It was -1ºC in my tent when my alarm went off at 0545 this morning, and -5ºC as I got on my bike to begin riding an hour later. By contrast by the time I arrived at camp this afternoon it was 25ºC. Layers were the answer!
Stage 19 rider notes
Once on the road and with climbing first up, I began to warm up after a few km. As has been the routine for the last few days we were basically valley-hoping, up one valley, over the pass, down the next. Or as sometimes happens we’re skirting the tops of multiple valleys; over a ridge, drop down a little, across, up, drop down, across, up etc.
The gers on the plains look really great, but it’s risky to get too close. I think I’ve mentioned before that they’re all protected by at least one dog, which seems to like nothing better than chasing cyclists. For reasons best known to himself Pär decided to take a photo of one of them:
Vicious guard dogs!
Me, I tend to take an approach more likely to lead to self preservation – pedal like crazy and get as far away from the scary beasts as possible!
Lunch was in a great spot at the top of the last long climb for today, with views over to relatively close mountains still with snow on the tops. Fueled again and it was back on the road. Much of todays riding has been great, with pretty flowing conditions, and generally being able to pick a smooth line through the rougher patches.
As we came down to Tsetserleg I managed to get a photo which shows what I mean about the colourful roofs
The bright and colourful Tsetserleg
Through the town, where the main road looks to be getting an upgrade (though I doubt as far as tarmac) with piles of gravel all along the street. Out of town and back into the countryside continuing to drop down towards a fairly large river. Clearly the bridge comes and goes, presumably each spring as the snow melts and the rivers peak things get washed away to be replaced once the water has subsided.
Bridge over calm waters
From there it was a right turn to follow the river downstream for the final 20ish km to camp. Along the way I met what should have been the lead van three quarters of the way up the hill with a broken linkage and the driver underneath with his tools out getting things back on the road – he was clearly successful as about 5km later they passed me again!
With a box full of bits, we can rebuild it (again)
Tonight we’re camped in a great spot just above the river. As I was getting my tent out a reminder of this mornings cold was wrapped into the middle of the fly – it was still frozen (if only I’d had a beer wrapped in there ;-). Clearly my bag had been somewhere in the middle of all the very cold bags in the back of the van and had stayed cold all day.
View from our camp this afternoon
Riding data
Such great photos and stories. That dog looked like Amber :-).
Thanks – and yes that dog does look like Amber, only much less friendly!