Day 108: Vall d'Uixó (Birthday Ride!)

Not as epic as last year's birthday ride but, this year's ride did include 2 of the 100 greatest cycling climbs of Spain (according to a Mr Simon Warren, who wrote the book!).

To get to the first one I first had to summit this:

Although I had already commenced climbing one of the 100 greatest Spanish climbs, this is the first sign that I was on it:

And here is the sign confirming I reached the Collado:

My initial thoughts of the climb were: 1) the road surface was some of the finest road pavement I've encountered for quite some time and 2) it was an okay climb but would I include it in my top 100 Spanish climbs, probably not! But, then I started descending and quickly realised that the better climb is the one I'm now descending; not the one I climbed! Next time!

No worries, there was another climb ahead of me, which included a final 3.3 kilometres section that was out and back again, so I'd definitely have to experience the climb and descent of that section of road. The turn-off for the final 3.3 kilometres was at this port:

Where, instead of a down turn, it was a right turn and another 324 metres of climbing! No summit sign, but there was this sign:

Where I had my lunch!

The problem with this climb is the road surface, after the turn off, can only objectively be described as having "un firme en muy muy mal estado" (a road surface in very very poor condition), which very much curtailed a fast descent!

However, as a bonus, I did get to climb over ...

... again, but in the opposite direction this time.

I enjoyed the ride but, next time I'd do it in the reverse direction and probably not bother climbing and descending the "firme en mal estado"!

The route was virtually traffic free and many cyclists were out on these quiet roads .... except there were none cycling the "firme en mal estado" section, there was just me; the wind in the trees; and my heavy breathing, especially on the steeper ramps (up to 17%), which was when the piece of detritus in my front wheel's rim would join in with the noise making, as my speed decreased to the critical speed of about 6.5 kilometres per second!

• Distance driven: 0
• Distance cycled: 73 kilometres
• Weather: More cloud than sunshine, then more sunshine than cloud. Temperatures reaching about 22°C

Today's route: