SantaYnezValleyBlog

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

Well, Cyclists, here is a design for a new shirt from Jeff Smith for your critique. Jeff has used the colors of many of our Valley sports’ teams – orange and black – to give us that Valley feel.  I like it. I’m not sure how orange the orange is, (I like a bright orange), but I like the design. Tell me what you think. Thanks, Jeff.

We've had a quiet summer, but we are readying ourselves for the Fall and the return of many of our members who have been on vacations, etc. We have another club ride scheduled for Saturday, October 16th. Please mark your schedules. Details to follow. 

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

Well, it looks like those cyclists who rode in the Fourth of July parade had a great time! Thanks to all those who participated. A special shout out to Mike Hecker for inviting all cyclists in the Valley to join in the fun.   

 

It was a glorious day for a parade and the streets were lined with patriotic folks who cheered our cyclists as they championed a healthy lifestyle. The Fourth of July parade and the fireworks show seem to have a great unifying effect on our Valley.  It’s important for cyclists to be a part of it. Nice job, people.

 - (This picture is really from last year, but I liked it and it no one ever saw it. )

And more good news……….

Craig Adams submitted a good shot of a part of Figueroa Mountain Road that has been repaved. It looks great, especially for someone who has never seen it live. I may have to reconsider trying the “Fig.”       

 

 I hope everyone had a great Fourth and found time to ride!

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

Hello SYVCC Members 

We had our monthly meeting last night which was not well attended, but we bravely carried on. If you weren't there, you missed a very informative presentation by Dawn Wafer, Acupuncturist, and her trusted assistant, Annika. Acupuncture is becoming more and more accepted by Western medicine and it has some elements that are uniquely relevant to cycling. We thank her for speaking last night. We also had a discussion about the design for our new kits. We have not had a lot of input from our members, but those in attendance agreed on a color scheme of orange, black and white. Orange fits in nicely with the Valley colors of our sports' teams and it is certainly visible. We will keep you posted, (little pun there). 

As mentioned in earlier posts, our roads and cycling routes are getting much more attention of late. We had more good news - excuse me - great news yesterday. See this article on edhat, http://tinyurl.com/2brov94.  A good deal of Figueroa Mountain Road is going to be repaved! For years, I have used the poor road conditions to explain my reticence about riding "The Fig." Now I'll just have to admit to being a slug. But for the rest of you, no more excuses! 

I also know that you have been enjoying the parts of Ballard Canyon Road that have been repaved. Well, they're not done yet. More of Ballard will be repaved soon. Pictures will follow as available. 

Life just keeps on getting better for local cyclists. 

Keep riding and be safe!

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

Pine Street to Mission Drive.......    

We all use the Pine Street to Mission Drive route to get to Alamo Pintado or to shoot over to the bike lane on the way to the high school. And you have probably noticed that it has gotten narrower and less safe; more difficult to see ahead. Well, my friends, no more. The city, in the person of Tully Clifford, Public Works Manager for the City of Solvang, has befriended all of us by cleaning up this route thereby making it safer for all who use it. John Padfield has been in touch with him and he, and the city, has been very responsive.  Thank you! In addition, Mr. Clifford says in an email:

 

“We got a lot of the clean up completed, but there’s still more to go. The sidewalk has been restored to its original width and we certainly hope to keep it that way. The Scouts want to try and install a retaining wall for us so over the next few weeks we’ll help them to design the wall then we’ll cut the slope back approximately 24” to 30 “ behind the sidewalk and the wall will be installed. We’ll then plant drought resistant plants for some color and to hold the soil in place. Over time we should have a space that does not infringe on the sidewalk and does not require a great deal of maintenance. We’ll also try to keep the tree canopy above 8 feet."

     

We have seen some nice improvements in some of our roads and routes around the Valley. If you have an opportunity to thank someone in the City or County, take advantage of it and tell them we appreciate their efforts. Government is made up of people like you and me and they respond to civility and appreciative words just like you and me. (Apologies for the editorial)

 

Remember our meeting tomorrow night at the Vet’s Hall, 6:30. Please come and hear Dawn Wafer, Acupuncturist, educate us about how acupuncture can help with cycling.

 

Keep riding and be safe!

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

Great Weather, Good People, Open Road and Delicious Food.....

If you enjoy all of the above and you were with us today, don't tell me you didn't have a good time. What a day for the Cycling Club! Thank you to everyone for participating and special thanks to  Chef Craig, Corey and Marie. They did a wonderful job. A little shout out to El Rancho Market, as well, for donating water and giving us a nice break on the tri-tip.

We started at Dr. J's and went out to the base of Fig which is as far as I ever want to go in that direction. We retraced our steps and gathered again at the Flagpole before heading back to town over Ballard Canyon. Nice new pavement on a stretch of Ballard Canyon makes that a much nicer ride. Some of the more ambitious folks went out to Nojoqui and then most of us ended up at Hans Christian Andersen Park for some great food and company.. 

The members outdid themselves with all kinds of great salads, cookies, brownies, etc. I was concerned that we might not have enough food this morning, but people really came through. Again, thank you Craig Adams for cutting short your ride and grilling great tasting tri-tip and chicken.

 It was fun to talk to people we don't often see and to make new friends as well. These kind of events really lend themselves to that kind of thing. Plans are already coming together for our next ride which   will see us feasting at one of the Valley's beautiful wineries. (I'm not going to tell you which one.)   

Remember that we have our monthly meeting coming up, Monday, June 28th at 6:00 at the Vet's Hall. We've switched it to the last Monday of the month to accommodate people's schedules.

Thank you, everybody, for a great day! We will do it again!

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

Better on Ballard

 

John Padfield has submitted two great pictures of the work being done on Ballard Canyon. Thanks, John   

 

One week from today we will be riding and eating at our first SYVCC Bar-B-Que.  Master Chef, Craig Adams, will be preparing Tri-Tip better than most of us are able and you will be bring some side dishes to share. We will meet at Dr. J’s at 9:00 AM and determine the 35 miles or so that we care to cover. Then we will get together at Han Christian Andersen Park and enjoy some good food and good company. Please plan on being there. Drop me an email, dugan4@verizon.net, to let me know you will be there.

  

See you tomorrow at 10:30 at Dr. J's. 

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

A Word From Marie,

Hello Everyone,

 

Save the date of June 19th for an ALL CLUB RIDE and B-B-Q. This a short no-drop ride so we can talk, get aquainted, and have wonderful food afterwards. More to come on this, but RSVP as soon as you can so we plan for the tri-tip.

 

So glad the weather is improving and you are able to get out and ride ;-)

A quick note on the weeks rides:

 

Tueday Night: leave from the parking lot at 5 ish. A faster paced ride but everyone is welcome. I have been trying to attend so we can always have a splinter group as I can't quite keep up - but it's the only way to get better. :-)

 

Wed. Night Ladies Night. 6 pm leave from the parking lot.

Had a good group last week. Fun, good mellow pace. Karen and Nicole took the sprint down Zaca Station Rd. Way to go ladies!

 

Sunday Group Ride: Leave from the parking lot at 10:30

Had a good showing today and due to the heat we kept it short and sweet out to the base of Fig.   

Dave took KOM going out but Jeff stole back on the return :-)

 

KIT COMPETITION:

Don't forget to be getting your idea of a design down.

We will have the voting for the kit at the BBQ on the 19th. If you can't make the ride and BBQ on the 19th but want to submit a design, please email it to me or drop it off at Dr. J's.

 

I would really like this to be what the club wants. Don't leave it in the hands of the board because we will choose a design as we need to get going on this.

 

Santa Ynez Cycling Club

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

Mark Your Calendars!

HERE WE GO! Come and have some fun with fellow club members on our June 19^th ride and barbecue. We will start at 9:00 in the AM for lazy people, like me, starting at Dr. J’s, (where else?) and go about 35 miles before enjoying the culinary expertise of Chef Craig Adams at Hans Christian Andersen Park.  - Really folks, what could be better? -

Corey has been able to secure some great Tri-Tip and Craig has volunteered to cook it to perfection! So…………. we’ll supply and barbecue the meat and members can supply side dishes to share. Such a deal! Hope to see you there. Drop me a line so we can get a rough count. (dugan4@verizon.net) Let me know what you plan to bring to accompany Craig’s Tri-Tip.

 

More good news. If you haven’t seen it, the bike lane along Refugio and along Roblar to Grand is wonderful. It is painted and looks and feels fantastic. It certainly will make it much safer along that route which is good for cyclists and motor vehicles. Check it out!   

(click to enlarge) 

And, if you can stand more good news, a little bird whispered to me that the city is scheduled to clean up the path between Pine Street and Old Mission Road on June 17^th. I’m sure that you have noticed how unkempt it has been looking. It has become dangerous as well with the high weeds blocking sight lines, etc. It will be nice to have members send an email to the city thanking them for their work when the path is cleared. I’ll get an email address of the proper official to thank for the Refugio bike lane as well. People need to be commended when they do the right thing; like making cycling safer and more enjoyable.

 

Hope you are well and are cycling.

 

Be safe!

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club

Lacking in numbers, but not in quality, the Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club shouldered on at its monthly meeting Wednesday night. Gorging on, (more for us), delicious pizza, the members talked about the upcoming ride and barbeque scheduled for Saturday, June 19^th.  The ride time and route have not been determined, but it will begin at Hans Christian Andersen Park and end there with Chef Craig Adams manning the barbeque pit. Potluck will be the order of the day with members bringing their favorite side dishes or desserts, etc. We will be in touch.

 

 Dave Tonello made a pitch for volunteers at the 13^th Annual Sisquoc Road Race. There are numerous categories and prizes to be won if members are interested in riding. For members who volunteer a half-day shift, entry fees will be waived. For more detailed information, send inquiries to SisquocRoadRace@aol.com. To register to race go to www.SoCalReg.com.

 

Corey came prepared to give us a pre-ride lesson on things to check on our bikes to keep us safe and on the road.  From the look of it, some of his students may need a second lesson.

As most of you know, Marie leads a ladies’ ride every Wednesday night at 6:00 PM, Corey leads a men’s ride every Tuesday night at 5:15 and there is a ride open to everyone every Sunday morning at 10:30. All rides begin at Dr. J’s.  It is difficult to post routes because they often change at the whim of the collected cyclists depending on road conditions, weather conditions and the condition of the aforementioned collected cyclists.

 

One last thing… It was decided to reschedule our monthly meetings to the last Monday of every month. Mondays don’t seem to be as busy for most people. Our next scheduled meeting will be Monday, June 28^th. But we will see you all on June 19^th. Mark your calendars!

 

Santa Ynez Valley Cycling Club