. Once I got closer, I realized they were two snakes! I couldn't avoid them because I was just bombing down the path. I ended up running them both over. Crazy....

Adios!!

Castroville!

40+ MILES

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POSSIBLE RIDE: PG-Monterey-Sand City-Marina-Castroville-Moss Landing

Could be a possible ride...


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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Carmel Loop

I decided to stay close in Carmel today. I really like the ocean drive and decided to make a loop where I can do laps. Going west on 8th is a breeze because you go downhill. Going south on scenic is just flatland. The only problem is coming back on Santa Lucia and San Carlos. It is straight hills back to Eighth. I did 4 laps today. It started to get boring after a while.

Carmel's Famous Butterfly House

Carmel Beach

Carmel Beach again...

3.2 MILES each lap

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Monterey-PG- Marina-Almost to Castroville

I woke up this morning at 8:30 and decided to go on a long bike ride due to eating to much here at my Nana's house. I put my Trek in the trunk and head over to Pacific St in Monterey. I did not want to bike out of Carmel because theres just too many steep hills. I parked on the side of the road and assembled my bike. I then biked down to the Fisherman's wharf where I catch the trail to Lovers Point. I stop at the end to stretch before my long ride.

I start heading towards Seaside. I take a path off the scenic path to go into the State park. BAD IDEA! There was so many hills between Seaside and Marina in the State park. I continue into Marina and pass the Best Buy and REI. I make it to the Walmart in Marina but decide to just keep going towards Castroville. The bike path to Castroville after Walmart was just too boring. It was just flat road through the harvest field. I make my way all the way to the hwy overpass and just decide to go back. I believe Castroville was not that far away from where I started to head back.

The way back was hilly, but not that steep. There were a couple straightaways where I was able to get some water. Seaside back to the car was a piece of cake. I shall just try to go to Castroville next time.

31 MILES

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Monday, June 1, 2009

2003 Trek 1200


I have been tinkering around with my bike. Trued the wheels a bit more and tuned the front derailleur. I have been messing around with my ride stance. I flipped the stem, but it was just too low for me. My neck was just killing me. Maybe i just need to stretch more. I decided to lower my stem to decrease the height. My seat is now an inch higher than my handlebars. Who knows, maybe later I will just end up flipping it.  I really love the Tiagra shifters compared to the Sora. It just feels natural shifting.