Just as the snow started to fall at home, I was off to the airport for a Cannondale end-of-season get together in Gran Canaria. The idea was to have us XC guys together with the freestyle lads from TheCut team and have a great time, meanwhile doing a ride each day with the tour company freemotion. With 30dC, big mountains, warm seas and good local knowledge, it had to be good!!!
The first days XC ride gave a taste to the harshness of the local terrain.. the ground is super dry and rough.. I was happy to have brought my Prophet!! Amir, one of The Cut free-stylers, impressed me majority making 4hrs on flat pedals!!
We stayed in a sweet hotel (Aldiana) up in a small mountain town. It was all luxe with a panoramic view, fancy spa/pool area and classy restaurant. The ambience was a bit stiff, but thats not so surprising considering its 99% German. In fact Gran Canaria may as well just be a German island.. they are every where!
The second day we had a steep and super rough single track down from one of the passes at 1700m all the way down to the sea. Amir was after revenge, but he wasn't laughing so loud when his rear shock broke hahaha !! Us 4 were all on 'biggish' bikes(Prohets or Rush) but despite the arm burn and ten odd stops to fix punctures, had a great time.
The beach front town of Playa des Ingles was also an interesting sight... Basically 100% kitschy tourist resort, left back in the 80s. The beaches were over crowded with fat sunburnt complaining middle aged couples. The restaurant service typically rude and slow. But none of this mattered very much.. we were so stoked not to be home in negative degrees, we were jumped around the waves throwing mud at each other like little kids :))
We also spent one night at the resort to p'ar'ty. Normally we're not much good at this important team bonding exercise, but we made an exception this time. Roel and I were certainly the worst off, so Jacob and Freddy did what all good team mates should do.. leave us lying on the ground mumbling to ourselves and spewing up, just to show up hours later still to find us there.. hymn. The day after was not the nicest experience, but at-least we had a cool swimming pool and 30dC sun to help the detox :)
We also did have to do 'some' work, such as reflecting on the season and talking about how to make it even better next year! The german magazine, MountainBike, were also there to cover the event, so a few photos to do as well. Overall a really nice way to finish off one great year with the team and kick start the next one at the same time. I just got back home today, and it is really freezing!! My training is officially starting again on Monday, so its time to toughen up and get to work again :)
The first days XC ride gave a taste to the harshness of the local terrain.. the ground is super dry and rough.. I was happy to have brought my Prophet!! Amir, one of The Cut free-stylers, impressed me majority making 4hrs on flat pedals!!
We stayed in a sweet hotel (Aldiana) up in a small mountain town. It was all luxe with a panoramic view, fancy spa/pool area and classy restaurant. The ambience was a bit stiff, but thats not so surprising considering its 99% German. In fact Gran Canaria may as well just be a German island.. they are every where!
The second day we had a steep and super rough single track down from one of the passes at 1700m all the way down to the sea. Amir was after revenge, but he wasn't laughing so loud when his rear shock broke hahaha !! Us 4 were all on 'biggish' bikes(Prohets or Rush) but despite the arm burn and ten odd stops to fix punctures, had a great time.
The beach front town of Playa des Ingles was also an interesting sight... Basically 100% kitschy tourist resort, left back in the 80s. The beaches were over crowded with fat sunburnt complaining middle aged couples. The restaurant service typically rude and slow. But none of this mattered very much.. we were so stoked not to be home in negative degrees, we were jumped around the waves throwing mud at each other like little kids :))
We also spent one night at the resort to p'ar'ty. Normally we're not much good at this important team bonding exercise, but we made an exception this time. Roel and I were certainly the worst off, so Jacob and Freddy did what all good team mates should do.. leave us lying on the ground mumbling to ourselves and spewing up, just to show up hours later still to find us there.. hymn. The day after was not the nicest experience, but at-least we had a cool swimming pool and 30dC sun to help the detox :)
We also did have to do 'some' work, such as reflecting on the season and talking about how to make it even better next year! The german magazine, MountainBike, were also there to cover the event, so a few photos to do as well. Overall a really nice way to finish off one great year with the team and kick start the next one at the same time. I just got back home today, and it is really freezing!! My training is officially starting again on Monday, so its time to toughen up and get to work again :)
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