Escape from boredom

Yesterday, me together with Anders and Anders having a nice afternoon on our bikes in Østmarka.

A short video clip as well
[video:youtube:-y55r21sKHw]

Last weekend I participated in Nybakkrunden, a small local competition at Mangenskogen close to Aurskog. 35 kilometer, mostly gravel roads, only 2 kilometers with forest road. Not technically difficult, but perfect for those who are preparing for Birkebeinerrittet the week after.

I ended up as #54, a bit faster than my goal which was 1:15. Here standing together with Torbjørn who won the whole race, spending around 11 minutes less than me (!).

Last day we headed from Seefeld in Austria back to Germany and ended up in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Four very hard but most of all very fun days was over.

• Day 1 – Sonthofen – Pfronten 73,1 km 2758m ascent, 2639 descent. #238 of 308 – 5:01:48. One puncture, one technical stop in addition. Cramps the last five kilometers. So much uphill and very steep downhill…worst day ever.
• Day 2 – Pfronten – Lermoos (Austria). 78,39 km 2295 ascent, 2170 descent. #212 of 300 – 4:37:06. Overall (not really sure due to a crappy result list this day). A very nice day on the bike, fun to ride all the time!
• Day 3 – Lermoos – Seefeld (Austria). 58,96 km 1864 ascent, 1667 descent. #204 of 295 – 3:19:06 – Overall 218. Started hard, tried to follow Ole Andreas, had to let him go in the second ascent, but just before the top it started to get fun again, and I was able to pedal pretty hard the rest of the race. Almost died and went to heaven when I missed a turn and in about 40 km/h biked straight out into the woods. Luckily I did not fall of the bike, neither did I hit any trees, missed a minute or two, but no injuries which was most important.
• Day 4 – Seefeld – Garmish-Partenkirchen. 78,05 km, 1731 ascent, 2231 descent. #199 (YES!!) of 288. 3:54:08. Got a good start, had not felt any better, from the second ascent I was able to push hard until the rain came, then I lost much of the motivation, was really happy when I started on the last ascent – finally warm again…but hell, it was sooo long and sooo steep. Finally we started the descent to the finish line, and after four days with only one puncture and a minor techical issue fixed in no time both me and the bike had finished Trans Germany 2012. Overall 207 of 287, down from 308 finishers the first day.

Back in Sonthofen preparing the bags before heading home in the car. Lars pretty happy!

The rear disk of Lars’ bike. It is not rust you see, but burns after the intense heat when breaking in the steep downhills, mostly on day one and three.

Learned a lot, most important lesson – for some strange reason the body just seems to adopt to the race, making it easier to go every day.

Day three and we ended up in Seefeld, Austria. Not to many pictures taken there, only the three when walking in the main street in the afternoon. This was where we passed the finish line on day three and where we started on the last day.

Had to replace my back tire, Stan’s The Raven, it was totally worn out after three days of Trans Germany together with Einarittet and Terrengsykkelrittet. The guys at Maxxis helped me fit the Maxxis Ikon tubless. No more Raven for me, it gets worn out to fast, but apart from that – a super tire.

After day #2 we ended up in Lermoos, which is actually in Austria, popped out of Germany for two days.

Kinda funny the hotel room we had in Lermoos, the shower was inside the room, and the toilet in a closet behind the shower.

Took some pictures from the balcony. We stayed at Hotel Keller in Pfronten.

The first day we also attended the pasta “party”, mostly since we had booked massage as well. A good thing for tired legs I must admit.

From Sonthofen…two guys sharing a hotel room together with our bikes.

They have it all, a escalator for your shopping cart.

And when in Germany, off course Sauerkraut juice…thanks, but no thanks!

Monday a week ago after having spent the night on board Color Festival from Oslo to Kiel, then 900 kilometers from Kiel to Sonthofen, the city where Trans Germany 2012 started.

Driving through Germany on highway A7, not much more than forest and the road long way ahead to see

Me and Lars

Almost there

Sunday, Einarittet 2012, first time I participated. Very nice track, perfect as preparation for next week.

Passing the finish line, 1:50, 23 minutes behind the total winner, and pleased.

Saturday, Terrengsykkelrittet 2012 in very nice weather. Legs fine for my 4 hours and 8 minutes, struggled more with the bike and my technique on the single tracks. Struggled with the rear derailleur in the beginning, but was able to adjust it so it functioned just fine. Then I needed some more kilometers in order to be friend with the bike on the single track. After that I had to face the fact that the bike was perfect and that I need to get waaay better on the tracks. Bike being good confirmed here by the way, victory even without any suspension, so not the bike – it was me.

My knees after four hours on the bike.

…and the face…

Other pictures

• http://www.mtb-action.com/galleries/TSR_2012/200-299/slides/239.jpg
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasengen/7274226240/