This weekend was fantastic weather.  So on Sunday I headed out to Park Royal to meet Hilda so for a training ride.  I’ve not mentioned much about the riding so far, I should talk about that more.  We rode out to Horsehoe Bay (well nearly, the Gleneagles community centre).  This week it was hot and humid and my forgetting to put sun screen on was already seeming a bit of an error.  However, this week for the first time this year the ride to Horseshoe Bay seemed relatively easy.  It was a bit of a facer that something that was so easy after last years ride was something of a struggle just a few weeks ago.  After a coffee and some food we then headed out across the upper levels highway to the bottom of Cypress Mountain.  We decided to head out to the look out and see how things were going. 

Once at the lookout, as usual, the thought of getting to the top was just too much to resist so we headed up.  Today I felt somewhat slower than last time.  Don’t know if that was maybe just the heat, or otherwise general fatigue (plus I’d had no breakfast till the sausage roll I bought at Gleneagles).  The Gearup community appeared to be out in force as I then saw Chris heading down the mountain at speed having already been up it.  Shortly after that John, from our ride, motored up behind me and we chatted for a while before he took off after the second major switchback.  Soon I caught him up though as he had stopped by the side of the road for this:

 

This was the second time I’d seen a bear when heading up Cypress.  This bear was just a young one, the last one I saw was absolutely massive.   This made todays trek in heat worth it!  After the bear wandered off we set off for the short last stint to the top.  The top of Cypress has this long flat section before the stopping point – up there the melting snow makes for a form of natural air conditioning – very much appreciated!

The downhill is always the biggest reward in a mountain ride.  I clocked up over 40 miles an hour on the way down, the fastest I’ve been this year.  The view though is the best thing. 

Well more training as the next few weeks unfold.  Less than a month to go now!