The day started well with team motivator Ross having us on the bikes at 10a.m. - we cycled out of beautiful St.Ursanne almost immediately into a punishing climb of 9 kms with some sections 15% - nearly impossible with the weight on the bikes (all that bloody camping gear !)
The kiwi fly weight Ross, made it look all too simple having to wait often for the Aussie truckers as we labored up the hill with our speedos barely registering !
Half way up we were hit with the first of the days numerous rain showers requiring us to batten the hatches even though doing so would cause us to sweat excessively !
Once clear of the peak we cycled a mixture of field paths, road and even one off road muddy section that took us into mist at cloud level for an eerie effect and more rain !
Time was not going fast in fact after 2 &1/4 hours we had only covered 12 kms !
Our 2nd major challenge of the day was after lunch and more rain when we ascended Mt Soliel at 1250 meters again with 15 % gradient roads, straight into a heavy hail storm that littered the fields with ice and my hood when I placed it over my head .. Yuck !
While filming near the top a huge lightning bolt appeared not far from us bringing back memories of Nepal when our group was dangerously exposed in high ground to intra cloud lightning.
Down the other side of the Mtn I noticed my brakes starting to become less effective. Kev offered to adjust them in the rain but in near famous last words i said i would be right !
Coming down a hill not much later I lost control going over a 2nd dip leaving me with no option at a t intersection (farmland) than to head straight through a farmers wire fence !
The boys up ahead looked back in time to see me recovering my panniers from a muddy farmyard wondering how the hell they had got their when my bike (already recovered) was outside the fence !
In a great show of Anzac spirit Ross laughed while H showing a big smirk at least helped to put some traction back into the Avanti brakes !
The remaining 10 kms saw a constant battle to stay warm with both Kev and Ross faring poorly with frozen fingers and in Ross case frozen toes - at least I didn't laugh !
One final climb for the day saw H finally crack it and let rip with a fffffffuuuuuuucccckkkkk ! That could be heard three valleys away !
We checked into town busy now as peak hour and quickly sorted out a hotel where Ross jumped into a bath while the boys in their room luxuriated under warm showers !
Some pasta, some reminiscing of the days challenges and some drying of clothes and we will be back at again tomorrow with expected top temp of 8 c!
Mega, reckon it's time that you dumped the Avanti and got yourself a decent bike!!
ReplyDeleteWMc
Chin up boys it must be fondu time and time to catch a train. Post the camping gear home you won't need it until you don't have it. Ps it's raining here too only it's 10 deg warmer ! Is the Friday group riding Donna Buang ?
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