Eighteen bicycle riders labored up the steep hill. A thousand feet below them, Pacific Ocean waves crashed onto the beach. A thousand feet above them, the road disappeared into pine trees. Sweat dripped off their faces. Flies swarmed around their heads. Some riders ran out of water. A car approached. The driver stopped to refill empty water bottles. He encouraged the riders, "Only five more miles to the top."
This was 1995, the inaugural Central Coast Double (CCD), a 210-mile bicycle ride that starts in Paso Robles, goes through Cambria, up Highway One and over Nacimiento-Ferguson Road to Fort Hunter Liggett. After a lunch break, the route continues north almost to King City, then back to Lake San Antonio, Bradley, San Miguel and Paso Robles. CCD is the dream-child of local ultra-cyclist Brian Stark.
Mudslides, floods, war and destruction--Brian never knows what he will have to deal with. Covering so much territory almost guarantees that some act of nature or man will challenge his ability each year to provide a continuous route.
One year Caltrans closed Highway One north of Ragged Point. Brian had to send the riders west through Hunter Liggett over Nacimiento-Ferguson Road to the coast. Then they turned around and rode back. The hair-raising, brake-gripping seven-mile, 2500-foot descent from the summit of the Santa Lucia mountains to the sea was followed immediately by a lung-busting, thigh-burning, sweat-dripping climb back up.
Another time, the Estrella River flooded River Road north of Paso Robles. Brian had to reroute riders ten miles east to a bridge crossing to get them from San Miguel back to Paso Robles.
Since 2001, heightened security measures have resulted in the Army restricting civilian travel through Fort Hunter Liggett. Gate guards require each of the approximately 150 CCD cyclists to show picture ID to get to the lunch stop.
Brian starts the riders at 5:40 a.m. from Paso Robles City Park. The course closes at midnight. Typically, eighty per cent of the starters are able to complete the ride within the time limit. Although this is not a race, Brian does record finish times. Fastest completion so far is 10:53 by three riders in 1999.
For those who want an easier route, Brian has added a shortened version of the ride–170 miles and 10,500 feet of climbing–that he has named Central Coast Challenge. Imagine climbing stairs from Furnace Creek to Whitney Portal. That’s Brian’s easy route.
Forty volunteers help put the event on. San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club members and other volunteers help on the course and provide equipment. Keith Schmidt, owner of K-Man Cyclery, acts as headquarters and sponsors the ride, along with Hammer Gel Nutrition.
Paso Robles Radio Club HAM operators provide communication around the two-county course, using high frequency radios to transmit over the hills. It is important that everyone be accounted for at every stage of the event since much of the riding takes place in isolated areas.
Larry Sarver, web administrator of centralcoastdouble.com, provides a sophisticated website and 3D graphics as well as T-shirt and patch design.
One of the attractions of CCD is the food. Frank Milazzo of Santa Barbara prepares a gourmet after-ride dinner. Out on the course, volunteers serve refreshments at six food stops and a full lunch in the shaded area behind De Anza Gym on Hunter-Liggett. Brian sets up additional water stops in the Interlake area where hot afternoons suck the moisture out of cyclists.
This is a tough ride and it has a time limit. The course closes at midnight and riders must clear the Bradley food stop, Mile 179, no later than 9:45 p.m. Those who can’t finish in time get a ride to the finish line. No one gets left behind.
INFORMATION BOX: May 10th, 2008, Brian will celebrate the fourteenth annual presentation of the Central Coast Double. Check the website at http://www.centralcoastdouble.com for additional information or call K-Man Cyclery at 237-2453. If you want to volunteer to help on the course, call Brian at 239-4397 or email bms_cycling@centralcoastdouble.com. Volunteers receive free T-shirts, patches and meals.
This was 1995, the inaugural Central Coast Double (CCD), a 210-mile bicycle ride that starts in Paso Robles, goes through Cambria, up Highway One and over Nacimiento-Ferguson Road to Fort Hunter Liggett. After a lunch break, the route continues north almost to King City, then back to Lake San Antonio, Bradley, San Miguel and Paso Robles. CCD is the dream-child of local ultra-cyclist Brian Stark.
Mudslides, floods, war and destruction--Brian never knows what he will have to deal with. Covering so much territory almost guarantees that some act of nature or man will challenge his ability each year to provide a continuous route.
One year Caltrans closed Highway One north of Ragged Point. Brian had to send the riders west through Hunter Liggett over Nacimiento-Ferguson Road to the coast. Then they turned around and rode back. The hair-raising, brake-gripping seven-mile, 2500-foot descent from the summit of the Santa Lucia mountains to the sea was followed immediately by a lung-busting, thigh-burning, sweat-dripping climb back up.
Another time, the Estrella River flooded River Road north of Paso Robles. Brian had to reroute riders ten miles east to a bridge crossing to get them from San Miguel back to Paso Robles.
Since 2001, heightened security measures have resulted in the Army restricting civilian travel through Fort Hunter Liggett. Gate guards require each of the approximately 150 CCD cyclists to show picture ID to get to the lunch stop.
Brian starts the riders at 5:40 a.m. from Paso Robles City Park. The course closes at midnight. Typically, eighty per cent of the starters are able to complete the ride within the time limit. Although this is not a race, Brian does record finish times. Fastest completion so far is 10:53 by three riders in 1999.
For those who want an easier route, Brian has added a shortened version of the ride–170 miles and 10,500 feet of climbing–that he has named Central Coast Challenge. Imagine climbing stairs from Furnace Creek to Whitney Portal. That’s Brian’s easy route.
Forty volunteers help put the event on. San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club members and other volunteers help on the course and provide equipment. Keith Schmidt, owner of K-Man Cyclery, acts as headquarters and sponsors the ride, along with Hammer Gel Nutrition.
Paso Robles Radio Club HAM operators provide communication around the two-county course, using high frequency radios to transmit over the hills. It is important that everyone be accounted for at every stage of the event since much of the riding takes place in isolated areas.
Larry Sarver, web administrator of centralcoastdouble.com, provides a sophisticated website and 3D graphics as well as T-shirt and patch design.
One of the attractions of CCD is the food. Frank Milazzo of Santa Barbara prepares a gourmet after-ride dinner. Out on the course, volunteers serve refreshments at six food stops and a full lunch in the shaded area behind De Anza Gym on Hunter-Liggett. Brian sets up additional water stops in the Interlake area where hot afternoons suck the moisture out of cyclists.
This is a tough ride and it has a time limit. The course closes at midnight and riders must clear the Bradley food stop, Mile 179, no later than 9:45 p.m. Those who can’t finish in time get a ride to the finish line. No one gets left behind.
INFORMATION BOX: May 10th, 2008, Brian will celebrate the fourteenth annual presentation of the Central Coast Double. Check the website at http://www.centralcoastdouble.com for additional information or call K-Man Cyclery at 237-2453. If you want to volunteer to help on the course, call Brian at 239-4397 or email bms_cycling@centralcoastdouble.com. Volunteers receive free T-shirts, patches and meals.
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