Day 1 of the Tenerife training camp started well with warm weather and a nice breeze.
The plan was to climb up to a town called San Miguel and then contour around the volcano to a town near the north of the Island called Guimer, from there I would climb north west to the main road that would take me up to the summit of Teide (the volcano that dominates the island ).
I reached Guimer in good time and stopped for coffee and lunch. I then set off immediately into the climb of 10 miles to the main road up to Teide. What I didn't account for was flat out I was doing 8mph! Gels being deployed in rappid succession. It took me over an hour to reach the main road by that time I had went through the four gels I had packed. At this point I was at about 1500m. I dialed in a landmark of Teide that I knew of and got back 15 miles as the crow flys. Normally that would be fine but at 8mph and in thin air you get a bit concerned about running out of day light. With constant switch backs it was probably more like 20 miles.
I set off again not wasting any time. It was now about 2.40pm with light till about 6:20.
The thin air made for tough work. Your pushing hard but you heart rate is right up there but power not so much, that and my low sugar supply. A God send was finding a Snickers duo in my bag that was left over from a mountain bike trip with bunter!
I stopped at a spring for water and accidentally put my foot in a puddle, foot soaked! Not normally an issue but at 2km up and about to do some descending those toes are gonna get nippy!
I really was against the clock and you start to get a bit worried but the road was plenty busy with tourists and I knew of a few hotels along the way if it got too much.
Dropping into the crater from 2400m my wet toes were freezing! I pulled over and In my bag I had the makings of an overshoe from a neck buff! It was now pretty cold and I put the arm and leg warmers on. I was well prepared with gear which was good, was just lacking sugar in a big way and the hunger knock had already kicked in.
I reached the centre of the crater at 5pm and went straight into the shop in search of sugar loaded fuel. A tin of Pepsi and lemonade with two chocolate donuts did the trick!
I got back on the bike and set off out of the crater. I was now on familiar roads which was comforting. Once I climbed out of the crater I had 23 miles to home and 30 minutes to do it in!
It really is a case of just tapping the brakes once and a while, I was dropping from 2300m to sea level and the pedals wouldn't need a tap!
I pulled into the resort about 15 miss past sunset. It was now dark but the street lighting was good and there was no cars so it was home safe and sound but well and truly shattered!
Of all the bike rides I have done this was easily the hardest day in the saddle. My Garmin read 14,000 feet of climbing which is the exact equivalent of riding a bike half way up Everest!
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