Ride

(Mostly) loved this year’s Feisty route. Very different mix of surfaces and locations relative to last year’s Happy Bovine adventure. Signage and route-helpers were on point. Rest stop tents were very well-stocked and so lively (costume-cows serving whisky shots? lol). AMSTRDM coffee opened up right on the corner of the park? Love them, so much… a toasty macchiato the right choice before we kick out.

Wake up the legs on the early-morning flight out Moss Lane’s crushed-seabed pave. Kiler Canyon felt less chaotic and much less dusty than last year. Still plenty of blinding moon-dust up at the top tho.

Second time through the gentle flowing tree-tunnel of Willow Creek, still so peaceful. The York Mountain side quest was unexpected; what started as an innocuous country lane winding under the cover of old oak trees kept a surprisingly steep kick up to the top.

The new Santa Rita Ranch loop was cool and interesting and technically challenging, packing 1000′ of 20% loose granny-gear grind into just a few miles. Reminded me a lot of what we ride out here near Mt Diablo; everything is up, rough and steep. The bikes were not happy after hauling through multiple BB-deep creek crossings, creaking and squeaking as the chains dried out. Lovely out there tho, wriggling around just above the Pacific coast…

The long Old Creek descent was amazing. Sweeping, fast flowing arcs roads only seem to have when they follow a creek or river. Santa Rita’s climb back up was proper pain-cave time. Long, constant patience and persistence to get up to the distant top. Home is still a long way away, with more timed segments lurking out on the other side of the valley.

Stoked Bremen Town was back. Signature finisher’s trophy glass is lovely. Hungry Mother food truck foods and the Firestone beers (PIVO!) were so good…

Gear notes

• 45c Maxxis Ramblers proving that bigger is better pretty much everywhere. Faster than last year’s segments despite the bigger, draggier, heavier tires.
• Ceramicspeed UFO wasn’t so happy about getting dredged through several creeks and then immediately coated in dust. Fantastic product does have some limits…

Why do cows moo?

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Their horns don’t work.