After the baking weather over the previous week I was a bit concerned that I might bake to a crisp on this ride as it was going to be a long day, luckily the weather relented and the day before the prediction was cooler. I use the Epic Ride App to predict the weather. I like it. It connects the routes i created in Strava or Komoot, I define the start time and can adjust the average speed. It then presents visuals of the forecast with wind, temperature and precipitation. It predicted a cool calm morning with the wind picking up later in the day and no/tiny rain. It was spot on.
https://www.vckaisten.ch/informationen-schwarzwald-rundfahrt
We gathered - 3 early birds - at about 6:30 at the Mehrzweckhalle in Kaisten to a quite empty parking area and were guided to slot in next to the others. Not that it mattered for me because I was being dropped off and my driver was away again after about 5 minutes. This event is normally well managed especially the parking. We met up, signed in, prepared via the toilets :) and off we set in the cool morning. Going east we kept up a steady pace soon reaching Koblenz, crossed over to Germany all going fine until my rear tyre started to feel a bit spongy. Sure enough it was soft, and I had a slow puncture. Close observers of my adventures on Strava will be aware that I had a puncture recently too but failed to get the wheel off and got the bus home... I was better prepared this time. I had visions of my day being cut very short.
It took 30 minutes to :
tyre off, tube changed, pump up, deflate as I forgot to check the tyre, tyre off, tube out, tyre check, glass removed, tube back in, pump up, check, pump up, check, pump up, check, swear, pump up, check, give up and ride on
A few others stopped to see if they could help but either had no pump and needed the CO2 for their own emergency or no suitable pump. My new pump is in the post. I am buying an iPump Twist - lets see if its any better than the Silca Tattico which just didnt stay on the valve properly.
https://www.ipump.jp/product/ipump-twist/
I kept the softish back wheel till the first check point where a friendly man with a track pump put all the air pack in. I was terrified I would get a pinch flat - as happened the last week.
The climb up to the first checkpoint was not the same as last year and it was back on the road I did the first time I took part. There was more traffic but its a much easier climb. But I still had this stupid soft back wheel and the ever present threat of a pinch flat if I did something stupid. I really hoped they would have a pump at the stop.
The first check point was fairly quiet - we were early as only the 150km people would be out this early in the day. They had a pump!! Fed, watered and pumped up again we set off. Shortly afterwards I had one of a very few photo stops at the brewery and not, as was feared another puncture.
The next section was downhill and on smoooooooth tarmac so was excellent fun despite being swooshed!!!! by fast and screechy motorbikes - more would be seen over the course of the day. As we were about to start climbing again the road was closed and we were diverted on to a shortcut through the trees. Very pretty but steep. We rejoined the planned route at the edge of Bonndorf and headed west. This part of the route is a drag which never ends. You see little as there are trees everywhere and the road goes up and down and up and down seemingly for ever. Once that was over we turned south towards Schuchsee and then found the scenic route. It really is pretty when you get away from the bikes and the noise.
After another climb - does it ever stop? - we arrived at checkpoint 2. We were refuelled, refreshed and found a baby bat crawling on the floor. I nearly stood my petite 43.5s on it. It was removed to a safe place and hopefully found friends later in the day when the sun went down.
It was here we met a woman who thought she was on the 100km route so was surprised when we said we have about 50 still to go. No!!! im on the 100 route! Then there was the realisation that she had the car keys and her partner was far ahead and may have to sit outside for a while... oh dear. We decided, we better just leave.. so we did.
Immediately after this second stop was the steepest climb - we plodded along and were rewarded with a smooth and sweeping descent. A few spots of rain an the wind was indeed picking up. Onwards to St Blaisen and right turn for the last significant climbing of the day. The route was going down now all the way back to the start and with one last checkpoint for WC and bullion, we were soon back where we had started about 8 hours earlier. It took longer than I had expected, mainly the time for the puncture fix but all in all a good day out. Weather was perfect, cooler than recently and the wind was OK, no rain to speak of. Back at the start we collected our souvenirs.
My medal is now added to my small collection and the socks to my large collection.
Thanks to my companions for the company and to VC Kaisten for the organisation. If you have never done this, I highly recommend it.
Distance: 143km
Climbing: 1921m
Avg Speed: 20.5km/h
Bats: 1 baby
Red Kites: lots
Other random birds of prey: lots
Motorbikes: millions
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