Jason Barnhart
Pacific Coast
- IMAGES OF THE ROAD -
One of those days
The weather was not perfect. Nor had the weekend been but the bike was, in fact, working just as it should. I dropped my five year old at school and decided to take advantage of a morning when I could be doing some things, maybe should be doing some things but technically didn’t have to. Right, better just pedal out the few miles to the Warming Hut at Chrissy Field and get cup of coffee while I could. The Warming Hut is near the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge on the San Francisco side. It’s such an iconic setting right there on the PCH. It’s also ideal if you just have a little while to get out and pedal. You can even stop for coffee and a little work via smartphone. This day though, the bridge beckoned. I rode right past the Warming Hut up the road and ramps to the bridge, that’s somewhat challenging if you aren’t used to it but more than worth it once you see the view. Of course once I was up there I figured I might as well cross the bridge. I could come right back and be productive.
After the short trip over was at the vista point overlooking the bay. I sat there thinking how fantastic it looked. I didn’t have much gear; a storm shell, a wool sweater, phone, the typical things but enough to keep going. I still wanted that cup of coffee. Sausalito has good coffee and it’s always nice to drop in and visit the guys at Renovo Hardwoods, makers of fantastic wooden bicycles. Off to Cibo for an eclair, coffee and a twitter shout out to fellow Rangers. After pondering how far an eclair and twelve ounces of coffee would carry me I re-assessed my situation and came to terms with the fact that I just wanted to keep going and didn’t have a solid commitment until 8:00 pm. So ten hours to kill if I wanted to. Plenty of time to ride the Paradise loop out past Tiburon.
I could literally feel the stress of the working weekend fall away as I gave in to my urge to ride on. I was beat after two graveyard shifts in a row at my on-call part time job as a third shift doorman at a Russian Hill residential high rise. Yes that means I stay awake a couple nights a month watching Netflix and playing Minecraft. Anyway, I felt less tired by the minute. It could have been the sugar and caffeine but I went with the happy prospect of just being out there pedaling.
After riding Paradise Loop, a Bay area favorite, I figured I could turn back or catch a ferry in Tiburon but really, Larkspur wasn’t that much farther! I predictably pedaled on to Larkspur and had another fantastic cup of coffee. Even after a Stumptown coffee and ham and cheese strata and it was only 1:30. If I kept going I could make Point Reyes and get back in time for my appointment. Then I realized I could probably just move my appointment to the following night and I wouldn’t have to be anywhere until the next afternoon. If I could scrounge a blanket and a waterproof tarp I could camp out near Point Reyes, right? No.
I realized it was in fact one of those days where if I didn’t check myself I’d just ride until I couldn’t ride anymore and keep rationalizing one more extension, one more hour, another day, I’ve got another 20 miles in my legs right?
I hopped on the next ferry back to the city, $6 and half an hour later I was back in “reality” daydreaming about my next ride and thinking how I ought to plan ahead, at least take a hammock and wool blanket. It’s several days later and I still feel great. Sometimes you just need to give in and go, live in the moment and let the ride happen.
- Pacific Coast Milestones -
Jason Barnhart
Gear List
- MY BLACKBURN GEAR -
- MY BIKE SPECS -
- • FRAME-1983-95 Bianchi Sport SS
- • HEADSET-Stock Bianchi
- • PEDALS-Specialized track pedals w/MKS cages
- • BRAKES-Shimano w/ Jagwire cables and pads
- • SEATPOST-Bianchi steel
- • HANDLEBAR-Bianchi drop bars w/Cincelli gel cork tape
- • FRAME SIZE-56cm
- • CRANK-170 Shimano Alero
- • CASSETTE-Shimano Alero 5 speed
- • WHEELS-Vintage Chrome steel 27
- • SADDLE-Prologo
- • ACCESSORIES-Serfas USB combo
- • FORK-Steel
- • BOTTOM BRACKET-Stock
- • SHIFTERS-Shimano 105
- • TIRES-Continental
- • STEM-Bianchi
- - PERSONAL ITEMS - -
- • Opinel No 8 beechwood handle pocket
- • Umbra card case wallet
- • ASP Palm Defender OC Pepper Spray
- • Matches
- • Kiehls SPF 50+ sunscreen
- - TECHNOLOGY - -
- • Flea 2.0 front light w/helmet adaptor
- • Motorola Droid X2 smart phone
- • Flea 2.0 rear light (on helmet)
- • Analog watch
- • iPod Shuffle
- - CAMPING GEAR - -
- • Color Cloud hammock
- • Hyperlite sleeping bag
- • Snow Peak titanium campers cup
- - CLOTHING - -
- • Cycling shoes
- • Sugoi Arm Warmers
- • Levi's cotton bandana scarf
- • Hand knit wool fingerless mittens
- • Native Vim sunglasses
- • Stance socks
- • Bell Volt helmet
- • Facconable cashmere sweater
- • Levi's 501 jeans
- • Castelli cycling cap
- • Chrome 1-off prototype shell jacket
Jason Barnhart
- FROM: San Francisco, CA
- DOB: 1970-11-15
- Single, 1 child
- OCCUPATION: Photographer, Designer
- Jason is one of the Blackburn Segment Rangers. What does that mean? The Segment Rangers may not tour an established route from end-to-end, but rather live their life mile-by-mile, embodying the sort of everyday adventure that Blackburn is proud to support.
- WHAT IS YOUR GOAL FOR THE ROUTE? WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET OUT OF THIS JOURNEY? I'm riding "local" routes. There are a million and one places I have seen in SoCal and NorCal both as I sped by on Amtrak and road trips by car or motorcycle, just wanting to be out there pedaling. I'm looking forward to getting to see more of these places by bike and exploring everything.
- WHAT WAS THE GENESIS MOMENT OR INSPIRATION FOR YOUR UPCOMING ADVENTURE? HAVE YOU TRAVELED BY BIKE IN THE PAST? I'm always up for adventure and find inspiration in the smallest things. Sometimes it's just "time" to grab a bike, climbing gear and basic camp stuff and go. I travel by bicycle everywhere I can in most any weather. I'm fond of riding in snow, even commuting through Northern Indiana winters in college and biking year round in Northern Japan in the late 1990's. I've made trips in and around southern Indiana and Kentucky, Illinois, Bay Area California, Flagstaff and Scottsdale Arizona and a lot of Aomori Prefecture in Japan.
-
Canon 20D DSLR.
My tried and true workhorse still cam.
-
Opinel No.8 folding pocket knife.
Basic, simple, classic, made the same way since 1890.
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Bandana Scarf
Like a bandana but 20 x 60 instead of the usual 20 x 20.
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iPhone 3G
An old iPhone 3G I use as iPod, eReader, Skype phone and web tool.