Today was one of the days that I’ve been worrying about because it was down to be 164km, and there are four further days all of +/- 120km before we get another rest day.
As it’s turned out, it wasn’t nearly as tough as I had imagined it would be, and the later stages of it were pretty good fun as they were (mostly) down hill and with a good tailwind behind us!
An early start – breakfast at 0600, and I was on my way just before 20 past six. Getting out of town this morning was even quicker than ever with it being a relatively small city.
With Dan and I riding together taking turn about in the front we covered ground in pretty short order – the general down-hill nature of the road, and the tail wind also did their bit, so we were at the lunch stop by 0904…! More second breakfast than lunch.
So far so good – at 84.2km this is the furthest I’ve ever ridden (to date anyway) without a stop – the road and conditions were so good that we just kept on keeping on 🙂
After lunch and back on our bikes Erwin, Paul, Dan and I were riding together and making good time. We caught up with Will and Charlie who had left a little before us after the lunch break.
In the notes you’ll see that there were two possible routes and distances depending on construction works which were happening when Andreas was here scouting the route. As it turned out the neither option quite worked out – the construction was finished so the detour wasn’t necessary, but the new route wasn’t quite as short as anticipated.
As we started onto the new road there were several climbs which I was able to take at a quicker pace than the group I’d been riding with so steadily pulled away from the group to end up riding about 20km on my own before (big) Rob (there are two Rob’s in the group currently) caught up with me. We stuck together for a further 20ish km, enjoying cruising at ~45km/h on the flats, before he pulled away from me.
In total I rode just under 160km today, and arrived at the hotel about 1215 – in time for lunch (this time Sprite and ice-cream). Tomorrow’s going to be a similar day, though with ‘only’ 122km to cover.
Both the people and the landscape have changed as we’ve continued to make our way north. Although still obviously Chinese you can really see the Mongol influence in the facial features of the people, while the landscape is much flatter, more ‘rolling’, and is becoming more arid as we go.
We’re all hoping that the wind stays blowing from the direction it is, or drops away – we saw a UK cycle-tourist who was heading the opposite way to us and the only way he could make progress on anything other than a downhill was to walk, the wind has been that strongly.
Rider meeting at 1800 this evening, which given the size of the town we’re in, and the location of the hotel, will almost certainly be followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant – I’m picking it might involve celery given the size of the bag of it I’ve just seen brought through the hotel lobby and off towards the kitchen!
In all I’ve had a really fantastic day and thanks to highly favourable conditions I’m feeling more confident about the next four days than I was this morning – hopefully it doesn’t end up being miss-placed confidence!
Riding data
47.5 km – “Coke stop”
85 km – “Coke stop”
So that’s how you’re getting through this – they’re dosing you up on Columbian marching powder!
Stunning pics, glad the bod is holding up!! Enjoy the next few days x
Tee hee, more coke of the Coca Cola variety 🙂
Well done mate
I did 30 miles ( or in your world, 146 km) on the cross bike last night…. Just what I needed after another day from hell! Ttfn
I think you might have meant 46km…? but well done all the same 🙂
What an adventure. Long last that tail wind 🙂
I’m loving the early starts ? Looks amazing and well done on the “tough” day x
Fantastic, you must feel so much happier without that hanging over you. Yes there will be tough days ahead, but now you’ve proved you can do the distances involved. Long may that tailwind last!!
Thanks Claire, I certainly do 🙂
FYI today’s moving average was 30.0 km/h which I’m also pretty happy with for 160km.
84km by 9am! I am feeling very tired just reading that. 🙂
Indeed – I’m not really a morning person so this up at 5:15, bags in the lobby by 5:45, breakfast at 6:00 and on the road shortly there-after is somewhat challenging. Maybe ‘early rising’ and ‘napping’ are the things I’m meant to learn on this trip 😉
Really pleased for you hun. I know today was one of the days that you were concerned about. Glad it all went well.
Is Big Rob the guy from Denver?
A xx
It certainly went much better than I expected, and although tired I’m still feeling fine this evening (other than my shitty cold). And yes, Rob’s the guy from Denver whose bike had gone AWOL.
You are seeing some amazing sights! And turning into a hobbit it seems …
Indeed we are – but a hobbit? How so?
Double breakfasts are very much a hobbit lifestyle ? Hence you turning into a hobbit. But without the hairy feet!?
Second breakfasts are an essential part of ordinary life – does that make me a hobbit? Hmm, do have hairy toes! Love the reporting Stephen, hope the tail winds continue, the camel thingy was interesting, and I think the flower looked more like an iris of some sort. Kia kaha
Sadly the tail winds vanished in the night! And I’ll take your word on the flower being an iris – there were loads of them in various different shades.