An easy ride to Banyoles and back
I have a dilemma. I would both like to ride a lot and save some energy/strength for tomorrow's Nocturne. Nocturne is a criterium in Girona's old town, 10 laps of 2.5 kilometers, of which only 200 meters is timed. These 200 meters are hard: up to 15% uphill on cobbles!
So, what to do? To join an easy shop ride to Banyoles or to join a medium one over some small mountains. I chose the easy one, mostly because all other Finns chose it as well and because Anna needed someone to watch the back of the group. Of course, after looking the skinny riders joining the medium ride, I knew that I would again be dropped at every longer/steeper climb.
An easy ride it would be then. The ride would be Girona-flat, which means uphills less than 1km and mostly less than 7%. Not exactly flat, but as flat as it gets here in Girona.
We were a group of at least 17 riders; of many nationalities from Autralia via Canada to Finland and Britain. Everyone was in a good and relaxed mood. I was pleased to chat with Shane Starling, an Australian living in France. His twitter is worth following. As is his blog. Not to forget Mike Duff's tweets.
Anna led us to Banyoles with a short detour, 25km of easy pedalling. In Banyoles, coffee, idling, chatting,laughing. Some riders continued towards Rocacorba, but our easy group took a short and direct route back to Girona and the Gran Fondo Race village.
A nice lunch, then a test ride up the Nocturne route. Back to our summer home and a nap. A beer. Or two.
Later, coming up: Catalan dinner with the whole Gran Fondo Group.
So, what to do? To join an easy shop ride to Banyoles or to join a medium one over some small mountains. I chose the easy one, mostly because all other Finns chose it as well and because Anna needed someone to watch the back of the group. Of course, after looking the skinny riders joining the medium ride, I knew that I would again be dropped at every longer/steeper climb.
An easy ride it would be then. The ride would be Girona-flat, which means uphills less than 1km and mostly less than 7%. Not exactly flat, but as flat as it gets here in Girona.
We were a group of at least 17 riders; of many nationalities from Autralia via Canada to Finland and Britain. Everyone was in a good and relaxed mood. I was pleased to chat with Shane Starling, an Australian living in France. His twitter is worth following. As is his blog. Not to forget Mike Duff's tweets.
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| Shop ride riders in Banyoles. |
Anna led us to Banyoles with a short detour, 25km of easy pedalling. In Banyoles, coffee, idling, chatting,laughing. Some riders continued towards Rocacorba, but our easy group took a short and direct route back to Girona and the Gran Fondo Race village.
A nice lunch, then a test ride up the Nocturne route. Back to our summer home and a nap. A beer. Or two.
Later, coming up: Catalan dinner with the whole Gran Fondo Group.
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