The morning sun in Valencia is so good. I immediately want to move here.
I got up had 3 coffees at 3 different coffee shops.
It’s not only about the monument sightsFeet still chilblains suffering. I know they are shiny I put Vasaline on them to stop rubbing.
There is a swath of land below the road level, its like a long park trees flowers bike track, running lanes, people doing aerobics
I hot some cooking gas from Decathlon. Then rode off.
I’m going to say this now and it’s not going to easily out of my mouth. I’m not as fit as I used to be. There it’s out. When I was younger I would have just blasted through I’m finding that increasingly hard to do. So I decided to change my route a bit and go a shorted distance and do a few days on the road, see if I can get some fitness back.
The route had a few hills, I went down a path by the river Turia but got stopped because a bridge had been swept away.
This bit of road was hell.
This bit of road was heavenI camped upDiscovered a bit of my tent was lost and made a running repair with a peg
I got to the campsite at 5 it was tranquil, at 7 sll of Valencia arrived snd it’s like a circus. Ahhhhhhhhhh 🙉
2 Couldn’t get into the room with the automated system
3 Spent way too much on/in Valencia and failed to capitalise
As I awoke a storm hit the campsite. I had just enough time to close the tent doors as torrential rain hit the tent.
Met office telling me this.Weather 24 telling me this.I can assure you the latter was true.
My off was curtailed by an hour or so. It cleared up as fast as it hit. But we were left with a strong wind that would follow me all day. The delays positive repercussion was I got to have breakfast with Latifa.
As I had ridden a good 15kms closer to Valencia I presumed the days ride would be close to 85 or 90 kms. That presumption proved totally wrong.
The rider started with a sharp down hill through a beautiful gorge, no time to take pictured as I was going too fast.
I should be on this road belowIt was a steep dangerous ride down
At one point my Di2 cable dropped out of front mech, took me a bit of time to work out the problem. At the same time it dropped out of full sync, took me a bit more time to work that out.
As a contrast to yesterday the route was mainly on road. I was feeling a bit sore from yesterday’s ride, it was good to be on the road but the sore patches are very tender.
I finally got into Valencia much later than expected. I had failed to find a place for 2 nights so will be leaving tomorrow, I so have cooked up this Valencia visit grrrrrrrrrr.
I woke to my alarm at 7.30. Down for breakfast. I was forgotten so the usual 2 minutes wait was a good 15mins. I needed more relaxing anyway.
😍😍😍😍😍😍
A good 90 mins putting my bike together. Down to the supermarket for some travel supplies. I forgot to get a camping gas bottle 🤦
4 minutes out from the hotel I was on gravel. I had got Komoot to design a gravel route. Probably 80%of today’s 90+kms was on gravel of various grades.
I have to admit today was a real tough day. I’m fat, I’m old, and I’m unfit. There was many a time I just stopped and started to walk pushing the bike. Even one time on a flat track with the wind behind 😲, the stones were big and just in the way of rhythmic riding. Eventually I was riding 3 or 4 kms then stopping for a rest. My legs were wobbly and it really was a struggle.
I had a campsite in mind eventually I hit a road that took me directly to the site unfortunately it was 15kms long. Half way I stopped at a petrol station and smashed 2 cans of orange Fanta. That gave me the boost to get to the Campsite. I arrivetmdcat about 7pm.
On arrival there was no one around I waited eventually Rogier arrived and informed me the campsite was full (i had little humour)…. he pointed to a bit of grass, is that OK. I had my tent on it before he could change his mind. Rogier runs the Villa Carmen Camping it really is great.
I ate, they have a gas cooker I could borrow.
During the ride I had a yoghurt disaster, 2 cartons crashed and dispersed all their contents inside a bag.
I talked to Latifa who is from Bahrain on a months motorhome trip around Andalusia .
10 years ago while cycling through China my toes were constantly cold for nearly 3 months also my shoes were possibly a bit too small. From that point on, when the temperature turns south my feet turn to blocks of ice and I suffer with the pain of chilblains. My toes swell up and turn blue, they rub together and against my shoes, they become blistered. It is a struggle to walk because of the pain, and cycling is 😫🤬😨. This last 10 days my feet have just caught the cold again. The warmer weather in Spain will help them release from the pain. Last year it was 3 months of hobbling.
Loving the socks and sandals combo.The fear as the bike disappears 😟Swiftly through security. But an hour delayed.
Eventually arrived in Alicante, my bike was off the plane very quickly. I’m real pleased I have a Samsung SmartTag attached to the bike, it definately gives piece of mind.
The hotel was a very speedy taxi 10 minute ride away.
I booked my flight just over 4 weeks before departure. This instigates me to assess my equipment and bag setup.
Frame bag(7 Roads) – As New
Saddle Pack(Porcelain Rocket/Rockgeist)- Good working order, but contemplating taking the pannier rack
Fork bag left(Miss Grape)- a few holes but waterproof not needed
Fork bag right(Gorilla Pod) – Good
Stem bag left(7 Roads) – Good
Stem bag right(Alpkit) – Good
Handle bar harness – connection point ripped. I have had the harness for 5 years since Nov 2019. That’s a fair old time and it’s had a good bashing since then, Wizard Works made it for me. But change is good and the Miss Grape Il Coso will be interesting as it’s a newer concept.
Ripped hereReplaced with this
The permutations of the Il Coso are many and complicated. An to get the right one entails hours of putting on, strapping on 2 bags, then taking the bags off to try the next configuration. But I think I am there now. Unfortunately I now have the Il Coso attached to my bike making it just that more heavy for taking on a club ride.
Valuables bag(Revelate) – Good
Top tube bag(Tailfin)- Good
Where things are packed are just about by rote now.
I put the bike in for a service at Dales Cycles, mainly of the back derailleur, of course this is faulty (warrenty claim) luckily the derailleur on my other bike could be used (that was also discovered faulty but it’s a surmountable problem 🤞 ) Also my big chainring was worn out so replaced. Thanks Dougie and James for sorting. 😀.
I’m taking my front dynamo wheel this has an adventure 35mm depth rim, and my back birthday wheel with the I9 Solix hub (sweet as candy) and a 55mm deep all road rim. Both wheels built by Judith at Stayer Cycles.
I knew I had to use a different strategy today. Surpringly i sensibly had bought some museli bars so I had 4 of them.
I set my alarm at 5.30am. Had my porridge with extra honey, packed up fast and was on the road by 6.15. Particularly misty luckily much of the route was off road so I didn’t have to worry about cars. My glasses were covered by mist so I took them off and rode semi blind.
Gravel from heavenGravel from hell
I knew the distance was about 150kms so my tactic for the day was to not look at any metrics. Speed/time/distsnce/power. I did a guesstimate that I would ride at about 15kph and so I would be home at about 6 pm. No point in looking at anything till then. I would know if I was wildly out as I wouldn’t be home 🤷♂️. And I couldn’t/didn’t want to go any faster.
I stopped in Amesbury at one of the best bakeries ever I’ve been in, coffee and a sausage roll and a piece of lardy cake for later. Sorry no pictures. And yes the mist obscured Stonehenge so I didn’t even go near enough.
So I rode up and down and around Salisbury plain guns firing left right and center. There were troops marching military vehicles kicking up dust all over the place. My route just skirted the military zone.
More bucolic gorgeousness
Many of the paths were as set of ridges and furrows, unfortunately it’s nearly impossible to tell where the ridge starts and the furrow ends and of course visa versa. If you waver from your set line disaster awaits.
I popped in to see the Amesbury stones.
I tried to relax and enjoy the fun of cycling.
I met Peter, he’s an Antarctica explorer (well scientist) also on the KAW.I met Adam and Dave. Also on the KAW
I stopped to talk to a motorcyclists asking where Wantage was, and he pointed to the road 100meters away. Wow. I now knew only 30kms to go. I swooped into Wantage and celebrated with a hot chocolate and cheese and ham roll. Then cycled home, to arrive at 5.40ish. Perfect.
As always my saddle has not been the best, my seatpost slipping probably didn’t help. And the last half hour was really not much fun.
All riders i met so far have agreed that the KAW probably should not be designated a gravel bike route. Some of the sections are for full on mtbs. Personally I always under bike and that’s the bike I have and unlikely to change any time soon.
No dot profile now as I have cancelled my subscription for the moment.
I enjoyed the King Alfred’s Way route there were some real hard bits. If I had trained specifically for a few hard uphills there’s a good chance I could have ridden most of the tough climbs. But I would still be too scared for the downhills. But completing the 100kms a day makes it much easier to complete.
Sometimes when things don’t go the way I want or I don’t complete as I had hoped, I refer myself to a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, it’s well known but it gives me strength and confidence.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat
Daily Stats
Distance 93kms
Time 6 hours 36 mins
Speed 14.1 Kph
Elevation 1620meters
Because we did less than the desired 100kms yesterday today would very longer.
We left the weird campsite at about about 7.50. Instead of a driveway there were dumped bricks, Brett danced over them I decided land my aas on them. Grrrrrrrrr. I hate falling, but I do seem to do it ofter.
The route today was if anything harder thsn the last 2 days, rocky climb after rocky climb, each one ripping the energy out of our legs.
On the descents the limestone smeared with green lichen, as slippery as ice. What we hoped for was rollicking downhills what we got was half walking or one foot out dabbing slowly down the hill. None of this was fun.
At least one long limestone climb we both were reduced to a plodding walking. This followed by a long grass hill wheel spinning and an eventual tactical dismount for both of us.
We had coffee at a beautiful lake side.
Of course there was thisBut often thisGreat bucolic views.
Over the morning we both hit the deck. Grrrrrrr.
Much of it was like this a narrow path across fields.
At about One we reaches Winchester and King Alfred decided to get in on the act.
Over lunch in Winchester we had a team meeting and Brett was feeling particularly knackered, he had has been working long hours lately and as a consequence had to neglect training. He thought (and he was right) the trail would only get harder and that would lead us not achieving the time we had. So directly to Oxford by road was his schedule.
As this point I had a tough decision to make. Obviously I’m selfish I decided to carry on with the KAW.
We parted ways at about 3.
Brett whizzed off towards a camp site half way to Oxford and I lumbered along the trail. I made only 30kms the route was so draining. So once again not accomplishing the necessary 100kms.
It’s a lonesome business riding alone after having company. But I got to an overpriced campsite for the night and Brett phoned and told me how good his site was for less than half the price.
At the campsite I ⅔ recharged my phone leaving only a small amount left in the powerbank. So to retain electricity I didn’t write my blog.
6.15 we woke and started to move about, Brett had tea and porridge I cooked my porridge. Then the packup process began. The field by the pub we camped in cost us nothing but a drink. The dew was thick on the ground and the condensation all over the inside of my tent. We packed and repacked and adjusted and repacked eventually getting riding at about 8. Straight to the closest cafe for a coffee and a teacake. Then we really got going I suppose 9.30 🤦.
Brett was feeling strong and on the first off road uphill sped past me like a gazelle as I lumbered along plodding. (Can any I pull any of the excuses cards out, he’s 25kgs lighter overall, he’s 15 years younger. Hmmmm I’ve just done a 3000km tour he’s done 3 practice sessions. Grrrrrrrrrr ⚖️) I chased him and failed to catch.
We stopped for his handlebar bagWe stopped again for his handlebar bagWe stopped for his saddle pack.
Hills and hills and off road hills, sand hills like a beach . But views at the top so spectacular. The sand sections were absolutely devastating, slewing us with the slightest turn of the bars, low gear high cadence seemed to work, but the legs can only do this so many times until they just grind to a hault. Neither of us liked the sand.
We were tired we worked hard all morning and possibly/probably hadn’t eaten enough. Eventually we stopped for lunch at about 1.30pm the bacon and brie sandwiches devoured in seconds swilled down with sweet hot chocolate.
Soon after there was a long off road uphill getting progressively harder and rougher. I heard a screech behind and knew Brett had come a cropper. I surmised it was bad I’d come back to check or he would shout louder. But soon after the trail was so rough I had to stop. And Brett was only just behind me.
Scratched his new GRX shifter- First Cut is the Deepest.
We stopped at some seats and discussed a plan of action. Find a campsite get horizontal ASAP. We called on up. Luckily this one had a shower, but not much else.
We have done 20kms under budget, this might bight us hard on the last day. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
When Brett suggested the KAW, a 350km mainly off road route spanning the home counties, a few months ago I was decidedly cautions. But as these things transpire we organised a date and 4 days to do the 350kms +50kms to the route and back. Even I can work out with my basic arithmetic that’s 100kms a day.
We weighed both our bikes. Brett (60kgs)and his bike (20kgs) fully loaded weight the same as I do. My bike weighs 25kgs. No wonder I’m slower up the hills 🤦.
So I found myself waking at 6.30, early enough to finalise setup, then cycle the 30kms to Wantage to meet Brett at 9am.
We were both early so keen we were to get on the way. Straight up Chain Hill out of Wantage then turn left onto the chalk path of the Ridgeway.
As we turned along the path excitement and joy hit me, to be back in the saddle riding an off road route bike fully loaded. The sun was shining. Whoop. As is our want we both set off at a leg destroying pace, Brett faster on the paths and me on the rough stuff. Half an hour past we were plummeting down a steep descent fissures crossing the path our wheels in deep ruts. I clanged my pedal on the rut top and nearly flew to the ground. At the bottom we both decided we were riding at a speed way above our ability. We advised caution to each other and proceeded at a more sensible pace.
The route dips in and out of towns. Out coffee stop was Goring, coffee and cakes the cyclists dream. As we were sitting a group of guys stood by our bikes pointing out different parts. Brett and I too tired/lazy to saunter across to talk to them. But as they walked past us on their way they called across, Great bikes and setup. Brett and I beamed with pride.
On we rode closing to our designated 100kms. I stopped and had to refuel a bit, minutes before we spotted a Sainsbury Supermarket.
Daily Disasters: Ended up at hotel no real food ate dates/yoghurt/ mixed nuts/musli bar. Then found shop open and bought crisps/ canned tuna/sparkling water/bread. My stomach doesn’t know if its upside down or right way up.
We had a bit of breakfast in our room then packed everything up and was put the hotel door by about 7.30.
Just over the river and coffee and cake. Not our best find.
This was our longest day yet, we started steady as we k ew the profile of our ride was up and up.
We had some shenanigans with sunflowers
I actually took a video
Don’t expect editing
After the first 20kms or so we turned off the main road and from then on we were honoured by olive, citrus, grapes and grains spreading before us. Such a joy. We went through some beautiful villages, brunch, lunch, tea.
Shinnanikins with exercise equipment.
The final of our day was of course a climb and descent. Of course no-one was at the hotel, we waited for half an hour until someone turned up. Our room was quite nice.
A Couple of Days Ride Outta....... 