So I was able to plan a last-ish minute five day trip to Girona, in the middle of a very busy work schedule.
I’d been there before with work; had a basic idea of the area and knew the basic routes.
Mid Feb.
Arrived lunch time from a cold environment to 20c temps and blazing sunshine. Full on shorts and t-shirt weather! 🙂
Found an apartment smack bang in the centre, by the river and metres from all the shops and cafes. Popped around town for a walk and a browse, and while wandering one of the local bike shops, I got chatting to a shop supervisor, who informed me they are one of very few DT Swiss test centres.
I unexpectedly bagged myself a three day loan of their DT Swiss ARC1100 50mm wheels. I am and was on the lookout for some wheels… TBC!
First full day:
Planned the must do coastal route to Tossa de Mer.
115km with 1500m elevation. Glorious sunshine!
The wheels were fast! I did 40km in the first hour of this ride. Something totally new to me. I had speed with less power that I didn’t know I had in me! I could feel the extra stiffness and power transfer (perhaps in my mind, but it was there.)
Average 23kph, which for this amount of climbing for me is good. I average 20kph with my stock alloy wheels with this amount of elevation.
Day two: Easy day. Local 50km loop with 500m elevation.
I planned this day to be a tourist day discovering the old town, shopping and to stock up on about 173 bags of coffee beans. Average speed 26kph. I’d never achieved this average speed before with any previous bike or wheels.
Final day three: The beast… Rocacorba!
Had to be done. 70km with 1200m elevation. 10km / 740m climbing. KOM is 26 minutes and I was happy I climbed it in 58 mins. At my weight of 85kgs, I’ll take that! The final 5km at a consistent 10% is savage. I have a local climb that finishes with 3km @ 10% so I wasn’t a complete stranger to this lovely terrain.
Amazing city with top level food, coffee, landmarks and shops. Very friendly people all over the town and shops. Roads are very smooth, highly respectful motorists (the space they give and patience is another level.)
LOTS and lots of fellow cyclists. The majority are there to train as they are all pro or semi pro.
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Obligatory ‘this was a while ago’ (two months).
So I was able to plan a last-ish minute five day trip to Girona, in the middle of a very busy work schedule.
I’d been there before with work; had a basic idea of the area and knew the basic routes.
Mid Feb.
Arrived lunch time from a cold environment to 20c temps and blazing sunshine. Full on shorts and t-shirt weather! 🙂
Found an apartment smack bang in the centre, by the river and metres from all the shops and cafes. Popped around town for a walk and a browse, and while wandering one of the local bike shops, I got chatting to a shop supervisor, who informed me they are one of very few DT Swiss test centres.
I unexpectedly bagged myself a three day loan of their DT Swiss ARC1100 50mm wheels. I am and was on the lookout for some wheels… TBC!
First full day:
Planned the must do coastal route to Tossa de Mer.
115km with 1500m elevation. Glorious sunshine!
The wheels were fast! I did 40km in the first hour of this ride. Something totally new to me. I had speed with less power that I didn’t know I had in me! I could feel the extra stiffness and power transfer (perhaps in my mind, but it was there.)
Average 23kph, which for this amount of climbing for me is good. I average 20kph with my stock alloy wheels with this amount of elevation.
Day two: Easy day. Local 50km loop with 500m elevation.
I planned this day to be a tourist day discovering the old town, shopping and to stock up on about 173 bags of coffee beans. Average speed 26kph. I’d never achieved this average speed before with any previous bike or wheels.
Final day three: The beast… Rocacorba!
Had to be done. 70km with 1200m elevation. 10km / 740m climbing. KOM is 26 minutes and I was happy I climbed it in 58 mins. At my weight of 85kgs, I’ll take that! The final 5km at a consistent 10% is savage. I have a local climb that finishes with 3km @ 10% so I wasn’t a complete stranger to this lovely terrain.
Amazing city with top level food, coffee, landmarks and shops. Very friendly people all over the town and shops. Roads are very smooth, highly respectful motorists (the space they give and patience is another level.)
LOTS and lots of fellow cyclists. The majority are there to train as they are all pro or semi pro.
10/10.