Hauled our bicycles out of the garage basement Maintenance room and up in the elevator, through the lobby, and assembled out on the sidewalk in front of the City Hotel.
Gergo leads another convoy out through the streets of town, and the route is so convoluted that it's a good idea that he didn't try flagging that first 5km.
Lead group is nine riders and we burn up the first 20km at good speed, alternating between the bike lane and the curbside lane of the 2-lane highway #409. Then the grade starts and we're heading up into the hills surrounding the valley, the group stretches itself out, weaker riders start dropping back, and power takes over.
After 10km or so the grade flattens out, then begins to climb again, but this time a "15% Grade"sign appears beside the road and we seem to go almost vertical through the bush, around some steep turns, and finally crawl out at the top of the pass at 44.2km to find the TDA lunch van set up and waiting for us.
Historically this mountain pass was the choke point of a major transportation and trading route dating back more than 2,000 years, the site of a Roman fort dating from that same era, and the site of a Christian church from the 13th century (see foundations).
After lunch it\s a little bit rolling countryside, then a long mostly-straight downhill into the valley at a gentle grade. Following Mark (USA) and Nelson (CDN), we lean into the turns, they do some pedalling but I try to keep it strictly gravity driven, during one scary stretch my Garmin says that I hit 73.02kph (could be my fastest bicycle speed to date!).
Now following Chris (CDN) and Cindy, our little road merges with Highway #444 and the grade begins to flatten out, finally levelling at the 64km mark as we cruise into the widening valley. Camp Lijak is at 81km and we arrive before the TDA vans. After selecting a camping spot near the WC and the camp tables, I make a ride back to the Mercator store for the usual supplies. Lots of other cyclists making camp here tonight, so we virtually infest the place.
Gergo leads another convoy out through the streets of town, and the route is so convoluted that it's a good idea that he didn't try flagging that first 5km.
Lead group is nine riders and we burn up the first 20km at good speed, alternating between the bike lane and the curbside lane of the 2-lane highway #409. Then the grade starts and we're heading up into the hills surrounding the valley, the group stretches itself out, weaker riders start dropping back, and power takes over.
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