Yesterday's ride, Tuesday we had planned another 5hr loop, with 3 notable climbs, the Coll de Rates, then Guadalest and finally Port de Tudons, before looping back through Altea and Calpe back to Parcent. The first couple of hours was great taking in a great decent down to the town of Callosa (I spy the first Dirtwheels rider!) before climbing up to Guadalest. Here we stopped at a cafe to fill bottles and re fuel (past the cafe window ride team Dirtwheels Cycles, we could have done with the tow too, up the next section into the headwind!) After ploughing into a headwind again over the tops between Guadalest and Confrides we descended down the other side.
Photos riding up Coll de Rates the first climb of the day.
Bottom of Confrides and this is where we hit problems! Turning left down and past a road closed sign we made to head over our next climb of the day, Port de Tudons. But before we got much further the road was no more, in front of us was a dumper truck and plenty of mud! But no road!!!
So we back tracked and carried on down the valley re thinking our route. Our get out plan was a loop back into Gorga and down maybe Castells or Ebo. But we'd come this far so we headed for the next climb along Port del Rentonar. Our 5hr ride was looking like more like our 7hr epic planned for later in the week, but hey all best made plans and all that.......!
We set off up the next road only to find that this too had road works! Fear not it was just a man with a lolly pop stick and a digger blocking the road, at least this road was passable!
Luckily we managed to cut across on to the Port de Tudons up a slightly different road. It meant we would miss out the very top of the Tudons climb as we would be climbing up on a different road, but apart for being a little bumpy it was a lovely accent! Down the other side and finally into a town called Sella. Here it felt like we were on the homeward straight but not yet, we were still a good 2hrs away to get back.
We reached Benidorm and the rain looked threatening, it was starting to spit with rain! By this point I was running on empty. Not wanting to stop now for some proper food with the threat of rain we just wanted to get back! We took the main road back all the way along the coast! It's a very very long main road all the way through Altea and to Calpe then it just goes on and on, and up hill much of the way! (well it felt like a long way.) Finally after about 6hrs we turned off the main road and it seemed we were going to get drenched, it was spitting more and more with rain! Luckily it held off and after 6.30hrs riding we made it back, and no sooner were we back than it started to rain properly! A great day's riding despite the change of route, and looking forward to a slightly easier day tomorrow!
Day 5 Wednesday.
Today was the planned easier day just 2hr30 and seemed like nothing compared to yesterday! The wind was blowing a gale tho and wasn't very helpful. So no matter which direction we rode in we would probably have a head wind back into Parcent. Karen wanted to time herself up the Rates, so she did. I hit the headwind at the bottom of the climb and thought better of riding full gas up there! There were going to be no fast times up the Rates today! It was into the wind for most of the climb until we reached the turn and it suddenly became more of a tail wind. I was caught from behind form a group of 3, so I sat on one of their wheels for a bit, then took my turn on the front. With the wind behind me I seemed to fly up the next part to the top of the climb. Down the other side of Coll de Rates and to Tarbena, before the change of direction back to Castell de Castells. Only still into what seemed a block headwind grrr!
By Castells it was pretty cold and it was not a day for riding in the mountains! Glad to be heading back down the 'Super Highway' to Parcent and to the warmth!
Back to the long rides for tomorrow.
Iona.
