Biking the Lost Coast Part One: Eureka to Shelter Cove

[@comovacycling]

Great to see you discovered one of my absolute favorite corners of California. The descent from Cape Mendocino down to the beach is jaw dropping on a sunny day (sorry you had fog!). And even though it's only 13 miles, Kings Peak Rd (not King Ridge Rd.) is truly epic for its remoteness, stream crossings, and views. I know the area well from guiding trips through the Lost Coast and across Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. I'm happy to offer route planning and other logistics advice to anyone interested in riding in these parts of California.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Thanks. I think I've spending the last year and a half about how if I did it again, how I could I do it better. Pack more efficiently and better gearing would be at the top of the list. I hope I can do it again.

[@CoachTeufel13]

That was my buddy Andrew in Revo. Also, you are going the opposite direction we do for the Tour of the Unknown Coast thru Ferndale to the coast. Those descents are climbs known as The Wall and the Endless Hill. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

I felt like I had endless Endless Hills!

[@teamkman244]

Plan to ride this while on a Portland to SF tour this summer. Helpful video thank you

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

This will definitely be the toughest stretch.

[@ChereEdgar]

Revo bicycles! My Bike dudes! Welcome to my little corner of the world!

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Tough ride, but now that I'm rewatching my adventure, I want to come back!

[@markmanriquez3208]

Yussssss yusssss YUSSSSS!!!!! CANT WAIT!!!! vicariously gotta live thru your life in this experience while I work . Ive been wanting to do this trip myself for so long!!!

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

I definitely am intrigued on doing it again, but definitely a bit different next time.

[@henrypretz]

Most excellent! Looking forward to the next two. Great work 👍🏽(edit to comment on the "moon trees" moment ..... Amazing!!!)

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

I think I'm combining the last two days. Might make me work harder...

[@zimmejoc]

That's my favorite part of Cali, even if I could do it in 3 days, no way would I do so.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

If I ever did this again, I concur...

[@brettwolmarans5181]

excellent in all aspects, great production, great close ups of the bike contrasted with the longer shots, thanks for creating this!

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Thanks. This trip was harder to shoot because of the heavy biking. Surprised I had the wherewithal to keep the cameras going most of the time...

[@TimR123]

One of those "ooh that looks fun" rides flip flopping with "how many freakin feet?" 🙂Nice work. Also nice to see a different format video for a change (love the normal stuff too)

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

It took me a year and a half to finally make this video. I just didn't know how I could properly convey it all. Still processing...

[@TimR123]

@@GravelBikeCalifornia I can imagine. I was actually thinking about that when I realized it was from Summer. But I thought it was from THIS Summer. Looking forward to the rest of the story.

[@Korina42]

@@GravelBikeCalifornia *That* explains it! This was from before the 12/20/22 earthquake; only 6.5 but the third most violent quake in California history. It did a number on a lot of rural roads, keeping them closed for *months*. The gorgeous, tiny town of Rio Dell still has too many red tagged houses. Come back next autumn and the Humboldt Bay Trail should be rideable, so you can get from Clam Beach to south of Eureka (the Waterfront Trail has been extended another 1.25 miles south) with minimal car interactions and without having to ride the Samoa bridge. Just FYI, it's pronounced Lo-LEE-ta.

[@K707OR30]

Man, big respect for riding this. That dirt section south of Honeydew up Wilder Ridge is stupidly steep, the video doesn’t do it justice.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

It was hard for me to pull out my camera at this grade.

[@SandSanta]

I've done a small patch of that from Petaluma to Sea Ranch. Absolutely beautiful.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Definitely the icing on the cake I was looking forward to.

[@peterjrmoore3941]

9:30 "backtrack to 101" hardly!! you actually come out at Rio Dell and the climb out along bear river ridge is pretty amazing, rewarded by fantastviews

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

I wish I had more time to explore there.

[@MarkGlenesk]

@GravelBikeCalifornia is part two coming out soon? Just wondering about the section from Shelter to HWY 1

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Merging Day 2 & 3 in the next video. Probably out Jan 11.

[@jotsingh8917]

Yeah, I lost my Salsa Fargo near Petrolia. Otherwise a spectacular ride.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Whaa??? Did someone steal it?

[@tonyinderbitzin5324]

Wow, what an adventure, & solo! How did you lighten up your saddle pack?

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

I did it the old fashioned way....which I'll reveal in part two...

[@AB-op7dt]

Found it So helpful! Thank you ☺️

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Best of luck on this. It was a bit more than I should have put out there.

[@cureone]

sick

[@socaljoe]

Thanks!

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Thanks much! I hope to explore more out there again.

[@LorentJalabert]

that's a tough route. I know a lot of it. the north coast is a gem

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Not mentally up for doing it again at this point.

[@henningwagner1099]

Incredible adventure! Thank you so much for taking us with you. And all of that alone…😬 Looking forward to day 2 and day 3.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Yeah, a bit scary without a great backup plan on some of those stretches. I'm looking to have more multi-day adventures next year, but better planned. And thanks again on Patreon. I'll be sending an update soon.

[@PaoloGardinali]

Do bike stores routinely accept bike flights deliveries? Did you call in advance to set it up?

[@comovacycling]

If you ship to a shop (which most shops will do) it's nice to support the shop by paying to have them unbox and re-build the bike. This will run in the $50-70 range. Call in advance so the shop can schedule the build on its repair calendar and have your bike ready when you arrive.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Great answer by @comovacycling. Revolution Bicycles were very helpful and all the shifting was in order.

[@harveyfreed6342]

😮

[@mmeadowyy]

the moon trees 🤍 huell

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

That made my trip. I got the answer I was looking for on the only people I asked!!

[@chrispearson8163]

Chapeau Zach! Having ridden the Mattole Rd. twice unloaded and driven up/down to Shelter Cove (terrifying!), I can only imagine how hard this was on a loaded steel bike. Looking forward to videos on Days 2 & 3.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

I drove into shelter cove for the first time last June. Even terrifying in a car!

[@sccxvelo]

Good old dense summer redwood region fog when the rest of nation is baking, redwoods are covered in fog damp cool temps. It is amazing they have not just given up the lost coast paved roads yet or maybe they have letting it go back to dirt the slow cheap way.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

I can't imagine the demand to fix any of them in my lifetime.

[@harveyfreed6342]

Great trip. WoW! thanks. I am pulling out my maps.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Wait until watching part two before planning. I may do it differently a second time.

[@PaoloGardinali]

Amazing video, Zach, thank you!

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

It's a pleasure to have the opportunity.

[@DTSsb95]

Awesome! Looking forward to the next episodes.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Thanks. I'm enjoying putting the second part together even more...

[@Arborman1973]

You are a badass!!! Looking forward to part two.

[@GravelBikeCalifornia]

Already working on it. Day two is a doozy...