What an amazing ride that was šµš
Finally some decent weather for the longest ride on the Road 2 Seville. It was cold when I started at 07.45h and I regretted not wearing long fingered gloves but I would be climbing soon and the sun was up so I wasnĀ“t too worried.
If it doesnĀ“t rain on me today IĀ“m going to enjoy every single kilometre whether itĀ“s up or down a mountain.
Stopped for a quick coffee at 38km in a little village called Pradoluengo where I grabbed my long fingered warm gloves. I knew what was coming and I really wanted to enjoy the descents today.
It wasnĀ“t long before the serious climbing started and the views were magnificent, this is the reservoir created by the Uzquiza Dam on the river Arlanzon over 1000M above sea level. Credit to fellow cyclist Gerry Regan for the photo š
Not long after passing the Dam I reached the first summit of the day "alto de Valmala". On the descent I was very happy that I had found my long fingered gloves. The weather was beautiful but at this altitude it was very cold āļø
It wasnĀ“t long before the climing started again as is the way in the mountains šµ
I could see the snow capped tops of the peaks now as well as my breath, temperature was dropping but no sign of rain thankfully. After a little bit of back and forward because my Garmin was trying to take me across the river where there was no bridge I just continued on the road and ignored the "off course" warnings. There was only 1 road š¤·āāļø
After a big loop the Garmin was happy again and I could smell the top, I could feel the air was thinner and then after the next bend there it was šļø "puerto del Manquillo" 55M higher than Ben Nevis šŖ
On the ascent I had felt something amiss with GraceĀ“s front wheel. When I dismounted I squeezed the front tyre and it was a bit soft. Joe from Greenrock was on the motorbike and popped some air in with a Co2 cannister to get me down the mountain and to the lunch stop.
Dave was waiting for me and as I refueled he changed the inner tube on GraceĀ“s front wheel.
Let me introduce you to Dave ........
Dave OāBrien (Driver & First Aid) I grew up in the far north of Scotland where cycling was how you got around as a kid but it wasnāt until 1995 that I discovered the real enjoyment that cycling offers. I was always into distance challenges and had my first venture abroad in 1999 when I rode from Los Angeles to San Francisco and it has been a passion of mine since. Highlights have been working from a cycling base in the Pyrenees for a year and completing the Race Across America twice. Iāve spent the last 12 years living in the south of China predominantly working in different kinds of manufacturing and have recently returned to live in the UK. Being involved in generating cycling experiences for other people is one of the most enjoyable things that I have ever done. The opportunity to meet people from all walks of life who share a love of cycling never gets boring.
With Grace as good as new it was time to get going, the run to the hotel was another 75km and I planned to do it with no more stops. Rolling countryside and excellent road surfaces, right up my strasse š“āāļø
I knew they would try to catch me (the fast group) but I wasnĀ“t going to make it easy for them šŖ
Just when I thought I had done enough they caught me 1km from the hotel š¤¬ they did admit later that I made them work much harder than they wanted to š I passed them again and then they passed me as we raced for the hotel, it was great fun and topped off a long and tough but wonderful days cycling š
IĀ“ve scaled the photo of the route today so that you can see what part of the country IĀ“m in.
Green dot is Briviesca where I started and chequered dot is Burgo de Osma.
Distance covered 168.7 Km
Climbing 2065 M
Moving time 08h 16m 18s
Summary:
Longest ride of the trip, some huge climbs but long ones and not the steep gradients of Wicklow.
Best day so far, loved it š Roll on tomorrow.
Difficulty rating 8/10
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