Ride 5: brutal, brutal, brutal

Cooked.

Today the ride was brutal. I cant find another word for it. It was 114 kms with 1900 vertical meters. Nothing too much when one looks at the numbers like that but the route was full of steep climbs in a really hot and humid day. I did all the climbs well enough without going to a grind but it was hard and I finished totally empty and half cooked. 

Rise early and enjoy it before the heat and muggy air. Didn’t work. 

To begin, the first 38 kms from Alicante to Alcoi is just constant climb that gets harder and harder. First part, up to Jijona, is what I’ve ridden yesterday. Constant up around 3 and 4 % in a very “industrial” feeling roads with heavy traffic (today being Monday). The second part from Jijona to Alcoi is much nicer but also harder with constant 6% and the occasional 8% ramp. But the traffic really dies down and there are more trees to protect from the sun. The pine trees are nice and there is a vibe of being in the french Alpes. I really like this part and enjoy a steady climbing effort. But at the end I was already tired from climbing non stop for 38 kms  

From the top of the climb, there is a fantastic 10 kms of descending towards Benifallim. Lots of turns and steep ramps. I really enjoy this. BUT then things got much more intense than I expected. When I was planning the ride, it looked like it be a nice rolling hills and that would be fun. But reality was that I had to face a lot of steep hills up and down and the road until Aigues when it would be downhill back to Alicante, took forever. It was a grind in the heat and constant up and down. The plan was to complete it in 4 and half to 5 hours. But it took another hour! Good training, I guess.

Some pictures I took today before I goot tired and want just to get back home. 

Ride 4: Jijona & Busot

Today was my fourth ride in Spain. Early morning to be in a cool 23 C (at 7 am) and a short one, just 2 hours at mid intercity. Total distance was 51 kms which Im OK with taking in consideration the consistent 3 to 4 % gradient. The legs felt empty and heavy but average speed was not bad with 500+ vertical meters for the effort I was putting in.  Not  bad but didn’t feel good either.

 

I also wanted to try a different route, that will bring me to Jijona and back. I will do part of this route tomorrow bit longer and try to get to La Torres de les Maçanes, one of the highest points around. This road is a constant uphill and a good training ground. Until Jijona it isn’t beautiful and more of an industrial type of roads. But between Jijona and Busot it is a very nice rolling hills with olive trees camps on both sides. Very nice. Tomorrow I will see the rest. 

  

  

Last ride of the week

 

Today was the last ride of the week before I go on rest & recovery and vacation mode for a couple of days. I wanted to do something quick and intense. I had the option to go to the south of Alicante but that would make me go thru the city, facing traffic. So, the actual only option was to keep doing part of the same route, going North. Big part of the ride was the same from the other days, always a nice climb to Busot and then climb to the Mirador del Cabeço D’Or, where the Canelobre cave is. This is a small climb, around 3 kms. But it is constant around 9% with some parts of 11 and 12% inclination. Tough but not too crazy. I’m happy to have done early, with very fresh cold air still around. And managed to keep the heart rate no higher then 152 bpm. I guess all the interval sessions are paying off now.

For the next days I will rest as I don’t have a bike and keeping on renting would be too expensive. I was counting on using my brother in law bike but it was broken and it will take some more time to fix. So, I will rest for the weekend and start again on Tuesday for the 3 last days of riding before going back to Holland.

By the way, if you are in Alicante and need a bike I do recommend to go to Iron Bikes. They are super nice and helpful people and have nice bikes to rent at good price, 100 euros for 3 days.  The one I got was a Cube Attain Race full Ultegra and rim brakes and I could borrow pedals, bike pump and spare tubes for free (or included in the price if you prefer to think like that).  

Second ride in Spain

 

Early second ride in Spain. Leaving home at 7:00. Just after the sunrise. Still early enough to get some nice colors in the sky. I followed the same route from yesterday and wanted to see if I could get to as close to top of Aita as possible in 2 hours. I didn’t want to be home to late as a 4 hours ride was already a stretch. I actually went past Relleu but went in the wrong direction. So, not what I was trying to do but still good route. Nice ling climbs around 6 / 7 % inclination and lots of rolling hills. Quality 90 K! Tomorrow I will do an easy ride no longer than 2 hours and then 3 or 4 days no cycling to prioritize vacation with my family (still lots of swimming and playing Fronton).

Quick training ride Alicante

 Quick training ride during vacation. 51 kms climbing the first leg towards de Serra de Aitana, that In will do Thursday. Today focus was on easy climbing, keeping heart rate as low as possible regardless of the inclination as long it didnt feel too slow. Also good training in 30 degrees Celsius. After the ride I played 1 hour of Fronton, spanish type of squash and enjoyed the swimming pool! Family time now :)

Trans Pyrenees: the event

1, 330 kms | 36 K vertical meters

The adventure will start in the village of Sommières, close to the Mediterranean coast on Saturday August 10th, and will finish in San Sebastian, on the Atlantic side, on Friday August 23th. Where I expect to enjoy very nice pintxos and the rest of the weekend with my girlfriend, Ana! We will enjoy life a bit before going back to our routine. The hotels have been arranged for every destination and our luggage will be brought from start to finish. What a luxury not to have to carry everything and not to have to be thinking and searching hotels while riding my bike. Every day you have a target place to be and the rest is up to the legs and lungs. Just don't leave your brains behind as you need it for the descents. 

TRAINING - I've learned a lot from my attempted to do multiple stages events, like Basajaun 2 years ago. The first thing was that one shouldn't train only for endurance. Intensity is a major part of the ride, with steep and long climbs on the way. Muscular endurance and power will keep you going if one trained it properly. For that I've combined the training in two types. Long endurance rides in the weekend, with a heart rate around zone 2 (up to 146 beats per minute - BPM) and twice a week with 1 hour interval trainings in zone 5 + (above 166 to 174 bpm). And including some quick 2 hour rides in zone 3 on Fridays. A big mix of different intensity levels to get one ready for different demands. I also like the 2 long rides in USA with good climbs. So, a total between 9 to 10 hours training weekly.

Another difference is to avoid slowing down too much the training in the weeks before the event. I did that last time because I was on vacation. Did just a couple of rides and could feel my fitness decreased right before the race. I will enjoy the vacation with the family, for sure, but will make sure that I have at least 6 hours training weekly. I expect to be better prepared.

THE ROUTE - The event will be done in 11 stages, each of around 130/150 kms with several levels of difficulty. We will have 3 days of rest & recovery in between to recharge our batteries and see the surroundings. As from the profile above, one can see that nothing is flat. We will go across 27 major climbs and mountains, the highest point being the Col du Tourmalet, famous passage from the Tour de France, but also the Col de Montalet, Pic de Nore, Cold de Peguere, Hourquette D'Arcizan, Port de Larrau, Portet-D'Aspet, Aubisque, Soulour, Aburregaina, San Miguel de Arraiar, Alto de Hachuerta, Puerto de Lizarraga, Col de SanchoLeza, Puerto de las Viniegras, Puerto de Herrera and Monte Oiz, just to mention the ones above 1 thousand vertical meters in altitude. 

See below each stage. 

Next: the last rides in Spain before heading to France.

Day 1: In the guide made by my friend Paul, the route only shows two climbs worth, the Mont Saint-Baudille (842 m) and Cirque de Navacelles (613 m) but the whole day is riddle with climbs, 7 of them with gradients between 2 and 4%. It sounds a good way to start with climbing but sure no walk in the park.

Day 2: we will get our first real big climb: Col de Montalet (1206). And on top of it another 8 climbs.

Day 3: we will get the Pic de Nore (1210 m) and after that basic rolling hills. A strong start but relaxed after that which will be welcoming.

Day 4: Col de Col de Peguere (1375m), Col de la Core (1395m), Col de Portet-d'Aspet (1069m). The first really hard day. 3 major climbs and all up or down.

Day 5: Col de Mazouau (631m), Hourquette d'Ancizan (1564m), Le Sarrat de Bon (1234m). Long run for a big climb at the end. Finishing with the Tourmalet but stopping at La Mongie village. 

Day 6: Tourmalet (2115m), Col du Soulor (1474m), Aubisque (1709m). Made easier because the Tourmalet will be mostly done and dusted in the day before.

Day 7: Port de Larrau (1578m) = border with Spain, Abaurregaina (1052m) and another 7 climbs.

Day 8: Alto de Etxauri (842m), San Miguel de Aralar (1231m), Alto de Hachueta (1342m), Puerto de Lizarraga (1031m) plus 7 climbs in the day. Another very hard day!

Day 9: Puerto de Sancho Leza (1390m) and another 7 climbs. 

Day 10: Puerto de las Viniegras (1583m), Puerto de Herrera (1102m). A somewhat easier day.

Day 11: Puerto de Arlaban (598m), Monte Oiz (1019m) and another 5 climbs, following the route of the Classica San Sebastian.

New adventure: Trans Pyrenees

The new bike: 6.5 kgs and 11/32 cassette to face the mointains. 

I have accepted a new cycling challenge this year: I will join a group of mid life crisers (read middle age men in lycra aka MAMILS) to cross the Pyrenees mountain range between France and Spain by race/road bike. In a fashion that a colleague described as the “most inefficient way” but that I prefer to call the most scenic manner thru the most beautiful mountains in the region. 

The challenge is made out of 10 cycling days (or stages if you want to use fancy words) of around 150 kms per day, in a total of 1400 kilometers in distance and 17000 vertical meters of climbing. We will leave from Montpelier in the south cost of France and cross every important mountain worming our way to San Sebastián in the Basque Country in Spain. 

A challenge of endurance both physical and mental that promises much in terms of personal achievement and camaraderie with my fellow riders. 9 guys that know each other in small sub groups of 2 or 3 but scarcely as a group, all connected by a single friend and a passion for road cycling. We will need to adjust to different levels of fitness and performance goals and the common goal of achieving our destination together. 

Different from my last challenge 2 years ago, that I started telling people from the day the idea was born, this time I decided to wait to almost the last moment. The event will start on August 10 and we plan to arrive on August 23 with many memories, aching bodies and swollen pride. I will try to document most of the days and post here for your entertainment, sharing a journal of how things are going, my thoughts and what I expect to next days. 

Coming next, how the training went, what are the stages and my thoughts about what might happen. 

It is going to be great!