dreadedmonkeygod . net

Tell me that's not a perfect pancake. Oh yeah. That pancake fueled a great ride yesterday around my usual Santa Susana - Rocky Peak - Chumash loop. My personal best for this loop still stands at 1:42:09 , but this came close at 1:44:46.

(Map: "Santa Susana - Rocky Peak - Chumash")

I felt really strong on the initial climb from the trailhead, and I'm sure I put up a personal best for that climb. I only really felt tired in the last hundred meters of the second climb.

Though the time doesn't show it, I can feel that I'm getting stronger. I usually climb exclusively in my very bottom gear, but I'm starting to find that my next gear up is often the better option- same perceived effort, lots more speed. And I'm carrying speed down Chumash much better than I used to, and I'm learning to relax through the technical sections.

All together, a really fun way to spend a couple hours yesterday afternoon.