After many cancellations due to holidays, bad weather and Christmas Festivities we got back on the bikes today. A new member, Euan Pyper joined us, riding at his own pace and with a sore a**e he was a least smiling at the end!
Starting as usual from Penina we followed Don through the countryside eventually reaching the Autodrome, a quick ride up to the Pestana Race hotel and then on to Monte de Cima for coffee.
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Wednesday saw our intrepid cyclists head west from Penina. Through some glorious Algavean countryside we eventually stopped for coffee in Bensafim. After still heading west then south turning back towards home. Not so many climbs but some interesting terrain. Euan Pyper is allegedly joining us on Sunday. More to follow....
This Sunday 5 of us started from Penina and had a long climb up to Nave, turned left to Cascais and then back to Penina. On the climb we were passed by numerous 4x4's, rally cars and their supporters cars. Obviously we picked the wrong Sunday! As shown in the profiles below the climb was long and difficult, reaching 18.8% at its steepest going around the village of Caldas de Monchique.
Today we started from Penina as usual, a couple of absentees saw Warren, Steve, Don, and Jill join a group of 25+. Our new fittness levels actually saw us stay together, and although it was a shorter ride of just under 40k the average speed was much higher as demonstrated in the stats below. You will also notice on the profiles a steep climb around the 52 minute mark. This corresponds with a sharp spike in the speed profile at around the 55 minute mark. "What goes up must come down"!