There’s a saying that one always sees clearer in the morning. This is along the lines of advising ultra-distance athletes not to scratch from races at the end of a tough day. Take some hours of rest instead and think things over.
As I consider myself neither superstitious nor an athlete I tend to follow my gut. But I love a good night’s sleep. And sleep I did, after my adventure on 27 February. So well actually, that when early the following morning caffeine from a quadruple espresso began stimulating my synapses I knew I wouldn’t make it in time to meet up with Anjin-san and Carlo. I sent them a message, just so they knew what was up.
Continuing the morning wake-up process under the shower I did some math, pondering where to intercept or catch-up with my two buddies. As I was taking more and more time to leave, I eventually proposed that summit before Unter-Abtsteinach, at the junction with the old High Road. When I started pedaling I was pretty confident to make it there on time.
Time Trial
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel anything from the day before. I was tired and in high spirits all at once. But I had to pace myself, ride at a relatively constant level of exertion, so I wouldn’t blow up on the Weißer Stein climb.
If my estimate was correct, I only needed that summit and then the one to Kohlhof to complete my monthly goal. The parcours along the hills on the Höhenstraße would provide some added elevation, just to be on the safe side. And that route would be glorious in the morning sun.
By the time I reached Ladenburg I knew I was in trouble. Unable to hold my usual pace and with the wind blowing from further east, either slightly sideways or right into my face. In Dossenheim the Weißer Stein climb starts. On the first and hardest part of the ascent I was incredibly slow. About halfway up the climb my crawl had evolved to a more respectable speed and I caught up with a woman on a mountain bike. While we both made jokes about our lack of form and the futility of the effort, she was valiantly working her “fully” up the strip of black tarmac. Instead of overtaking and forcing myself to further up my pace we fell into a conversation and a casual rhythm alongside each other. Time just evaporated until she took right towards some trails while I continued upwards.
Change of Plans
Just before cresting the top of the Weißer Stein I checked my iPhone: My two buddies were almost right on time, maybe 5 minutes early. My calculations were okay. But I was late, 10 minutes at least. I’d never make it. We would miss each other by up to 20 minutes, maybe a little less. Bummer!
While typing a message and wishing both a safe and fun ride home, another notification popped-up on screen: “Irrläufer”, a recent Strava acquaintance, asked if I was game for a ride up the Weißer Stein … my response was sending a photo right from where I stood. Then I suggested to meet at Großsachsen, a small town a few kilometers to the north of Dossenheim. I’d be happy to meet and accompany him on one climb or two. Nothing big. Of course.
I had given both of us a window of ten minutes at a warm and sunny meeting place protected from the ice-cold wind. We arrived within 90 seconds of each other, roughly around minute three. We were off to a good start. As Irrläufer wanted to ride the “Apfelblütenweg” we set out onto the “Talstraße”, the main road towards Oberflockenbach. Personally, I avoid that route as it has much too much traffic for my taste.
Doubling Down
In the village of Rippenweier at the end of the Apfelblütenweg my new acquaintance suggested to fill some more hours with cycling. I was easily convinced and we continued to climb Ursenbacher Höhe next, followed by the fast descent towards Altenbach. From there our ride went up to Kohlhof and onwards to the start of the Höhenstraße (yes, what else?!). P’s classic Focus road racer was on 23 mm GP5000s. I was on my favorite 28 mm Panaracer slicks that effectively measure 30 mm. There were some very short stretches of gravel, and in hindsight we were lucky that we did not flat.
After reaching the terminus of the High Road above Unter-Absteinach, we briefly considered continuing via Absteinach and Löhrbach to the Buchklingen descent, but that would have to wait for another day: time was running out.
Already on our way back across the plains of the Rhine valley towards Mannheim we discussed more challenging rides. Apparently, a fire had been kindled deep within Irrläufer, a desire for climbing, for riding long hours off the perfectly maintained primary roads. Over the next days and weeks we would regularly exchange route suggestions. And I would mostly modify them replacing as many kilometers on main roads with prospects of exploration.
Back home I realized that this had been another unexpectedly long ride: more than 97 km, 1,157 m. About twice the elevation needed to finish Strava’s February Climbing Challenge. Not that I give a lot about numbers to describe my passion for cycling. Nor do I really care that much about Strava. But both, the sheer data as well as aggregating and visualizing it sometimes gives me the extra push to get outside, despite whatever circumstances. And it also doesn’t feel that bad to observe my own progress over time.
Persistency FTW.
