Solvang Prelude 2014

The Solvang Prelude (starting in "Pea Soup" Buellton) is the "Prelude" to the larger ride event, the Solvang Century in March. It's organized by the SCOR (Specialized Coronary Outpatient Rehabilitation) Bike Club.  The Prelude takes you through the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley wine country. There was a choice of three rides Metric Century , Half Century and 25 mile ride. Not knowing what to expect, still taking it easy on my new hips and especially wanting to have time to enjoy the wine country with Carrie I opted for the 25 mile ride.

This annual ride is the perfect ride for us trikers. Easy to ride back country roads with great scenery that can truly be enjoyed while laid back.

The 25 mile ride was a little short but it left me plenty of time to be with Carrie (my non-riding best bud and wife). 

Where else would you stay in Buellton? Pea Soup Anderson's is a good clean motel at a reasonable rate (especially for us seniors). Just 2 minutes away from the event area.

Pre-ride action the day before with my beautiful wife.

Ready to go for tomorrow's ride.

Just starting off down Mission Drive (HWY 246) headed to Solvang.

A short ride through Solvang. Solvang is a full on tourist town but it's hard not to get a kick out of it and escape reality for awhile.

There was a few short steep hills that forced a handful of riders to end up walkers. Poor guy in green up ahead has to walk his ride, a necessity that doesn't befall a triker. 

In the heart of Santa Ynez Valley wine country.

A reminder to self to come back later in the afternoon with Carrie to enjoy some vino. 

Catching up with some of the other cyclists. I wasn't trying to go fast but I paced with and passed a lot of cyclists. I love my 700. I'm constantly getting underestimated. That's half the fun of riding the 700.

Yours truly riding by the auto camera.

Well stocked rest stop...

...with more then enough toilets. Now if only the guys would learn to aim better.

A short bike path (the designated route) towards the end of the ride. This was a pretty little path that paralleled Mission Drive. Most riders opted to ride on Mission. Is it an ego thing? Give me the choice between a quiet empty path with trees or a busy highway and you'll find me on the path

End of the ride beer with Carrie at the event festival. 

Now back to Buttonwood Farm. We skip the wine tasting ritual and go straight to a full glass of fermented grape goodness and find a place to sit and enjoy. Some wineries only offer "wine tasting" and don't accommodate us non-connoisseurs who just want a glass of wine to enjoy without  pretense.

This is how to drink wine. The Avant restaurant at the Terraavant Winery in Buellton gives you a wine credit card to use doing your meal. You put the card into the wine vending machines and poor a taste, half or full glass or mix up your wines (my option). 

The Solvang Prelude is the perfect event ride for trkers but I was the only trike...I was the only recumbent. It has good ride options and beautiful country to enjoy during while riding in laid back comfort. After the ride you can enjoy the Danish vibe of Solvang, wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley country or down some cold brews at the Solvang Brewery and Firestone Brewery.

Solvang Prelude 2014

The Solvang Prelude in the Santa Ynez Valley (So Cal's wine country) November 8th will be my first event ride since 2011 when I did a short ride at the Cool Breeze Century in Ventura on failing hips. That little ride was followed a few months later by a heart attack. During 2012 and 2013 my hips kept fighting me and every event ride I registered for I had to bail out off. Finally after getting new hips in late 2013 (go to Post by Subject and click on Hip Replacements for the sorted details) I've come to the realization that I can commit to event rides again. Not the long century rides but the shorter rides offered at most events.

The Solvang Prelude will be the first event ride I do this year. The Prelude includes a Metric and Half Century and a 26 mile ride. All with a bit of climbing. I'll just do the 26 mile ride. I'm not one to test how far I can go only to end up where I started or worse retrace part of a route I've already done earlier in the day. The Prelude rides do just that, especially on the longer rides. I like new scenery and the beer (or wine) that awaits me at the end of ride.
Next year I have a few more event rides staked out. I contact the event organizer to make sure recumbent trikes are welcome. At first a couple of organizers responded like I was a child wanting to ride my tricycle with all the big two wheeled kids. One organizer said okay but gave me a lecture on how to ride safely with other bikes. Another said to stay out of everyone's way. The Fiesta "something or other" just said no. 

Now my contact with event organizers includes a picture of my Catrike "Black" and word or two about what a big boy I am and how long I've been riding. Responses so far are all positive and the organizers are more then happy to take my registration fee.

Typical email I send out

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