Planet of the Apes ride

This ride is probs one of the most epic rides I have done...what made it even better is that most of us thought we were doing a 3-4hour ride haaahahah.

So it all started on the Wednesday 9am Stahl ride (meets at peets coffee for a decent endurance ride that changes the route every week). This ride is apparently for the un/under/self-employeed, retired, or pro cyclist wanting a long enduro ride. 
Generally you can choose if you want to turn of early or ride longer. So on wednesday, we all met, there were 4 of us 'australisian' girls, Loren, Bec, Em and I. I left home at 8.30 am and got back just before 4pm, a little bit longer than 3-4 hours huh?

Well it started off with about 20 of us rolling our, and after about 1.5 hours we wondered why the group had got down to about 10 (the others had turned back). So we headed towards pacifica beach ( and were treated with some AMAZING veiws as we descended there). It was when we were here (about 2.5 hours into it) we started to ask where we were going next, we were soon to find out that we were going to climb about 3 mile dirt road climb, then decend it. Then stop for lunch...oooh and you should be home at about 4pm! Whaaat?? 

So we started the Dirt road accent up the 'palnet of the Apes' climb. Apperently there is a gorilla called Coco that lives in an inclosure up this climb...hmmm, oh and the planet of the apes was filmed up there! Lets just say we all developed a love for mountain biking, even if it was on our road bikes! It was awesome! The decent was a little scary, we all took it pretty slow as it was sandy/gravelly/ had quite a few drop off's to make us feel real bad ass on our road bikes. Numerous punctures and a few minor crashes here and there we got to half moon bay and refueled with a much needed coffee and food. 

After lunch we still had about an 80km ride back home, and the only way back was back over Mountain range.  we headed back over Tenetis Creek Mountain...just a casual 15km, 40 minute climb after the 4 hours of solid riding we had already done! Definitely was a releif to get to the top non the less, and with the endorphins riding high we started the decent down Kings Mountain...a few voms from a particular rider that ate a bit too much at the 'lunch break' and we were good to go!

Now we just had to drag our selfs along foothill (thankgod we had some guys to draft behind). Foothill is an express way that runs right along the base of the mountain range, and basically everybosy turns off it at some point to get home. And lucky for me, my turnoff is the last one. So I normally have to do the last and first 30mins on my own, which also increases all my ride times by 1hour! Thankfully though, Em and I had a plan, and I rode to here house grabbed Betrice (the maroon little car Em has been using, whilst Moira (the murder van that Jazzy, Em and I have been using) is broken) and drove the rest of the way home. Thank goodness for that, I dont think I would of made it home otherwise! So I was home at 4pm. Pretty Solid day of training!

If you are ever in California, I would seriouly reccomend riding around here, it's awesome! And I swear no body works....and everyone rides!!

The past week has been quite busy, we had a ANZAC bbq a few days late on friday night...only to be asked by an American "is New Zealand involved in ANZAC day as well as Australia??" hah old americans aye!

 We even had some shrimp on the old barbie, and Bec (one of the Aussies) made an awesome Pav!

Since the anzac bbq we have been busy with Car washing in santa cruz, eating sushi, and Bridies birthday bbq.

Next up is Catshill Classic on Saturday the 5th followed by Dana point Criterium in Orange County on the 6th.


After this our big summer racing trip begins on the 10th of May first up with Tour de grove! 


Can't wait!