So I’ve been sick for almost 3 weeks. And I also needed a “long” ride for thinking about my things… because today it could rain, I decided to ride… my bicycle, finally. When a man has to ride, he has to ride! for one or another reason I haven’t done shit lately and I feel bad about it.
I woke up very early (9?), made sure that my bike was in optimum riding conditions (I inflated the tyres, 90/100), and prepared the best energy drink ever, which recipe I can’t disclose because i would need to kill you all. OK, I will kill you all later:
- mineral water
- ginger concentrate
- honey
- brown sugar
- salt
- topped off with a bottle of beer that had been over my desk the whole weekend (opened)
I was ready for it! rode through Taipei to 2 ping (or whatever), and went up YMS. Damn it, every time it’s the same: when I climb I think that SUPPOSEDLY I ride because I enjoy it, but the thing is that I do not enjoy it at all… it’s all pain and suffering!!!
Not many riders on the road. Some people fleeing home, terrified by the clouds. Taipei sometimes feels like if she were trying to keep you home “please don’t leave me!! OK, I will make rain and you will stay at home!!!”. Indeed, it started to rain during the climb, but when I made it to Jinshan there was no rain at all…
A lot of fog around the highest part of the road, to the point that I hoped that all the crazy motherfuckers who plague the road by night would be at home with a terrible hangover, and not racing the road.
Downhill. Finally. But… I couldn’t go too fast… everything is wet!!!
Jinshan. Crappy burger and hot dog at 7/11. Refill half of my bottle with another isotonic/sports drink. The beer in my mix made me burp weirdly.
Ride along the coast… not all that bad. My cold/flu/whatever had actually improved a lot exposing myself to the clean air of the mountains and sea. Go figure!
Somewhere in the north, several “rescue” teams where taking out of the water some big boat (the one that sank during the summer?). Stop, pictures, go.
Sanzhi… instead of keeping on number 2, I decide to take 101. Actually that was the original plan, but my legs are a bit sore already, and it’s only half the way home!!
101 is a nice road. i enjoy it a lot on the motorcycle. On the bicycle, the 300 meters climb feels like I chose the wrong sport. However, I said that I would do this, and my balls brought me here. Cia Io!
101 downhill: this is why I ride bicycle.
Dansuei: I make the mistake of avoiding the up and down of the road and go by the coast… through the 100,000,000 Chinese meandring in a confusing way. I hate this country already. I escape from the crowds, hating the people, and the people hatnig me (probably).
Ride, ride, ride… there’s a bike lane that goes from Bali to Sanchung/Hsinchuang, passing by many parks, that always has this HORRIBLE head wind. The wheel feels like if it were 2 tons heavy, and covered in mud. Finally I reach the final road going home, and pick up some speed. The smoke brings my lungs annoyance back and I feel destroyed when I park the bike at home. My whole body is sore… I shouldn’t make over 100 kms rides without training at all during weeks…
But it somehow feels good…