polo_pro
04-15-2006, 06:49 PM
In a little more than a month, I'm travelling from SF (actually Santa Cruz) to Santa Barbara down the Pacific Coast Highway. This is a well established route used by bikers, and numerous books and maps describe it in detail. The difference between this trip and other long distance glides is the lack of a chase car. Instead nightly recharges at hotels make these vast distances possible over the course of a week and a half. So here's some of the details for those of you who like that kind of thing:
1) Distance: 300 miles (north to south due to prevailing winds despite the riding right next to the cliffs)
2) Duration: 10 days (Sat, May 19th to Memorial Day with one day off for rest)
3) Longest Leg: 47 miles to San Simeon
4) Average Distance Travelled Each Day: 34 miles (taking about 6 hours)
4) Batteries: 2 rented pairs of Li-Ion and 3 pairs of NiMH as backup for up to 80 mile range
5) Required Equipment: tools, 2 offboard chargers, converted bike kid trailer, spare tires, helmet, comfy shoes
6) Optional Equipment: sleeping bag, segmat, segseat, XM radio, GPS capable camera-cell phone/PDA (for blogging)
7) Misc items: maps, LED vest, safety triangle, sunglasses, sunscreen
8) Is something important missing? Would an off-the-wall item make the whole experience better? Post a reply!
Have I got you excited about this venture? Are you mulling over what it would take to join in? Well, if you have an i180 (or i170 already out fitted with Li-Ions), you don't need a whole lot! I have room in the trailer for an extra set of Li-Ions (which can be rented for $195 for the trip from a local dealer...I'd be happy to make all those arrangements for you), and if you wanted your own room at the hotels every night that'd be the only additional cost (Again, I'll be happy to give you all the phone numbers so that you only have to whip out your credit card and make a few calls).
Other than that, you only need the vacation time (5 or 6 days to cover the time from May 19th throuh Memorial Day), a ride home from Santa Barbara (on the train?) and a sense of adventure!
(Due to the intense logistics involved with this trip, I won't be able to be flexible about the start date. When it comes to equipment, I'm very flexible. If you need to store your Segway and any of your gear at my house after the trip, then you could pick it up some following weekend. I might be able to make arrangements for your equipment to be stored in the Bay Area the week before. Other legal disclaimers I should mention is that Segwaying 100's of miles along PCH involves being in the road with cars at times. These are established bike routes, but the very real possibility exists that you could be hurt, injured or even die. While I'm helping out organizing this, it's a rough world out there and you and ONLY you are responsible for your safety on this trip. If you'd like to drive the route beforehand to see if you're comfortable with it, I'll send you specific details. Just email me at nmpLo (A t> h 0tmaiL <D 0t) c Om )
1) Distance: 300 miles (north to south due to prevailing winds despite the riding right next to the cliffs)
2) Duration: 10 days (Sat, May 19th to Memorial Day with one day off for rest)
3) Longest Leg: 47 miles to San Simeon
4) Average Distance Travelled Each Day: 34 miles (taking about 6 hours)
4) Batteries: 2 rented pairs of Li-Ion and 3 pairs of NiMH as backup for up to 80 mile range
5) Required Equipment: tools, 2 offboard chargers, converted bike kid trailer, spare tires, helmet, comfy shoes
6) Optional Equipment: sleeping bag, segmat, segseat, XM radio, GPS capable camera-cell phone/PDA (for blogging)
7) Misc items: maps, LED vest, safety triangle, sunglasses, sunscreen
8) Is something important missing? Would an off-the-wall item make the whole experience better? Post a reply!
Have I got you excited about this venture? Are you mulling over what it would take to join in? Well, if you have an i180 (or i170 already out fitted with Li-Ions), you don't need a whole lot! I have room in the trailer for an extra set of Li-Ions (which can be rented for $195 for the trip from a local dealer...I'd be happy to make all those arrangements for you), and if you wanted your own room at the hotels every night that'd be the only additional cost (Again, I'll be happy to give you all the phone numbers so that you only have to whip out your credit card and make a few calls).
Other than that, you only need the vacation time (5 or 6 days to cover the time from May 19th throuh Memorial Day), a ride home from Santa Barbara (on the train?) and a sense of adventure!
(Due to the intense logistics involved with this trip, I won't be able to be flexible about the start date. When it comes to equipment, I'm very flexible. If you need to store your Segway and any of your gear at my house after the trip, then you could pick it up some following weekend. I might be able to make arrangements for your equipment to be stored in the Bay Area the week before. Other legal disclaimers I should mention is that Segwaying 100's of miles along PCH involves being in the road with cars at times. These are established bike routes, but the very real possibility exists that you could be hurt, injured or even die. While I'm helping out organizing this, it's a rough world out there and you and ONLY you are responsible for your safety on this trip. If you'd like to drive the route beforehand to see if you're comfortable with it, I'll send you specific details. Just email me at nmpLo (A t> h 0tmaiL <D 0t) c Om )