I hadn't done West Head before - I'd heard 2 things about it:
1. When you turn the corner at the end and you can see the big hill, it is customary to swear.
(I swore, my husband didn't swear, but he laughed hysterically. Which is sort of the same thing).
2. The view is awesome.
Not my picture. My pictures didn't look this good.
(image via kanga-tours.com.au)
West Head wasn't that hard. Even the big hill. It felt like some rolling hills. Not a huge deal compared to Akuna Bay.
(Yes, I know how ridiculous this statement sounds to people that don't ride - I cover that later).
I had done Akuna Bay as part of the Bobbin Head Classic which I wrote about The Night Before My First 80km and My First 80km.
I remember Akuna Bay as being one unrelenting very steep hill and was quite scared but excited to do it again.
My husband had not done it but he is a hill climber (enjoys the hills) and it was exciting to have him experience it - even though it mostly means watching him ride away from me really really quickly while I ride in my granny gear (lowest gear) very very slowly.
It's weird, Akuna Bay felt like hell on the Bobbin Head Classic ride, but today it felt fine.
Perhaps it was the espresso I had before the climb.
Or it was my second time so it was no longer an unknown..
Or, 1 month has made a huge difference in my fitness.
I was talking to my husband and saying how weird it was, like it feels hard but it doesn't feel like I'm getting destroyed any more and he said that's the kms on the bike => base fitness.
Things I Am Glad About
Having glasses to protect my eyes from the wind (I got pretty teary on the descents).
Having gloves to cushion my hands from the bumpiness going fast down the descents.
Now I think riding big hills (eg. Ku Ring Gai National Park) as excitingly scary but fun.
Toilet Tip
P.S. There is a public toilet at Terrey Hills here - which was my SAVIOUR.. As it's a pretty long car ride up to Terrey Hills (a good place to start the Ku Ring Gai National Park rides).
It's near the tennis courts.
(Terrey Hills shops on Booralie Rd is a good place to meet).
I Am A Cyclist
So yeah, what's with my "West Head wasn't that bad, it was just some rolling hills"?
I am very conscious that I'm already starting to sound like a "cyclist".
I used to think my husband was nuts.
Now I am also nuts.
We are nutty together.
And it is so much fun! :)
