April 3

Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. ...

After the gut-check ride yesterday over the Cajon Pass Summit, I was looking forward to today's ride to Barstow. It was 40 miles on the relatively quiet two-lane road called National Trails Highway, which the old Route 66 followed through this region.  No big hills. Just some flat or rolling terrain. I'm averaging about 10 mph on this trip, including breaks. So, I figured I could work on a few things in my Victorville hotel room (like this journal) before getting on the road around noon, and I would get to my Barstow motel around 4 p.m.

I rolled out of the hotel drive at 12:05 p.m. and pedaled easily on some of Victorville's nicely paved streets. The day was overcast and cool. Everything was going to plan. As  I got to the outskirts of town, I made a left turn onto National Trails Highway, looking forward to getting out into open country.  And then things suddenly changed.

Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. ...  

That nice, smooth pavement I'd enjoyed was gone.  I was now on a road that typified how road construction and maintenance often don't take into account the needs of cyclists — not even if it is Bicycle Route 66. For the next mile or so, and for several extended stretches further, the shoulder had cracks every 8 to 10 feet where the pavement had also buckled. The cracks stretched the entire width of the shoulder, but strangely, never extended into the traffic lane.

Try getting up some momentum and cruising along — especially with a weighed-down touring bike —when every 1-2 seconds you're bouncing over upturned pavement.  Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.  I worried the repetitive thumping might loosen up the bike's nuts and bolts or cause some other problem. I moved into the traffic lane a few times until I heard a car approaching from the rear, at which time I'd move back over and get slowed down again. After about an hour, the rough shoulder was behind me.

Otherwise, it was an uneventful day. I rolled past the Barstow city limits sign around 3:30 p.m. and was surprised how empty the streets were. Granted, it was a Sunday, but it still seemed dead. I found my Best Western motel. After I got cleaned up, I walked about a quarter-mile to a drive-through/takeout teriyaki restaurant. I ordered two entrees. I had one for dinner — which was quite good — and I'll have the other for breakfast.

I'm still tired from the Cajon Pass. I have to get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day — from Barstow, I'll be riding across the Mojave Desert to Roy's Motel & Cafe in Amboy, Calif. 

Contact me: Thoughts or comments? Email me at richardridesusa@gmail.com.

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