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