The Prolog
It’s almost here. In about 12 hours, we’ll be starting the Raid Corsica. Months of preparation on and off the bike are finally going to be put to the test. Are we ready? I believe we are.
We awoke this Sunday morning to church bells, fresh ocean breezes and quite streets. All signs of last night’s protest had been washed from the city streets. What we learned is that this type of protest is not only pretty common, but very French in design. The protestors call the police and let them know where and when the protest will take place. This way, the authorities can set-up the proper barricades and have enough tear gas. How civilized.
Today was spent mostly in preparation. Our bags finally arrived and we repacked for the days ahead. One bag to carry most of our stuff from one hotel to the next, and another that will stay with us as we make our way around Corsica. Steve and I were “introduced” to our rental bikes and Michael assembled his Dean. We made the necessary adjustments to the titanium rentals including putting on our saddles and pedals. Just to make sure everything was right, we did Prolog Ride heading north out of Bastia along the coast road. If this is what the rest of Corsica is like, we are in for a treat.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Tomorrow is stage one. Here is a Strava map. http://www.strava.com/routes/239583
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Welcome to Corsica aka What a Day
REVISED
There are traveling days and then there are day when all you do is travel. The last ones fall into the later category. Let’s just say Steve, Michael and I arrived safely and are checked into the hotel. We found a nice restaurant right on the old harbor where wine and food was consumed to convince our bodies it’s evening and not the middle of the day. Getting to this point has been challenging.
The day started not as planned. Some of the high lights include our bags being put on the wrong plane at the jet center in SLO, (fortunately we noticed it before our plane left), an hour + delay in taking off from SFO causing us to literally run through the Frankfurt airport to make our connection to Bastia and no bags when we arrived.
Just when we thought it was enough for one day, on the way to dinner we almost walked into a mini riot/protest in the town square being staged by Corsican separatists? Really, Corsican separatists? Yep, complete with angry youths dressed all in back, wearing gas masks, concussion grenades echoing off the quaint streets of Bastia and the smell of tear gas mixing with gentle sea breezes.
Yes, it’s been quite a day. Maybe tomorrow we’ll actually get to do a little of what we came here for – to ride. It's almost prologe time for Raid Corsica.
Up Next - The Prolog
REVISED
There are traveling days and then there are day when all you do is travel. The last ones fall into the later category. Let’s just say Steve, Michael and I arrived safely and are checked into the hotel. We found a nice restaurant right on the old harbor where wine and food was consumed to convince our bodies it’s evening and not the middle of the day. Getting to this point has been challenging.
The day started not as planned. Some of the high lights include our bags being put on the wrong plane at the jet center in SLO, (fortunately we noticed it before our plane left), an hour + delay in taking off from SFO causing us to literally run through the Frankfurt airport to make our connection to Bastia and no bags when we arrived.
Just when we thought it was enough for one day, on the way to dinner we almost walked into a mini riot/protest in the town square being staged by Corsican separatists? Really, Corsican separatists? Yep, complete with angry youths dressed all in back, wearing gas masks, concussion grenades echoing off the quaint streets of Bastia and the smell of tear gas mixing with gentle sea breezes.
Yes, it’s been quite a day. Maybe tomorrow we’ll actually get to do a little of what we came here for – to ride. It's almost prologe time for Raid Corsica.
Up Next - The Prolog
Friday, May 9, 2014
IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
I woke up very early this morning in a panic which almost instantly turned into a cold sweat. Causing my distress was the realization that I forgot to pack my saddle. Yes, probably THE most important thing to pack and it was still on my bike in the garage. If I could so easily forget my saddle, what else did I fail to throw in the duffel bag? So then wide awake, I went through my mental list of what’s packed and what’s not. At least I knew my Garmin was in there – or was it? So much for getting another hour of sleep. I could not rest until the saddle made its way off my BMC and into my duffel bag.
It’s Friday and the final countdown is here. In just a few hours, Steve, Michael and I will be boarding a plane for the first of three flights which will eventually land us in Bastia, France at 4:00 PM Saturday afternoon. Between then and now there is one more taper ride (mostly for coffee), final preparations at home, getting to the airport, checking-in, dealing with layovers in San Francisco and Frankfurt, claiming our bags in Bastia, finding a taxi to the start hotel, etc. Oh the joys of travel.
Rosey, however, always tells me to make air travel part of the adventure. Good advice. Softening some of the stress of this trip is the knowledge that we can use the United Club at SFO before boarding and the Lufthansa Club in Frankfurt if we have time. Also, I have a bundle of in-flight free drink tickets. I don’t know about Steve and Michael, but I plan to take full advantage of these and hopefully get some sleep on the plane. Bastia is a long way away.
It’s the final countdown, so let the adventure begin.
UP NEXT – Welcome to Corsica
I woke up very early this morning in a panic which almost instantly turned into a cold sweat. Causing my distress was the realization that I forgot to pack my saddle. Yes, probably THE most important thing to pack and it was still on my bike in the garage. If I could so easily forget my saddle, what else did I fail to throw in the duffel bag? So then wide awake, I went through my mental list of what’s packed and what’s not. At least I knew my Garmin was in there – or was it? So much for getting another hour of sleep. I could not rest until the saddle made its way off my BMC and into my duffel bag.
It’s Friday and the final countdown is here. In just a few hours, Steve, Michael and I will be boarding a plane for the first of three flights which will eventually land us in Bastia, France at 4:00 PM Saturday afternoon. Between then and now there is one more taper ride (mostly for coffee), final preparations at home, getting to the airport, checking-in, dealing with layovers in San Francisco and Frankfurt, claiming our bags in Bastia, finding a taxi to the start hotel, etc. Oh the joys of travel.
Rosey, however, always tells me to make air travel part of the adventure. Good advice. Softening some of the stress of this trip is the knowledge that we can use the United Club at SFO before boarding and the Lufthansa Club in Frankfurt if we have time. Also, I have a bundle of in-flight free drink tickets. I don’t know about Steve and Michael, but I plan to take full advantage of these and hopefully get some sleep on the plane. Bastia is a long way away.
It’s the final countdown, so let the adventure begin.
UP NEXT – Welcome to Corsica
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Does All This Stuff Need To Be Packed?
Packing and over thinking seem to go hand in hand for me. I find this pretty strange since I do 20+ business trips a year. Most people would expect that anyone who travels as much as I do could pack with their eyes closed. Maybe some can, but not me. My natural tendency is to bring everything; including the kitchen sink and the dishes in it.
Planning what to bring for Raid Corsica has been an interesting exercise. As a frequent air traveler, I appreciate utilizing only a carry-on bag. It’s efficient, time saving, and convenient. The only downside is that all your stuff is smashed in a small “carry-on” bag which is then crammed into an overhead compartment the size of a microwave. The guy sitting next to you then smashes his bag in front of yours. Anything breakable is toast and the rest is unrecognizable by the end of the flight. But, at least you have it. Packing for a cycling adventure is a bit more difficult.
Unlike packing for a business trip where I bring a suit, two white shirts, a tie, a few undies, etc., packing for six days of cycling requires a little more planning. I actually have to stratgize about how much chamois cream, sunscreen, and bonk breakers I need in order to survive six days. Does dzNuts come in quart size? And what constitutes the prescription dosage for ibuprofen? Is a SPF 75 sunscreen enough or do I need a full-on zinc cream? Not to mention that, for days, I’ve carried on a personal debate over washing out jerseys and shorts versus packing new ones for each day.
As if just the volume of items that need to be packed is not enough, Steve, Michael and I also have the dilemma of having to bring two bags. One bag will have to carry all our stuff from one hotel to the next while we also need a “sag” bag that follows us during the day. Now I have to think about both what to pack, and how to divide it between what’s needed during the day and what’s necessary for the evening.
Rosey understands what I’m going through and has already said, “don’t over think this.” Maybe she’s right (as usual). Packing and over thinking are a conjoined process for me. Perhaps just throwing everything in a duffel like I used for surf camp is the best option. After all, if I do forget something, there are stores on Corsica.
Packing and over thinking seem to go hand in hand for me. I find this pretty strange since I do 20+ business trips a year. Most people would expect that anyone who travels as much as I do could pack with their eyes closed. Maybe some can, but not me. My natural tendency is to bring everything; including the kitchen sink and the dishes in it.
Planning what to bring for Raid Corsica has been an interesting exercise. As a frequent air traveler, I appreciate utilizing only a carry-on bag. It’s efficient, time saving, and convenient. The only downside is that all your stuff is smashed in a small “carry-on” bag which is then crammed into an overhead compartment the size of a microwave. The guy sitting next to you then smashes his bag in front of yours. Anything breakable is toast and the rest is unrecognizable by the end of the flight. But, at least you have it. Packing for a cycling adventure is a bit more difficult.
Unlike packing for a business trip where I bring a suit, two white shirts, a tie, a few undies, etc., packing for six days of cycling requires a little more planning. I actually have to stratgize about how much chamois cream, sunscreen, and bonk breakers I need in order to survive six days. Does dzNuts come in quart size? And what constitutes the prescription dosage for ibuprofen? Is a SPF 75 sunscreen enough or do I need a full-on zinc cream? Not to mention that, for days, I’ve carried on a personal debate over washing out jerseys and shorts versus packing new ones for each day.
As if just the volume of items that need to be packed is not enough, Steve, Michael and I also have the dilemma of having to bring two bags. One bag will have to carry all our stuff from one hotel to the next while we also need a “sag” bag that follows us during the day. Now I have to think about both what to pack, and how to divide it between what’s needed during the day and what’s necessary for the evening.
Rosey understands what I’m going through and has already said, “don’t over think this.” Maybe she’s right (as usual). Packing and over thinking are a conjoined process for me. Perhaps just throwing everything in a duffel like I used for surf camp is the best option. After all, if I do forget something, there are stores on Corsica.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Am I Ready?
The idea of a cycling adventure in Corsica arose some time ago; perhaps as early as last summer. Almost from the day the decision was made, one word has been haunting my most inner thoughts: training. Surrounding that word was, and remains, many questions. Will I be ready? How will I train during the peak of my business travel season? What does an average of 100 miles a day for six days feel like? And these were only my preliminary thoughts. As the Raid draws closer, concerns of weather, clothing, food, and rental bike have loomed larger.
Those of you who know me have long realized that I can be both absent minded and a bit ADHD. Perhaps that’s why I developed my love for being organized. It’s probably the only way I make it through even the most common day. Days that most people would view as unstructured, I visualize a minute by minute agenda of what needs to be done.
Preparing for the Raid Corsica has been both a blessing and a curse to my organizational skills. A blessing in that it has thrust me into an unparalleled personal running and riding training program. Sometimes my training caused me to get off a plane and almost immediately jump into my shorts and run in cities as diverse as New York City and Boise. On other days, I would schedule by flights so I would get in a ride before dark. It was only my ability to envision and develop a training program that included 17 cities, United Airlines, and of course the pressure of Strava, that has pushed me into probably the best cycling shape of my life. And yes, that’s the blessing part.
It’s also been a curse in that it’s been an omnipresent anxiety that wakes me at 3:00 AM and dominates my conversations with friends and family. I probably can’t go more than a couple hours without either thinking about it, wondering if I’m ready and stress about what else I could have done.
Mercifully, Raid Corsica is almost here. In a way, it’s been like preparing for Christmas. The days before are hectic if not downright insane. However, Christmas Eve does arrive. Stores close, nothing ordered online will arrive tomorrow, and the streets grow quiet. I’ve organized everything I possibly can and it’s getting close to the eve of the Raid Corsica.
All there is left to do is, pack, get there, and pedal my heart out.
Next Post - Does All This Stuff Have To Be Packed?
The idea of a cycling adventure in Corsica arose some time ago; perhaps as early as last summer. Almost from the day the decision was made, one word has been haunting my most inner thoughts: training. Surrounding that word was, and remains, many questions. Will I be ready? How will I train during the peak of my business travel season? What does an average of 100 miles a day for six days feel like? And these were only my preliminary thoughts. As the Raid draws closer, concerns of weather, clothing, food, and rental bike have loomed larger.
Those of you who know me have long realized that I can be both absent minded and a bit ADHD. Perhaps that’s why I developed my love for being organized. It’s probably the only way I make it through even the most common day. Days that most people would view as unstructured, I visualize a minute by minute agenda of what needs to be done.
Preparing for the Raid Corsica has been both a blessing and a curse to my organizational skills. A blessing in that it has thrust me into an unparalleled personal running and riding training program. Sometimes my training caused me to get off a plane and almost immediately jump into my shorts and run in cities as diverse as New York City and Boise. On other days, I would schedule by flights so I would get in a ride before dark. It was only my ability to envision and develop a training program that included 17 cities, United Airlines, and of course the pressure of Strava, that has pushed me into probably the best cycling shape of my life. And yes, that’s the blessing part.
It’s also been a curse in that it’s been an omnipresent anxiety that wakes me at 3:00 AM and dominates my conversations with friends and family. I probably can’t go more than a couple hours without either thinking about it, wondering if I’m ready and stress about what else I could have done.
Mercifully, Raid Corsica is almost here. In a way, it’s been like preparing for Christmas. The days before are hectic if not downright insane. However, Christmas Eve does arrive. Stores close, nothing ordered online will arrive tomorrow, and the streets grow quiet. I’ve organized everything I possibly can and it’s getting close to the eve of the Raid Corsica.
All there is left to do is, pack, get there, and pedal my heart out.
Next Post - Does All This Stuff Have To Be Packed?
Monday, May 5, 2014
Raid Corsica – A Brief Introduction
Welcome to my “Raid Corsica” blog. It’s been several years since I’ve blogged about a cycling adventure so I’ll have to retrain my mind to think, and my fingers to type after hours in the saddle. This alone may present an interesting challenge.
The real challenge, of course, is the Raid Corsica. For those of you who many not know about the Raid Corsica, Corsica itself, or the simple foolishness that Steve Himmelrich, Michael Bickel and I are about to embark upon, here’s a brief introduction.
Corsica is an island just off the western coast of Italy. While it’s close to the Italian coast, it’s governed by France and is actually a French “department”. It’s the most mountainous and geographically diverse of the Mediterranean islands with beautiful seas and beaches framed by towering mountains. The island hosted the first three stages of the 2013 Tour de France, so you saw it on TV last summer. But, if you didn't, here is a short video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRHceMQR57o
The Raid Corsica or Tour de Corsica takes place over six days. During this time we will basically circumnavigate the island, cycling approximately 1000 km (622 miles) and climbing 14,000 m (46,000 feet). The Raid was established by the Parisian Audax Club, the same merciless masterminds who devised the Paris – Beast – Paris race. The Raid is not timed. Rather, the goal is to finish each stage before being pulled off the course due to darkness. Our personal goal is not necessarily to finish first, but we don’t want to come in last either. The Raid starts next Monday, 12 May at approximately 8:00 AM (11:00 PM Sunday, 11 May in California). In the meantime, we have to get from Atascadero, California to Bastia, France.
Steve, Michael and I will be riding with 16 other cycling crazies who are attempting to conquer this year’s Raid Corsica. We believe the others are all Brits which leads me to wonder what French cyclists know that we don’t. We’ve trained and tortured ourselves. Now it’s time to taper and get a little rest.
I’ll do a couple more posts before the Raid starts. Stay tuned.
A note on the daily postings: It is with a full heart and open mind that I will attempt to post every evening after we complete the day’s stage. However, due to Internet connections, time, and perhaps just pure exhaustion, I might not be able to post every day. If this happens, I will try to catch-up the next day.
NEXT POSTING – Am I Ready?
Welcome to my “Raid Corsica” blog. It’s been several years since I’ve blogged about a cycling adventure so I’ll have to retrain my mind to think, and my fingers to type after hours in the saddle. This alone may present an interesting challenge.
The real challenge, of course, is the Raid Corsica. For those of you who many not know about the Raid Corsica, Corsica itself, or the simple foolishness that Steve Himmelrich, Michael Bickel and I are about to embark upon, here’s a brief introduction.
Corsica is an island just off the western coast of Italy. While it’s close to the Italian coast, it’s governed by France and is actually a French “department”. It’s the most mountainous and geographically diverse of the Mediterranean islands with beautiful seas and beaches framed by towering mountains. The island hosted the first three stages of the 2013 Tour de France, so you saw it on TV last summer. But, if you didn't, here is a short video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRHceMQR57o
The Raid Corsica or Tour de Corsica takes place over six days. During this time we will basically circumnavigate the island, cycling approximately 1000 km (622 miles) and climbing 14,000 m (46,000 feet). The Raid was established by the Parisian Audax Club, the same merciless masterminds who devised the Paris – Beast – Paris race. The Raid is not timed. Rather, the goal is to finish each stage before being pulled off the course due to darkness. Our personal goal is not necessarily to finish first, but we don’t want to come in last either. The Raid starts next Monday, 12 May at approximately 8:00 AM (11:00 PM Sunday, 11 May in California). In the meantime, we have to get from Atascadero, California to Bastia, France.
Steve, Michael and I will be riding with 16 other cycling crazies who are attempting to conquer this year’s Raid Corsica. We believe the others are all Brits which leads me to wonder what French cyclists know that we don’t. We’ve trained and tortured ourselves. Now it’s time to taper and get a little rest.
I’ll do a couple more posts before the Raid starts. Stay tuned.
A note on the daily postings: It is with a full heart and open mind that I will attempt to post every evening after we complete the day’s stage. However, due to Internet connections, time, and perhaps just pure exhaustion, I might not be able to post every day. If this happens, I will try to catch-up the next day.
NEXT POSTING – Am I Ready?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)