Chance Circumstances, kindness, and a broken frame: A story of riding through central California

Longhorn cattle on the side of the road in California
(Image credit: Josh Ross)

I imagine that I’m similar to most of the people reading this. If I asked you what is the worst thing you can picture happening when travelling with a bike, I suspect a lot of people would mention a broken frame. That was certainly what I thought would be the worst thing that could happen. In hindsight though, having had it happen, it turns out that there are ways to get through whatever challenges come up. I relied on the kindness of strangers and colleagues alike and still managed to have a pretty amazing adventure.  

Ride with GPS map screen showing California

In 2023 Big Sur is closed requiring a last minute reroute (Image credit: Josh Ross)
Josh Ross

Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes.
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140 lb.
Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx