The best laid schemes o' mice an' (wo)men..

Todays ride was the wonderful Schwarzwaldrundfahrt arranged by VC Kaisten. I dont go the the Schwarzwald much, I have had too many horrible traffic experiences - motorbikes, cars that think they are in a race - but the route for this event is mostly on quiet roads and is just wonderful. 

https://www.vckaisten.ch/informationen-schwarzwald-rundfahrt

We had planned to meet at the start in Kaisten. Initially we were going to be 4 people, doing the 150km route. A few days before, we were down to 3 people and in the morning, based on the previous days hideous thunderstorms and the weather warnings, it was proposed to do the 102km route instead. We would decide for sure at the first stop after the big climb. I met with my 2 companions at the start, got signed in and off we went. 

The first 50km of both routes is the same. From Kaisten we cycled to the river then along the river at a good speed - we managed to get some drafting practice from another rider. He had clearly done the event before as he was sporting the socks that you can choose at the end. We saw many people with the same socks.

On we went, crossing the bridge where the Aare and the Rhein meet. There was lots and lots and lots of water. Shortly after, we turned left, over the Rhein through the border post into Germany and headed for the first climb. This was the same climb last year and its a cracker :). The Talbach climb is 4.4km long with an avg gradient of 6.3% but much steeper pinches with ( according to veloviewer so it must be true) max of 20%.... We did well, our new joiner was the quickest while the other and me went at our own pace. I am still nursing my ribs from the crash (read the last blog post for all the details :)) and my left knee is still larger than it should be. I was therefore slower than the last time I climbed this thing. We re-grouped at the top. We did still manage to pass someone going up the hill though. 

Now on the last section before the first proper stop we continued. The faster amongst us off in the distance and me and my companion together most of the time. We were now on a busier road and had to contend with lorry drivers who have no patience. One passed me, tried to pass her and did a very loud screeeeeech to avoid hitting a car coming on the opposite direction, round the corner that he hadn't expected/seen. After he managed to pass her, the cars behind me were on their best behaviour and took ages to finally pass me.

 The first stop is for both road routes, they split just after. We got our paper stamped, ate the sandwich, drank the bullion and had a sit in the shade. It was decided, my ribs were not up to 150km and I would do the 102km with my companion while the other still wanted to do the longer route. Its a good route and you see lots more of the area, so we parted here. 

Now with 2 of us it was time to navigate the really busy road - luckily there is a veloweg but its also a footpath so we needed to navigate people. We passed quite a large group of young people who moved to the side after a good ping, ping, ping of the bell. We also passed an older couple who didnt hear/pay attention until I shouted. They were standing in the middle of the veloweg looking to the side with their walking stick things right across the path. They jumped when I shouted, but in my defence I had pinged the life out of my bell before I resorted to shouting.

We swooshed downhill passing the end of Schluchsee before navigating away from the main roads and ended up on the Albtalstrasse.  This was great fun, not too steep descent, so still had to pedal, the road surface was a bit bumpy (have I mentioned my ribs hurt) but it is a great run down with sweeping bends and hardly any traffic. The main road is in a parallel valley, we had this mostly to ourselves. As we went down there were more and more trees,  and after the road narrows it has huge stones on the right to stop you going over the cliff edge. A great run down to the second pitstop.

Here we had more salty things - TUC biscuits are a life saver, the weather had heated up and it was high about 28-30Deg. It felt humid and I was certain we would have some sort of thunderstorm - but it never arrived.

Now on the home stretch, I knew what was coming and had warned my companion. The sting in the tail of the 102km route is the last climb - oeff!

Just when you think you were nearly finished, this happens:

We managed it and stopped to recover at the top, sheltering in the shade of a pear tree. 

Now we really were on the last leg - it didnt take long to make our way back to Laufenburg over the river again - through the cobbled streets - ouch - and back to Kaisten to pick up our well earned medal, drink some cola before making our way home in the train.

Thanks to both companions for the company, glad you liked the event.

Distance : 102km

Climbing : 1100m

Avg Speed- 21.3km/h

Max temp - at least 30Deg C

Count of squished animals on the road - lots

Other people we passed on the climbs - 2

#FastandfemaleSUI meet up at Tour de Suisse Women and Men in Villars

 Another interesting day out on the bike. Today we had it all,  train adventures, less that ideal weather conditions, road works and we got to see the race up close. Thanks to #FastandfemaleSUI for the opportunity.

The #FastandfemaleSUI  team had offered a unique experience of the Tour de Suisse to their network of groups. The plan was to ride to the stage location, see the finish of the Womens race and the start of the Mens. I had arranged a ride from St Maurice and there was another planned from Lausanne. The Lausanne group decided that a 70km ride in the rain was not what they wanted so arrived in the village by other means. Our ride from St Maurice was much shorter so we kept the ride and took our rain kit.

I took the train via Olten and met up with my companion from Argau in Bern. It was a bit of a rush as her incoming train was 3 mins late and the platform change meant it was a sprint. As ever the bike storage is at the end of the train so its always a trek. She made it with about a minute to spare and we set off to Visp. In Visp we changed to the slow train to St Maurice.

It was at this point that I realise just how tall I am :).

We arrived in St Maurice where we met with companion number 2. She runs a FAFSUI group in Bern. We said our hellos and set off in the rain, ever hopeful that the rain would stop. Just out of the village we turned left following the veloweg. This went underneath the railway line and there was a car completely blocking the road, all doors open. I assume they were hiding out of the rain. This first obstacle circumvented, it didnt take long for the next to appear. There are road/rail works and we had to carry our bikes through the narrow, gravel/stone path.

We should have seen this as a predictor for the rest of the ride

On we went towards Bex where we would turn to climb up the hill to Villars. The route was only 21km long but had about 880m of climbing so we knew it would be a cracker. Every river or water channel we passed was full of brown rushing water, evidence of the heavy rain we have had. When was it last dry??

In Bex, then out again and more roadwork/traffic control etc. We stopped to take a layer off just before the  climb really started and set off ready for the slog up the hill, it was onlya few hundred meters before we had to stop again as we got a puncture! The many road works barriers had bits of metal holding them together and one had fallen on the ground, result puncture. It didnt take long to change the tube  - about 15 minutes - then off we went again. The lower slopes are quite steep, lost of vines growing so we took it steady. We occasionally saw a bit of blue sky - would it really stop raining????

Traffic was fairly light, and what was there were mostly understanding of cyclist. There was the occasional numpty with no patience who passed us on a tight bend with another car coming down. The other car was just a understanding as me :).

The traffic controllers managing the roadworks were great, and gave us time to climb up.

Once we passed Gryon most of the climbing has been done and it was just a few flatter kms to the race. We were making good time, despite the puncture. At this point we met with more roadworks and had to cycle next to the train tracks and at one point between them, and finally we had to cross them as the road went to the left. The tracks were wet and this is where I slipped and thwacked the ground with my head, knee and ribs. As I fell, I remember thinking that i needed to trust my helmet and just fall. I have very painful ribs and a brilliantly swollen knee. The cars behind us stopped to make sure I was OK, as did 2 guys on mountain bikes. Thanks to all for your concern. I needed to fix my left brake lever - used my trusty tool kit - never leave home without it  - then we got back on and cycled the last few kms to Villars. I am amazed none of my clothes ripped - my rain jacket is perfect! as are my shorts. Its just me that looks a bit bashed.

We arrived and finally found the rest of the #FastandfemaleSUI group inside the VIP tent. I clearly dont look like I should be in a VIP area as the security outside were very clear to inform us that this was the VIP area! Yes, we said, we know. We were sent here. We were rescued by someone from Swiss Cycling who was expecting us and we all got a VIP wrist band - so we could come and go as we pleased. The same man was equally challenging when I entered the area again later, with my wrist band on full display. I must have one of those faces :).

 

We got to watch the screen and enjoy the last 7kms of the race rooting for Elise Chabbey to stay away but also secretly wanting Demi Vollering to win - which she duly did. 

The others were taken for the back stage tour of the race while I wandered round the various displays, just wanting to sit down and have some sugar. I managed some retail therapy. The initial plan was to climb up to Col de la Croix and watch the men go over before going to Aigle but I was pleased we decided to go straight there. We did catch the mens race and watched the intermediate sprint at Ollon.

Once in Aigle, booked the train spaces for the bikes then sat down to go home.

Total distance - 34km

Climbing - 895m

No Avg speed - :)

And if you are looking for more women specific madness follow Ride Rawr on Instagram. Helena was here interviewing today - more tomorrow?

Interviews on Instagram

And dont forget to join Swiss Cycling if you are in CH - they support us, we should support them.