#5MaratonasChallenge - The Warm-up Ride

Before the true challenge commences, a teaser was required. Something to warm the legs, and remind my body and mind of what it is like to ride on Dolomite mountains roads. 

Time to take photos, and spin the legs; before the long and difficult days begin.


A misty mountain dawn

I wake from a good night's sleep, and open the shutters to reveal a mist-shrouded mountain landscape. 
"The mountains are calling, and I must go."

Breakfast at the Ustaria Posta Hotel is a beautiful combination of Italian and Austrian inspiration; the mix that makes South Tyrolean cuisine so special, in my opinion.

Kit preparation follows: today's line-up comes from Mavic, with their special edition Izoard kit. It seems appropriate, given a spectacular day on the mountain the day before, watching La Course and the Tour de France.

Today's route card shows my planned ride over Furcia, Cortina and Valparolo.

A misty dawn on the Dolomites


Breakfast reading at Ustaria Posta


Kit layout ahead of Day 0 at the #5MaratonasChallenge - Kit: Mavic Izoard ltd edition


The route for my warm-up ride in the mountains



Furcia First

The first climb of the day is the Furcia pass. A twisty road up through chalets and pastures; it is a great way to ignite the legs.

From the top of the climb it is a technical descent, followed by a fun spin up the gravel cycle path through the valley below.

Furcia Pass is the first pass of the tour


Road bikes off-road. A fun spin up the gravel cycle path


Love this kit from Mavic



Into the peaks

Taking a right hander, I then turn back towards the mountain peaks, and follow the signs to Cortina.

Heading back towards the Dolomite peaks


Hydration in the heat



Coffee in Cortina

Refuel required, I stop for a café espresso in the sun in Cortina.

Coffee stop in Cortina


This Neil Pryde Bura SL excels in the mountains


Serious café sock game



The final climb... almost

The final climb on my route card is the Valparola. A beautiful long road from Cortina, it takes you right into the heart of the Dolomite mountains.

From here, I had intended to descend back to my base in Badia...

I had forgotten how incredible these climbs are. The Valparola is a beauty


Some backdrop



One last hill

...but instead, I head down to Arabba, and then up and over the Passo Campolongo.

I couldn't resist. The riding here in the Dolomites is just so good.

The next week of iconic rides is going to be a beautiful challenge.

I am glad I kept the 34T chainring on this bike for this week


The Passo Campolongo was my actual final climb of the day


Back to base in Badia



Ride stats



Labels:


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review – Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 TSA Road Bike Bag

Image
The best-selling Scicon Aerocomfort Bike Bag has received some significant design updates. With thru-axle compatibility, added protection, and an overall lighter weight—the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0  is even more of a market-leader than before. Back in 2013, I reviewed the Scicon Aerocomfort 2.0 ( read the review here ). That bag has had some significant use: for transporting bikes on planes, trains, and even yachts. With many of my bikes  now having thru-axle designs though, the Aerocomfort 2.0 had required some questionable 'bodging' on my part to make it usable. I was therefore relieved when the new 3.0 was released—this new design is much improved. Thru-Axle Compatibility One of the biggest differences with the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Bike Bag is that it will accommodate 12 mm thru axles on the front and rear of the patented suspension frame system. To fit thru-axles, you simply remove the QR inserts in the suspension frame, then use your bike's existing axles t...
Keep reading

Review – Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle S3

Image
The Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle is designed for gravel bike riding. Featuring gel inserts to reduce vibration, titanium saddle rails to absorb trail buzz, and a sleek low-profile design to offer style and performance—this is a saddle made for adventure. The SLR Boost Gravel is Selle Italia's latest offering for the growing Gravel segment of the market; engineered specifically to enhance riding comfort on difficult terrain and during endurance gravel events. Available in two sizes, I opted for the smaller version (S3), and have been testing it out over the last month… I have become a great advocate of the cut-away design for saddles—it offers greater flexibility in the centre of the saddle and reduces pressure on the sensitive perineum region. The SLR Boost Gravel Superflow is a superb example of this kind of saddle design; with a cutaway section, short nose, and flared sides to effectively support your seat bones. To improve comfort on rough terrain, Selle...
Keep reading

XPDTN3 Algarviana – Exploring Portugal's Secret Gravel

Image
Just before the world went into Lockdown in March 2020, I squeezed in a last minute trip to Portugal's Algarve—to explore some of the amazing and unique gravel riding on offer there... Dust rises, rocks ping from beneath tyres, and the scent of wild rosemary and jasmine fill the air as I barrel down the narrow twisting singletrack to the serene Guadiana River below. This is only my first evening in the Algarve, but I have already added it to my list of ' Gravel Riding Meccas '. I first came here last December—seeking respite from the cold and grey of the UK winter. Then, the region delivered unquestionably—with 18 Celsius temperatures and dusty trails, explored on a rental mountain bike. That first trip also opened my eyes to an iconic point-to-point bikepacking adventure that could be staged in this unique landscape… The Via Algarviana is an ancient hiking route spanning the Algarve from the Guadiana River on the Spanish border to the Cabo de São Vincente lighthouse at the...
Keep reading

Review – Gobik Envy Polartec NeoShell LS Winter Jacket

Image
The Gobik Polartec Long Sleeve Envy Jacket is a close-fitting outer layer made from Polartec's innovative NeoShell® fabric—the world's most breathable waterproof fabric. This is a winter cycling jacket that feels more like a long sleeve jersey, thanks to its stretch and performance cut; but it offers the protection of a deep winter outer shell. Polartec® NeoShell® was developed by the American brand to offer the optimal balance of waterproof protection and breathability that is sought-after in active wear. The fabric is used in hiking jackets, cycling jackets, and waterproof trousers with tremendous success, and this deployment in the Gobik Polartec Long Sleeve Jacket is a strong example of utilising the fabric well. The NeoShell® fabric provides a high stretch bonded three-layer covering, with taped seams to prevent water from seeping in. The high cut collar, lower cut rear hem and YKK® Vislon® AquaGuard® zipper all enhance the protection and coverage provided by the jack...
Keep reading

SwissStop Disc Brake Pads Comparison Test Review – Are All Disc Brake Pads Made Equal?

Image
The market for disc brake pads for gravel bikes, mountain bikes and road bikes is saturated; there are hundreds of different brands producing disc brake pads claiming to last longer and perform better than the competition. So, what is the difference between a set of low cost disc brake pads from eBay/Amazon versus the high-end pads from SwissStop? Are SwissStop disc brake pads worth the extra money? To find out, I have been doing some extensive disc brake pad testing over the last few months. October to February is obviously a period of wet winter riding, and I have been testing the following list of brake pads on road, gravel and mountain bikes—to create the ultimate test for any disc brake set-up. The disc brake pads on test:  SwissStop Disc 34 RS (Shimano Road/Gravel)  SwissStop Disc 32 RS (SRAM Road/Gravel)  SwissStop Disc 31 E (MTB SRAM Avid)  Superstar Sintered Shimano Road Disc Brake Pads (Shimano Road/Gravel)  SOMMET Resin and Semi-Metallic Disc Brak...
Keep reading