Lee Chimerakis on the Unique Experience of Touring Southern California by Bicycle

There is a very good reason automakers choose California’s coastal highway to showcase their newest offerings to consumers. The coastal highway, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and rocky, mountainous terrain on the other, is the ideal setting for any vehicle, whether it is a sleek sports car hugging the road’s tight corners, or a truck easily traversing the steep inclines of a highway that features an almost non-existent shoulder and, in certain places, perilous and sudden 1,000-foot drops.

Travelers choose the coastal highway for these same reasons. Even if it means spending a few extra hours in the car, the views of the Pacific Ocean and the unspoiled natural beauty of the Peninsular, Transverse, Southern, Northern, and Klamath Mountain Ranges make the added time more than worthwhile. While many have made a trip up the coastal highway in this way, far fewer have experienced the unique beauty of the California coast by bicycle.

It is a time-consuming and physically demanding experience, especially on an extended trip requiring the bike to carry the added weight of camping gear as well as the rider’s personal effects. For those who have taken in California’s coastal vistas while riding their bicycle from Crescent City to San Diego and any of the points in between, the experience is so rewarding that one hardly notices the physical fatigue of climbing a seemingly endless incline such as the the one in Legget and cheerfully endures the swirling winds of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The demands of the Southern California portion of the ride pale in comparison to the Northern California sections, but the relatively level ride through the region is every bit as scenic. Lee Chimerakis, an avid rider who has completed at least a dozen bicycle tours all over the world, believes that the unique experience of bicycle touring should not be limited to only the most daring of adventurers or the fittest of athletes. After all, Chimerakis completed his very first bike tour as a way to celebrate his 60th birthday.

Since turning 60, Chimerakis has taken on bike tours in places like Italy and Switzerland, including tours that allowed him to experience the Swiss Alps and featured panoramic views of the Italian Lakes in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy. The avid cyclist and bike touring enthusiast believes anyone interested in seeing the world in this way should consider dipping their toes in the proverbial water with a tour in an area such as Southern California.

With its natural beauty and relatively flat roads, the southern section of the coastal highway is indeed an ideal and enjoyable option to gain some valuable bike touring experience before venturing into those higher-altitude locales like Switzerland and Northern Italy.