All We Do Is Ride Uphill Story and photos by Kyle Sparks s a photographer, my career week was cycling. With this thought in my another section of grass out of the sprin- has taken me to the far mind, I jumped onto the back of the pack kler’s reach — and then back to sleep. reaches of the world on and kept pushing pedals. Then another attack came more quickly several occasions. But none Brian, Rob, and I pedaled through the and forcefully. At this point, I was done of my experiences abroad fields of Oxnard and Ventura. These nice, moving around. I just covered my face compare to a recent cycling flat roads have great bike lanes. We knew with my sleeping bag, hoping someone tripA — pedaling through my home state, that soon enough the flat roads would else would deal with the problem. Luckily straight uphill. This idea spawned from give way to our first major climb — Pine Rob was on it in seconds, jamming the stories of a trip my dad went on in 1976. Mountain, 5,080 feet. After a right turn in sprinkler’s movement with a large stick. He rode his bicycle across the U.S. from Ventura, we started up. With the sprinkler issue resolved, we Oxnard, California, to Millinocket, Maine. The Ventura River bike path is 11 miles drifted back into a deep sleep. In the morn- A couple of good friends, Brian Mich and 700 feet of elevation gain from Ventura ing, we’d make our apologies for disrupting and Rob Thompson, and I embarked on to Ojai. Growing up, I rode on this bike path their watering schedule. an eight-day journey from Camarillo, often. It used to leave me exhausted every California, to the highest pass in the Sierra time I rode it. This time, however, that path Day Two: mountain range. We explored the regions didn’t faze me in the least. It was 10 am and Our ride started before dawn, avoiding that define California’s wilderness by rid- already 80 degrees. After our brief stop in the extreme heat we were sure to hit in ing through Lockwood Valley, Los Padres Ojai, the group was back on the road, this the Central Valley. Much longer and flat- National Forrest, Carrizo Plain, Central time on Route 33, climbing toward Pine ter than the previous day’s ride, we rode Valley, Kings Canyon, Sequoia National Eating and scheming. While the guys refuel, one of them doesn’t seem sold on the plan. Mountain. We could feel the weight of single file toward Bakersfield, stopping Park, and Yosemite National Park. our panniers. I had been standing out of only once to fix a flat tire a few hours Brian was in charge of finding roads for the “This looks really hard, and I hope you like Brian was awake, but still lying in bed. the saddle for a few miles when Rob rode into the day. This would be my first of 12 ride, and he decided to make it a “fun” bike riding uphill.” He looked at me with eyes Rob looked at me like I just kicked over beside me, singing at the top of his lungs. flats during the tour. Several hours later, tour by aiming to ride uphill as much as pos- that said, “you are going to regret this,” his bike; he was angry. He rolled over and Rob was still comfortably seated, using his we arrived in Bakersfield, overheated and sible. This probably was in line with Brian’s and walked back over to the couch to finish tried to fall back asleep. I told them that easiest gear and spinning away. Meanwhile, in need of shade and time off our bikes. “Type II” fun motto: “Not always immedi- drinking his ice-cold beer. I had made coffee and it was ready in the I was pushing my road bike hard. With a We ended up at a Chinese restaurant and ately fun, but almost always fun later.” kitchen. It was a total lie. I don’t even drink double chain ring and nine-speed cassette, quickly burned through several plates of What goes up must come down, right? Day One coffee. Hot chocolate, sure, but coffee? Not the bike is not ideal for touring, but I was food. We then rested for a bit in the shade When I mentioned the proposed route to Time to ride. I got up, stumbled around a chance. Nonetheless, Rob crawled out of determined to make it work. We both start- of some trees. my dad, he glanced over the plan and said, in the darkness, and woke Brian and Rob. bed. When he found out that coffee was ed singing to pass the time while climbing simply bait to wake him, he grunted and up the scorching ascent toward Rose Valley. Day Three: put a pot on. After the final packing, we After a few hours of climbing, we pulled We rode 104 miles through the heat, said our goodbyes to Brian’s family, telling off the highway for a water stop. It was from Kern River to Three Rivers. I was them that we would see them in Tahoe in nearly sunset as we reached the summit of given the nickname, “Tipping Rock.” I a week. the first big climb. had fallen over twice because I was unable Spirits were high as we pedaled down Camping out that night in the green to unclip from my pedals when we came the roads of Camarillo. I led the group. We grass of a firehouse right off Highway to a stop. Tipping Rock now joined Riding hadn’t been on the road more than five 33 seemed like a great idea. This area is Bear (Rob) and Napping Pony (Brian) in the minutes before a car laid on its horn. Next, primarily dry, with desert-like landscape. river to cool off and mentally prepare for a little blue convertible pulled up next to Why the firehouse had a well-manicured the next day of riding. me with the driver waving frantically. The lawn was not our concern. After a quick later, we awoke to the dreaded sound of driver turned out to be my mom, waving dinner, we laid out the ground tarp under sprinklers. We were under attack by the Day Four: goodbye as she drove to work. The guys the night sky, put our pads and bags down, firehouse’s irrigation system. The group The group woke in a funk, setting the had a good laugh about that and we con- and quickly fell asleep. About 20 minutes quickly mobilized and moved the tarp to stage for some difficult riding. A light tinued to ride through Camarillo toward Oxnard and the Pacific Ocean. We made a quick stop at my house across town to get more tubes and say goodbye to my dad and little brother. I resumed my position at the front of the group, and soon heard another car blasting its horn. This time it was my ex-girlfriend, who I had broken up with two days before. She was the last person I wanted to see, as I was still a bit emotional about the breakup. I pulled off the front of the paceline as Rob rode up next to me. He said, “Kyle, you have 800 miles and eight days to sort this out, buddy; for now just ride it out.” In truth, all I had to think about for the next

12 adventure cyclist august/september 2010 adventurecycling.org adventure cyclist august/september 2010 adventurecycling.org 13 mist and rain clouds filled the sky. Plus, Day Seven: we had a very tough climb in front of us After a few more hours of climbing, we called “The General’s Highway.” We want- Nuts & Bolts: California Hills reached the tunnel into Yosemite Valley, a ed to ride 80 miles through the park, but sight I have seen many times before, but the steep incline, pouring rain, and Rob’s When to go: September is the best Yosemite National Park, then descended never from the seat of a bike. We ended swelling right ankle set us back. month to do this particular ride. Keep in to Mono Lake. To find our route, we used up following a large group of construction We had just one choice: Embrace the mind that it can be extremely hot coming a California state road map that is avail- vehicles through the tunnel, which was pain and keep on making progress up the across the Central Valley and near freez- able at all AAA offices and most California nice because we knew that no other cars mountain because this was the route we ing at night in the mountains. Even though bookstores or gas stations. When we were going to come up from behind or in had chosen. After some debate, we decided the temperature varies, September is still entered the state and national parks, we front as we rode into the darkness. that our original goal of Lake Tahoe was the best time to go because the chances also picked up maps at the ranger stations. We emerged from the tunnel side-by- unobtainable. That night we air-dried our of encountering snow in the mountains or Our route often co-incided with Adventure side with raised arms and smiles that went gear in a laundry room while playing card unbearable heat in the valley are lower. Cycling’s Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route from ear to ear. We stopped for a few pho- games and eating dinner. We slept in our (adventurecycling.org/routes). tos and a quick water break. An elderly Miles of rolling, rural Gear to bring: Bringing the correct gear tent, which we realized was falling apart couple asked us if they could stand in front roads with scenery is essential. We each had windbreakers, Food and water: We carried our own ranging from and leaking in several spots. It was a rough raincoats, a lightweight fleece, and a light food and water throughout the whole ride. of our bikes for a few photos because they farmland and forest night, but we were all too tired to care. wanted to tell their friends that they had to the nautical flavor down jacket for camping at high elevation. We each rode with three water bottles of the Lake Erie We also packed a lightweight, three- and a 100-ounce hydration bladder. We ridden up the road from the valley, a few shoreline. Wineries, Day Five: person tent, a ground tarp, a small camp were able to fill up our bottles and packs thousand feet below. They reminded me of Underground “It’s not a bike tour unless we ride stove, headlamps, sleeping bags, and at gas stations and campgrounds in the my grandparents, and I happily shot their Railroad history, sleeping pads. state and national parks. To stay as light art galleries and uphill,” Brian said. This day would be the photo. spectacular parks longest day of our tour, stretching 114 miles. as possible, we only carried two days After clipping back into our pedals, featuring Lake Erie The Route: Our goal was to climb as worth of food between us. We stopped we made a quick descent to the valley beaches, kayaking, Day Six: much as possible. If you don’t want to at grocery stores along the route and and rode to Yosemite Village for lunch. hiking, bird-watching climb all day long, be wary! We rode stocked up for the next few days. and more. Complete We were relatively close to reaching Feeling sore but re-energized, we made an intense workout www.backroadsandbeachesohio.com through Ventura County, then climbed Yosemite, but 50 miles of hot uphill climb- our way out of the valley toward Highway or enjoy a few days www.visitloraincounty.com through Lockwood Valley and The Los Transportation: At the end our tour, we of scenery, culture, 800.334.1673 ing stood in our way. We had been riding Padres National Forest. Next, we made were picked up by Brian’s parents and 120 and the final climb of the tour, Tioga cuisine, wine and for three hours when Rob suddenly jumped our way through Carrizo Plain and the driven back to Camarillo. Public transpor- Pass. Climbing up the highway was very touring. off his bike and threw it at the ground. The Central Valley, then climbed again into tation on Highway 395 near Mono Lack is similar to many of the other climbs we had VeloAdvenCycleJuly2010:VeloAdvenCycleJuly2010 6/28/10 5:34 PM Page 1 stress and pain had finally gotten to him. Kings Canyon and Sequoia National nonexistent. accomplished: hot, steep, and seemingly His right ankle, which was now two times Park. Last, we climbed once again into never ending. For some reason, it felt like the size of his left, had been bothering him we were riding uphill the whole day, and for the past three days. Not really knowing my biggest problem was I could never rest, how to handle the situation, I rode up to There we were, three good friends sit- then put his head in his hands and started just stand up and push a big gear the whole Rob on the side of the highway, got off my ting on the side of the road, defeated. We laughing hysterically. He got up and con- time. We arrived at a campground in White bike, and sat down next to him without sat there for 10 minutes, not knowing what tinued riding down the road. All I could Wolf, exhausted. Brian and Rob both fell saying a word. Brian rode up a few minutes to say to each other. Then I glanced over do was laugh. As the sun was setting, we asleep lying on top of their sleeping bags, Ride for adventure, later, and, feeling the frustration in the air, at Rob and cracked a small smile, hoping crossed the gates of Yosemite and descend- not bothering to inflate their sleeping pads. plopped down next to me. I wouldn’t get smacked in the face. Rob ed toward a campground in Wawona. ride in comfort. Day Eight: We woke, ate, packed up, and got back • Full Custom on our bikes — and started climbing again. • Semi Custom The pain in my legs was extreme, but I • Extensive stock line pushed on. I just thought about moving in for all levels of riders a continuous circle and it seemed to help. Several more miles of climbing found us in Tuolumne Meadows, where we stopped USA Made: Handcrafted and had a quick lunch. in California. From Tuolumne Meadows, the 9,945- foot Tioga Pass was only nine miles away. Rolling out from lunch, we were passed by another cyclist out on a day ride. For reasons unknown to me, I broke away from Brian and Rob and took off after the Shop Voler exclusively at: cyclist. I was up out of the saddle pushing velowear.com big gears, chasing him down as I caught glimpses of his bright cycling kit a few 866-952-7788 turns ahead of me. Photo by Doug Highland After three miles of this, I felt the burn Three dudes on a tarp. Self portraits aren’t usually our style, but we thought this one captured the spirit of this group nicely. in my legs and sat back down, switched to

14 adventure cyclist august/september 2010 adventurecycling.org adventure cyclist august/september 2010 adventurecycling.org 15 an easier gear, and just kept pedaling up went three wide as we started to make our the road. After another mile, I looked back descent. As we came around a corner, the and saw Rob charging 200 yards behind whole valley opened up and we could see me. I knew that it had now become a race for miles, grasping how steep but straight to the top of the pass. I clicked down three the road was. The road is cut out of the side gears, stood up, and started cranking up of a mountain, and to our right was a huge the climb, trying to put as much distance drop-off, which was a bit intimating, but between Rob and me as I could. our fear quickly faded. I stood up one last Now, after eight days of the hardest rid- time, looked over at Brian and Rob, smiled, ing I had ever done, I was racing flat out and placed my hands in the drops. I tucked at 9,000 feet, going into aerodynamic time into a descending position, took my hands trial positions and pushing the hardest gear off the brakes, and proceeded to pedal up to I could. My lungs and legs burned, but I speed until my legs couldn’t keep up any- was not going to let Rob beat me up the more. After I stopped pedaling, I looked at climb. When I looked over my shoulder, he my speedometer — 55 mph. I stayed at this was gaining on me. I clicked down a few speed for the whole descent. At one point; more gears, tucked to as small a position Rob, who was in my draft, came around me as I possibly could and pushed myself to doing at least 60. The sound and force of the limit. I could see a row of cars stopped the wind at this high speed made me feel up the road, and knew they were waiting as though I were driving in a convertible in line to exit the park. I stood up out of sports car on the freeway. It was without Have bungee, will travel. Dividing gear evenly helps maintain group harmony. the saddle one last time and sprinted for Keeping pace. Like a couple of young bucks, Kyle and Rob cavort up Tioga Pass. question the fastest and best descent any of the finish line. As I came to the park exit, us had ever cycled in our lives. The tour was everything I could have that we had pushed ourselves mentally I raised both arms in uncontrolled joy, before I crossed the line. To his credit, excited we were to descend the backside After our descent, we coasted into dreamed of — and more. Even though we and physically. And it felt great. knowing I was at the top. Brian hadn’t joined the race and showed of the pass. Lee Vining, overjoyed that nobody had didn’t make it to the original destination Rob caught me 30 seconds later. We up 10 minutes later. We celebrated, shot a As I said before, what goes up must crashed. With the Sierra Mountains now of Tahoe, our goals were accomplished. Kyle Sparks currently lives and thrives in New exchanged high fives with each other and few photos, talked about the sprint to the come down. We put on our windbreak- behind us, we rode the last few miles By undertaking this excellent adventure Hampshire where he busies himself with a wide variety of editorial and advertising clients. Kyle can always be everybody else that was standing around finish and how we only had 10 miles of ers, checked our brakes, and got ready toward Mono Lake, got off the bikes for with great friends, we were able to expe- found behind his lens, looking for new and experimen- the parking lot. The cyclist that I had riding left. We then moved on to what food to fly. This side of the Tioga Pass is an the last time, and collapsed on some picnic rience California in a way that was unfa- tal ways to hone his craft. You can view his work at chased up the climb had arrived a minute we were going to eat that night, and how eight-percent grade for 10 miles. The group tables in the shade. miliar to us. When it was over, we knew www.kylesparks.com.

Custom Tailored Commuter, Road, and Touring Bikes

Toll free: (888) 829-8340 www.RenaissanceBicycles.com

1% of all Renaissance Bicycles’ sales goes directly to the United States Bicycle Route System.

16 adventure cyclist august/september 2010 adventurecycling.org adventure cyclist august/september 2010 adventurecycling.org 17