We got out for a short and easy spin on a loop around the hotel today. The catch was my rear derailleur was all kinds of wonky after an apparently rough ride in the belly of a 777. It was manageable to find a gear or two to allow for an easy ride and Mr. Erickson fixed it up after we finished the loop. So I should be able to put some power into the pedals and not worry about the chain slipping and shredding in a half-shift as we get going on our first real ride of the trip.
It took us a while to get back in the groove of reading the supplied maps and directions that we get with the trip. Do we go left? Or do we go right? I thought we were supposed to be on the right side of the church? We found our way through some vineyards, with white grapes dangling in the wind and rows of drying corn crops, before a short but stiff climb that gave way to a fun descent below a thick canopy of trees. Thankfully the climb woke the legs up a bit. The first half of the ride it seemed like it took a ton of effort to even do 15 mph. After the climb the legs started to come back from their coma for us both and we were able to cruise back to the hotel much easier.
Even though you’re riding on roads with traffic moving at 50-70 kph, you don’t feel like you’re going to get killed for pushing pedals. Even when the cars are cutting it close, for some reason there is some sense of respect and restraint in their passing on the narrow winding roads. It’s kinda nice.
Before the ride, we took a brief stroll around the grounds of the hotel here. It’s a bit of a meditation resort with several physical and mental sensory stops on a looped gravel path. There is also an awesome “bike path” off the back of the property that runs along a gentle creek. It’s more suited to a ‘cross bike or even some fat knobbies than a skinny tire bike, but certainly doable. Actually rode it for a few miles after the derailleur adjustment and did some ‘cross training.
Afterward was our first group meeting to layout the routine and such. The group is 23 riders and only two are first timers. Overall, everyone seems to be here for a fun time and not here to shred legs. Which is good, because I’m also not here to race. I did that the last time in France and paid the price on about day six. Tomorrow will be about 62 miles with a few climbs totalling about 5,200 feet of gain. Fun times begin. Off to dinner…
Gma Gloria
August 24, 2015 — 12:13 pm
Just as I said it is like reading a good book. Eager to read the next adventure. It sounds like so much fun.
Hannah
August 25, 2015 — 3:48 pm
Wish American traffic would flow like it does along with cyclists in Europe. Rude awakening for us coming back – a friend was clipped by a side mirror on the way up to Carter Lake Saturday.
Good luck finding your way around and happy to see the cx training forced in!
joshualawton
August 25, 2015 — 11:58 pm
That’s crap about your friend on Carter. Gotta love all those backwoods jerks up around there. But all in all, it’s a cultural thing. In the States it’s all about the individual and those constant marketing reinforcements of the benefits of driving a car. Plus, in the wide open vastness of the west folks feel it’s a requirement and therefore a right to “own the road.” Sadly. Just look at the current battle in the city of Boulder over the “Right Sizing” of Folsom Street. And that’s in the perceived bastion of liberal culture.
Have fun out there, regardless!