Risa August Will Cycle Final Route Stretch in October
The author will complete her remaining 30-mile journey near Santa Barbara on October 4, 2026.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Cycling
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Cyclist and author Risa August is set to return to the road to complete the final 30 miles of her cross-country cycling journey on October 4, 2026. A wildfire previously forced her to bypass this stretch of her route between Gaviota and Santa Barbara.
Why it matters
Completing the final portion of her ride allows August to achieve closure on her journey, which she previously chronicled in her memoir about cycling with a brain tumor.
August is scheduled to cover a distance of 30 miles to conclude her journey. This final leg remains the only section of her original border-to-border route not yet completed due to the wildfire closure.
The players
Risa August
She is the author of The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike.
UCLA film team
This production crew is documenting the journey for an upcoming film titled The Final Thirty.
The details
The upcoming ride will be recorded by a UCLA film crew for a documentary project titled The Final Thirty. August previously documented her broader experience cycling with a brain tumor in her memoir, The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike.
Timeline
October 4, 2026: Risa August will finish the remaining 30-mile cycling route.
Season Trajectory
This effort marks the final resolution of a logistical disruption caused by the 2026 wildfire road closures between Gaviota and Santa Barbara. Completing the route allows the project to move from the active cycling phase to the final documentation stage for the documentary film.
Local residents and motorists should anticipate potential film production activity along the route between Gaviota and Santa Barbara on October 4, 2026. The 30-mile ride will finalize the author's personal mileage goals established in her memoir.
The takeaway
August illustrates the importance of persistence in achieving personal milestones despite physical and environmental challenges. Her journey serves as a template for those seeking closure in long-term endurance goals.
What happens next
A documentary titled The Final Thirty is currently in production by a UCLA film team following the ride.
Further reading
For more news on regional cycling events, visit our Cycling section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NewsChannel 3-12.
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