Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 6

Monday, Sep. 10.2007

Finally on the Road!

Hollywood→Coastal Highway 1

Distance: 107.42 km, Duration: 7:51:28 hours, Total Distance: 181.63 km

"Golden Beaches, urbane sidewalks and sandy terrain, gourmet kitchen first class restaurants and boutiques make Santa Monica on the West coast the place to visit, to live and to work" from the previous homepage of the city explains the city as the best.

Still feeling the vibes of the American way of life suddenly a terrible noise from my rear wheel woke me up as I prepared to stop at the traffic light in front of the Santa Monica statue. Immediately I hit the brakes and tried to checked the reason. A screw from the holder (or brace) of the rear carrier fixing it on the frame has gone and with it the holder itself. The carrier became unstable and smashed the bag with a big bang onto the rear wheel. Scary but not very serious! I've tried to find the missing parts but the most important part, the brace, was gone...

Statue of Santa Monica

  I cycled to the Santa Monica beach and tried to talk to some of the bike rentals to get spare parts. I've explained the problem to the first rental company but the boss, an African American, told me seriously that I should come back on Saturday because his mechanic is only working on weekends. As I informed him that we have Monday he answered only very sharp:" That's the way it is!" and left me standing there. The 2nd and 3rd bike rental answered me more or less the same but showed at least a much better attitude. The 3rd one fortunately gave me the direction to a real bike. 

   'Wheel World' in Culver City (wheelworld.com) is a great bicycle store not far away from the Santa Monica Beach. Beside a mail order business they are a 'real' brick-and-mortar' shop to sell and do repairs on bikes. I went inside and explained a young shop assistant my problem. He sent me to a young skilled female mechanic who mounted a new but different designed holder on my rear carrier. 

   While she was working I told her from my plan to cycle from Los Angeles to San Francisco on the Highway 1. She answered that, because of the wind, never heard that someone tried it in this direction. Of course I saw it differently... As she left for lunch she told me that I should pay US$5.00 for parts and labor on the counter. I looked around and found a bike shirt on sale in a neon yellow for $19.99 + California Tax $1.57).

   Finally I went on my bike and rode the same way direction Venice Beach. On the way I've discovered a 99 Cent only Shop in which I bought some cheap food and drinks. The design in the shop is very simple and decoration non-existent but otherwise these low prices are not possible.

   On Venice Beach already some stalls had already opened. An African-American drove his van like a madman and stopped his van with screaming tires in front of another Afro-American, jumped out and shouted like a madman "this is my place!" Beside his stall I saw an elderly white American with a tousled beard sitting, sorting, weighting and packing his 'grass' in small plastic bags. 

Santa Monica Beach

I was happy to that I could finally ride my bike in a pleasant ocean breeze beside the beach, unlike yesterday from south to north.

To be more specific I thought that I could finally leave greater Los Angeles...As I cycled past the former mentioned statue of Santa Monica directly under her eyes I suddenly pedaled without any resistance at all. I stayed cool and noticed that my bike chain was broken! After a short investigation I found out that the chain broke only four links from the lock (or power link). I've shorted the chain with the chain tool on my multi tool trouble-free. Except for some greasy fingers there was nothing seriously to note. I was not comfortable with a broken chain so I planned to buy a new one as soon as possible. Two problems on the first day of my bike tour - it could only get better!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Albert Einstein

(to be continued...)

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 4

Sunday, Sep 09, 2007

On the Streets of Los Angeles

Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood

Distance: 74.21 km, Time: 5 hours:54 minutes:58 seconds, Total: 74.21 km

Sight @ Santa Monica Beach

   The bike path beside the Santa Monica State Beach led me to a sophisticated designed skateboard park crowded with beach boys and their boards. Between them I could spot some BMX bikers testing their skills in the some park. The outer wall was sprayed with graffiti art.

Graffiti Artist @ Work

   I've continued to the famous Muscle Beach, closely associated with the current governor (in 2007!) Arnold Schwarzenegger. 
  The original Muscle Beach dates back to the 1930s when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed exercise equipment immediately south of the Santa Monica Pier. Popular gymnastic and acrobatic performances were routinely held on city-provided equipment. A platform on the beach with weight lifting equipment provided a workout area for famous bodybuilders. 
   After the closing of the original Muscle Beach bodybuilding attention shifted south to the known Venice Beach Weight Pen, operated by the Los Angels Recreation and Parks Department. A small spartan weight pen was build near Windward Avenue in 1959, later replaced by the larger current facility during a complete renovation and Muscle Beach Venice redevelopment in 1990 which sports a huge concrete barbell on the roof and bleachers (or stands) for spectators (wikipedia).

   When I arrived I had great expectations but even on a Sunday afternoon I could only spot very few body builders. It looked that the golden age of Muscle Beach has already gone or the athletes prefer rather to train in climate controlled gyms than under the hot sun at the beach. 

Beach Cruisers @ Venice Beach

   Continuing riding southwards along the beach front the road became lined with shops (I've seen a Harley Davidson clothing store), snack food stalls and restaurants which even serve cold German wheat beer. It's a nice atmosphere to see and to be seen, a leisurely pace let the weekend fade off in a cooling breeze from the ocean.

Beach Promenade @ Venice Beach

    Even with the many interesting sights and sounds of the American way of life the sun did not want to wait for me; it was time to leave. I did not return on the same bike path I came but rather the next road behind the houses of the beach front, the Pacific Coast Highway. Tomorrow I will ride on it to San Francisco, the actual start of my bike tour. Of course, I was very excited...
   The way back to the hotel in Hollywood was not as simple as I thought. As it was getting darker I've got lost but discovered the famous 'Hollywood' sign on the hill in a distance. I've tried to keep the direction and somehow found the way to the hotel. I was already dark night when I arrived. The night watchman opened the gate and let me in...
   After my first 1/2 day riding the bike on American roads was a very interesting experience.  Flying in from Taiwan I disassembled some parts (handlebar, wheels, saddles) and assembled it after arrival everything worked as expected. My bike passed the test for tomorrow's tour start. 
   Let's hope that the next 4 week will be as smooth as today!

(to be continued) 
     

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 3

Sunday, Sep 09, 2007

On the Streets of Los Angeles

Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood

Distance: 74.21 km, Time: 5 hours:54 minutes:58 seconds, Total: 74.21 km

   Conveniently the Wilshire Boulevard is meeting with the Santa Monica Blvd. which carried me to Santa Monica. Sunday afternoon traffic was not too busy, on a bike the meaning of 'traffic congestion' has a different meaning anyway. On the way I've stopped at a Taco chain restaurant and wanted to order my afternoon snack. The blond European waitress was chuckling even while I was ordering and she could not manage my order so that I had the impression she might be either on drugs or disabled. Her Mexican co-worker could not stand it and took over. Within a few minutes I had delicious Tacos with vegetables scalloped with cheese.

Santa Monica Pier

   In the already late afternoon I arrived at the Ocean Front and could discover the Santa Monica Pier down below. From the distance the pier looked indeed amusing, I've discovered many people walking between food stalls and the very small funfair. I pushed my bike over the crowded wooden bridge. On my left I discovered a busy DJ entertaining the crowd with African beats. I followed the crowd on the main street, trying not to be in the way of anyone.

   I came to the main attraction, a very small roller coaster. Many children were lining with their parents, waiting for their turn. I continued to walk at the end of the pier and watched the seemingly endless ocean. Taking the mandatory photo I could not help to think that the ocean would be my partner for the next four weeks and my bike journey to San Francisco and beyond. The sun was preparing to set so I should leave!

   I did not want to walk the same way back and tried to leave the pier walking over the beach. There I could discover red and white crosses in the sand, between them coffins draped with American flags. As I took a picture a middle aged lady came to me and explained that this is a peaceful demonstration against the war and for the American soldiers killed in action during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every white cross stood for one, every red cross for ten dead soldiers. Asking her why they do this she answered that they did not get a permission to do this on the Nation Arlington Cemetery. Even here on the Santa Monica Beach they could only get the permission for the day, in the evening they have to move the crosses and coffins and re-arrange them in the next morning!
   I think everyone should have their own thoughts on the reasons of war; for me it is very clear why oil-hungry USA started the war in the Middle East.

Sting sings in his song 'Fragile':

"If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one

Drying in the color of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay

Perhaps this final act was meant

To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star

Lest we forget how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall

Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are"

Anti Iraq and Afghanistan War Demonstration

   As I have already been here I've decided to wide along the nice bike path between the beach and different houses, shops and places. There were many beach cruisers which can be rented. They look a kind of strange with their long handlebars and are not very comfortable on long tours. Many do not even have gears, a convenience for the renter and not necessary on the very flat bike path. But I was carefully riding between them as there are seemingly no traffic rules and not many are experienced riders. I've shared this path also with pedestrians, joggers and roller skaters. On the beach are several volleyball fields, everyone seems to be sportive in this part of the world.

Member of a Volleyball Team

(to be continued)