24-31.07.2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics (Part 3 of 3)
Sunday had finally come around. Clear blue skies, now thread of rain in the air and by 06:30 we were on our way into Hamburg with the campervan and the Zaphyra, parking in the town (as opposed to the refinery where I usually have a parking space) and cycling the three or so kilometers to the start. Gerda and Debs of course taking the U Bahn. Met up at the Hauptbahnhof doing the final adjustment to Ruth's breaks. Cycled over to the 55 km start block E where the girls in the Union jacks were starting around 08:10. Holger and I then trundled over to the 100 km starting line and block Q (with only 3 more behind us we felt a bit under pressure in keeping up speed) for our eventual start at 09:07.
The 100 km route took us through the Hamburg harbour into Harburg, along the inner ring town centre, just missing one bike accident as a cyclist lost ocntrol over the cobbles, out along the B4 to Langenbek, over the A7 into Hittfeld and on, Helmstorf, Harmstorf to Jesteburg and a sharp left turn before the first roundabout which most of us took the shorter 'wrong' way round and up the first hill. This is where I felt the first nasty twinges of cramp in my left leg - autsch! and that after only 33 km oh oh. Down to Asendorf and a right turn to Dierkshausen, again just missing a bike pile up behind me (Holger and I stayed relatively close this race round, either he in front or me). In Dierkshausen came the another sharp right run and then it was a nice downhill coast for several km. Near Schierhorn, we had arranged an unofficial supply stop to replenish our bottles and my cramp managed to work itself away too. Up and on through Holm. Holm-Seppensen, into Buchholz and its nasty railway bridge, crossing the B75 by Dibbersen and going up and on to Langenrehm, the highest point, then down to Sieversen, turning up hill (being cheered on by Manny and family) in Gross Leversen, through Sottorf and down, down, down Ehestorf (max speed obtained so far was 54 kmh), onto the short stretch of the B73 and then along the A7 to the Kohlbrandbruecke (the highest bridge in Noerthern Germany, I think), a killer to cyclists but for the third time I made it without getting off, but having slowed right down to 13 kmh at the top. Fromt here it was a doddle through the harbour again and past the Hauptbahnhof reaching the finish line after 3 hours and some 14 minutes (ave speed 30,8 kmh, Holger with 30,5 kmh).
The girls all had done their distances too (Ruth and Claudia at 30 kmh, Bex and Jess with 28 kmh) and so we all met up again at the Hauptbahnhof to head home where after showers we watched the end of the professional cyclassics (The pros do the same track, combined though with a total of 240 km in around six hours). And by 18:30 we also had loaded up the van witht he bikes and all our other stuff, bar sleeping bags, ready for the homeward journey.
And so monday at 07:40 we were on the road, down the A7 this time via Hannover heading for Calais. The route was fairly easy, with roadworks only along the A2 past Kammener Kreuz and then on the A40 by Moers. By 11:40 we crossed the German-Dutch frontier. A Diesel/toilet/snack stop near Eindhoven and by 12:50 we had crossed into Belgium, shooting past Turnhout at one, into Antwerpen, doing the ring in ten minutes, through the Kenndy tunnel. By 14:10 we headed west to Dunkirk leaving Jabbeke behind, 14:35 into France reaching the Calais Carrefour by 15:05. Talk about motoring hey ! Bit of shopping, filling up with Diesel and by 16:15 through customs checked onto an earlier ferry (the 17:15 as opposed to the 18:30). Nearly had to leave Jessie behind as we had no papers from her parents allowing her to travle with us. But we were going home so, no probs. On the boat the captain reminded us to turn our clocks back as it was "just a smidgen past 17:35". Coming into the harbour of Dover I commented on the 'black' (!) cliffs, as opposed to the white noting the shading effect of shadows from the sun. Coming off the boat, bypassing a lot of the queue in using the lorry lane (well, it was a big van no?) we were discussing the weight of a 750 kg trailer, which this van could have pulled. To come to a point it is the equivalent of 8 me's, 37 bikes, or 15 Ruth's. And by 19:05 (UK time again) we arrived save and sound, and many hands (including lil' David) made light work of emptying out the 'lorry'.
So, in summary 353 litrs of diesel were spend at a cost of approx £271, with
the outward journey of 523 miles taking 8 1/2 hours
the homeward journey of 561 miles taking 7 hours
The 100 km route took us through the Hamburg harbour into Harburg, along the inner ring town centre, just missing one bike accident as a cyclist lost ocntrol over the cobbles, out along the B4 to Langenbek, over the A7 into Hittfeld and on, Helmstorf, Harmstorf to Jesteburg and a sharp left turn before the first roundabout which most of us took the shorter 'wrong' way round and up the first hill. This is where I felt the first nasty twinges of cramp in my left leg - autsch! and that after only 33 km oh oh. Down to Asendorf and a right turn to Dierkshausen, again just missing a bike pile up behind me (Holger and I stayed relatively close this race round, either he in front or me). In Dierkshausen came the another sharp right run and then it was a nice downhill coast for several km. Near Schierhorn, we had arranged an unofficial supply stop to replenish our bottles and my cramp managed to work itself away too. Up and on through Holm. Holm-Seppensen, into Buchholz and its nasty railway bridge, crossing the B75 by Dibbersen and going up and on to Langenrehm, the highest point, then down to Sieversen, turning up hill (being cheered on by Manny and family) in Gross Leversen, through Sottorf and down, down, down Ehestorf (max speed obtained so far was 54 kmh), onto the short stretch of the B73 and then along the A7 to the Kohlbrandbruecke (the highest bridge in Noerthern Germany, I think), a killer to cyclists but for the third time I made it without getting off, but having slowed right down to 13 kmh at the top. Fromt here it was a doddle through the harbour again and past the Hauptbahnhof reaching the finish line after 3 hours and some 14 minutes (ave speed 30,8 kmh, Holger with 30,5 kmh).
The girls all had done their distances too (Ruth and Claudia at 30 kmh, Bex and Jess with 28 kmh) and so we all met up again at the Hauptbahnhof to head home where after showers we watched the end of the professional cyclassics (The pros do the same track, combined though with a total of 240 km in around six hours). And by 18:30 we also had loaded up the van witht he bikes and all our other stuff, bar sleeping bags, ready for the homeward journey.
And so monday at 07:40 we were on the road, down the A7 this time via Hannover heading for Calais. The route was fairly easy, with roadworks only along the A2 past Kammener Kreuz and then on the A40 by Moers. By 11:40 we crossed the German-Dutch frontier. A Diesel/toilet/snack stop near Eindhoven and by 12:50 we had crossed into Belgium, shooting past Turnhout at one, into Antwerpen, doing the ring in ten minutes, through the Kenndy tunnel. By 14:10 we headed west to Dunkirk leaving Jabbeke behind, 14:35 into France reaching the Calais Carrefour by 15:05. Talk about motoring hey ! Bit of shopping, filling up with Diesel and by 16:15 through customs checked onto an earlier ferry (the 17:15 as opposed to the 18:30). Nearly had to leave Jessie behind as we had no papers from her parents allowing her to travle with us. But we were going home so, no probs. On the boat the captain reminded us to turn our clocks back as it was "just a smidgen past 17:35". Coming into the harbour of Dover I commented on the 'black' (!) cliffs, as opposed to the white noting the shading effect of shadows from the sun. Coming off the boat, bypassing a lot of the queue in using the lorry lane (well, it was a big van no?) we were discussing the weight of a 750 kg trailer, which this van could have pulled. To come to a point it is the equivalent of 8 me's, 37 bikes, or 15 Ruth's. And by 19:05 (UK time again) we arrived save and sound, and many hands (including lil' David) made light work of emptying out the 'lorry'.
So, in summary 353 litrs of diesel were spend at a cost of approx £271, with
the outward journey of 523 miles taking 8 1/2 hours
the homeward journey of 561 miles taking 7 hours
posted by Daddy_Stony at 10:59
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