Wooly Mammoth Climbing Kittens

I am on a team with incredible and diverse women & men. The men are great, the women are my best friends and I love'em.

We set out to conquer the hills and took'em like the 300 (before defeat). Our ride for a Saturday, created by the inimitable Micky McNair, began at Shoal Creek Saloon. From the Saloon we rode toward the Lost Creek, via Rolling Wood, (warm-up?). Barton Creek next, and on to a downward spiral to the bottom of Cuerna Vaca, so we could climb out on Rivery Hills. Then, into a headwind on Bee Caves, to 360 and the meat of the route to come. From 360 we turned onto Westlake... Toro Canyon, then The High Road. It sounds lofty, because it is! Off of High Road (a beast of a hill climb), we hit Terrace Mountain. Terrace Mountain is 5 "terraces". The first two make you think, "this is a bit of alright." Then, you hit the 3rd. Its a bit of a surprise after the first two. It hurts, really bad. The last two are just hard, but not as bad as the 3rd.

We came off of Terrace Mountain, with relief and hit the down on Red Bud, with a tailwind. Turning right onto Stratford, we climbed a few hills, (one that I was accidentally in my big ring for, wtf?), before the descent to Zilker and the pedestrian bridge over to Lake Austin.

Up next, Scenic & Mount Bonnell. Scenic isn't even a warm-up for Mount Bonnell. Mt. Bonnell is a steep baby, and long. Katik's and I were encouraging eachother to push up. I can never hold her wheel when she takes the lead. Fortunately, the backside is mostly down and I'm a descender (hahaha, that is really not a skill). Once over, we head quickly across FM 2222, and up a short bit of the other side of Mt. Bonnell, before Upvalley Run. Upvalley Run, to Mountain Villa; Mountain Villa to Ledge Mountain; Ledge Mountain to Cat Mountain... to Mesa and its all down hill and home from there.

YEEEHAAAA! Go Wooly Mammoth Climbing Kittens!