Mit mein farhad
I rode in Germany for 666km, with 15 kilometers extra near Hamburg because I had forgotten a change in the track. Overall, I liked this country, the cycling infrastructure is nice, even if there are a lot of tree roots on certain paths along the national roads. This is the 7th country I’ve crossed in 10 days! It’s completely crazy to think that I did everything on my bike. And I’m not halfway there yet! The problem with the days moving too quickly and the kilometers not passing enough is that I start thinking way too much about the long term. I’m 10-15km behind my schedule almost every day. And it wasn’t my day at 223km that allowed me to make up for the accumulated delay. So, I tell myself that I will never be able to catch this ferry to go to Oslo in time to finish before the deadline. In addition, the ferry no longer has a single cabin free so I know that I will have to spend 12 hours on a plastic seat. Not very motivating…
Pit stop !
I was able to have the bike checked in Paris, but near Rendsburg I still had to go to a bike shop. Suddenly, my rear brake was doing a weird noise. The guy tells me that it’s simply because I have nothing left on my brake pads. Ha. They were new before departure… I am the third North Cape participant to visit this store so the team is friendly and takes care of me quickly. Later, I will have to go to another store to buy inner tubes. In itself, nothing very dramatic given the route, but each time, it’s 1 hour lost.
It’s raining, again …
Since Paris, I have a beautiful tailwind, but the sky is only getting cloudier day by day. Although I have sunny periods where I can ditch the jacket, every day I have several rain showers that get me wet enough to make it frustrating. I have little time to dry before the next one but in the evening, it’s complicated. I have my tent with me, but I decide to find hard accommodation in order to have access to heaters and to dry my things, especially my shoes. I am very happy to have my waterproof socks which allow me to maintain a certain comfort, but it is clearly not the joy on the side of my feet. Another item of clothing that is starting to no longer stand up to the rain is my bib short. It dries overnight, but never completely. When I put it on in the morning, it is still damp. In addition to hotels, I manage to find small cabins in campsites and it’s honestly not bad. But the problem is that no one turns on the heating everywhere. Obviously, it’s the middle of summer! And it’s still 15 or 18 degrees, so it’s not cold, it’s just that I’m damp and wants to dry my things. Positive point though, I sleep in a real bed and I feel that I am better rested than when I sleep in a tent. But despite this, morale is starting to be seriously damaged.
It’s the end
Entry into Denmark takes place under the heavy rains. My knee hasn’t hurt for two or three days now, but I’m constantly wrapped up in my Kway jacket and pants. I cross this new border with a few tears in my eyes, telling myself that the halfway point is almost here! I will quickly become disillusioned. Barely 5 kilometers on Danish roads causes me to get a puncture. And let me tell you, even if I know how to easily repair a puncture, doing it in pouring rain along a highway with a bike path that isn’t really goos is quite annoying! It was at this time that I also discovered what a valve core was… There are chambers with a core on the valve. It’s an extra part that can be changed and replaced. Except that… my little pump needs to be screwed at this core in order to be able to inflate the inner tube. So, as soon as I unscrew it, the inner tube empties… In the distance, I see a bus shelter so I’m going towards it and try to shelter myself a little. I manage to inflate the inner tube but only to half the volume I want. It’s also at this moment that I realize that the evening campsite is not 10km after the border, but 22! I scream! I will end the day in a hell of a rain pour, with an under-inflated tire and in a terrible mood. The campsite is bike friendly so I will find good equipment to inflate my inner tube properly. I am ready for the 180km of straight line the next day. This will be the last stop before the ferry to Oslo! That night, like the previous two, I would wake up in the middle of the night hungry. Yet, all I do is eat during the day!
I was expecting a lot from this visit to Denmark because it is one of the countries known for being made for cyclists. Unfortunately, the roads chosen by the organizers are really not optimal. I have very nice cycle paths separated from traffic, but I also have simple stripes of paint on the ground that are just the width of the bike.
After an okay night, I set off for this day that is an almost straight line. I waste another hour having to wait for a store to open to replenish my inner tube stock. I’m making progress, albeit poorly. I, who like to have already done 100km by midday, am very far from that! In addition, I discovered that my route follows the one a bus which does not go far from my destination of the day. He passes me once an hour. Ha, if only I could hop on! But then I will be disqualified. I arrive in Velje with low morale and not many km in the legs. After a break in a public toilet, I start again. But it’s not okay. 8km after the city, I stop at a crossroads, I sit in the grass and I cry. I’m not well. I want to stop but I don’t want to stop. I want to keep pushing because I want to live this adventure but my morale is no longer there. All this rain is completely wearing me out. I look at the map and think there is still so much to do! It’s impossible ! How are the others doing !? But, if I stop, won’t I disappoint people? I know that I shouldn’t bother with social networks, especially when I don’t really know ¾ of the people who follow me. I tell myself that if I have an accident, no one will be able to blame me for stopping. The moment this idea crosses my mind, I tell myself that this is no longer okay and that it is becoming dangerous. When I started ultracycling, I swore to myself that I would always have fun. The notion of fun no longer exists. But what to do ? Continue ? Stop me? If I could take a break for a day, I think I could continue. But that means finishing late. I really want to have this title of finisher.
As it starts to rain again, I start calling all my jokers. All while crying heartily and scaring them a little. Anyone who picked up the phone is all happy to hear me. I call Géraldine, my boyfriend, my aunt, my brother, my sister, Delphine and Katia. Almost all of them are picking up the phone. I listen to them. Everyone has their own point of view on the matter. Once we talk more about performance, once we talk about listening to ourselves. But everyone tells me that what I did is already very good! Nobody is disappointed. I only hear people proud of what I have accomplished. That feels good. Everyone tells me that there is no shame in stopping. My aunt suggests that I turn around and go back to Velje and get a room to rest. I do that. I know that I should not make any important decisions until I have rested. I stop at 3 p.m. after having only done 103km. Delphine will call me back after I have just had a very hot and comforting shower. This allows me to discuss while already being a little less emotional. I tell myself that I’m still very stupid for thinking that I was going to disappoint people. I take a first nap before my evening meal and then I will sleep 9 hours in one go. The next day, I wake up tired. That’s when I told myself it was time to stop. The sun peeking out makes me hesitate a little but I look at the weatherforecast and I see that it won’t last. The rain will start again. There is no point in continuing. I do not want anymore. I notify the organizer and cancel all my reservations for the return
Going back in Belgium
While I eat lunch, I start to think about the return journey. Out of the question of doing 150/200km per day again! But, I still want to explore Denmark. For the moment, I’m disappointed. The route takes you through many national roads, some of which would make Wallonia blush… I then decide to let Komoot guide me for a crossing from east to west. And it’s the jackpot! I’m going to take a series of small country roads where I will sometimes come across more pedestrians and cyclists than cars! I already want to come back to Denmark! The first day, I will do 100km, but they will be hard to complete! It’s too much. I still have a little energy in my legs but I also want to sleep half the time. I think I’ve reached my limits. That’s when I realize it’s my 14th day on the bike. I had never done a vacation or an ultracycling race lasting more than 10 days and 10 hours… it’s normal that this doesn’t work anymore! Cycling back to Belgium seems suddently way to much! My brother offered to come pick me up but I said that Denmark was a bit far away. I’m going to do another 50 km to return to Germany and then do a day with 3 trains to reach the Dutch border and my brother. There will then only be 4 hours left by car to reach Brussels. We meet up at 6 p.m. and enjoy a meal together before hitting the road. The joy I feel when I see my brother is quite intense. He was there at the start in Brussels and he is taking me back there. I still have a touch of emotion and the superb setting sun that we will have will add a little more.
