Over the bridge back from the luxury of Crown Victoria into the hard reality of another cycling day …
Category Archives: Volcanoes & Temples
Third section from Yogyakarta to Ubud
Stage 30: Java
| Sarangan to Tulungagung | |||||
| Date: | 23-09-2014 | Time: |
06:33 h |
Σ Time: | 157:57 h |
| Distance: | 126 km | Σ km: | 3109 km | Temp: | 16/34 °C |
| Up: | 1670 m | Σ Up: | 36605 m | Calories: | 3385 kcal |
| Down: | 2794 m | Σ Down: | 35845 m | Σ kcal: | 74259 kcal |
| Conditions: | Another ‘climber’ with 2 rewarding downhills. Roads partially bad, especially in the 2nd part up and down. Very scenic and a totally different Java than before. | ||||
125 km and 1700 m climbs sounded doable. Even after an ‘energy-eater’ like yesterday. However it turned out to be another of these stages for which the scout injected extra spices.
I had a late start, and was the last rider out from the hotel, taking early morning sunlight photos of the surrounding mountains. So I was riding with Chelsea and Henry and had many more stop on the fast 1000m downhill. The air was so clean and clear and the sunlight perfect for photos. Java in this area is so different, different topology, vegetation and less dense populated. It reminded me of some parts in Africa, like Zambia, where you could ride for hours without seeing a human. I did not recognize how much time passed, dreaming into the day. It was not until km 50 before I caught up with Dara. A quick Coke stop and off I was on my own. Climbing started at 60 km. Although very smooth (max 3%) it was a tough 12 km to lunch. Strong head and cross wind and higher temperatures slowed down progress. And the steep climbs were to come after lunch. Hurrah, again potatoes and eggs for lunch. I stocked up with Coke at the first fridge in town. The first of 3 major hills was around the corner, each 200m to ascend on just 2km, means an average of 10% for 6km. Well, in the meantime we know, that 10% average means 25% at peek. The Javanese did obviously cut these roads into the mountains prior of the birth of the smart guy who invented the switchback roads! They look more like skiing tracks than cycling roads. Nevertheless, there was no option than to get over them. Andreas was waiting for me on the 2nd climb. He was the afternoon ‘sweep’ and was in the van until it passed me, because after me no one else continued cycling. So I had company for the rest of the day, which turned out to be a good one, especially during the final 800m downhill, as Andreas has exactly the same fun I racing on rough roads and around sharp corners. On the steepest part of the 2nd climb I had to get off the bike and walk. It was just too steep and my speed too slow to maintain a controlled ascent. The ride on the ridge was a treat. The villages built into the mountain, the lush vegetation and a bit of a drizzle from the upcoming clouds. Between the 2nd and the 3rd climb were approximately 4km of flat or downhill. Good, bad and none existing pavement made riding an all time concentration game. Trucks or motorcycles could ‘ambush’ you in every corner, means usually cutting corner, leaving not much space to pass. At 100 km we reached the top of the last ascend and were ready to ‘free fall’ into the valley. We could have used parachutes to fly down, but decided to ride it to our fun. My Garmin later told me it was my quickest 40 km ever; the last 25 km was 800 m downhill and a high speed chase. Reception in the Crown Victoria Hotel was exceptional. Too bad, that it is only for a night and I couldn’t use the Gym with the stationary bicycles. However I found the first scales in the country and took my weight before I had a real good dinner.
After dinner I had to change a tire, which was more-or-less destroyed on the sharp gravel today.
Tonight’s rider briefing disclosed another tough climbing day tomorrow. Who would have thought different?!
Sharp Peeks
Today’s mountain peeks that we had to overrun where exceptional steep and the tips extremely sharp. Besides the need to force the last bit of energy into the legs to turn the cranks and keep on moving, it was also a battle for the tires. Obviously too much, even for an ‘undestroyable’ Schwalbe. Usually I shoulder my bike and lift it over the top, to protect it from tire damages caused by sharp tips. However, today I forgot to get off my
bike on one of the peeks and got my rear tire completely stabbed, down to the fabric. Luckily I had the extra anti-flat plastic layer inside between tire wall and tube, thus I didn’t suffer a puncture and could continue the ride to camp.
After dinner I had to perform an emergency repair, moved my front tire to the rear wheel and mounted the Supreme (which is for smooth tar) to the front. Now I need to hunt for a new offroad tire to replace the damaged one.
Tweet ##transoceaniaSmiley is back
The funny smiley on my Garmin’s profile page is back. Don’t know why it always shows up when I am stuck in a climb …
Bye Bye Gunung Lawu
Sarangan and Mt. Lawu greet us in the morning sun. I had a long night sleep, rolled into a cosy blanket. Today another 1700m of climbing are waiting to be tackled on the 2nd half of the 125km to our next destination.
Stage 29: Java
| Solo to Sarangan | |||||
| Date: | 22-09-2014 | Time: |
04:47 h |
Σ Time: | 151:24 h |
| Distance: | 62 km | Σ km: | 2983 km | Temp: | 18/37 °C |
| Up: | 1872 m | Σ Up: | 34935 m | Calories: | 2681 kcal |
| Down: | 715 m | Σ Down: | 33051 m | Σ kcal: | 70874 kcal |
| Conditions: | This was the announced ‘all day climb’, except for the last 8km down to the hotel at the lake. Cooler morning temps, busy roads in Solo. | ||||
The announced ‘short’ but with an ‘all day climb’ to 1870 m over the shoulder of Mt. Lawu (3265m) should prove, if I slowly can get back to my former fitness level. I was taking the first 30 km through busy Solo and thereafter less busy and more scenic roads through rice fields and little villages very easy. At 9 am the first part was done, 50% of the distance, but only 10% of the elevation gain. Now the tough part should start. From the issued profile it could be seen, that the next 10 km will gain only about 400m, leaving the major part of the climb – the remaining 1200m to the following 12 km. This translates into a 4% average grade for 10 km and a 10% average grade for the final 12 km to the summit – ouch! The road continued in an almost straight line into the slope of Mt. Lawu; no switchbacks that were built-in to reduce the grade. The smallest gear was used for most of the time. Legs were fine, heart rate at low average, all fine. I had to wear my mask for most of the day, as there was the usual noisy and stinky traffic. Some Coke and photo stops added to my elapsed time, but I felt strong enough to make it to the end. Henry and Gerald soon closed up to me and we were cycling long time close together and into lunch at 41 km. Great catering again! Boiled potatoes for more carbs, fresh fruits and nuts. It doesn’t take much to make us cyclists happy (at least some of us). However we were only about 50% through the climb.
Still 800m vertical elevation gain on the final 8 km before the summit and the fast downhill thereafter. Continuing the climb with an average speed of 7 km/h the end was not too far away. However the little ‘smiley’ that Garmin draws on the profile page, seemed to not move at all. More photos of the scenery, with fields of various kinds built into the steep slopes, and luxury houses in the holiday resorts. Unfortunately no time (energy) to detour to the 2 Hindu Temples with the erotic pictures and sculptures. Finally the summit was reached, no turning back into the hazy view from where we came. Downhill was quick, short stop at a strawberry field and the merchant shops. More photos from the view into the target valley and the village at the lake. My breaks were on fire by the time I finished the 700 m drop and turned into the hotel grounds.
I was so looking forward to get a hot shower – the air is much cooler up here in 1280m – but to no avail. Long pants and long sleeved sweater will keep me warm, as I lost most of my natural body insulation, thus hi-tech fabrics come into play. At least my body seem to quickly recover and get back to power to tackle the following tough days until we reach Bromo, again high on a volcano.
Riding the Wave
I am out for the day to do some serious volcano climbing. Luckily we have ‘only’ one climb today, just a small ‘little’ obstacle in our way. Here is what today’s profile looks like …
Ride the wave
Hope my body could stock up with some energy over night for a day like this. See you later my friends. Safe me a beer!
Tweet ##transoceaniaOver the Edge
I passed one of the many bridges in 
Java and thought to myself ‘Worth a stop or similar to the others?’ I already had stopped earlier on another bridge, where people were busy building a dam in the river, thus I decided to continue, leave the camera in the bag and use the momentum to start into the climb thereafter. However, on the other end of the bridge I recognized some students on the railing and sitting at the banks of the river. From the edge of my eye I could see, it were all girls and they seem to be doing some training. So I decided to use my breaks and turn around to have a closer look. An I was not disappointed. Already one girl was fixed to a rope and on 
her way over the edge of the bridge. The ‘joy’ was great when the saw me. And soon photos were taken from both sides. All of a sudden the group sitting on the banks under the bridge got loader. They seem to shout something to their instructors. I should soon learn what they demanded: ‘He must do it, too’! And so I was asked, if I want to try it. What chance do I have other than to say ‘Yes’? Although I was already a bit exhausted, late and not fully free of ‘drugs’ I agreed and soon I found myself in an harness and dangling in the rope. A talented young girl took my camera and made the nice shoots shown below in the gallery. A great experience and a lot of fun for all of us. The unforeseen adventure did not end before I was recorded on many of the student’s smartphones. And so I continued my ride my first ‘Abseiling’ tour, after I Bungee-jumped the Victoria Falls Bridge in Zambia.
Tweet ##transoceania
Stage 28: Java
| Yogyakarta to Solo | |||||
| Date: | 21-09-2014 | Time: |
05:54 h |
Σ Time: | 146:36 h |
| Distance: | 112 km | Σ km: | 2921 km | Temp: | 25/39 °C |
| Up: | 1279 m | Σ Up: | 33063 m | Calories: | 3286 kcal |
| Down: | 1240 m | Σ Down: | 32336 m | Σ kcal: | 64907 kcal |
| Conditions: | Roads exceptionally good. A view road works with loos gravel or potholes. A steep climb n the morning (up to 20%) and several smaller thereafter. However the afternoon after lunch easy on the plain with favorable wind. | ||||
The reincarnation of a cyclist, after a 6 days knock-out.
I knew, it wouldn’t be easy for me after my energy taking sickness. Riding most of the day with my mask, made breathing not a pleasure, especially when temperatures raise into the upper 30th °C. However I badly wanted to be back on my bike and ride. The van is no option; and my fellow cyclists and staff wanted to see me back cycling, too. So I started with Eric as the last out from Yogya. A quick 12 km through town, then we separated and I sent Eric ahead on his faster mission. At 13 km the steep ascent to 400m started. I was remarkably strong and already passed the first riders walking their bikes, and had left much earlier. There were many local cyclist on the road, too. This must be a popular cycling track. I could feel, that I was strong, but far from the strength I had before. I therefore took it slow, stopped a few times for photos. I even added an extra activity stop (more in the ‘Over the Edge’ post) which delayed me for another 30 minutes or more, but was worth it. The emptiness in my stomach increased and power level decreased in the starting midday heat. Lunch was a few kilometers before the last short & steep climb of the day. I let it last very long, until today’s ‘sweeper’ arrived, but ate with more appetite and rested before I left for the 2nd part. The final climb was consuming my last power level, but the immediate downhill helped me recharge a bit. The final flat 40 km were simply a matter of not giving up. Should I save energy for the next day or shall I go and ride the whole day? Favorable wind and my will to complete the day, carried me into the Iris Hotel in Solo, where I had a hot shower and a nice intermediate meal to bridge the time to dinner and compensate for not eating (much) for the last 5 days. Hope I get the carbs loaded quick!
3. Volcanoes & Temples
Yogyakarta to Ubud – September 21 to September 30
Photos of this section will appear here:
| previous | Volcanoes & Temples | next |
Leaving Yogya, we’ll ride towards East Java province, a wild rolling region of towering peaks, smoking volcanoes and unspoilt panoramas. After the temple-ringed and Dutch colonial hilltop city of Malang, we’ll pause in Bromo Tengger Semeru Park, home to the Gunung Semeru volcano, Indonesia’s highest peak. Then it’s across the Ijen plateau, another beautiful and forested volcanic region, to Ketapang and a quick ferry ride across the Bali Strait to Gilimanuk. From there we cycle along Bali’s northwest shoreline to Lovina, before heading inland and completing this section in Ubud, the center of Bali’s unique version of Hindu culture.