I’m still in Zagreb. I should have been in Slovenia by now, but got held up by everything today. Great day, great weather, roads, people, just not great riding. In a hotel now though, hiding from a thunderstorm, so going to hurry to bed!
Day Four: Serbia
It’s been another tough day, but workable. Still only 330km and around 1800m, and given the profile I really should have done more, but for now I’ve grabbed a hotel. I’m around 60km from Croatia so I should get there ok in the morning.
I managed to get through Belgrade, which honestly was a relief. As I sat at a roadside snack stand and adjusted my shoes this afternoon (which I hope is going to have a big impact) I watched three guys drive up, get themselves drinks (and no, I don’t mean a coke), down the drinks then get back in their respective cars and drive off it very much solidified in my mind that I like Serbia, but I don’t like the driving!
Anyway, Croatia tomorrow which I hope will be better!
My body is still mostly holding together – having banged my knee yesterday while performing a trick dismount it was feeling a bit tender today, but nothing extreme. I’ve got sore feet, which I hope I helped with that adjustment, a sore posterior, and pretty much everything else has the sort of general sore that comes with 18 hours a day being shaken about, followed by not enough sleep before repeating. Oh, and an impressive ring of blisters all the way around my leg from where my knicks rubbed. Other than that though, feeling pretty good. I think, when you allow for the fatigue, that I am actually to a small extent riding myself into shape, so if only it was a 12 month long event I might still be in with a shot to win.
Meanwhile, the fundraising is going very well and remains well ahead of the ride pace, thanks to some amazingly generous donations. Many thanks to all who have contributed, with every donation, big or small, being appreciated and going to a great cause.
Day 3 – not what I hoped for
On paper, 215Ikm with 1800m sounds like a pretty easy day. In practice, it was the toughest day I’ve had on the race so far. I knew the Parcours for CP2 was going to be tough, and off-road. I wasn’t delighted, but I knew it and accepted it. What I found though was terrible!
Sprinting like Caleb Ewan
I spent the last part of the day sprinting like Caleb Ewan – except that it was uphill, at 6km/h and about 80 watts.
Day One – tough day!
It’s been a tough day. I went into it dehydrated and with a max temp on the bike of 43 I just couldn’t rehydrate, leading to cramps and general poor performance.
This is not where I planned to be!
I’m not where I planned to be. I’m not even close. A year ago I had recently finished the Indian Pacific Wheel Race, and even though I’d had some issues and was a long way behind the winner I felt like I’d done pretty well, all things considered. I knew I’d done a bit of damage to my knee in the process, but overall I was feeling good, and I had a plan. That plan was all focused around a single moment, 5 days from now. The problem is