Yesterday i woke at 5 vacated my hotel and rode to the coach station.
Ramadan is possibly not the best time to travel 9 hours on a bus. I did pack some water and biscuits but the bus was full so not even any surreptitiously consuming.
But actually the trip was not too bad and at 3.30 i got off the bus extracted my bike and rode off.
It all started so good. I designed a route to the top of Jebal al Akhtar (one of Oman’s highest mountains) 60kms of on/off road flatness a great ride and always fun.
Just out of Nizwa i turned a corner and i could see the angle of the road going insanely steep. This first pitch was really just a precursor of things to come. This bit an easy 15/16/17%. I was fresh and full of the joys of spring. 16 kilometers (10 miles for the uninitiated)
The straights were quite long at the start snd i could get a rhythm, i knew i was being worn down, each turn my legs were more tired, my shirt soaked, top to bottom with sweat. Now i was just managing to turn the pedals. Half way up there is a set of switchbacks the turns so steep, I broke if i went any slower i would have fallen off, my feet came out the pedals and i slumped on the side of the road and sat and stared blankly 15 maybe 20 mins later i set off again but my progress was halted once again by the gradient. I stood legs astride the bike, again i started slow turns of the pedals oh so slow, zig zagging across the road to reduce the gradient. Finally i stopped and started doing the unthinkable, i started to walk pushing the bike. What’s the point of having a bike and walking on the road? Grrrrrrrrrr. I walked i stopped i rode in slow sucession. Too embaressed to look at the people in cars as they passed. My head was bowed.
After the switch backs some longer less steep straights and i managed to ride a bit. But now going from bad to worse another set of switchbacks tight turns, short straights 20% gradients. I just stopped climbed over a barrier and ate a packet of fig rolls an drank water. 30 mins later i felt a little revitalised, but it was short lived i was back to walking again.
A couple of people stopped to ask if i needed help, of course i did, but i refused politely. Taking a lift would have really been total humiliation.
Slowly i covered the distance really more walking then cycling. I did manage the last 500meters on the bike.
I knew the Jebal al Akhtar Grand Hotel was at the top. I just booked in. And am truely amazed for £20 this is easily the best hotel i have stayed in. Great reception, room so clean and way large enough, fantastic shower.
A Couple of Days Ride Outta....... 