Author: Rob

Coastal Mixed Loop with Company

Today I had the good fortune of some company for a ride out and back along the coast.  Our friends Courtney and Michael came out, he and I rode the coast, and met up with the ladies in Carpinteria for lunch before heading home. The weather was perfect, shorts and t-shirts perfect. 

A little time on the road, a stop in La Conchita for some coconut water, and then some dirt on the coastal cliffs.  Theis stretch between the cliffs and the railroad tracks makes the time on the 101 shoulder worth it.  With the recent rains everything was still in great shape and the trails were hard packed.  The trails are only a couple of miles along the railroad tracks with a good amount of single track woven into the route to keep it fun.  It was Mike’s first foray into skinny tires on dirt, and I think we may have a convert.  A quick run through Rincon Cycles with some tandem questions as well as a look through a shop that actually sells touring gear, then lunch with the wives.  Back on the bikes through the trails.

After the trails there is a stretch where you are squished in on beat up black top between the ocean and the freeway.  I know the mountains cause most of it, but will never cease to be amazed how California manages to squeeze many of its highways and railroads right up against the ocean.

Back to a bit a sanity on the side roads home.  Great day, great company and looking forward to the next ride

PhotoCycling

Photography and Cycling, two of my favorite hobbies. 

I have been taking photographs for a long time.  I remember shopping with my dad during the early 80’s in Miami on a trip to the Grand Prix to get what was the nicest camera he had bought in a long time, A Canon T70.  This was the family’s first venture into the world of 35mm.  I think I was 10 or so at the time and allowed to take pictures as long as he was there and I had the strap around my neck.  With that camera I was introduced to the fact that anybody could make decent photographs, not just snapshots and not just the guys getting pictures in the magazines.  My first solid portrait (IMNSHO) happened to be a portrait of my dad on a trip to Colorado.

Since then I have run the full cycle of black and white dark rooms through digital as it has emerged over the last decade or so.  Always trying to capture the moment, the feeling and the light. 

In the last few of years it hit me that I spend way too much time on a bicycle to not be carrying a camera.  The whole idea is to capture the beauty I see while out riding, to share the feeling of riding a bike while being outside.  Along the way I gathered inspiration through blogs and photo sharing sites like Flickr.  In some ways it was a new frontier.  Not many people try to carry full-sized SLR cameras on their bikes, let alone try to shoot while riding.  I had tried a few point and shoot cameras for their compact size, but was often disappointed in the results.  I found seriouscompacts.com on the web and realised I could get what I wanted out of a smaller camera, but my wallet would be sore afterwards. I almost bought a Panasonic DMC-LX3, but held out a bit and bought in to the emerging miro 4:3 technology. I could have near the full power and versatility of my Canon DSLR in half the package size.  Without the size and weight many doors have opened while few have closed. 

While reading over at the the adventure monkey blog I first saw the term “PhotoCycling” used. I was awestruck, yes Eric’s pictures are great, but that was the perfect word for what he, I and a now many others have been doing. Combining the passion of photography with our other passion of riding.  I hope that my venture here at Ocean Air Cycles inspires you to get outside on your bike as well as capture the moments to spread the word. 

I tip my hat to the inspiration I found at Eric’s site as well as, Gnat Likes, ecovelo and epicurean cyclist  Thank you for sharing your photographs and stories.

Blessed

Today I was reminded by my wife to get out and go for a ride for myself.  This place is about a mile from home, sometimes I stop.  Most of the time it is a bridge to and from the other rides.  This is one of the many reasons my family works so hard to live here.  The beauty of our immediate surroundings is a blessing. 

Grabbing the coffee and heading out to enjoy a few minutes of the morning to myself, I made it to the bridge and decided it was a good day to just enjoy the view.  With all of the challenges of every day life it is easy to lose track of how fortunate we may actually be.  I have an incredible wife, a healthy 9 month old baby girl, extended family for support, food, shelter, and my own wits about me to keep things going.  Things are good, I am always striving to make it better, but things are always good.

Happy Friday, Play outside and enjoy your family!

Narrowing the View

Dusted off the DSLR with 50mm lens for a ride on the Traut today.  I thought it may be time to leave the fisheye at home for a week and focus on some different skills.  Today brought clear skies with snow in the mountains, temps in the 50s, it doesn’t get much nicer than this.

Spring wildflowers starting to pop.

Spotted a hawk with a fish for lunch.