89.8km ridden today
2069.3km ridden so far
189km to go
1194m up
1730m down
3559 calories burnt
Pain factor: (8/10 start, 2/10 end so lets go 6/10)
Strata that shit: https://www.strava.com/athlete/training
Something for everyone today really. While I knew it was mostly downhill to Cowra, there were uphills. Oh boy were there uphills. First time on this trip I went searching for more gears that just weren’t there. They were pinch climbs too. Nasty ones. The up hills were not quite done with me yet and for about 15km out of Orange I had lots of big upsie daisies. I kept being given tantalising glimpses of the Lachlan Valley below before the road would say “no sir, not yet, get some more of this innya”. For this section I found myself doing over 50km/h one moment, then struggling to push 7 or 8km/h.
Finally the dam burst and the downhill started. Lots of it. It was all over quicker than I hoped. I was hoping for a very gradual downhill but it was all over in 10 or so kilometres. First time on this trip too that the brakes really got a workout.
Eventually I was dropped into the Lachlan Valley for a relative motor to Cowra.
A bit of an “oh shit” moment when I rolled into Canowindra when I found I had no gears! I was shifting and nothing was happening! Here we go again I thought and another “Enhance your calm Justin” moment. So I still had tension on the gear lever and the the gears were going up (ie: pressure) but not down the rear chainring. Thinking this could be the end of the ride, I sussed things out.
I scratched my head initially, All the cables were tight and I couldn’t see any damage. I then with my hand manually pushed the derailleur up and down and bam, it started working again. I quick lap around the park and all was fine. I can only assume I had some grit or something stopping the derailleur moving down the cassette. “Crisis averted. Everything is super”. Cost me some time and an unintended stop but I was back on the road. More shitty post-roadwork roads. 99.5% gravel, 0.5% bitumen. She’ll be right mate. Nonetheless I gunned it to Cowra. I didn’t realise there are 10,000 people here. Another vibin’ little town. I would imagine the road between Orange and Cowra would be nice in a car as well.
So just two (planned) days ahead. A big haul to Yass then a smaller one to Canberra. I need to get “up” to Yass (200 metres). I am expecting the undulations will keep me honest though.
Song of the day: This one “popped” into my mind today. Another song with a bit of an on the road/travel vibe about it. I give you Iggy “Pop”: Real Wild Child. Yes baby, I am a real wild child… 😉