By Bike

Corvara to Ovaro 

Part 1

Perfect ride from Corvara to Cortina d’Ampezzo, a cyclists dream.

Breakfast view…Start of the first climb…A happy summiteer (note time of day, and no I didn’t partake)…Reward for effort…And beautiful descent into Cortina…Part 2

Chris Boardman (UK cycling champion, tech whizz and one of the brains behind British dominance in cycling) is quoted as saying that about 90% energy usage in cycling is moving air, plus a bit of friction from the ground and the transmission. Even on a hilly course, it’s 70% air resistance.

Up Tre Croci I pondered this theory. It was hot, steep and at times the tarmac was like quick sand. Could there be another stat that I could let Chris know about?

Once over the top, I forgot my dull meanderings and enjoyed a fast descent to Auronzo di Cadore. Would have been super fast were it not for the extra drag from my bike bags (maybe Chris is right).

Part 3

It is wrong to assume that any climb after lunch will be relatively easy, especially when hot, tired and with a stomach full of pasta.

I discover later the Passo del Zovo (1489m) is a mini Alpe d’Huez. A third of the distance, it has the same average gradient (8.1%), and 16 vs. 21 hairpin bends.

Must have been something in the pasta – as I inched my way up the hill, I began to notice more of my surroundings. There are over 1400 species of flora in the Dolomites. The grassy areas up the hill were incredibly lush and diverse compared to home. By contrast, little life under the conifer and beech trees – so thick, little light could penetrate.

Rest of ride to Ovaro – stunning, long and slow, except for some rapid descents.

Note to self: work on sore neck and shoulders caused by constantly looking up at +3000m towers.

Part 4

An hour wandering +20% steep laneways searching for my lodging. Gave up and luckily found the perfect hotel right on dark. Phew!

According to Garmin

Total distance: 152km

Max speed: 78.43km/hr

Calories spent: 5655

Ascent: 2779m

Descent: 3887m