first day of REAL cycling. the valley into Susa is totally flat, with no special views, just the collection of names that are famous now in Italy, because if their struggle to preserve their territory from the constructionof the new high-speed train line.
at Suss, I need to decide if I'm taking the train (an option I seriously considered yesterday, because of the hot temperatures), climb the Montcenis from the main road, or diverge to Novalesa, a secondary valley crossed by the old road. I take this. the temperature is fresh today, cloudy sky, 25 C degrees. plus, the route is slightly longer, which *should* mean less steep. Novalesa looks like an ancient mountain village, just few stone houses that once were stables and barns, with some signs promoting ancient wall paintings, an abbey and other things worth a visit. I don't visit, I climb. just after, the most terrible hairpins I ever rode. I thin I counted 9, if was able to count. over 13% I couldn't keep down the front wheel, and I couldn't push any harder. I have to admit, I stepped off three times to push. it was the first time ever I did it, but I had no options. after the village of Montcenis, some kms of light descent wasted some 150m of climb, but I enjoyed it.
back on the main road, there was a lot of traffic, mainly custom motorcycles and choppers. the climb is not hard, bit its incredibly long. and when you think you're at the top, there's more. on the pass it was cold, I got prepared putting on extra clothes, but after less than a km I had to take all away, as it was 41C on the French side! and windy! luckily it was all down till the end, I enjoyed some good speed, even if with head wind.
sainte marie de cuines is just a town hall, a church and single houses scattered around, kept separate with very large and well cured lawns. just one restaurant, basically a pub serving three standard plates. I'm not worried going to sleep before 10.
day 2
cycled 152km (total 177)
climbed 2209 (total 2583)
raised 1196 total (596 km donated)
drank 6.5 liters
peed once
at Suss, I need to decide if I'm taking the train (an option I seriously considered yesterday, because of the hot temperatures), climb the Montcenis from the main road, or diverge to Novalesa, a secondary valley crossed by the old road. I take this. the temperature is fresh today, cloudy sky, 25 C degrees. plus, the route is slightly longer, which *should* mean less steep. Novalesa looks like an ancient mountain village, just few stone houses that once were stables and barns, with some signs promoting ancient wall paintings, an abbey and other things worth a visit. I don't visit, I climb. just after, the most terrible hairpins I ever rode. I thin I counted 9, if was able to count. over 13% I couldn't keep down the front wheel, and I couldn't push any harder. I have to admit, I stepped off three times to push. it was the first time ever I did it, but I had no options. after the village of Montcenis, some kms of light descent wasted some 150m of climb, but I enjoyed it.
back on the main road, there was a lot of traffic, mainly custom motorcycles and choppers. the climb is not hard, bit its incredibly long. and when you think you're at the top, there's more. on the pass it was cold, I got prepared putting on extra clothes, but after less than a km I had to take all away, as it was 41C on the French side! and windy! luckily it was all down till the end, I enjoyed some good speed, even if with head wind.
sainte marie de cuines is just a town hall, a church and single houses scattered around, kept separate with very large and well cured lawns. just one restaurant, basically a pub serving three standard plates. I'm not worried going to sleep before 10.
day 2
cycled 152km (total 177)
climbed 2209 (total 2583)
raised 1196 total (596 km donated)
drank 6.5 liters
peed once
also check my instagram page for daily pics
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