Tours........... and the LVBC

Spain, Italy, and, of course, France all have notable - and lengthy - bicycle tours. Although not garnering the same recognition, and certainly not matching the great cumulative distances, the Lompoc Valley Bicycle Club has, in recent years, conducted its own tour events.

B. J. Clarke started it all by completing the first organized mass ride across America in 1976. If she was the local “mother of all tours,” though, then credit two-time Club president Gene Pritchett as the “father” of our Club tour rides. Pritchett has been the key organizer and administrator for no less than four Club ventures - both in and out of state - since the year 2000.

First was the Tour de Coast in June 24-27, 2000. In this four day effort, Bob Grant, Rich Grayck, Ray Harris, Mike Mann, Bill Morrison, Gene Pritchett, Scott Shaw, and John Turner cruised from Lompoc to San Diego - with a return by Amtrac train.

The next outing was the Oregon Coast , July 14-21, 2001. Again, eight Club riders participated and spun approximately 400 miles from Astoria, OR, to Crescent City, CA . Included were Bob Grant, Chuck Greenley, Ray Harris, Mike Mann, Bill Morrison, tour leader Gene Pritchett, Scott Shaw, and John Turner. Lending vehicle support were Stephanie Greenley, and Barbara, Chris, and Danielle Pritchett. A tour highlight was the return of John Turner’s wallet by a local resident who drove over 40 miles to return the wallet - intact - to a greatly relieved Turner.

The following year, Gene was at it again - this time with the Big Sur Boogie from Half Moon Bay, CA, to Lompoc. Nine Club members took were in the Sep 26-30, 2002, event with overnighters at Half Moon Bay, Watsonville, Big Sur, and Morro Bay, They covered over 300 miles. The participants were Ed Edman, Kathie Gracyk, Bob and Pam Grant, Mike Hattrup, Dana Manchester, Bill Morrison, Lieven Peirtsegaele, and Gene Pritchett.

The most recent , and by far the largest, tour was in 2004. Again, Club members returned for another Oregon Coast adventure from Astoria to Crescent City, CA. With an Aug 14 start and an Aug 22 completion, no less than 23 LVBC cyclists were involved. They were, additionally, augmented by two Oregon residents, Byran and Ilene Babcock, who provided invaluable transport and local knowledge. Completing the 400 miles were Byranand Ilene Babcock, Ed and Joan Edman, Rich and Kathie Gracyk, Bob and Pam Grant, Chuck and Stephanie Greenley, Ray Harris, Mike and Carolyn Hattrup, Bruce Massey, Dana and Barbara Manchester, Larry, Dawn, and Alana Michels, Lieven, Yvonne, Elke, and Nikki Peirtsegaele, and Gene and Barbara Pritchett. Unhappily, Pam Grant crashed a mile from tour completion and needed emergency room treatment. Other than this incident, the week was both enjoyable and rain free.

HISTORIAN NOTE: This is the 8th in a monthly series to be published in 2006 dealing with the heritage, activities, and members of the Lompoc Valley Bicycle Club. Data for the articles comes from personal interviews and, when existing, club record documentation.