Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/976110271
231km, 10h25, elevation 2530m
儘管昨天結冰的路面害我擔心這個周末沒得騎車，可是24小時候還是將 Jested山之旅完成了．看了天氣預報之後，心理知道不得不再度出征．為了避免半夜的冰冷溫度跟隨之而來的結冰路面，筆者晚一個多鐘頭才出門，其實這種長途六點多才出門，等於在時間壓力的威脅下開始．比賽還沒有開始就得趕回比分．頭十公里我發現溫度還是零下三度，跟昨天根本沒有甚麼兩樣！經過那個有結冰路面的地方就走路了，免得摔車．那一段過了之後終於有自信跟勇氣繼續往北部遷移．很快碼表就顯示20多公里．沒想到後面還有很多段結冰路面．只能下車走路，眼前只有亮晶晶的冰塊，看時間也過得相當快，算一算就知道把這個長途硬完成是非常愚笨的想法．那當下我只想到車站，坐火車回到布拉格．總比摔傷來得好．
不過那一段過了之後彷彿一切有所好轉：十點後溫度甚至爬到零之上．突然心裡有了絲毫的希望．至少要騎個200，就算沒有到Liberec也好，就算沒有登上Jested也無所謂．至少來個名副其實的霸特長途吧．然後到了半途的大城市: Mlada Boleslav．今天可以說是出發點跟目的地剛好的中間位置．我就繼續往北部騎，這個時候雖然溫度已經漸漸上升但起霧了，視線嚴重受到影響．離目的地三十幾公里突然太陽出來了，變得很漂亮．我真的覺得那些北部的村落跟台灣產業道路一樣有所美麗，離文明好遙遠！心理不知不覺湧上了股探險的感覺，有如親手找到無價之寶．不久後 Liberec 鄉就佇立在我面前．因為時間的關係，我沒有多騎往市區的四公里，反而直接上了山路，往Jested蔓延．才剛開始爬坡有位騎高級登山車的捷克人叫我，從後面上來．他用捷克文問我要騎哪一條上去．我的答案立刻讓我的外國身分穿幫了，但知道我才來四個禮拜之後，他對於我的捷克文水準讚嘆不已，我們一起爬到山頂．這個距離大概八公里，平均坡度八度．他還教了我另外一種方式回到布拉格，是從山的另一面下坡，到一個叫做 Cesky Bud 的村莊．果然是在地人最強！真的要感謝他的推薦，因為導航把整個回程規劃的不一樣，大大增加了整個騎乘的樂趣跟新鮮感．本來打算掉頭走遠路回家．
回程是漫長的95公里，而且出現了許多爬坡路段．早知道不可能在天黑前歸來，因此只好接受這個事實．至少我還是登上海拔1012的山頂了．這是我今天最引以為傲的事情．至少我有了登上武嶺的感覺，那種只有台灣可以給我的感覺．雖然無法取代，但至少可以靠近，讓我度日．回程的進度其實很不錯，不知道哪裡來的力氣但每個坡用衝的，夠陡的話整個抽撤．天黑的時候，只剩下微妙34公里．剛出發我還在告訴自己，黑暗時一定要在六十公里以下．差點抖了這個數字的一半！
黑漆漆的偏僻路以光速失溫，下午高達八度的溫度在黑暗中立刻降到2度．我回家差點沒掉在零下，這些黑暗的小條都沒有半顆燈，想要看得到恐怕得自己來．還有那絕對不是你想爆胎的地方相信我這句話！黑暗的那三十幾公里幸好沒有上次那麼煎熬．回家的感覺是很爽快的．在若干挫折的不良情形下照樣騎了本來想騎的．數據也很令我很滿意：騎了漫長的230公里．十個多鐘頭，爬坡高達台灣長途的標準總升：2500多公尺．Good job Bartman! 在捷克的公路車里程已經超過了一千．格位讀者敬請記得這裡只能分享40張相片，在部落格反而有接近150張．過去看看吧！
Yesterday I left at 5am in the morning, well prepared for another epic ride in the Czech hinterland. But unfortuantely I had to cancel this trip after only ten km. The roads were too slippery because of the combination of a rainy Friday and a minus four Saturday morning. I saw the weather was fine in the afternoon and I checked the weather forecast for Sunday, which indicated perfect weather, even nine degrees above zero. That's when I decided I would give this ride another attempt today, with more success.
I did leave one hour later than yesterday, because I wanted to give the roads some time to melt. For the first section that helped, even though the temperature there was still minus three. I have been riding around with subzero temperatures for more than four hours though. It only got better after 10am.
After some 11km on the road, I saw this huge Christmas tree. It was around 6:30
Already six thirty but it felt like night riding
My ride... Has been faithful to me every single time. Except that one time when the frame cracked, but I did get a new one back then.
That minus haunted me almost until noon...
Woops, let's try that snapshot without flash...
There you go! Around seven am, daylight was showing itself. Here I put my front light in my backpack and I continued using my rear light.
Good morning rise and shine. This newly bought jacket is great It fits over all of my jackets together and is flashy yellow-green. Just what I need for these dark hours in the winter. No discounts on safety for me!
I stopped here for a short video report
Finally it was 100% light, which is consolidating during long rides.
The horizon at morning was stunning
Mlada Boleslav: the first major checkpoint on my way north
I could not imagine riding 230km on this kind of roads with anything different from my cobble eating Roubaix. Even with this fabulous machine, the cracks and potholes are many to digest.
Old building number 72345. Charming though...
Shades of gold greeting me on this beautiful morning
Unfortunately there were several spots of icy roads waiting for me. The temperatures just would not rise and I could not take the risk of cycling here. I walked her for a section. I was thinking about giving up and go to the Mlada Boleslav train station.
Sparkling spots of ice on the roads.
Not quite your common road bike habitat. And worst part is, this was also a descent
I felt listless as of what to do. Luckily after this section it got better and I could proceed my journey
This hidden paradise is beautiful though...
I did not know there were Hakka folks in Czechia
There was a huge castle here
I saw this squirrel in the trees. Got a nice picture of it.
Then a somewhat longer descent around that castle
It was not possible to get a good snapshot of the castle without going in the park
Restoration works at an old viaduct
The Mlada Boleslav ice hockey team. They are first in the competition
A few stretches of cobbles roads in the Mlada Boleslav city center
Over the halfway point here. I would be in Liberec in 55km
I stopped here for eating a power bar. I am extremely satisfied about this wheelset and tires. Excellent match
Four long rides, a thousand km on Czech roads. A first modest milestone
North of Mlada Boleslav the roads started to be nicer, more tranquil and in a much more beautiful setting
Looks like something of a bike race
Local geography. About 35km from Liberec here
The solitude of riding solo here...
Buddha now also present in the Czech republic
I entered into region of Liberec, made me feel I have accomplished things today
I may just well be the only visitor here today, by bike that is...
Suddenly my GPS made me take a sharp turn to the left. This was a longer descent with some steep gradients of 12-15%. I did not really understand. I thought I would be steadily gaining altitude en route to Liberec. My altitude lowered from .310 to 239, loosing some eighty meters!
This descent led to even more mysteriously hidden small field roads
Spectacular view
This section was nice and made me want to ride more and more
A small creek
Cute and cozy cottages
Bringing in the hey, Czech style
I was approaching Liberec and I could see the mountains soaring up
Very few parts with a gradient of 0%
Closing in on Liberec
I like this flashy green jacket
At some 15km before the end, Liberec was indicated on the signs
A part of the route was next to a freeway. I would guess it was the freeway that runs from Prague to Liberec.
There were two or three very steep but short sections here.
Javornik... That is a name I read before coming to the Czech republic. It is one of the higher points in Czechia. This will be the goal of a future ride!
Climbing and descending several times, I made to 450m. Doing the math a little, I had a strong feeling that this mountain up in front of me was Jested.
A view of the mountain
When I entered the Liberec area, I was looking for the sign of Jested. I actually did find it! But strange enough, this was a freeway and not something for me. I stopped at the gas station in front of me and bought a sandwich and a bottle of ice tea lemon. I asked the lady, who spoke German, how to ride to Jested. She indicated me a little and when I was outside eating she took her map and showed me. That was nice of her. I basically had the follow the street a little and follow the tram line. That would lead me there.
The first part of cycling where the tram runs was really annoying, with cobbles and railroad lines. Luckily that ended after some 1500m. I had just started my climb when a guy called me. There was a Czech guy riding a nice MTB. He was doing most of the climb up. He was going home via this climb. We cycled together and chatted a little. He showed me an alternative route of returning to Prague, which was basically descending from the other side and having my GPS recalculate the trip from there. That was a brilliant idea, which turned the trip back home into something different and fun. Thanks for that one buddy!
During the first 4-5km of the climb with that guy I did not stop for any pictures, but the views were nice. The whole climb is about 7-8km. The picture above is the way I had to go after completing the climb.
First Jested though, through here...
I had about 750m elevation here, so 250 more to go.
The second part was a little steeper, but I could still handle it
There were a lot of people running around here. I also saw a lot of hiking routes. This place was obviously popular.
The temperatures stayed above zero, so no anxiety for slipping
Around 12% here. I felt back in Taiwan
A cable line was running here
More than 800 meters of elevation
More than 900 meters of elevation. It was starting to get foggy
More people were here
Exactly, Hotel Jested. It was fully booked today
It would be nice if this was Kunyang
On the top: Jested, 1012 meters
Because of the mist, the tower was not very visible.
Could not see a lot because of this mist. The wind was also considerably fierce here.
Hotel parking lot
Small tunnel right before the hotel. I was already heading back
This is a nice picture, above the clouds
Stunning view
Going down carefully. My wheelset performed excellently in this test. Almost as good as disc brakes
During that descent I felt cold
Back at the 750m point. Now I was going the other way, just like that guy explained
This downhill was a lot nicer than the part where I came up. Not too steep and with wide roads. It reminded me of some roads in New Taipei city
A view over the mountains.
I stopped here to recalculate the distance to Prague. It was 95km. From here I knew the number I would be striving for was 230km
I was sent through some very nice and remote little roads of Cesky Dub. My entire exit out of Liberec was a different route, which had three of four longer climbs. Beautiful though!
Eventually I entered the Stredocesky region again. I was gaining good distance on Prague. I would probably facing some 40-50km in darkness. That was acceptable after this day.
Some local maps. Mlada Boleslav was indicated on this one
Klaster Hradiste, one of the small towns located on my route
Czech style buildings under a setting sun. Another fall day has fallen
One of the last pictures I took. I was less than 40km from home, it was already past four and the sun was setting fast now. It would be dark soon. All things considered, progress had been good on my return. I calculated that I would collect some 2500 meters of elevation gain.
At last, I made it back home at six pm. There was a great deal of climbing in the last 12km and even some head wind paired up with that. Happy to be back home with 230 though. After all the setbacks today, that was a very nice result!
230km is just nice. The 10h24 are due to walking on the frozen sections. Otherwise this would have been less than ten, But does it really matter?
Elevation gain: 2536m, nice! Those are numbers that would have been acceptable in Taiwan
Not so clear, but my map of today. You can always check the Garmin map online for reference.
When I got home, I took a shower and head food. I spent most of the evening sharing everything on facebook and writing my blog. I went to bed around 11am. Tomorrow is a working day!
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