California Day 5 - So stoked on this trail. So gnarly.

Somehow we got into watching the Shit People Say videos last night, Canadians and Mountain Bikers being some of them. During today's ride into the mountains we were throwing those quotes around left and right. (Definitely a moose) Also, for those of you who have seen the Danny Hart WC run with the crazy awesome commentators, we were able to crazily commentate our own resident Briton, Annie, with similar commentary such as "Stay on your bike Annie!" and "Look at the whip!" (If you don't understand the reference I highly suggest you look up Danny Hart's run)

This ride marked the first time since coming to California that I would be hitting single track and the first time I would be using a 29er as well. Let me just say now I feel stupid for ever smack talking 29ers. I would not have been able to do the crazy trails we did today if I had been riding my old 26er and that is a fact. The trail climbs up along the side of a mountain called Romero or something like that, maybe it was Romero Canyon... ANYWAYS it's a simple double track climb up to a junction where you can choose to climb higher, or descend on the gnarliest rock-strewn trail I have ever ridden. Since it was our first time ascending, we decided to make the first ascent one that goes all the way to the top. The trail becomes slightly more narrow while the air becomes slightly more chilly. The views however are the best I've seen since coming to California, just spectacular.

The descent from the very top of the mountain is pretty hairy - pretty much all high speed straights that suddenly end in steep hairpins with little warning. Oh and we're all exposed to the edge of the mountain and tumbling down with nothing to stop us (except the bottom). Oh and the gravel near the edge is very soft and prone to dropping away when it senses your wheel is there.

Thankfully we all make it down by way of trail riding and not by way of temporary and ill fated flight. This sets us up for the second half of the descent which isn't at all exposed, but rather littered with rocks and drops for its entire length. I made it to the bottom without falling which I feel would be a pretty good accomplishment in its own right. I wouldn't have been able to do it on a 26er, there were just too many sections for a smaller wheel to stall on and send you OTB.

Once we made it to the bottom, some split up to make loops of the shorter loop while I opted to repeat the whole ride again - things went slightly better.

We went out for dinner tonight to a place called The Taj, great place for Indian. Afterwards we went to Menchies for dessert and finally home for stretching, rolling and maybe a snack or two.

Three more days till home!