Yesterday: first 200k since my cardiac débâcle last year. Wanted to see if I could do it in Audax time, did it in 11h36 incl. > 2h stopped and one ghastly kilometre where I had to walk through bumbling crowds at a fleamarket. OK but not up to what I was doing two years back (similar circuit, 23.3 kph ave vs 21.6 this time). Still, heart muscle now receives only 50% of its normal blood supply so I suppose I should be happy. Hell, I am happy: I rode the last countrified km chortling like a mad thing.
Audaxer's nightmare: a kilometre of fleamarket to crawl throughApart from the above, the southern route into Saverne as signposted for cyclists was laid out by some sadistic bastards: it follows back streets full of bumps, holes and cracks and it climbs, climbs, climbs, with slopes approaching 10% in places. The route for motor traffic is smooth and beautiful with gentle slopes. I hope their goldfish die.
Nice: v. swift service at resto in Mutzig and they were happy to serve me even though it was packed and I arrived at 13h45. Had a tarte flambée, with mirabelle tart for afters, both excellent.
At one set of lights a vehicle pulled up behind me with its engine making an awful racket. When the lights changed it took an age to overhaul me, but when it finally did i saw why: it was a Citroën Dyane from around 1972, the same colour as the 1968 model we bought when we first got to France. A couple of seconds later a beautiful black
Traction came through the other way.
202 km, 1480 m climbed. Puny compared to LEL or PBP but hell, it's a start.