Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia N.I.

I'm not actually sure I like this platform. I just wrote a shed load of stuff and then lost it!

And now I'm typing it all back in again. I'm not going to try to remember what I wrote - but instead will write around the 5 photos that I've included.

I went across to NI for the Gran Fondo 2017 - its a legacy thing left behind from when the Giro d'Italia started off in Belfast. This was the third cycle and possibly the last - so I thought I needed to get across to do it.

It was tough. 175km that started well enough, then energy started to go, and my knee started to hurt. I was fine with the ascents, less so with the descents - the Duffers ride faster than my normal speed, I didn't take on enough food, and my knee was on fire. other then that a lovely day out on the bike. I'm still in recovery mode - so I'm feeling the hurt rather than loving the memories at the moment. I'm sure that will pass.

Bike box worked really well - a bargain to hire at £6 per day
Drinking in the airport on the way across was a mistake
I felt I did well. My prep was good, but for a variety of reasons - still to be established it didn't show on the day. I've done better similar distances. Though again once over 100km - I don't seem to be able to hold energy levels. I think I need to experiment with a few different food options. Savoury instead of sugar.
Northern Ireland was beautiful, and the people were all very nice.Read more