If you’re a cycling fan, you probably saw the yellow jersey slip out of George Hincapie’s hands yesterday. It was a very bad day for Hincapie, and in my opinion a disappointing ride by Garmin. Today I watched Alberto Contador, from Team Astana, grab the yellow jersey by taking over the hills and switching up the Team Astana dynamics. Lance Armstrong finished very strong, finishing up in second overall. With only five stages left in the Tour de France, I have found myself craving to get back in the saddle and taking some long cycling rides in the Santa Ynez Valley.
I don't know about you, but I have been noticing quite a growth in the cyclists I see riding along Santa Rosa Rd and Hwy 246 this past month. I think our community is realizing how lucky we are in the Santa Ynez Valley to have such perfect cycling routes and weather conditions.
I come from a strong cycling background. My grandfather, Bernard Miles, was a professional cyclist in New Zealand and won many races, including first place in the 1937 Christchurch to Waimate Cup. My husband, Sam, is an strong triathlete and just finished his first Ironman 70.3. My family has been extremely fortunate, and has had the Air Force move us through many cycling mecca’s including Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and the Santa Ynez Valley.
When we first moved to the Buellton area, it did not take very long for my husband and I to uncover all the pristine cycling routes in the Santa Ynez Valley. Once we did, it seemed we couldn't wait for the weekend to roll around to try our "new route"! Sam hoped for hills, and I hoped for vineyards with tasting rooms! However, we were surprised there were not more people cycling these "hidden gem" cycling routes. When we cycled in Boulder, Colorado Springs, or Fort Collins you could count on the foothills being full of cyclists.
However, we have noticed the cycling scene has changed quite a bit around Solvang, CA. Now we regularly see new groups, professional cycling teams, and cycling singles heading out towards the vineyards to take in challenging rides and the lush landscape. Sure the Tour de France brings the excitement out in all of us, and gets us all geared up to climb the hills. But I really think our "hidden gem" of cycling routes has been discovered. The Santa Ynez Valley community has opened their arms and welcomed out of town cyclists, the Tour de California, Professional Cycling Teams training seasons, and Chris Carmichael’s Carmichael Training Camps. We have become known as a "Cycling Friendly" community. We not only share the road in the Santa Barbara wine country, but we enjoy sharing our towns with the cycling community and encourage our cycling friends to experience the wealth of rides we offer from easy rides to challenging hill climbs.
If you haven’t had a chance to take a ride in the Santa Barbara wine country, I encourage you to check out some of my favorite Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang, and Buellton cycling rides here.
Posts
