Costa Rica Roubaix - 71 km, - Up - 5,100 - Down - 7,858

This day was billed as killer with countless climbs in the countries steepest mountain range just south of the valley central. After eating Chicky Blak’s, a chocolate cookie found everywhere, we climb out of the car somewhere just off the Pan American Hwy. outside of Santa Maria. The air is thick with sunscreen and the previous days lactic acid swirling in a breeze that is coming from the east. From there we depart for the first decent of the day back to the town of Frailes where we had lunch on the day before. Once we reach the bottom of the hill it becomes apparent what the definition of killer will be for the day with 28% grade at times rising about 3,500’ feet in the first climb of the day culminating in lunch at a small little eatery. After lunch we descend what seems to be forever but never reach the valley floor thousands of feet below.

The fun really begins when we hit the section of Costa Rican "Pave" which takes us through a torturous section of unpaved road for the next 7 km and rising 1,500’ feet or so in the process. Prior to hitting the section I drop a chain that gets stuck between the small ring and the frame which sets me back 5 minutes on the day. As I regroup I find Big Mike on the side of the road with a rear flat and Graeme a mere 300 meters from Mike also with a rear flat.

Graeme is able to recover, but the incident takes Mike out of the stage with multiple pinches in his tube. Three of the strong men in the field, Warren, Carl & Jim are no where to be seen until the end of the dirt which has worked all of us to a pulp. A return to the pavement is a welcome relief but there is still a nice section of climbing left before reaching our final destination in Ciudad Colon where the days effort almost made me crumble. The team van was able to feed me water and "Gu" as I pressed the last few kilometers out of my legs finally making the destination at "Grand Canal Hotel".

Tomorrow should be a little easier from the route description.

More to come

Cartago to Santa Maria - Donny goes Down - 58 km, - Up - 5,907 - Down - 5,341

The ride today has been sold as one of the four toughest of the trip and it lived up to the billing in every way. We drive to our starting point in South Cartago where we see quite a few group rides going by as we get ready and as we head out of town. We are also able to see an Easter procession on our way to the climb.

Todays route takes us over 3 really good climbs with plenty of sections with over 22% grade and fast downhills. The first climb is the steepest and on the back side Donny loses the rear end and ends up going down and ending up in the gutter on the side of the road. Road rash seems to be the only injury but it is on both knees, one hip, an elbow and a hand. The fall makes the rest of us stay cautious the rest of the ride.

Donny gets cleaned up and takes a ride in the van for the rest of the day while the rest of the group starts the second climb to lunch close to the top of the summit. We stop in a little bar/restaurant that made us a great lunch. From there we climb a small ways to the top all of us feeling the lunch stop in our legs for a bit. We then descend another fast downhill to the base of the last climb of the day which is not as steep as the other two (close) but the longest of the day at 17 km. We reach the top that is blanketed in clouds and raining a small bit and the moisture makes the descent dangerous.

We enter the town of San Carlo which has a beautiful church, maybe the nicest of the trip. From there it is a small distance to the place we are staying in Santa Maria which is a nice place that we will have all to our own tonight.


More to come