In September, my wife Nancy and I set off on a three-week road trip that looped through eastern Oregon, south to the Napa Valley, and north along the Oregon coast. My intent was to cram as much cycling into the trip as possible, and in this I succeeded by riding 345 miles. On the riding front, things didn’t start well – it wasn’t until my fourth outing that I had the really good ride that I was striving for. This is the tale of these four rides and some lessons learned along the way.

Ride 1 – Bend, Oregon

I pulled the basics of this ride from Ride with GPS and added some bits to it. Much of the ride is designated as an Oregon Scenic Bikeway, and the name is entirely appropriate. It started from downtown Bend and wandered northwest past Tumalo Butte. A bit further, it formed a loop around Laidlaw Butte and through Tumelo before re-joining the outbound route back to Bend. About halfway through the loop, I tacked on an out-and-back to Eagle Crest Resort, where I joined Nancy and a friend for lunch.

The road conditions were sensational. I was surprised, however, by the taxing effects of the altitude (~3800 ft) and temperature (mid 80’s) – a byproduct of the typically cool temperatures and low altitudes of our Club rides. Unfortunately, what should have been a sensational ride was tarnished with seven miles to go when a band of thunderstorms came through. I tried to wait them out by sheltering in a grove of pines at Shevlin Park, but it quickly became clear that the rain was going to hang out for some time. I slogged the remainder of the ride through town, arriving at our host’s home looking like a drowned rat. Lessons learned: Scale back expectations to compensate for altitude and heat. Take a jacket.

Ride 2 – Lake Almanor Loop

One of our objectives was to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park.While doing so, we stayed in the eminently forgettable town of Chester, California. While there, I grabbed from Ride with GPS a route around Lake Almanor.The first 20 miles of the ride were pleasant, with decent pavement and generous shoulders.The altitude (~4500 feet) didn’t have any obvious effect (possibly due to acclimation) and the temperature (~65 F) was really comfortable.

The trouble started just after mile 20, when the route departed from the state highway for a five-mile stretch.I assume that the objective of the person who authored the route was to remain close to the lake for enhanced scenery and reduced traffic volume, but the pavement quality was bone-jarringly awful.While I was initially happy to re-join the state highway at mile 25, my disposition tanked when I discovered that this portion of said highway was under construction.During my30-minutewait for a pilot car, the temperature dropped 20 degrees, and I could feel every piece of connective tissue in my body solidifying. When the pilot car finally arrived, I turned on to the highway to be greeted with choppy pavement strewn with sand and gravel as well as thunderstorms, both of which persisted for seven miserable and terrifying miles. By the time I arrived at our hotel, I was as filthy and cold as I have ever been on a bike.

Lessons learned: Check for construction activity before heading out.If possible, assess pavement quality ahead of time.Take a jacket.

Ride 3 – Clear Lake Loop

Starting and ending in Clearlake, California, this ride was the textbook definition of type 2 fun.[1]Given the temperature (~85 F), the distance, and the elevation gain, I knew that it would be challenging, but it exceeded expectations on a grand scale – and not in a good way.As before, I pulled the route from Ride with GPS.

In a very annoying pattern, the route repeatedly called for departures from state highways to frontage roads or through neighborhoods.(One of these diversions directs the rider through a locked gate.)I suppose that the motive was to avoid high-speed roads, but the pavement on most of these deviations was truly abominable.I was certain that I was going to incur a pinch flat or damage a wheel; in many areas, I had to stand to use my legs as shock absorbers to lessen the impact forces on the wheels.Having to cope in this manner made it impossible to settle into a comfortable rhythm.

At mile 50, the route left the highway and traversed terrain with the customary ghastly pavement and grades that exceeded 16 percent.
After each climb, an enjoyable descent was impossible; traveling at any speed beyond a crawl posed a serious risk of a crash.

At mile 58, the route called for travel for several miles along a dirt path on private property (despite having been advertised at "100% paved").I was fortunate to devise an alternate route.

To cap it off, I kept getting the most godawful leg cramps stating at about mile 50 and persisting throughout the remainder of the ride. I have historically had zero problems with leg cramps and constantly mainline electrolytes, so why they decided to flare up during this ride was truly mystifying.

Lessons learned: Roads in northern California that are not state highways have awful pavement.Information for routes posted in Ride with GPS may be wildly inaccurate.Check the route in detail prior to departure and revise it appropriately.

[1]Per Google AI: “Type 2 fun isan activity that feels challenging, uncomfortable, or even miserable while you're doing it, but becomes rewarding, fulfilling, and a source of pride and fond memories in retrospect.”

Ride 4 – Napa Valley Loop

Our next stop was Calistoga, California.Months earlier, I had arranged throughCalistoga Bikeshopto participate in a guided ride in the area; this was going to be one of the highlights of the trip.I had requested a ride distance of about 40 miles with about 2000 feet of gain.

Despite a day of rest, my legs were sending a clear message that they had other ideas.In a move characterized more by desperation than anything else, I started searching for a massage therapist who could see me on short notice.(I was not hopeful; most practitioners are scheduled pretty far out.)Amazingly, I found a one-man practice about 100 yards from our hotel who could see me the next day (a Sunday!).I let him work on me for 90 minutes, during which time he loosened every piece of fascia he could find.As soon as he finished, I knew that I was on the mend.By the next morning – the day of the ride – I felt great.

My guide was a congenial chap named Trace Denna, a special education therapist who works with autistic children and who, on the side, does endurance cycling events (the kind that are way above my pay grade).

We proceeded southeast from Calistoga along the valley floor, riding a well-built bike path all the way to Oakville. The day was pleasant, with minimal wind and temperatures in the low 70’s. After stopping at theOakville Groceryfor a water bottle refill and a pastry, I soon found out how we were going to grab the desired elevation in an otherwise flat area.Turning off of the highway, we ascended the Oakville Grade, a popular hill training route with a gain of 700 feet and an average grade exceeding 10 percent.Trace repeatedly reminded me that it was ok to turn around at any time, but I was too stubborn to give in.Reaching the top proved to be hugely satisfying while the subsequent descent was somewhere between exhilarating and terrifying.

By the time we returned to the valley floor, the temperature was well into the high 80’s.We continued to Yountville before crossing to the Silverado Trail, then turned back toward Calistoga.Silverado Trail skirts the hills that define the east side of the valley, resulting in a pleasant succession of rollers that provided variety and pleasant views of the seemingly endless vineyards laden with grapes nearly ready for harvest and the distant tan hills dotted with dark green oak trees.

We arrived at the bike shop not quite four hours after we departed, just as the temperature cracked 95 F.Trace was an excellent guide – he could have hammered me into the ground, but you never would have known it.My legs felt good the whole time.It was a very good day.

Lessons learned: When in unfamiliar territory, reliable guidance from a competent human beats grabbing a route from Ride with GPS.Cycling with someone you are compatible with is a refreshing change from solo rides.Support your local bike shop – they’re the good guys.