Stage 15: Sumatra

Krui to  Gisting
Date: 04-09-2014 Time: 08:09 h Σ Time: 89:31 h
Distance: 150 km Σ km: 1875 km Temp: 22/38 °C
Up: 1951 m Σ Up: 18836 m Calories: 2390 kcal
Down: 1447 m Σ Down: 18222 m Σ kcal: 41188 kcal
Conditions: Overcast and cool in the morning. The afternoon sun burnt away the clouds and temperatures raised to upper 30th. Roads were good, but busy. Many trucks. The National Park was very scenic. Little time for photos, as time and energy was a constraint.

Another tough one. Longer and with two steep climbs compared to yesterday. The final climb, starting at km 137,  was consuming the last energy reserves. I am developing a cold – a result of the temperature changes, riding in sweaty wet clothes all day, A/C in some places, fans in other, cold showers, exhaustion, … therefore I set myself a moderate pace of 22 km/h for the flat parts of the day, targeting a 4 pm arrival. A few photo and Coke stops in the afternoon, after passing the first summit added extra time to my result. The steep uphill (max. 18%) of the first climb through the National Park was followed by an identical steep downhill. Those with normal rim-breaks had problems with overheating the rims and needed to stop several times to cool down the rims again. With my disk breaks I didn’t have overheating problems and could race down the hill. However I stopped for a few photos. The Indomarets (super market) were good on stock with real cold Coke and chocolate, so bottles could be refilled infinitely. Our hotel is on top of the last climb. Temperatures are down to a comfortable level. 3 mosques are surrounding our hotel, and they seem to be competing each other with their prayers and volumes. 

Tomorrow is another 140 km day. Establishing my health is first priority now –> early bed time … The next rest day is two days ahead.

 

stage-15

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