8hrs in Paris (bike porn)

Well it was not Paris it was the Alsace regoin just across the Rhine river from Germany. Scene of stage 13 of the TDF in 2009. That day Heinrich Haussler, an up and coming  German, solo’d off the front on the col du platzerwasel in epic cold and rain to beat Sylvain Chavanel in true style. Around work and with friends we have joked about this climb due to Paul Sherwin and Phil Ligett’s inability to pronounce the name (audio file below)

I arrived after much more traffic then anticipated (there was a construction closure of a major autobahn for miles on what would turn out to be a holiday weekend (Bastille Day) think closing the I-5 on 4th of July weekend…. I pulled into wintzenheim  France about 11:30am a bit flustered I had planned to stop at a local market to grab a few last minute items (water, some bead, recovery food for drive home) but it being a holiday nothing was open not even a gas station (almost ran out of gas on the way home too due to more traffic and closed gas stations I wasn’t the only one saw many people in the side of the road out of gas on the way home)

Forecast for the day was 70% chance of rain But totals were 0.5-1mm not must rain just light showers.
I knew from reading up, the Valley benefited from an eddy created by the mnts and saw little rain (but high mnts would more likely see rain)

Anyway I had 2 full bottles, 4Gu’s and a larabar (600kcal) this was not enough but would have to do.
I set out of this beautiful French village and straight into the Valle du Munster this valley greeted me with a block head wind like I have never ridden in! 25+ mph no lie I was stomping on the pedals at 10mph and at one point a gust blew me off the road and into the grass…. 45mins in I contemplated going any further… It was brutal. See  my big nemesis is the wind. Many people fear big climbs I fear wind. I maybe small but in the wind my size is not an equalizer like on a climb. It is a detriment, see because I’m small I generate a high power/weight ratio but in the wind it’s all about how much power you can make regardless of size.  I have 2 options in wind. 1 hammer the shit out of it and crush myself in the process. Or go slow and have it take 2x longer and go slower and prolong the pain… Like ripping a bandage off or pulling it off slowly. I tried to do a good half way measure but after 15miles of slight up hill into a bad wind I was really crushed!

I stopped in the town of Munster saw a lotto/horse betting place open (all other shops closed) but I saw a drink cooler and grabbed an orangina:) (and I tried to not look like a dear in head lights when the cashier started talking to me in French…. It’s amazing how you can tell what someone is saying due to body language I think I pulled it off) I sat down in the town square protected from the wind and ate my Lara bar and drank the orangina.

From here the 1st climb of the day was to start. The first few miles were still into the wind and not steep 3-4%. I begged for it to turn south and start climbing. I came up on a tour bus of old peeps hanging out at the base of the real climb I saw a sign “col du palzevasal OPEN” I kicked on the Jets and though ok lets do this. I knew the steepest part of the climb would be the start I ripped up that 1st switch back and looked down and saw an older gentlemen pointing up at me. Yup that’s right my motor is finally being put to good use! A couple switch backs up I catch a very small car going very slow…. It was loaded to the gills and had 2 people in it I passed them on the Inside of a switch back to the driver yelling “Alle Alle Alle” so awesome! (he did catch me later on a flatter section of the climb) about 15mins in to the main climb I was feeling it legs burning, mouth a gape, sweat running off my chin. I dialed it back a bit I was still felling like I was in the back of a convertible for an hour and the wind def took a toll on me. I had some fun took some pics and had to stop at one switch back to navigate. (motion X gps app you can cache the maps such a great app!)

 

I crest the top and see the sign “Col du Platzevsal” I stop take a couple pics  but didn’t want to stay long as it was now 50F and I was sweaty and cold. I put on my rain coat and pushed on.

 

Turns out that wasn’t the top:) I thought it was a longer gap but the climb up la bestfirst pretty much started after a small DH…. A much smaller climb but the legs were feeling the 3,000′ I had just climbed.

I was in the clouds now, not steady rain but it was wet the road damp and my  Views of the amazing landscape blocked:( I’d catch peaks as breaks in the clouds rolled by a reminder that I was basically at the top of a ski resort. Then I looked to my left and saw the top of a chair lift just below me…. I have to be close to the top and I was La bestfirst  compete!

Highest point of the day 1280M. Then the rain came on the ridge line after the top it rained hard!!!! It was cold below 50f and all I had was a rain coat (no knee Warmer’s, shoe covers, hat….) I saw a small mnt cafe where a group of motorcycle guys were having lunch I stepped in to curious  looks (BMW adventure type bikers not Harley) but looks of who is this crazy guy up here in shorts in the rain. The waiter/barista spoke to me and French all I could say was Bonyer Café…

I apologized for my lack of French. He thought nothing of it and said “you are cold from rain” I just shook my head just as I blew into my hands so I could make my fingers work. I really enjoyed that coffee but it wasn’t getting much better out. The barista gave me a news paper (an old school trick you put it under your jersey to absorb the sweat/water as drier = warmer) I left him 4euro on a 3euro cup of coffee I was greatful.

I tossed a leg over my bike and though ok time to get off this mnt! I knew the decent was dangerous from reading up. Steep sections with tight hair pin turns (aka you’d get up to 40mph on the straights but could you brake enough to make the turn?) and it was wet so I went very cautious. I did let it hang out in one turn totally locked up me rear wheel but still didn’t take a foot out (rookie mistake you see roadies make all the time, stay clipped in get that bike under control!)

I got down to the next village and the sun was out I found a trash can to ditch the new paper and I took off my jacket to try and dry off. Ah was so nice to feel the sun on my face. I rolled thru a handful of deserted villages all closed up for the holiday. On one had it was disappointing not to see them bustling with people and shops open. But on the other hand I owned the roads no cars, no people, just me, hammering thru town at 20mph over ancient cobbled roads.

Finally I was out of water and needed some badly! I saw a cafe that looked open but nobody was there I stepped in and I think the owner was having lunch with his wife. I asked if he knew where I could find water he walked behind the bar and filled my bottle no hesitation I was so thankful!

Now it was up the 3rd climb of the day not a big one just ~900′  of vert I was feeling ok not great bit ok, this lead to a super fun DH the roads were dry again and I was feeling good but worried about my food and water situation…. I had 1 GU left no water and 2 more climbs to go.

I started my way up into the mnts again this time I don’t even know the name of the climb all I know is it was getting cold again but my legs were feeling ok, I got to the top and knew from the profile it would be a hairy DH. It was just that, lots of switchbacks and then out of the trees bam! Open fields of grapes and an amazing view of the valley below.

I rolled on down to town desperate for food and water. This town had a few people milling about I was optimistic. I saw a small cafe with the door open I poked my head in Bonjure? a small women appeared and greeting me with a lot of French:) I replied no palvue francé with a frown. She smiled and asked if I wanted a coffee. I asked if there was water and food. Only perrie and sweets. So it was mineral water and big piece of apple pie for me! Can I just say I have no idea what was in that pie but it was amazing! Some sort of sweet cheese and roasted apples it was odd But amazing! I asked if she had more water and she said you can drink from the square fountain. (mind you this is not in English it’s in body language and hand motions) I thanked her many times she def saved my day!!!! I rolled over to the fountain and sure enough at the bottom read “eau potable” sweet! I filled up and rolled on over to the next town an amazing walled city where I knew I would hit the final climb of the day.

This climb was not in the tour I just found it on google maps it looked steep and brutal so I wanted to go for it! I shot out of town powered by apple pie! Hit the early ramps and was railing the corners apexing the turns and climbing in my big ring.

I passed some locals (at least their jerseys were in French) they looked fit and jumped on my wheel. As it ramped up steeper I was hoping they’d pull thru and do some work. They did and were putting the wood to me. We exchanged pleasantries and repeatedly attacked each other. It was really fun! I saw a steep switch back coming up and though ok here I can do damage I came from the back and rocketed out of the turn gave it all I had and just kept going praying I was near the top if I was more then 3-4mins out I was going to blow up! I timed it just right beating the guys by a handful of seconds (and claiming the Strava KOM:) we had a laugh and said our good byes on the DH as we went different ways. The skies opened up again now in the valley and I didn’t even bother to put on my rain coat I just soft pedaled and basked in the I insanity that was that ride. Was it really over? I was sad! But my legs were not they were happy to be done.  I was sad also knowing that this was a once in a lifetime thing. If I ever do get back to these roads someday sadly my fitness will not be what it is now. I doubt i will get to enjoy these roads the way I can now.

As I loaded the car up the rain got heavier a sign that it was a good time to end the ride 60+ miles 9,900′ of climbing 4 GUs, a Lara bar, 5bottles, an orangina, and a slice of heavenly apple pie!

Merci Wintzenheim Merci

Day 6

Day 6

San Diego finally is showing up on the road signs!

We rolled out along the PCH sick views of the ocean.

We roll in a large group for safety and for me cause my legs were def tired.  Once off the 101 we started to roll up the pace and people took some good pulls ones that were hurting my legs.  The cross winds were blowing Roads were a bit rough I felt like I took some strong pulls not sure if they were strong or my legs just hurt… I did take one killer pull as we came up on a bridge with no shoulder I was on the front and heard “the natives are getting restless hit it!” So I go full gas, 25mph on the flat in a cross/head wind.   It was a longer pull at that pace then I would have liked but after I paid the price I tried to sit in but it hurt just to sit in and thank goodness our lunch stop was close as I was a bit tired…. Where I received this award “I’ll translate that to the lill engine that could” “J

We rolled out after lunch and my legs hated me! I sat near the front till I had to take a leak and pulled off after my nature break I had to chase back on I had alill help from Jeff in the Sag truck pulled me back to the group. After that effort my legs FINALLY started to open up after 2hrs of riding. We hit Point Magu and I was on familiar roads now!

Past Point magu where they were filming some pirate movie…?

Here on the rolling hills of Malibu the tempo started to kick up again and after a couple hills it was Daniel on the attack I was on his wheel and approaching my limit when I had visions of climbing torreey pines tomorrow at a snails pace and dropped off his wheel and rode to the top at my tempo.

He sat up a bit and I catch on and we finished together at the PCH and Malibu cyn road another epic day in the saddle!

 

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Day 5

Day 5

The day that was supposed to be a recovery day

Up a bit early and I was starting to feel the miles in my legs!

We stage up its time to head out of Lompoc and do the “easy” 50 miles to Santa Barbara.

We roll easy for about 10mins and then Jim decides to take a flyer…  We all look at ea other and nobody wants to chase… we roll the tempo up a bit but Jim’s gap is growing and growing.  Finally I think ok I’ll reel him in. So I get on the front and roll up the pace and by the time I have him in sight I’m drilling it.  I catch Jim about 5 miles into the 12 mile climb.  As soon as I pull off after reeling him in people regroup a bit and the tempo keeps rolling up and up.  Jim started a shit storm J  Eventually Daniel gets on the front and drills it dropping people 1 by 1 till it is just me and him.  I take a couple short pulls but I have very little when Daniel suggests we should bring the tempo down let people catch and I’m happy to do so  We all regroup atop the climb out of Lompoc.

Eventually we descend to the 101 a fun yet hair raising 50mph decent where I wasn’t the only one to sit up after a bit.  For me it was the cross wind it blew me right out into the road… sketchy!  Not after too long we took  a quick break to regroup on the side of the road. Here I felt like LA is starting to look within reach!

At mile 30 we hit our lunch stop great view next to the Pacific Ocean.

And the pacific rail way

We roll at a good pace but nothing super fast all the way to the Fess Parker Resort in Santa Barbara. Not a bad hotel….

The legs feel good and the livin is easy!

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Day 4

Day 4

Trying to write while this is fresh in my head by need to get to sleep!

Alarm went off at 7:30am and for the first time all week I pretty much slept thru the night.

Lill PB&j, OJ, and coffee to start the day and we were off at 9am with a good size group!

We rolled thru the foggy roads and started to up the tempo 21-22mph was the norm as we headed south via the PCH I took what felt like a lot of pulls trying to keep the pace quick but not fast as we had a long day! Highway signs are foresees of the future for us a long way till home and a descent ride to our 1^st sag stop in SLO.

Like the humming of a mechanical humming bird we buzzed down the road all taking pulls I even dipped off to take a leak at one point and then just chased back on.  Eventually we hit Pismo and the sun!

Lunch was a social event on this day so we hit up a local café for some pancakes and coffee not my usual mid ride meal but when in Rome

After lunch we rolled out in a big group ~13 heads I sat on the front for a bit and slowly rolled up the pace, rolled up and then I realized it was me and Daniel (I keep doing that don’t mean to being a dumb MTBer I just feel like when at the front you should be working so I do work…)  Daniel comes around me and lays the wood to me on a small climb out of town there was a split second I thought my pancakes were going to make a repeat showing but it ended well.  After the climb I took over the pace and drilled it.  But after a while we were feeling anti social and sat up to regroup.  From here it was rural farm roads and narrow ones at that!  Bad cross winds! Me and Daniel both took tough pulls in the wind (well it was tough for meJ )  at one point we were totally echeloned across the road….

We turned to a tail wind and Daniel hit the gas, I jumped on and we were going 30+ on flat roads.  On one pull I started to really feel like I was running out of gas, he came around me and eventually I lost his wheel.  I fought like hell to stay in contact but it wasn’t to be…. Then I looked down and realized I had a flat…. No wonder!

Fixed that and got caught by the 3^rd group on the road.  We rolled together for a bit then I had the hair brained idea that I could catch the 2^nd group on the road…. I put my head down (at mile 70 now) and went!  I thought I might be making up grounded till I made the turn onto Harris grade and got a time check of 10mins… climb was too short to make up that much time… But I kept the hammer down anyway why not.

I felt surprisingly good for hitting the biggest climb of the day at mile 86… What a view from the top!

We regrouped at the top and made our way into town… As we pulled into the hotel I saw 98.5 miles on the clock so me and Tom decided we wanted to see 100 so we rolled down to santa rosa road and back to end at 101

(longest distance on a road bike for me….)  Solid day in the saddle and my legs still feel pretty good…  305 miles down!

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Day 3

Today was the “climbing day”  but on paper it didn’t look that hard (it was no mnt baldy) but with 3 days in my legs I was worried how I would feel. The “fast group” was down to 3 people today as we started with a 4 mile 900’ climb so people wanted to start easy.  We started nice and easy but soon tempo rolled up and we were cookin.  Looking back at the data the hardest work I did all day was in the first 20mins of the ride.  My legs felt pretty good esp for the short warm up or no warm up.

As we climbed the sun started to come out and by the top I was all smiles rolling my arm warmers down we rolled on and could see below a HUGE wall of fog 1,000 feet below us… yup we descended right down into it and it was thick!

It wasn’t long before we caught the other riders riding cautiously in the pea soup fog. Further down the road Jim had to start at mile 12 as his gear accidently got forwarded ahead in a sag vehicle.

He jumped in with us and before we knew it we had got to the front group on the road.  We rolled on and had a nice group going.  We happened on some serious construction on the pch where the road had been taken out by a land slide last winter (which caused a reroute of the TOC in May)

After some rollers and some good ol chatting a sag vehicle started to moto pace us and the tempo started to roll up, and 1 by 1 people popped off. I was sitting 3^rd wheel when the guy in front of me lost the wheel.  I took a look up the road and though I’ll give it a try and I chased back! So now its Daniel inches from the bumper at 25mph going up hill I’m just too chicken to really get that close I’m barely hanging onto the draft and chicken out and pull the rip cord but still chase hard.  The vehicle pulls off and circles back for me and with just me behind the car I’m feeling more comfortable and now we are rockin again amazing how fast you can go in that draft!  I get pulled up to Daniel and now we are miles ahead of the group… We roll on at a fun pace and hit the main climb of the day a ~4 mile ascent to lunch stop at mile 50.  Not only do we climb out of teh fog but well above it!

We roll on the tempo and Daniel is nicer to me and holds back and we roll into lunch.

With only 20 miles to go after lunch we decided to roll out with a good size group and just relax and enjoy the breaking fog.

We stop to take some pics of the elephant seals

And some Zebras by the hurst castle.

We rolled into san simion into the hotel and chilled out another great day in the saddle!

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Day 2 Big Sur

Day 2 in the books and wow now this is a vacation!!

Start was later today and I was glad to be able to sleep in…  it wasn’t the best sleep I’ve ever gotten but I did “sleep” for ~10hrs… up at 7:30am and packed my bag for the transport to the next hotel.

I headed down to breakfast ate a couple bananas, granola and oatmeal. Lill to coffee to warm me up (fresh from the French press yup they know cyclists)  and I kit up arm warmers, knee warmers, and vest again… its foggy and misting at the start in wattsonville, ca home of what seems like all of the strawberries grown in CA…  We start out on quite farm roads turning into and out of a nasty head wind. We are moving well 20+ mph we get about 6 miles in and the 1^st flat of the day happens… better now than later.  SAG was nearby so we had a pump to fix quickly.

So onward we rolled 5 of us in the “fast group” and we are working well together ea taking good pulls I take my 1^st good pull of the day and my legs feel good I stick to educate and keep our speed 21-22mph as it has been.  But I was feeling good, I peel off and happy to feel like I did a good bit of work, we work on and off like this for a while.  We come upon a farmers market where the slower group (started early) was stopped we rolled in used the bathrooms and geared up and rolled out.  Onward we pushed still moving well, we had a few turns to navigate and then we were on a bike path so speeds had to come down a bit.  The path paralleled the 1 highway for miles it was great no cars no traffic just pedals rolling over and good conversation.  The path got more rural so we opened it up again and I took a nice dig at the front splitting the group of “slower” riders that had left with us and we were down to 6.  We rolled on here for miles till we swung into seaside and the path dropped down to the beach!  What a view! Clouds be damned it was nice!

Form here it was thru Monterey to the climb to lunch at vet’s park we slowed to navigate a few turns… here was the low part of my day as we got started at a light my foot slipped on the damp cross walk paint and BAM nuts right on my top tube… yup I had to pull over and gather my thoughts that sucked!  One left turn to go and it was the short but steep climb to the park.  Angry about me balls I stomp on the pedals a bit and am jointed by the resident Pro on the trip (Daniel is strong!) I lead for a bit but hold back as I don’t know the climb at all!  Daniel started to lead and I follow his wheel and up we go he keeps the tempo high so there is no chance for me to attack…. I reserve myself to just trying to follow his wheel.  We start into some switch backs I have no idea how many there are and ea time I think I might be able to muster up a burst he sees it coming and accelerates he keeps the pace high and I’m thinking I’m going to get dropped but I see the top and hold his wheel to the top.  I’m sure that was a pedestrian pace for him I was just happy to get up there on his wheel.  It was a couple mins before we saw the next person….  Quick lunch (pulled pork sandwich anyone? Not for me!:)

We head up and up a bit more climbing to a rather busy descent past pebble beach golf course where we saw not 1 but 2 Bugati Verons drive by….wtf?  We ride on and once the road gets less busy we start to roll the pace up again. I get to the front and take what I thought was a tough but measured pull and oops I’m a dick I dropped everyone but Daniel… we soft pedal and 1 other regroups I pull over for a nature break and we all come back together.  We eventually reach the coast headed to big sur.  The arm warmers are off, the vest is gone, the sun is out and the views are amazing!  We cross over a couple bridges we mistake for the Bixby.

Before the bridge we got flat #2 of the day not bad for a group ride on rough roads.

Sick views!

Daniel and Tim waiting as tires are changed

Then after some really nice riding we cross the Bixby amongst a scary amount of tourist in HHRs and PT cruisers….

From here is it was a bit of climbing till a final descent to the Big Sur river inn.  We were pulling full gas at 40mph not my comfort zone but fun!

We pull in and I go straight to change into my bathing suit and into the river which felt like 40F! I mean it was cold after a few mins my legs were totally numb and I was sitting there with my arms crossed just chilling out literally.

After 20-30mins in the river it was off to the ventana hotel up the road for a massage to clear out all the junk from the last 2 days this place was prob one of the nicest resorts I’ve ever been to.

An hour on the table and a swim in the pool some cheese (I skipped the wine) and it is time for dinner (I’m starved!!!)

100+ miles is in the cards for us tomorrow with lots of steep short windy climbs (the ones that don’t suit me the best) tomorrow will be the toughest day of the trip I’m pretty sure so I’m glad I got in the recovery while I can!

Coast Ride Day 1

Day 1 in the books!

Started 9am long the San Fran coast 55F and Drizzle met us as we kitted up for our 75 mile ride to Santa Cruz.

Arm warmers, knee warmers, vest, skully I was prep’d  We headed south out of town and climbed Sky line for a nit then dropped back to the coast.  Small climb but gave us a taste of the day ahead.  Cool, wet, foggy, and fun!

Once back at the coast we settled into a nice group rolling along till we hit devils slide.  Here we spread out a bit small shoulder ment not room to really attack as you were in the gutter the whole time.  Once at the top there was a SAG vehicle who waited for a group of us then let us go on the descent and drove behind us with his hazards on nice we had the whole road for the dangerous descent!

On the DH I was working hard… too hard… I was getting dropped and eventually I stopped to look over my bike and found the rear brake rubbing badly!  Fixed quick and I caught back on to a group of 2 who had just fixed a flat (SAG vehicle was close behind and just gave them a new wheel! love it!)  We held a nice pace 21-22mph thru the rolling hills south till our quick lunch stop where we resupplied and kept rolling.

Rolling out we had a nice big group 7-8 and rolled fast! 23-25mph ea person taking nice pulls working well together.  Till we hit some punching hills and a dropped rider here and there eventually we were down to 3 and after my pull I was hurting!  but I was hurting more then I should have been I stopped again (getting dropped) and yup rear brake again opened it up a ton and got swept up by the 2nd group of 2 on the road.  We chilled out and did 19-20 into town a great day done.  Beautiful scenery along the North Cal coast!

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