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Solvang Prelude

StephCat
StephCat
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
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1
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Solvang Prelude

  • December 9, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by StephCat from Redondo Beach, California
The Solvang Prelude was my first organized bike-only event, with a choice of metric century, 50 mile or 25 mile courses.

The Santa Ynez Valley is one of my favorite places in California: wineries, golden rolling hills studded with oak trees, twisty scenic roads, good restaurants. Hitting all my high points! and the workout the ride would offer would burn enough calories to indulge post-ride relatively guilt free.

We picked up our race packets Friday night at the Royal Scandinavian Inn, reviewed the course maps, enjoyed some pasta at a local restaurant, and went to bed early.

Saturday morning was horribly cold -- someone said 38 degrees. I was wearing bike shorts and a short sleeved bike jersey. I hadn't even BROUGHT a long sleeved jersey, let alone a jacket. I knew darn well how hot it would get (and it did get hot, later).

We spent pre-race time shopping at the small expo. I bought some bright blue arm warmers and some gloves and Dave bought a light windbreaker that stuffed into itself to make a fanny pack and some glove liners.

The race didn't start on time but no one seemed to care. Eventually, the organizers started letting us go in packs.

Dave and I chose to do do the 50 mile course. A nice downhill started the course. Then the climbing started.

I'm ashamed to say there were a couple of sections I actually got off my bike and walked. Granted, I wasn't the only one, but I really envied those people zipping up the hills like they were nothing. I was in my granny gear and wheezing along at 4mph.

Nonetheless, the countryside was gorgeous, and I started enjoying myself, especially after we got to bike downhill by Los Olivos and then on to some flat areas where I got to go fast and pass people.

We then biked up a canyon -- not so much fun -- but the way back was screamingly fast and fun.

The food stop was next and had clean portapotties, water, trail mix, cookies and bananas. We hung out for a little bit.

It was downhill from the food stop then we had a long grind up a hill that I did without stopping.

Next was a lot of flat roads looping around, then back towards Solvang through some residential neighborhoods and some more short but VERY steep hills.

Around this time we were comparing my odometer reading to the map mileage and realizing that one or the other was wrong. It ends up the course was short. I got around 46 miles on my odometer.

I was tired enough going up the last hill to Solvang that I wasn't too concerned about being off 4 or 5 miles, but some other people were annoyed.

No free food or water was available at the end of the course. There was a pay-in-advance barbeque with chicken and sides, and a beer tent with Firestone beer.

Solvang Prelude Website

From journal Solvang Prelude Biking and Wine Tasting Weekend

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