Top: Foxen Canyon ends at Hwy 154, Los Olivos, and then riders proceeds up the steep switchbacks of Ballard Canyon. This is the section the pros rode last month in the Time Trial stage of the Amgen Tour of California. Bottom: Once over the top of the switchbacks it is mostly downhill into Solvang and me and the previous titanium bike rider set a blistering pace into town blowing by many others on the way. Once into town it was a few quick turns and we were at the finish. Our prize: a bag of lame ride promotions, a tiny bag of Mahatma rice, a small Clif bar and that is about it. You can tell it is a bad economic year as in the past we got a lot more swag, stuff you could actually use.
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