25/04/2020
It was most unfortunate that I had a premature end to my 360 km+ ultra virtual ride. The problem with Zwifting is on the odd occasion the program does bomb out and it did so with me as I was getting to 200 km’s. Tried to restart hoping that o could continue where I left off but no luck. Not even posted to Strava but Zwift Companion at least had some record of my attempt.
I will not lie. This was so tough and just on another level. Those climbs on the Pretzel route are climbs we never face out in the real world. Well at least is here in Durbanville and surrounds. The route starts with a huge climb and as you crest it, they take you for another climb up to the towers with a gradient between 13 and up to 17%. No respite. My third time up there was hard and I was not looking forward to no 4 and 5. Then you had intermediary climbs only to do one last final climb of some 35 to 45 minutes at gradients up to 13%.
I just finished climbing this mountain for a third time and as I prepared to go for a long long downhill Zwift bombed out.
I was so upset but after a few minutes I realized maybe a good thing. These climbs were tough on my body, which I have not given a well reserved rest and my knee was feeling the pressure of these steep climbs.
Lying here this morning my body is sore. My toes are sore, I am nautilus and my legs are cramping from all the climbing. Would I do this again?
I think I would. But the biggest problem is doing the same route 5 times. Mentally that is so difficult. I much rather prefer the real 36ONE which will see us in November hopefully.
I want to thank all my supporters who helped me. Dylan, Yvette, Luetta, Peter, Gideon and Ronel and all other Mtb Goats. Would have been nice to have been able to share the achievement with you but not to be.
And now I will be talking a well-deserved rest from indoor cycling. Time to chill and drink brandy 😜😜😜😜
Thanks to all again.
