Mt Tam Re-charge X 2….

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 This is the view looking North– towards Bon Tempe Lake, from the top of Mt Tam in Marin. One of two EPIC rides I did this last week….

 Last week the weather in the Bay Area was 10-20 degrees hotter than any on record, it was, in short– a heatwave. On wednesday (over 80 deg) I rode out to Tam and came back through the Headlands. What was supposed to be a 3 hr ride ended up being 4 hrs/ 46miles due to a trail detour on Railroad grade.  The Rig is fantastic. I have the bike pretty dialed and feel super comfortable in the dirt. The Genesis 2.0 Geometry is not sales hype, there is a differance! I stopped in Deer Park not far from the Dipsea trail for a shade break and snapped this pic….  after getting home I consumed a whole pepperoni pizza and somehow managed to not fall asleep in class later that night.

Romping thu Deer Park/  My–Grandma.. what big wheels you have! 

Saturday, I met Andy @ the GGBparking lot and we headed out from there going up into the Headlands and over to Tennessee Valley. From there~ Miwok over to Hwy 1. Then we back-tracked up to Railroad Grade which goes up to the top of East Peak Mt. Tam. After a quick snack it was back down the east side on the Eldridge trail to Lake Lagunitas. Wow.. It was really nice out there. My pics don’t do it justice. It has been at least a decade since I’d ridden here last. Lately I have been spending more time on my mtb and riding deeper into Marin, to spots I used to ride regularly. It feels great to see these places that feel like old friends. Not to mention share it with a friend who has never seen it before. Lucky bastard lives in Mill Valley and can shoot an almost 100% off road loop to the lake from his house.  

 Andy rolling along taking in the scenery and dreaming of fish and chips…..

We ended up being out for 6 hrs/ the  ride time was 4.5 hrs. The avg temp was around 90+… really hot. For some reason the heat didn’t seem to bother me.  This ride was special. I’m confident the bike fit issues that have been plaguing me for the last 6 months or so, are diminishing and my old core strength is returning. Very exciting indeed!  

Although the last few weeks have been quiet on the mtb race scene here in the Bay Area, I have gotten in some quality racing/ training; two roadraces (Wente and Berkley Hills) and two crits (Wente and Cats Hill).  Sat/Sun was the NMBS #3 down around Santa Barbra and I decided to pass and put in some really good training hrs this week–which I did. This next Sat is CCCX #6 back @ Toro Park in Salinas. I’m hungary for that first win of the season, its been so close the last couple of races. I know I can do it. Sometimes it comes down to making your own luck and that’s what I plan to do.

 This is the actual view of the same setting as the Google Earth pic at the top of this post. I never cease to be amused by Google Earth. Looking north from east peak Tam…

–Beautiful Marin Countey –