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Back to the scene of last year's torturefest. Climbed the Angliru again today. This time last year I wasn't in the best of shape, mentally or physically and despite giving it my all, I had to take a few breathers and I had a niggling sense of failure and a need to get things right.
Came back in better shape and knocked almost 15 minutes off last years time. I still had to stop once because my mate toppled off on the steepest section and I nearly joined him when I looked over at him but once I saw he was OK I continued. Conditions were just like last weekend in la Vuelta, windy, cold and wet. The tyres were slipping like fuk anytime I got out of the saddle but the front wheel was lifting if I sat back down again:rolleyes:
Descent was seriously tough and had a sobering moment passing the flowers laid where the girl was killed descending on Saturday. Both up and down, this mountain deserves every inch of your respect.
21764785_1805360606148271_202187579380854119_n by Stephen Rochford, on Flickr
21752011_1805861536098178_4070590008591399572_n by Stephen Rochford, on Flickr
https://www.strava.com/activities/1183344175
Obviously I need to come back again and make it to the top without stopping;)
After a break, we climbed La Cubilla. It's the highest road in Asturias and known as the Spanish Galibier. 27. 5km@5%. We took our time going up because realistically we were a bit shagged. It was stunning but when we got to the top the mist came down quickly and so did the temperature. Tough coming back down but all in all a hugely rewarding climb, definitely worth doing.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1184020245
Total of 95km with 2770m climbed0 -
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Deleted User wrote: »Impacted wisdom tooth killing me today ... not ripe for removal yet unfortunately and decided I'd go for a short spin. Maybe it would take my mind off the pain , no got 500m got off and walked home
Missus had two or three that ended up having to be removed, but the wait was ****ing torture. Really ****ty. Wish you the best in managing the pain.0 -
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Deleted User wrote: »Impacted wisdom tooth killing me today ... not ripe for removal yet unfortunately and decided I'd go for a short spin. Maybe it would take my mind off the pain , no got 500m got off and walked home
feel your pain, have an ongoing dental issue and only getting it sorted now and last place with dental pain id wana be is on a bike0 -
Was gonna do that Blanch wheelies sportive today but remembered that last year we weren't home till nearly half 3 which is too much domestic absence for 100k. Headed for the hills instead - N81 to Hollywood, left for Donard, over the "Bearna" & on to Sliabh Maun, Shay Elliot, Laragh for coffee and Glenmacnass Sally gap, featherbeds home. It's a fabulous, testing route on a nice day and it was a lovely day, if a little cold.
Passed by a gorgeous 172 reg F-Pace leaving Laragh. The only time I wished briefly that I was somewhere other than on my bike
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Was gonna do that Blanch wheelies sportive today but remembered that last year we weren't home till nearly half 3 which is too much domestic absence for 100k. Headed for the hills instead - N81 to Hollywood, left for Donard, over the "Bearna" & on to Sliabh Maun, Shay Elliot, Laragh for coffee and Glenmacnass Sally gap, featherbeds home. It's a fabulous, testing route on a nice day and it was a lovely day, if a little cold.
Passed by a gorgeous 172 reg F-Pace leaving Laragh. The only time I wished briefly that I was somewhere other than on my bike.
I think we were sitting beside you in Laragh.
Nice day for a spin. 100k club spin - up to Sally via the Liam Horner, down to Laragh for a quick coffee and home the easy way through Roundwood. I've been trying out fasted rides. That was my longest - if you exclude a double espresso.0 -
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Yep still in kilnamanagh Mon to Fri/ Sat and out in sticks in North wexford on weekends hence the blessington and Gorey spins. Yeh I saw from your posts that you are in Valleymount, really lovely spot, love cycling around there. The only thing is , will it be hard for you to get some winter mid week spins in ? Thanks for the comment, really enjoying the biking at the moment and invested in 2 new bikes recently , the upside to hitting 60. Sure you are flying yourself on those hills and sportives.
Best of luck on your new house.
Cheers mate. I've never done too many after dark winter spins so it'll be same again, use the turbo and perhaps every so often go out with the lights on in the pitch black! But its worth it to live in such a beautiful place.
Seeing the improvement is a greater motivator isnt it? I've seen a lot of improvement the last 12 months and it makes it feel worthwhile
What bikes did you get? I'm due a cycle to work scheme spring next year, cant wait :pac:0 -
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Back from Northern Spain after a couple of epic spins with a buddy of mine.
TL;DR Nearly 300km in 3 days with 7000m odd climbing. Pics at the bottom of the post
As mentioned above, climbed the Angliru and La Cubilla on day 1.
On day 2 we tackled Lagos De Covadonga in the morning and Alto de Sotres (Jitu Escrandi). Compared to the Angliru they were easy but they are anything but easy. I've been up Covadonga before and knew that the 12km@7.8% is deceptive as there's a flat and downhill sections so it's really 9km@9% and a km of that at 12.5% without a break up around the Huesera ramp.
The weather was fine so I set off at a good pace and kept it going to the top, improving last years time by nearly 5 minutes. My mate followed shortly afterwards and after a lovely coffee and croissant in the cafe at the top we made the descent. I love that descent. It's a great balance between technical and lightning fast, a real rewarding hurtle down the mountain. Made it down safely and buzzing and threw the bikes in the van and headed over for the second climb of the day.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1184856415
Sotres is 11km@7% but again there's a couple of easy kms offset by vicious ramps up to 20% including one section of nearly a km@16% near the top. With heavy enough legs after the morning spin this was far more of a steady touristy spin and to be honest, I was just astounded by the beauty of the area. It's a stunning canyon with thousand foot cliffs either side. The spin started off dry but about 3km from the top it got nasty and we had to put in a bit of a spurt to get into a cafe before we got pelted with rain and hailstones. We decided not to bother with the last km to the very top where the Vuelta stage finished last year as another km averaging 18-20% all the way didn't appeal as much as the thought of getting back down during a break in the weather. The road was dodgy on the descent and the last 3 or 4 km it opened the heavens again so we were just happy to get out of the wet and cold and away home.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1185167192
Total for the day- 83km with 2236m climbed.
Day 3 saw us cycle the Puerto San Glorio pass over the mountains and on to the town of Riano. This meant a lot to me because seeing this place on the Vuelta 3 years ago was the clincher for me to plan a holiday in Northern Spain, but despite coming here twice previously, I hadn't cycled up here due either time due to time constraints and weather, turning back a few km short the first time.
This year I was getting there no matter what.
Puerto San Glorio is a really long climb steady, 26km@5% from Potes, a bit easier to start with the last 16@6.5%. The two previous days really started to affect my friend and about 10 km into the cycle he asked for the keys of the van and told me he'd go back and collect me later if I needed it. I slowed the pace right down and coaxed him a little, he soldiered on and eventually once he saw the top of the pass in the distance he said he'd continue at his own pace and meet me on the other side. I pushed on a bit after that and took in another viewing point off the top of the main climb. I could see him in the distance coming to the top of the pass so by the time I got down we had a gentle descent and about 10km flat to the town.
It was breathtaking. The lake with the mountains in the background left me with a lump in my throat. 3 years waiting was worth every minute.
We had a fantastic meal in a fancy hotel there. The Veal Tenderloin just melted in my mouth. The cycle back was at a much more reserved effort as quite frankly I was now bolloxed. When we made the top we could see some clouds rolling in behind us so we didn't hang around. The best part of a 26km climb on perfect roads? The descent!! I went down it like a bullet. If my wife ever sees the video I took we'll probably have issues
Rolled on home for 118.8km with 2125m climbed.
The weather was fairly Irish over the 3 days, maximum of about 17, much colder up top of the mountains and a few showers of rain and some mist just to remind us that this was definitely not a summer training camp in Majorca but in general it was grand for being on the bike.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1186788163
Then realised Ryanair had cancelled our flights home from Santander so another adventure ensued involving a few frantic phone calls, less than 5 hours sleep, a 6 hour train journey to Madrid and the last 2 seats left on the plane. But anyway.... It was a fcking blast.
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Trek emonda Sl 6 pro , full ultegra & with carbon wheels... beong the good bike in wexford
Planet x pro carbon full ultegra & stock fulcrum wheels now the Dublin bike.
Winter bike wexford, caad 9 full ultegra with a few carbon bits , forks, seat post, saddle and crank.
And then there's the vintage Raparee steel frame with dura ace on decent mavic wheels... which will be confined to occasional nostalgic spins in wexford.
Thats a fine stable, I've 105 on mine but had full ultegra on a rental in Italy this year and its a big step up, imho its as much as the likes of you and me could ever need. Just feels really good quality
Enjoy those new bikes as much as you can 0
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