When the early season jitters start, you know its team camp time! This year our camp was in Los Osos California (close to San Luis Obispo), which I was thrilled with! Last year camp was in Portugal, which was incredible don't get me wrong, but I gotta admit that being able to drive to and from team camp (the way my Euro teammates are often able to drive to and from races) was lovely! One less trans Atlantic flight for the year is always a good thing! And who doesn't love California sunshine! :) Evie and I drove down the 101 and the adventure began...I'll tell the story through pictures/captions because thats much more fun than me jibber jabbering!
One of the first things I do when getting to camp is try to sneak a peek at our new bikes! I still get butterflies when I get a new bike! This year did not disappoint!
Meet Pearl, yes I named her, isn't she purrddyyy!! In the back the one and only James Stanfill executes the perfect bike photo bomb!;)
Ronny, our fearless leader modeling our new kit...tee hehe!
Riding through Morro Bay State Park. Our two national champs Trixi and Elise :)
Riding along HWY 1, ocean to the left, zebras to the right...wait zebras on the coast of CA?? Yep! We had to stop to take a picture!
San Simeon State Park
Re-gram from James in the car, riding up what felt like the never ending climb!
Riding through the eucalyptus trees with Carmen and Trixi.
And then it was off to Morgan Hill for a few days at the Specialized Headquarters!
Meet and greet in the lobby.
Team presentation time with all the Specialized peeps!
Awwww Lisa!
One of the greatest people I know, our team manager Kristy Scrymgeour. Got a lot of love for her.
And then us Slulu girls got ahold of the Specialized fire pole...
Then Trixi did what Trixi does best...she climbed UP the fire pole! No one rocks the term "badass' quite like Trixi!
Signing time!
Then it was time for the infamous Specialized lunch ride/race ;) I sat back and watched the madness happen!
Next up, glamour shots for Pearl in the wind tunnel! Click here to see the article/video abc 7 did with me and the team in the tunnel.
Our new team mascot!
Evan Borders of KTVU did a great piece on our team at the Specialized HQ. Click here to watch the video Evan put together with footage from goPRO cameras he placed on my bike and his! Click here to see the gallery of his images from the day. He got some great photos of us at team presentation, riding and doing yoga of course! :)
Booww-chickkkaa-woooow-wooowwwww!
Yoga time! Yep in our chamois...what, thats not normal? ;)
My not so pro attempt at 3 legged dog...tight hamstrings! ;)
After the Specialized HQ visit we had a night out with the amazing people at lululemon! Sushi first, YUM!!
Then they took us to a San Jose Sharks Game!
Now back to Los Osos!!
We rented out houses, which meant cooking together...or ordering take out!;) This is what take out for 11 girls, 6 staff, and 5 sponsors looks like!
We had the privilege of being serenaded by the amazing Andre Morton on the diggeridoo! Love this guy!
And then it was team Photo shoot day at Avila Beach!
Katie Sue from Specialized came for hair and make up reinforcement! ;)
Hair and make up check...shameless selfie, check!
Ohhhh Ronny!:)
Chantal and Ally lookin purrddyy!:)
Lululemon sure makes us look good!
Looking at the ocean never gets old.
Chantal was my photo shoot buddy for the day!
Oh just chillin, pretending not to be posing for the camera ;)
Mmmmmm Osmo!!
WCA Ride Day!
We were lucky enough to partner with the Women's Cycling Association for a community ride around San Luis Obispo on Sunday the 26th. If you haven't heard about the Women's Cycling Association please take a second to check out their website (click here). WCA President Robin Farina (former US National Champion), along with the other incredible women on the WCA board of directors, have already accomplished so much in the growth and development of women's cycling in the very short time since the WCA was established. If you are passionate about women's cycling and want to help, please become a member of the WCA (anyone, male or female, can join!) Click here to help build the future of women's cycling!
There was a great turn out at the WCA/Specialized Lululemon ride which started at Art's Cyclery in SLO.
Myles lovingly had a camera in my face for two days so I thought I'd return the favor!;) Hehe
Riders came from as far as North Carolina to ride with us and members of the WCA!
Oh no, Robin got a megaphone, watch out!:)
Smiling faces from the front of the 50 mile loop!
Gotta love riding knowing there will be a food truck at the end of the journey!
Super hero, and WCA board member Sophy Lee announcing the raffle.
Lalena Daigneault from SLO made these incredible brown butter cookies for the ride. All the girls were raving about them so she showed up at our house the next day with another batch, plus blondies! Naturally she is now my new best friend!:)
The last week of camp was all business with lots of miles in the saddle! Ina took us on some incredible rides around SLO, I loved it!
At the top of Santa Rita, if you are in SLO it is a must ride dirt climb. Click here to check out my Strava and see all the routes we took!
Dirty descending!
Cookie selfies are totally acceptable! ;) I had to send it to Lalena to say thank you!
On the German train :)
Trixi's cappuccino was literally as big as her face!
Carmen and I drank A LOT of cappuccinos last year in Lucca...they were just three sizes too small!;)
Birthday Party time!!
Celebrating Elise's 25th Birthday!
Party time!!
Teaching Elise how this piñata thing works, I don't think they have them in France! ;)
Hehehe!
Gettin ready for our last ride, Ina made it an epic one! Love these girls!
Riding up Black Mountain with Ina and Ally, such a cool climb!
Near the top of Black Mountain, incredible views!
And then after two weeks of good times with my incredible teammates, staff, and sponsors the adventure came to an end! Stay tuned for the next adventure, racing starts soon and its gonna be a kick ass season!
