500KM of Bicycling (South Bay to Los Angeles)

01 Jul 2017

GPS Route of Bicycling to LA

In 2017, my friend and I embarked on a challenging and adventurous bicycling trip from the South Bay Area to Los Angeles. Over nine days, we covered approximately 500 kilometers. This blog is a summary of our journey, the reasons behind it, and the experiences we had along the way.

Why We Did It

Bicycling 500 kilometers over nine days is no small feat, especially for those who aren’t regular cyclists. My motivations were as follows:

Adventurous Spirit: I wanted to undertake something adventurous. After numerous rides around the South Bay Area, I was ready for a larger challenge before moving on to a new adventure.
No Alternative Plans: I had no other vacations planned for the summer of 2017, making this the perfect opportunity for a unique experience.
Testing My Optimism: I was curious to test my physical and mental limits. Many friends doubted I could complete the trip (although, unfortunately, no bets were placed). I was optimistic and eager to see if my confidence was well-founded.

How We Did It

Team: Cycling alone for so many days seemed daunting, so I reached out to friends and colleagues, but none were interested. Eventually, I connected with a cyclist from Los Angeles through a public group. He was excited about the idea and willing to travel to the South Bay to start our journey.
Preparation: By this time, I had been cycling regularly for nearly a year. My daily commute was 10 miles, and I often did weekend rides of around 60 miles. I switched from a hybrid bike to a road bike for this trip. To keep things simple, we opted for hotel stays instead of camping, which would have required carrying more equipment.
Outcome: We completed the journey, which was both exhilarating and challenging. Every day brought unexpected hurdles, from road closures and getting lost to the dangers of cycling on freeway shoulders with steep elevation drops. Despite the challenges, having a team with complementary skills was beneficial—while I was good with directions, my friend excelled at planning and logistics. Persistence was key; there were numerous moments when we were tempted to abandon the plan and head home, but we persevered.

By the end of the trip, I was thoroughly sunburned. Cycling in the July heat felt like being roasted in an oven.

Day-by-Day Summary

Day 1
- We cycled 90 miles, far exceeding our initial plan of 35 miles.
- We found ourselves biking on Highway 101 at 9 PM in pitch darkness.
Day 2
- We became confident in our ability to complete the trip.
- Google Maps proved unreliable, leading us onto private properties. We had to make tough decisions and sometimes cycle along freeways.
- We cut the day short due to the danger and uncertainty of our route.
Day 3: We descended over 1200 feet, a difficult and dangerous ride on freeway shoulders. Controlling the bike on such a steep downhill required constant focus.
Day 4: It was Independence Day, and the roads were busy. Drivers seemed annoyed by our presence, and we were frequently honked at.
Day 5: This was the most peaceful day, and for the first time, everything went according to plan.
Day 6: We reached Highway 1 and enjoyed stunning coastal views as we rode along the shore.
Day 7: We arrived in Santa Monica, back to civilization, and took in the beautiful beach views.
Day 8: Final stretch to Los Angeles.
Day 9: Flew back to San Francisco.