Life in the Fast Lane
For one reason or another I have always associated LA with a nonstop type lifestyle, always doing something and having a hard time finding additional time to sleep and rest. Well, it seems like that description isn't too far off... but in a good way. As soon as Finals were over I was on a plane to LA to stay with my homeboy Lyle for almost two weeks. The plan was somewhat abrupt and thrown together in a whirlwind of emails, phone calls and texts, but I'm thinking some of the best trips are thrown together this way. Since I got here the pace has been fast and the fun factor bar set high. In the first 3 days Lyle and I put in roughly 12 hrs of riding containing a 6.5 hr ride, 10,000+ft of climbing, a 32 mile XC race and a shit ton of single track fun. The riding here is pretty amazing. You rarely see anyone and if you do they're are just as happy to be out riding their bike as you are. The views are amazing. The weather is shorts and short sleeves. And the best part is 80% of what you ride is super rad 1 track.
Epic Day. 6.5 hrs, 10,001 ft Climbing, 51 miles (probably 40 single track).
Fueled with the toxic substance above, poor (or great) decisions were made. We knew we were going to do the XC race on Saturday.....so we decided heh? What the heck, why not, Let's do IT. IT being the ride Lyle has been trying to get his friends to go on but none of them will. Well I was game, and so the plan was set into motion. The ride starts with a 4,000ft climb meandering up single track and into the clouds, ending at the ruins of a "mountain resort".
After that, its more rolling along the saddle of the mountains. It was really sweet since we were constantly going in and out of the clouds.
From the top we shredded a half hour of single track descending through the trees. By the time we hit the bottom I couldn't stop smiling. At our first water refill we had an encounter with an ice cream guy. He made fun of Lyle's hair.....not so wise. Lets just say Lyle gave Ice cream homeboy a reality check. After that, homeboy decided to give us some ice cream since he felt bad, or because Lyle was going to kick his ass.
380 calories later, Lyle and I were ripping more single track. The higher we got, the better the trail got and the more fun we had.
Of course being a 6.5 hr ride I was bound to crack once right?
After rebounding we continued with doing what we enjoy most, more single track.
The ride was a blast and after stuffing our faces with food and beer we went to bed, only to wake up 6 hrs later for the XC race. The race was fun. It was a rolling super fast course put on by a local race promotor. Lyle and I rode together the whole race. Being a really small race, I decided to document.
The previous days efforts soon caught up to Lyle and I and suddenly walking sounded good.
Despite feeling tired and mentally drained form the day before, Lyle rode pretty well, finishing 2nd and 3rd, in the money with enough to cover the entry fees back. The race was 32 miles, and I would like to see the split times, something probably along the lines of 23mins, 28 mins, 35 mins, 50 mins. It was funny to say the least.
Today has been a day of catching up and sleeping in. 10hrs of sleep, washing bikes, doing laundry. The rest of the week will be spent preparing for Santa Ynez, I really hope to do well. Hope everyone else's summer is going as well as mine. Good luck to everyone racing as well. Collegiate Nats, Mara kicking ass in Boulder, Jason and Brian in Hood, kick ass and take names.
Epic Day. 6.5 hrs, 10,001 ft Climbing, 51 miles (probably 40 single track).
Fueled with the toxic substance above, poor (or great) decisions were made. We knew we were going to do the XC race on Saturday.....so we decided heh? What the heck, why not, Let's do IT. IT being the ride Lyle has been trying to get his friends to go on but none of them will. Well I was game, and so the plan was set into motion. The ride starts with a 4,000ft climb meandering up single track and into the clouds, ending at the ruins of a "mountain resort".
After that, its more rolling along the saddle of the mountains. It was really sweet since we were constantly going in and out of the clouds.
From the top we shredded a half hour of single track descending through the trees. By the time we hit the bottom I couldn't stop smiling. At our first water refill we had an encounter with an ice cream guy. He made fun of Lyle's hair.....not so wise. Lets just say Lyle gave Ice cream homeboy a reality check. After that, homeboy decided to give us some ice cream since he felt bad, or because Lyle was going to kick his ass.
380 calories later, Lyle and I were ripping more single track. The higher we got, the better the trail got and the more fun we had.
Of course being a 6.5 hr ride I was bound to crack once right?
After rebounding we continued with doing what we enjoy most, more single track.
The ride was a blast and after stuffing our faces with food and beer we went to bed, only to wake up 6 hrs later for the XC race. The race was fun. It was a rolling super fast course put on by a local race promotor. Lyle and I rode together the whole race. Being a really small race, I decided to document.
The previous days efforts soon caught up to Lyle and I and suddenly walking sounded good.
Despite feeling tired and mentally drained form the day before, Lyle rode pretty well, finishing 2nd and 3rd, in the money with enough to cover the entry fees back. The race was 32 miles, and I would like to see the split times, something probably along the lines of 23mins, 28 mins, 35 mins, 50 mins. It was funny to say the least.
Today has been a day of catching up and sleeping in. 10hrs of sleep, washing bikes, doing laundry. The rest of the week will be spent preparing for Santa Ynez, I really hope to do well. Hope everyone else's summer is going as well as mine. Good luck to everyone racing as well. Collegiate Nats, Mara kicking ass in Boulder, Jason and Brian in Hood, kick ass and take names.
posted by blakeharlan at 3:34 PM
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