You might not believe that based on this photo! Yes, that is SNOW on La Cumbre Peak. The road was so iced up in places shaded from the sun we had to walk (carefully) over these bits today on our loop up the famous Gibraltar climb of Santa Barbara. This is kind of the local "Alpe d'Huez" in some ways. From the start it's around 10 kms to the peak and climbs over 800 meters, making the average grade around 8% and making US glad we have low gears! But after 2+ hours of climbing, the descent (which takes barely 1/2 an hour) is big, big, fun. Here's a link to more details on this climb, including lots of photos..
Oh that is not fair! I've always wanted to climb up to La Cumbre after a snow, but the timing of my visits to Santa Barbara never matched up. Some day! Thanks for linking to my ride report on ToughAscent!
ReplyDeleteWe almost fell on our a__s plenty of times up there! The photo was taken at the end of the icy stuff - I was NOT smiling earlier as we were too far to turn back but could see more slippery stuff ahead. The thought of having to ride back down Gibraltar rather than the way-fun descent (as you described it)probably overwhelmed any good sense that would have had us simply turn back the way we came. Happy New Year!
DeleteYou are one tough guy, no arm/leg warmers? No coat? We are riding in teh rain and snow up here in WA. Brrrr...
ReplyDeleteAll that stuff is still in my jersey pockets in the photo. Make no mistake, it was all put on shortly after this photo was taken and we were back on dry, non-slippery asphalt!
DeleteHa! I don't believe that...
ReplyDeleteLarry is a real polar bear when it comes to enduring cold.
We used to blast down the freeway, at 70 plus MPH, with the windows rolled down on his LUV truck at O'Dark Thirty in the morning. Larry with shirt sleeves and me in a jacket and freezing.
No longer true my friend. I'm almost always wearing more clothing on the bike than Heather. Unless it's pretty warm (as it was on the 10 km climb) I rarely remove the arm or knee warmers once they're put on.
DeleteGlad I found your blog. I go out there every March, from Ohio and spend 10-14 days but stay in Santa Ynez Valley, usually Solvang. You can check out my ride reports from California by clicking this link http://www.granvillebike.com/marks-cycling-blog.html and going to the month of March each year. By the way, they scraped Refugio Road on the valley side and it is much better now.
ReplyDeleteHeather's brother lives up in Santa Ynez but we stay with the in-laws down in SB. We try to avoid loading up the car to enjoy cycling on our holiday breaks so rarely get up there. Sounds like you should join us in ITALY one of these seasons for some even better cycling! Here's hoping for good weather in March for you, it was great while we were there.
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