100% grind – conquering Mount Gorbea
Looking back, thinking that the start to the day was difficult was a total under-estimation of what was to come.
The difficulty on leaving Vitoria was a brake failure on my bike that necessitated a trip to a mechanic, who thankfully fixed it quickly and cheaply.
What was to come was Mount Gorbea. We started the epic climb in sunshine through forest trails that quickly became too steep and rocky to ride
We climbed further into the clouds and after a couple of hours of hike a bike the thick fog dropped visibility to 5m. The path was unclear, GPS our absolute saviour. We had to stick closely together, often with our bikes on our shoulders, hopping over rocks and mud.
The top was an opportunity for a disappointing photo underneath some kind of tower and having to get going before hypothermia set in.
Going down was no easier, impossible to ride, until the blessed tarmac arrived and a final flying section down to the hotel. I am having fun, honest!
Bencyclopedia - The Mid-life Cyclist 