We’re back in Nice after four days, rides and nights in Sospel: 141.74 miles and 18,227 feet of climbing (3.45 miles).
I asked Justin to sum up our four rides and he said: “If I had to pick one word – uphill. If I had to pick a second word – downhill. It’s all up and down. There’s no flat.”
Describe the scenery: “Alpine.”
Justin, can use more than one word; Please use more than one word: “It’s was so varied and depending on what side of the mountain you’re on it looks different. One side, pine trees, on another side it’s like being in the desert. And yesterday it was pretty striking seeing the towns down in the valley, Luceram and Contes, compared to villages way up in the mountains, like Coaraze. I guess they say, why not put one at the top of the mountain too.”
I’ve always said the secret to climbing is all about patience and confidence. Just take your time and, based on my many previous experiences climbing mountains and pretty solid level of fitness, I’ll have all the confidence I need to keep turning beautiful circles with my pedals when the going gets rough/steep. Heck, I’ve climbed Mont Ventoux three times in one day.
Well, on this trip, I have to admit: There were a few times when my confidence wavered. For a kilometer or two, on two different days, when the grade was a steady 9-percent and 10-percent, and we’d already climbed a couple thousand feet. I wasn’t sure if I’d make it. I guess age and injuries and a saddle that can’t quite get along with my butt, are catching up to me. The Ventoux thing was 13 years ago, when I was a mere 52.
“Shut up legs,” I mumbled a few times quoting the great Jens Voigt. Actually, “shut up neck” may have been more appropriate as an old neck injury (whiplash) tends to rear its ugly neck on long, sustained uphills, and even more so on downhills).
I’m glad Justin was with me, up ahead, setting a steady pace and waiting for me at the lacets (switchbacks) with a word of encouragement. He’s also good with fun facts: “The word col literally means collar or neck and it’s not the top of the mountain, but the pass through it. That’s why, the cols aren’t at the tops of the mountains.”
Stuff like this can keep me going another kilometer or two. With the help of a Mars bar.
And then there are the views, which are quite spectacular, and. motivational. That’s the thing about up; there’s always a payoff at the top. I think the videos and photos in this post will explain them a lot better than I can.
The Biking France Blog 