Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1073918185
217 km, 9h00, elevation 2291m. Trip rating 80%
禮拜六早上出門之前還跟好朋友廖室傑聊天，結果比較晚出門。前燈都不用開了，這麼晚！其實歐洲漸漸地邁入春天，白天的時間比較長，最近幾個禮拜發現可以快樂騎車的時間明明有增加。
我的目的地離布拉格的家有217公里之遠。可以說頭70公里跟三個禮拜前是一樣的旅途：從布拉格走到Kutna Hora。最近我練比較多，本來未知陌生的捷克開始形成霸特可以認得出來的小條。繼續這樣子搞下去，不僅僅瘦的很帥，連導航可以留在家了。這一段既然來過，沒有怎麼停下來，沒有怎麼拍照。溫度一出門在零下三度，慢慢地爬到零。上午的精度可以說很順利。
離開Kutna Hora之後我遇到一大堆完全不熟悉的路線。我的運氣也不好，窟窿很多，一直有略微的2-3度爬坡而且一直有逆風。訓練量因此增加，可是過程有夠辛苦。捷克都是遼闊的荒野，東部也不例外。中午過後太陽出來了，有了蔚藍的天空，綠色的田地跟樹木，這一幕還真特別！沿途經過一個特別的城市：Chrudim。市區裡面都是古老的教堂跟石板路。這些建築的風格使我回想東德國。
下午遇到更多的上昇路段，要看到汽車需要耐心，不是隨時都有機會，這麼安靜的環境，實在很適合蓮車。導航帶我走一些比較高的丘陵，有四五次海拔超過600。這些海拔比較高的地方還看得到雪呢。一邊看到燦爛的太陽，一邊看到雪也很特別！
抵達民宿之前，Roubaix破17000公里了。看到這個數字我才覺得很驕傲，尤其是因為這個數字在比利時，荷蘭，德國，捷克，台灣不同國家累積。這算是一種平凡的幸福。
在黑暗之前終於抵達了目的地。不瞞各位說，這個地方比我想的還要偏僻，完全沒有任何飯館，沒有商店，沒有加油站。只有小小的屋子讓我過夜。幸好人家有做飯，所以晚餐跟早餐的部分沒有問題。必須說，這邊人的待遇非常好，跟上個禮拜形成強烈的對比。
禮拜六晚上我覺得好累，遭了一整天的逆風跟爬坡，在這些條件下，217公里真的非常夠！我在民宿洗澡洗很久，吃飯，用手機玩FB，大概八點半我自然睡著了，一口氣睡到隔天早上。好豐富的日子，走遍捷克的著作又多了華麗的篇幅。
我已經把這個騎乘加到部落格去了，歡迎各位去看看所有相片跟導航路線。
Unlike last week, the temperatures were normal in the beginning of the morning. By normal I mean, normal for Czech Republic, with minus 3.5. I got up early and chatted with Liao Shi-jie. He told me that my bike frame had already been sent out from Taiwan and that it would arrive in the Czech Republic within two weeks. Great news to start the ride!.
I left Prague via Ctenice, the usual way for rides located east on the map. Daylight was noticeably earlier than in February and January. Signs of Spring!
I left Prague via Ctenice, the usual way for rides located east on the map. Daylight was noticeably earlier than in February and January. Signs of Spring!
Cautious though, some spots are still slippery. I even had to get off the bike here.
The first part of the journey was identical to my ride to Trebic, going over Cesky Brod and Kutna hora.
So I decided to go for some momentum instead of a million pictures
Some special landmark by the side of the road
The early morning still felt like winter riding
Sometimes I have to cross a major road, that's where caution is needed. Apart from that, I always get an excellent selection of roads from Garmin.
The part to Kutna Hora was 75 km and thus 1/3rd of my ride. That section went smoothly.
One of many old buildings...
From Kutna Hora, I headed further east, in the direction of Pardubice
Another nineteenth century building
After 90 km I stopped for a first break. I had my GPS charge a little and I enjoyed my home made sandwiches.
Powering up my GPS
Not long after that, I saw a Potraviny store that was actually open. I went inside and my first guess was right: It was Vietnamese-owned. What would I do without the diligent Asians in this country!
Open today as the writing in Czech states
In the section that followed, there were many crappy roads. Full of potholes and cracks and I was thrown all over the place. Good thing I always ride 28mm tires, but it was harsh nevertheless
I had already done 97 km when I saw this sign: my official first visit to the Pardubice region
Right after that sign, I got a lot of elevation. I climbed all the way to 500 meters and then I dropped again to some 300m.
This climb went through a forest, that was nice
During my descent, I stopped to enjoy this view. The little lake and the trees.
A rare section of smooth road. Extremely rare even!
Next somewhat bigger town on my route: Hermanuv Mestec
As noon came closer, the weather started improving. It even displayed some shades of Spring
Inside the city of Hermanuv Mestec, obviously with cobbles. Pardubice was very close already
Today was the day that this bike would surpass the 17,000 km mark. Now that's a nice number!
It says in Czech: Fifth of May street. I like that because it is my birthday
Then I arrived in a somewhat bigger city, called Chrudim.
It was full of old buildings and cobbles
A map with bike infrastructure
There was a bike route cutting through the city center. It had cobbles and elevation, but it was nice.
Bicycle infrastructure networks
Massive Gothic Church
Chrudim, a tourist map
I left Chrudim behind me and I got ready for a lovely afternoon in this weather. There was only one downside, which was the constant head wind I was facing. It caused my speed to decrease and it made me more tired, but then again, that is a good work out right.
I sure was enjoying these views.
With 2/3 of the ride completed, I found that it was affordable to have a lunch. I ate more self made sandwiches and I even made a video report here. It was a little over 70 km from here. This little place was called Srbce.
I had lunch at one and I started cycling again twenty minutes later. 36 km later my bike would pass the 17K mark. Right after this section, there was a lot of climbing.
My heart was hoping that this was only the beginning of a fantastic Spring and Summer season
12%, this is where a nice climb commenced...
one that took me up to elevation 500 m
I love sharp and steep turns like these. Somehow they always remind me of Taiwan's Miaoli area.
The view over 500 meters is quite stunning. These are the joys of life outdoors
I was just standing down there, how much elevation I took in such a short distance
A remarkable area
Interesting view: the sun was high in the skies but snow was still all over the place
It is a combination you do not get every day, usually it is one or the other
This section went downhill. I passed a village called Javornik
The vast and majestic openness of the Czech hinterland. It is truly a striking phenomenon
I was sent through more towns and villages, each one being cute in their own way
a Dutch car??? He is a far way from home!
Cerekvice nad Loucnou
Moravian horses
The big moment was finally there: 17,000 km on my road bike. Now things start counting seriously. It meant I was already close to 7000 km in the Czech Republic
I faced a long climb here, from 400 meters I climbed all the way to 650.
Proof of that statement is the accumulation of white substance, referred to by humans as snow
One thing is true all over this country: you can expect snow as long as you are above 500 meters
Then the descent came, but this time I needed not worry: it was a few degrees above zero so no chance in hell that this road would be slippery.
Here I had already almost 200 km in the saddle. This village name was funny because a colleague of mine has almost the same name.
Svitavy, the last big waypoint on the map before Moravska Trebova
One last time I was sent up to 600 meters. I was sure I would be there before darkness kicked in.
Funny thing happened here: a car stopped right next to me to ask me directions. I actually knew where to send them. Then they complimented me on my Czech. Very motivational haha!
All that climbing I just did, did not pay off because I lost that altitude right away
It was almost 4 pm here and this sunset in the fields was gorgeous.
I stopped here to breathe this moment. It was 21 km away from my final destination and I had all the time I needed. What a pretty sight!
It was as if I was inside of a medieval painting
One last climb...
Moravska Trebova in 4 km. Another wonderful ride was reaching its end
I was sent through the city and then into the small suburb of Linhartice
I had some trouble finding number 194. I asked one of the people on the street who kindly indicated this to me.
I arrived at the hostel, which was quite new. Very kind person. I was happy that they offered meals indoors. I had a goulash dish which was very good.
nine hours in the saddle for this 217 km. Normally that distance does not hurt at all, but with all this head wind, I felt tired. I fell asleep before nine pm.
No comments:
Post a Comment