Cycling in Asia

Well our 2010 trip to ICC was an amazing one. We had a big group from Singapore and a number of people from the USA which formed an excellent cycling and social group. It was a trip of many excesses:  we rode to excess, ate food to access, some ate ice cream and Haribo to excess, and somehow I came home with 5 excess pounds that I did not leave Singapore with.  Pretty hard to imagine gaining 5 pounds despite riding more than 700 kilometers and climbing (at a blistering pace) more than 9000 meters.  We learned a lot of new things about a Campaign of Lies from George, what tier 1 capital ratios are, what Haribo is (candy of various types under the Haribo umbrella, eaten by cyclists and Lee), how hard Monte Grappa is to climb and how to give the perfect ‘Lance Armstrong’ look when you hammer past someone on a climb.  Above Kate is giving that look to Lee, who somehow got dropped from the last ride (again).

While there were many changes, some things did not change. We had exciting rides with Leopoldo (well exciting for some, excruciating for others), we had great food, great wine, great TDF viewing and great experiences with George, the fellow who runs the ICC. While still appearing to be grumpy at times, George still possesses a great spirit and some comedic ideas like his ‘Campaign of Lies’ theory with respect to big software companies.  George noted the increase in the decibels level during each of the meals (with the addition of people from the UK, Ireland, HK and Czech Republic) and noted how peaceful it was when they departed one-by-one.  George also repeated the need for ‘proper gearing’ for Italy and was skeptical when he saw the group show up with full sized cranks to attack the Monte Grappa climb. While most of us (except Damian) never were able to try the Pinarello  Granfondo climb, he was probably correct…next year is a compact crank for sure!  Ivo did a great job delivering cappuccinos to everybody (except Gareth who insisted, to Ivo’s chagrin, on caffe lattes)……and his eggs were delicious as usual.  Carmen delivered great food daily and was under perfect composure almost the entire time during our wine fueled dinner debates/discussions.

It was great to see Pat, Leopoldo, Ava and John Luca (the new guy) all leading the rides based on skill level – although I think we had to re-assess some of the riders after Croce D’Aune. (see below)

This was our third trip to the ICC and we will be back…with a compact crank for sure.
Anybody else in?

Damian? (giving the Lance Look – aka ‘Where’s Lee’ look)

Luci and Andrew?

Kim?

Mike and Gareth?

Colleen & Ernest?

Mr. Haribo (aka Lee)?

 

Ed (Lee II) and Kate?

Keith?

Thanks George for another great year!

I have done tough rides before:  RTIs on Lundy’s wheel, AUDAX 300km while sick, AUDAX 600km while not sick- still hard, ‘I’m hungry’ rides with Damian ripping the group apart….but really nothing compares to this ride up Monte Grappa.  We had already done Monte Grappa up the less-hard way the day before and the crazy cyclists from Singapore wanted to do it again the day after…and not the less-hard way but the way the professionals did it in the GIRO this year.  Today’s ride would be 19km to the Cima Grappa.  I had five gels left and I carried them all to ensure I had enough energy to get me to the top.  Eight of us left the ICC together and after 2.4km we hit the base of the climb.  I thought of my nutrition plan:  I would take one gel from the start to ensure that the good stuff was flowing through my tired veins by the time I started going up the climb, one gel at 7.40km, one gel at 12.40km, one gel at 17.40km and one before the end of the 19km…..five gels for 19km should be more than enough.  

We started up the climb which was a narrower road and immediately was on 9% gradient.  The beginning was mostly switchbacks and for the first six turns (of a total 28) were all above 9, 10 or 11% gradients (read hard on my tired legs)….my breathing was very heavy as I churned away in  my gears pressing up the hill.  Similar to Kim the day before, I was checking my Garmin very often to see how much of the 19km I was getting rid of…the only problem was that it was going so slow and  I found I was looking at this thing every 100 meters or so…..on I pressed.  I was closely paying attention to the distance as I was dying to have another gel despite just finishing a big breakfast less than one hour ago. I was using tons of energy.  9, 10, 11% I was wondering where the smoother parts were.   I finally hit a small flatish area that seemed to run less than a kilometer.  I sped along trying to get ride of distance as fast as possible to be hit by sections of 12-15% gradient….even harder.  I started readjusting my gel sequencing figuring that if I did not take more sooner I would not make it to the 17.4km or further distance….I had to survive.  My legs were absolutely shattered from the previous days climb and all the riding already completed during the past week.

I finally crossed the 10km mark on my Garmin, which meant I still had more than 11km to go (19km climb plus 2.4km from ICC)….only three gels left I thought….I had better take one now before I blow up.  I started thinking about other things to eat like grass or whatever because I was using energy faster than ever before.  Now after 12.5km,  I had only two gels…..must make it to the top I kept thinking.   I was dying slowly on this climb breathing massively heavy and sweating like crazy….and started to get cold due to the elevation.  There was a section of 15% that seemed to go on forever.  I finally reached the second small decline of this climb which actually was a bit long…well longer than the first flat section but not really that long….I was reading all the signs on the side of the road to see if they would go faster than the count on my Garmin…unfortunately they did not. I stopped briefly in a cow field thinking about the possibility that I may spend a long time, potentially forever, here in this cow patch.  Onward I went with the goal of reaching the part where this climb intersects the less-hard route I did the day before.   I finally saw the intersection point and it was hellishly steep to reach that point…..press on I told myself…press on.

I reached the final 1km, knowing that my supportive friends who were able to beat me up the climb would be there to offer help and encouragement to get me across the line.  I was staring down at my Garmin without seeing it and looking directly at the road…I had no energy to look up at all.  I heard some noises up top so I knew I must be close.   When I finally rounded the top I put my bike alongside the restaurant, my friends cheered, or jeered, I am not sure, as I approached the counter in the cafeteria.  I muttered the words ‘cappuccino’, and pointed to a strudel as I was too weak to speak anymore.  I started to think about where to sit…I saw an empty seat at the table outside or there were many inside…go out, be social I thought.  I started to walk with my coffee and strudel, only to start trembling…I was sweating like crazy and freezing all at the same time….I almost dropped my strudel and coffee….alas I heard noises from the table….it was Lee…I thought he was offering some words of encouragement and a helping hand, when really he was laughing and getting a camera to snap a photo of me in a rare moment of weakness.  Strange I thought, only a day before I had greeted him with a coffee upon his late arrival at the top, and only a few days before I had dragged him more than 60km to safety after his implosion on a Leopoldo ride.  Anyhow I finally made it to the table and was able to sit with my strudel and coffee…still incoherent whilst sitting with the group. I have no clue what was happening…only 19km with 5 gels and I thought I was going to die.   I was freezing and sweating and then thinking about the long 27km descent I still had to do. 

This was my only picture of the day. Despite the climb being somewhat scenic with nice road markings for the Giro, I could not think about photos…survival was my key thought.

After making the descent, we headed back to ICC while Damian, Lee and Gareth went to Bassano for lunch and to watch the summit finish on the Tourlamet.  We planned on going over after lunch to join them.  An easy ride…well after cleaning up a bit and getting into my civilian clothes, I really thought about how much I did not want to ride…I hated my bike, and I am sure I could not get my leg over it despite the ride was going to be very easy.  ‘how about a taxi?’ I suggested to the group…they agreed and I was relieved.  When we arrived at the usual pub in Bassano I had to prop myself up against the freezer as I was afraid I would have fallen off my chair…I was totally dead.  Everybody has a weak day sometime and this was mine…I was shattered and I was taking an easy or no ride on our final day on Friday at ICC.   This was the hardest ride I have done in my life.  I think I almost cried…maybe I did. 

Well since the long course of the Gran Fondo was cancelled due to weather and course blocks on Monte Grappa, the group was keen to tackle this mountain before heading back to our respective homes.  This climb is very tough and many visitors to ICC never do it, while some do it as one of the major challenges of their trips.  Today we had a big group of people attempting the climb:  Colleen, Kim, Andrew, Lee, Damian, Ernest, Mike, Gareth and I.  This would be fun.

The route we were taking today was 27km, one of the longer but easier routes up the mountain.  The word easy is probably inappropriate, whereas less-hard is probably more fitting.  Whilst this was not the hardest way up the mountain, it was still hard.  The views along the way up and down are amazing.  I could not remember the entire route as I had only descended it before and that was more than two years ago.

Throughout the course of the trip we had been making a number of jokes about giving the ‘Lance look’ after Mike deployed that on the team at the Pinarello Gran Fondo.  Well while Mike decided to use it on an easy climb in the race, Kim decided to use it on the much more appropriate climb on Monte Grappa.  The look is meant to intimidate riders as you pass them up a  climb, especially a steep climb like Monte Grappa.

The top of Monte Grappa has a wonderful café where all of us had coffee and snacks while we waited for the gang to complete the climb. 

We waited at the top and decided to head back to ICC for lunch after Kim arrived…well actually we thought she was not coming all the way so we met her on the way down.  Lucky me, I got to ride the last 2.5km up to the climb again after should would not capitulate… and then we descended together.  Good for Kim!  We met up with the rest of the group for a well deserved lunch.    Later that day, after wine no doubt, people decided to try a harder route up Monte Grappa again the next day….the route that was used during the GIRO this year.   I am not sure why they would want to do this, especially as I was starting to tire after no rest days and some hard riding in the Granfondo…none the less, we would do it! 

Kim on the descent of Grappa. (Monte Grappa that is)

Tomorrow the route we would take is 19km to the top….and much harder.  It is apparently the 12th or 13th hardest climb in Italy.

Today Keith lead us on a nice climbing ride to a village called Enego while the rest of the group went to Passo Rolle, a nice climb in the Dolomites.  We started by doing 30km of rolling hills before hitting the base of the climb which would take us up more than 1000 meters of climbing to a nice resting stop for coffee. Luci was keen to take on the challenge and was keen to secure the Queen of the Moutains title for this climb. Luci overtaking and dropping Kim with 8km to go finished the climb taking QOM!  Great job.

At the top of this climb we had stopped at a nice village for drinks and food.  It was 11am and we decided to descend the same way in order to make it back to ICC for lunch.  Lunch at ICC is very good and part of the reason I gained five pounds last week, despite riding every day (IE. no rest days).  Actually, all the food at the ICC and in Italy in general was good, so I guess I am lucky it was not ten pounds.  Of course with all meals, minus breakfast, the red wine is served and it is very good.  Here is George enjoying a bit of red with lunch in his flamboyant cycling jersey.

Kim was sad to lose the QOM competition on this climb but happy to see a couple of dogs and have cappuccino at the top.

When the ride was over, we hooked up with the other group for more TDF viewing in Bassano.  It was supposed to be a calm day after the ride because tomorrow we would be conquering Monte Grappa, one of the toughest climbs in Italy.  I had done Monte Grappa in 2008 but focused more on drinking Grappa in 2009 rather than putting myself through pain again…this year we would do it at least once…and most likely more.  We spent a few hours at the pub in Bassano enjoying the TDF before making our way back to ICC.  Feeling sad about the tremendous failure of his fantasy TDF team, Lee had a hard time putting on his shoes after the beer session, before Damian lent him a helping hand.  This brings back memories of the Greaves Squeaky Shoe…..a cycling diversion tool.

After an afternoon of TDF viewing and beer sampling, Lee decided to put the hammer down for the first and only time during the trip.  The 27km/hour pace almost prevented me from taking photos along the way. 

Tomorrow we will be attacking Monte Grappa……this is my first time approaching this climb from the planned route.  I have descended this way before and remember it being very steep.

Today’s ride was a nice ride that included more than 1100 meters of climbing. The first climb was a 6km climb near a walled castle in a place called Marostica.  Pat the ride instructor told everybody to follow me to the top of the climb as I knew the way to the top meeting spot…which is exactly what they did for around 30m before passing me….well not everybody but Damian, Lee II (Ed), Mike, and Gareth did.  I won’t mention age difference as my excuse because Lee II blows that argument a bit.

I had done this climb before and it was harder than I remembered…it could be because we had just finished the Granfondo the day before or it could be that some of my new five pounds of weight from this trip had already started to join me.   This climb has amazing views all the way up so I decided to pace myself to enable photo taking along the way.

After regrouping at the top we pushed onto a place called Conco; home of the best almond cookies in town.  Along the way I was hit by a barrage of requests from Damian and Mike who seemed to want every type of cookie except almond cookies.  From the first stop to the top of the mountain in Conco we pressed on to reach the almond cookie mecca.  By the time I had arrived, which was just a minute or a few after Damian did, I learned that they had no almond cookies left at all.  That may be fine if you drove a car up these two climbs but after 17km of climbing on a bike for almond cookies it would have been nice to have one. I had planned to buy Lee I an almond cookie and bring it back to him as he could not make the ride due to Kindle related issues.

Bottom of the descent from Conco

After all the climbing we had a nice 18km descent to Bassano where we started a search for a nice pub where we could watch the Tour de France on TV.  It was all part of the plans, cycle all morning, then watch the TDF all afternoon.  While the cycling in Italy is amazing, the adoption of good flat paneled TV sets is less amazing. Most places had no TVs, small CRT TVs, small computer screens, etc.   We finally found a place that had 1. a TV, 2. beer, 3. TDF on that TV.  This was a great little place in Bassano which we returned to on a number of occasions throughout our trip.

After a few days at this place, we developed a good relationship with the staff.  (check out that flat panel TV!)

Tomorrow the newcomers would head to Passo Rolle in the Dolomites while the ICC veterans would do a nice climb to Enego.  It’s all good.