It was certainly up. and up. and upppp…
Overall I climbed a lot – some 2300 meters. Some of the ascends were so steep that my heart went boom budiboom budiboom (up to 175 bpm) and I had to go in hairpin rounds to climb higher. Luckily the road was closed to all vehicles so I was not afraid that an incoming car will knock me down.
I had my Edge set to record a lap every 25Km – I did not mean to but I forgot the settings from my last AUDAX so I let it be. That means that I now have 8 chapters in my saga that tell a very telling story. My average Km/h speed was (rounded) 21, 20, 18, 17, 14, 13, 16, 18. Right – so what does it tell me? That I was totally and completely exhausted in the 125-150 section, but once over it (and I think it was the Control at the 155 km mark with the Tea and Coffee and biscuits that did it) – I actually went faster and faster towards the end.
Well – I did not have much choice as I reached the ARRIVE point with no more than 15-20 minutes to spare, but in fairness it was simply not too difficult. The roads were smooth and I just sprinted along. I think that if it wasn’t for the darkness of the night that accompanied me for the last two hours and the consistent rain that prevented me from seeing clearly the instructions I would have done it even faster. Considering that I did not even come in last (only just…)- I am not displeased at all.
So the weather WAS bad. Not at first – only from about half way – but still bad. Rainy and dark and cold – yak. The wind was mostly against me – but that’s just part of the riding experience anytime – so overall I reckon that this was my second hardest ride. The first being the one I did in a sweltering heat.
So – what am I grateful for? First – my lights. They are just amazing. Always there and oh so very bright that the cars coming towards me have to dip their headlights ! The joy!!! A very close second is my Edge. It’s just indispensable. I have so grown accustomed to it and its ‘keeping an eye’ on my route so I don’t get lost that I just can’t fathom what would I do without it. Yes – I know that 99% of the AUDAXing people do not have the Edge and they are just fine as was I prior to owning one, but with it I can concentrate on the way and the cadence and the speed and most importantly – the views. So REALLY like it – a lot. Needless to say, the gadget man in me also drives satisfaction from the options and screens and buttons – just great 🙂
The certificate:
