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Patches given to riders. |
http://www.bbcnet.com/Tailwinds/WindMill/windmill.htm Sponsored by the Santa Maria Bicycle Club. This was my first century ride and was an excellent for this beginner. I repeated the ride in 2002. |
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The beginning and ending point for the Windmill Century is the small community of Los Alamos located about 14 miles south of Santa Maria just west off Highway 101 on Highway 135. The community is typical of the small farm communities of California in the first half of the twentieth century.
| Los Alamos is located in an area that has recently been developed into vineyards. This picture was taken just west of town looking to the southwest toward the Pacific Ocean and Vandenburg Air Force Base and Lompoc are just beyond the hills. |
The ride route was through rolling hills, vineyards and fields of vegetable and flowers. From Los Alamos the first loop used a private road through a vineyard, Alisos Canyon Road (nice uphill grade) and Foxen Canyon (great decent) to the community of Sisquoc and our first rest stop. From Sisquoc the route continued over rolling hills and flat roads through farmland to Santa Maria and the second rest stop and lunch. After lunch the century looped to the north to the community of Guadeloup for the third rest stop. From Guadeloup the route returned south toward Santa Maria on Highway 1 and then turned on Black Road toward the Pacific Ocean up a moderate grade. At the top of the grade there was a decent and a sudden turn to the left and something called Bishop's Peak ... a significant climb about 80 miles into the ride. In 2001 I misjudged the timing on this grade and had to stop just short of the peak to drink water, due to dehydration and inability to handle the water bottle at such a slow speed. In 2002 I saw it coming and drank my water prior to hitting the steep portion of the grade. Near the top of the grade the route enters Vandenberg AFB. Once over the top is the final rest stop. After the rest stop the route is flat and slightly downhill with a dominate tailwind off the ocean all the way into Los Alamos and a great barbecue lunch.
| Waller Park in Los Alamos was the start and finish for the ride. A "Santa Maria Style" barbecue was provided riders at the conclusion of the ride with a choice of chicken or beef. Baked Santa Maria beans, macaroni salad, Mexican salsa and a vegetable salad completed the meal. The salsa on the beans really hit the spot. |
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Preparation
of the barbecued chicken and beef at Waller Park.
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| A real boardwalk in town down Los Alamos establishes this community as representing the past. There are still a couple of Victorian houses and stores with traditional wooden front. One gasoline station still has an unused gravity flow dispenser on display. |
| A vintage Citreon car club invaded downtown Los Alamos on July 27, 2002 as did hundreds of bicyclist. The downtown flag pole can be seen at the far left. Note the old style gas station structure on the right. |