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Tell us about your new improved government regulations compliant cycle part II
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Well, better late than never but here goes.
Tl;dr 6 days in Asturias, Northern Spain. Heap of hills, Vuelta and missed not one single meal.
Five of us from the Clonard club flew into Santander last Wednesday the 4th. It was my 4th trip to that part of the country so I was being held responsible for success or failure of the expedition
I picked up the van for the bikes, the other lads hired a car and off we set to our guest house just outside Cangas de Onis, at the base of the famous Lagos de Covadonga climb. The first inkling of what lay ahead was a km @ close to 10% from the main road up to the lodgings.
Plenty of fun and games that evening assembling the bikes. A lost seat post wedge, di2 problems and a tangled internally routed brake cable left a few heads being scratched but we got all sorted and set for the morning.
Day 1- Covadonga and Sotres. First climb of the day, straight out the door and within 2km we were climbing. Covadonga is a great climb. A hell of a tough climb with the main body of the climb being approximately 9km@9% followed by a few descents and some more climbing before rounding the lake and hitting the café for the first of many coffee stops. Then an absolute ripper of a descent. Fast but technical, a great buzz. Typically for Irish lads away, we passed a bunch of cyclists from Edenderry on the way up as we were descending.... Ya can't go anywhere....
Then 30km over the road to Arenas for the Sotres climb. On the profile there's a minor bump between the 2 but the reality is closer to the Wicklow gap than a motorway flyover, about 6km @5%. Naturally we couldn't go up our second HC climb of the day after that without having another stop so we had another coffee and some a light dinner. And a glass of wine. And cake.
Sotres is a very different animal to Covadonga. The road up is breathtaking, sheer canyon walls towering close to a thousand foot straight up over head. The road ramps up to 10% and above for the first 4km before the canyon opens out to a lush, beautiful valley for a couple of km. That's lulling you into a false sense of security because a km from the village it goes around a switchback and then bloodies your nose with sustained ramps of between 15 and 20%. We regrouped in the village and decided that an ice-cream was in order before hurtling back down and back the way we came. Of course the small matter of the "bump" in the road had to be climbed again on the way back. And then the little kicker up to the house. Finished the day with about 130km, 3400m climbed. https://www.strava.com/activities/2682518209
Day 2- Alto del Torno and Mirador del Fito
The lesson to be learned from the second day was not to trust technology. We looked at a slightly easier route as a couple of the lads were slightly traumatised from the previous day. They had thought they were on "holiday" but found out they were on a "cycling trip". First up was Del Torno. Now strava says it's 14km @3% and that's what we took it at but after a few km there's a sharp drop before the climbing starts again and this time it's closer to 10%than 3. That's followed by a fantastic descent through a narrow valley and again another couple km close to the now very familiar 10%. Eventually we crested and regrouped atop a glorious pass with views all across the Picos Europa behind us and a sweeping valley down to the Cantabrian sea and bay of Biscay in front. This is a very underrated climb, rarely used in the Vuelta and unheard of outside the area but anyone who visits the area should really think of checking it out.
We dropped quickly down to the coast and rolled into Ribadasella where 5 large portions of Tortilla, teas, coffees and cake was enjoyed by all. Then Google maps was called into play "sure how lost can we get?"
Well, lost enough. Using Google maps on "bike" settings sends you down some very narrow roads. "Keep the sea on our right, we'll be grand...." Hmmm. We were on the Camino, pilgrims meandering west and us amongst them. Then a moment of near death clarity. As we rounded a corner the road pitched downward steeply and became a pair of concrete wheel tracks either side of a cobbled path with walls either side. Clipping the edge of the cobbles while swerving to avoid a pothole sent me into a speed wobble at about 30 kmh and I proceeded to take both sides of the road with me while trying to slow down. I couldn't jam on as I'd have locked up and ended up bouncing off the cobbles. One crash per season is enough for me, so all I could do was hang on for dear life and gradually slow myself down with a stream of fúks. When we got to the bottom of the hill we were guided down a sand road at which point I said "Get us the f... off this track and back to the main road". We rolled on over to Llastres and demolished a load of pizza and some more coffee. Then more Di2 problems meant a few delays before we finally started the climb up Mirador Del Fito. That was a tough climb in late afternoon sunshine. Its a fairly relentless 8-10% for 8km but a fantastic view at the top. We needed a beverage. Then a lovely fast descent down to Arriondas. Finished the "easier" day on the road with 110km and 2350m climbed. 5 and a half hours moving time, 9 and a half hours out of the house. https://www.strava.com/activities/2685241719
Day 3- Cassielles and the Vuelta.
Cassielles is a gem. We cycled about 30km up the Beyos Gorge to the start of the climb. 23 hairpins in 2.7km @nearly 13%average gradient. Just over a hundred metres between each hairpin so you can hit each section and break it down in your head. The views, like so much of the area, really have to be seen. You can take all the photos you like but they never do justice. I couldn't really take too many pics anyway as my camera on the phone was banjaxed. It's also hard to convey the steepness of some of the climb accurately unless you have a masochistic streak that regularly takes you to places like Kilmashogue or Truskmore. At one point near the top a pig with one lame leg jumped out of the bushes and sprinted past me as I fought with gravity to keep my back wheel from slipping and my front wheel from lifting.
The descent was tough because unlike most of the roads over here, Cassielles had a rough, gravelly surface with lots of loose chippings for about half of its length.
A descent like that needs refreshments afterwards. There was a small bar right in the middle of the canyon. I went in and ordered with my basic espanol. Got myself a bocadillo made from the hardest bread and driest ham I've ever eaten. My buddies tried to order and were given the choice of ham or cheese. Not both.
After several attempts at getting a ham AND cheese bocadillo, the owner just shrugged, stared them out of it, said No and handed out the ham ones. In places like this you take what you have been given.
Chastened and refuelled, we set off at speed down the Desfiladero Los Beyos and never stopped till we reached the coast almost 50 km away in Ribadasella where we caught the Vuelta going through. I managed to out-manouver several locals to grab Philipe Gilbert's bottle as he chucked it so that was a nice souvenir for the day. We also managed to get some ice cream into us before we got home with 115km on the clock and 1650m climbed. https://www.strava.com/activities/2687636141
Day 4- Angliru
There's not much to be said about the Angliru that hasn't been said already. It's a brutal beast of a climb, no question about it. Now I've been here before. Twice, and in all reality it's probably more than enough to do it once but I just like to keep coming back. Something just keeps calling me back. What's rarely mentioned in all the talk of how tough it is, is that it's such a beautiful climb if you can get a moment between breaths to look around. We drove over to the village at the base, Riosa, and just went for it from the start. The first few km are very doable so you treat them as the warm up. From km 6 to 8 it's a whole lot tougher, ramps up to 21% and a good long stretch between 12 and 15. Then at 9km all hell breaks loose and you get the living sh¡t kicked out of you with a km @17.5%, maximum of 23.5%. Even when you get around that, it never drops below 13 to the top with 2 more nasty sections hitting 18 and 21% before dropping briefly to a car park. No café, no photographers, just cowbells and prone cyclists gasping and asking themselves WTF have they just done that for.
My only goal was to make it up without stopping so I took it really easy. I never let my hr much above 150 and climbed it easier than ever before. I could see a mate struggling on the steepest section above me, weaving over and back. Then I saw another mate behind me in similar fashion. Nice and easy I reached the top of the steepest section and then without warning my front wheel lifted, I skidded sideways and put my foot down to stop myself falling over.
I nearly fcked the bike off the mountain, then briefly considered going down to start again before just accepting defeat and clipping in to finish it off. With my temper up I actually put in some effort and set a pr on the next segment. However, failure is failure, so the only thing I can do is to come back again and right the wrong
My mates have no such desire.
We had a hell of a reality check on the descent. After 3km fighting the slope and shoulders and wrists beginning to ache, we pulled over for a couple of pics on the steepest hairpin. As we watched a cattle truck barely make it up, belching smoke and burning clutch, a shot rang out. One of the guys rear tubes exploded from the heat of the rim and blew the tyre right off the wheel. If we'd passed that corner, someone would have been on a trip to the hospital.
We needed coffee and Tortilla to settle our nerves and so we continued back to the start and refuelled.
After that we climbed El Cordal. It's one of the most used climbs in the Vuelta and well worth giving a shot. We got to the top then turned off onto the Cuchu Puercu. That was the most potholed road I've ever seen in 43 years, many of which spent in the bogs of the Sligo/Mayo border. It was however a road with great character and some lovely views and it linked us nicely over to the Corbetoria, another perennial climb of the Vuelta. We had intended on climbing the Gamoniteiro but at 6pm and about 2 hours of daylight left, 8km@10% was a stretch too far so we went down the Corbetoria to Pola de Lena before climbing El Cordal from the other side and returning to the car. The descent off Corbetoria was insanely fast. It's a wide, smooth, sweeping road with only a few tight bends and an average of -9%over the 7km we were on. After the blowout earlier we were all a little bit cautious but still had no problem hitting 70kmh in places. The following day the Vuelta descended it hitting 100. Pro's we are not. We finished the day with a meagre 62km but 2550m climbed (2000m inside the first 40!!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/2691591763
Day 5- La Cubilla and La Vuelta Espana
This was the one for me. My bucket list. For years I've wanted to be on the side of a mountain, in the middle of the crowd, roaring on the cyclists as they went by.
The Vuelta is my race. I love the unpredictability, the savage gradients, the real passion of the crowds. I'm a Vuelta geek. I read Spanish forums about obscure climbs in remote outposts. Climbs that all the locals have been crying out for years to have included in the Vuelta. There are 2 that stand out from the crowd far more than any others. One is the Gamoniteiro, the spanish Ventoux, that we abandoned climbing the previous day. The other is La Cubilla. I'd climbed it on 2 previous trips, loving it. It's a long, alpine type climb with majestic views for miles back down the valley. 28km@ 4.5%, with the top 18@6.5.
Needless to say I had to be there for it's first foray.
We parked up in Pola de Lena, had a quick coffee and headed up with a couple of bread rolls, biscuits, bananas and chocolate in a backpack. There were droves of cyclist and walkers on the road. Campervans by the dozen parked on the lower stretches. As we got near the top the crowds thickened and around the 4km mark there were a couple of hundred fans piled onto the road roadside at a big hairpin with the best view of the valley below. They cheered every cyclist that passed, slapping the hoardings and roaring encouragement before erupting into laughter. We continued up and the fog came down to meet us. We got to the flamme rouge where we were turned back by security and we returned to the 4km mark. Then the movistar van arrived with music blaring and parked beside us adding to the party vibe. Plenty of bottles were thrown to the crowds, plastic hands and musettes too.
Then the helicopters appeared and shortly afterwards, the cyclists. We could see the break happening as Brambilla and Fulsgang took off. As they got near us the noise got up and we all shouted and roared them on. One by one they passed, even the slowest was moving at a fair pace. Sam Bennett looked like he was dying, seriously suffering. The biggest cheers of the day were for Angel Madrazo who was still fighting to keep his KOM Jersey and Roger Kluge who took the p¡ss and cycled up through the crowd, laughing and swinging his hands as if walking.
Then we heard the result from the radio and a short while later the Guardia Civil allowed us to descend the way we came. The pros had to come back the same way so we pulled over when we heard their whistles until we got to a nice steady open section and then we hung on to a few of them for a couple of km back to their busses.
Finished up with just over 72km and 1600m and one of my favourite days out on the bike.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2694289908
Day 6
The rain hit, and it hit in biblical portions. So we did no cycling but ate 2 lunches and 2 dinners. Found a great cake shop too so ate some cake as well.
And that was that.
Came home with sore quads, 2 extra kilos and some great memories.
Asturias, I'll be back.
I've just finished a few days cycling around Cantabria, Asturias and the Picos myself. If you passed a guy off the bike gasping for breath with a pair of shoes hanging off his pannier bag, chances are it was me.
I'm very much a casual cycllist (the odd spin up to Glencullen / Sallygap), so got the absolute **** kicked out of me by Lagos de Covadonga. Puerto de San Glorio was lovely, though a drag with the added weight. Such a great part of Spain to visit. Some of the scenery in the Picos is simply mind-blowing. The descent from Panderrueda through the Puerto de Ponton back down to Cangas probably stood out the most for me.0 -
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Club dpin today , Gorey , Arklow,woodenbridge , Rathdrum, Laragh, coffee (tea for me) stop and back the same route with small loop around back of Gorey to make it 102km, Avg 29.5 kph. Day really improved after the spin
Your club should try the broken chair cafe in Arklow. Lovely food. Well off the main road though and on the gorey side.0 -
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Entertaining lunch time cycle up through Masseys which felt like a rain forest in monsoon season. Mud was thick enough on the upper track that I had to get off and push a couple of times as I started sliding backwards while trying to go forwards but the downhill on the way back was great craic. Something about cycling through a muddy forest in the lashing rain really appeals to the child in me and always has me grinning.
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Completed the Münsterland Giro today and succeeded in all my goals It was only my 2nd time riding in a group and doing a sportive type event so I didn't know what to expect and was pretty nervous.
106km | Goals:
Get around safely, no risks and don't put anyone in danger: complete!
Minimum 34kph avg speed: actual 38.3kph
Complete within 3 hours: actual 2 hours 50 min
Drop zero litter: complete!
Drop everyone in my group on the only hill: complete!
Bonus: I took a few pulls on the front :eek: it really is surreal glancing back and seeing a huge string of cyclists following you.
This was my big goal for the year and I've worked toward it since February. I tried to remember everything I learned from my first sportive, mostly simple things like staying on a wheel, no overlapping, getting on the gas early out of a corner to stay with the group and remembering to eat and drink regularly. I tried to keep an eye also on the front and made sure to bridge across whenever the group I was in was splitting. That was a fun challenge. Cycling in a group is hectic and sketchy at times but it's such a blast. And just like that it's all over! Now I just need to get my act together and join a club and do more events!
I'll pop back into town later and hopefully get a glimpse of some of the pros when they finish their race.0 -
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Did The Ring of Beara yesterday and what a good day for it.
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That's Kerry done now
Gets popcorn and waits for some Cork folks to come online
Great spin by the way. I've rented a place in Adrigole a couple of times and done the circuit starting at the Healy pass. Allihies is a tough one for sure.0 -
Aha, yes the Beara Peninsula spans both Kerry and Cork. My bad. No offence to anyone from Cork like.Gets popcorn and waits for some Cork folks to come online
Great spin by the way. I've rented a place in Adrigole a couple of times and done the circuit starting at the Healy pass. Allihies is a tough one for sure.
BTW, Kilgarvan is some little Healy-Rae conclave isn't it. They must literally own half the village.0 -
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