The Big Ride Day 4 Ban Krut to Chumphon

A big day. 114 kms and our first hills of note. The link below as well as showing the route has a graph of the elevations. The hills presented new challenges but thankfully more cloud cover kept the temperatures down ( generally to low 30s). We also had a half hour period of rain in the morning that gave us a good soaking.

Despite the hills, or perhaps partly because of them, the general feeling is that the riding is improving. Those of us who haven't done a lot of road riding or riding in groups, are working out how to go about things better, and who the other riders are that have similar ability. The better riders ( ie a group above me) will take turns to stay or go back to help out the rear markers. The ages in the group range from 14 -72 years and there are a range of fitness levels and bike experience.

The day was all road riding though there was a few kms of road works which was a little like old style mountain biking ie sans supension. Whilst we had hills because we stayed on the road the average speed is up on previous days.

I have found the Garmin GPS helps me on the hills as I keep track of the % incline. The little hills 1-3% I can power up but 4%+ I have to drop down the gears and spin to save my knee (and watch others go by). Mountain biking technique helps on the shorter hills where I try to catch them. The biggest inclines on this day were 8-9%.

As we all knew a rest day was coming the hard yards were a little easier to put in and a nice fast downhill to the coast was a good way to finish.

Last night we indulged ourselves in a few post dinner refreshments until a later hour than normal.....most have scrubbed up pretty well this morning with the odd exception. Can't say more than that....what goes on tour......


http://connect.garmin.com/activity/143082226#.TxkGoUjOrWk.blogger