tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.comments2024-01-11T05:29:43.804-05:00Switchback PublicationsDuncan Grosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16887472907081583775noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-75386258262610155582021-06-25T17:13:44.018-04:002021-06-25T17:13:44.018-04:00Does the Mechanics Bay ride still exist? I want to...Does the Mechanics Bay ride still exist? I want to see a strava segment to understand what the pace is likeAnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14493560743472411936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-90174256938205234902021-06-25T17:13:34.247-04:002021-06-25T17:13:34.247-04:00Does the Mechanics Bay ride still exist? I want to...Does the Mechanics Bay ride still exist? I want to see a strava segment to understand what the pace is likeAnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14493560743472411936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-60954311152403328312019-12-11T23:33:08.520-05:002019-12-11T23:33:08.520-05:00There is 7:05 am group that leaves from the top of...There is 7:05 am group that leaves from the top of the hill and is a little slower. This should be exactly what you are looking for.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-45593313038096232622019-11-03T23:11:59.903-05:002019-11-03T23:11:59.903-05:00I stay in sunnynook feb through march and would li...I stay in sunnynook feb through march and would like to join a group riding at an Ave pace of about 27ks <br />Appreciate any commentsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07101659982875947846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-77887807370023417872017-09-25T02:08:36.057-04:002017-09-25T02:08:36.057-04:00Great climb and great pictures. Do you know if the...Great climb and great pictures. Do you know if there is any shop nearby to rent a decent road bike ? Thanks.wholeinsoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01995786742451099753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-51861702862407344732017-09-25T02:07:37.098-04:002017-09-25T02:07:37.098-04:00Hi. Great ride and pictures. I'm planning to d...Hi. Great ride and pictures. I'm planning to do this climb. Are there any shops to rent a decent road bike nearby ? Thank you.wholeinsoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01995786742451099753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-82295119849040465342017-06-22T19:21:22.022-04:002017-06-22T19:21:22.022-04:00Hi Duncan, I'm from Washington,DC, I have been...Hi Duncan, I'm from Washington,DC, I have been living n Manizales almost 5 years. Alto de Letras was pure hell my first 2 attempts 4 years ago I failed!Have completed it 4 times now with friends from the states! The cyclists in Colombia are the friendliest in the World! I'm 6'3" 230 pounds, I get plenty of funny comments from the Colombians as you might imagine. Thanks for your GREAT read and an awesome adventure I just found! Best regards... jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07271768400786922165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-79995737076759192712017-05-09T17:25:47.463-04:002017-05-09T17:25:47.463-04:00Lookin' Good!Lookin' Good!Dave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-50078404585873299952016-06-09T16:55:02.981-04:002016-06-09T16:55:02.981-04:00Nice! It looks heavenly.Nice! It looks heavenly.Dave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-18660349840633858832016-06-08T11:50:44.563-04:002016-06-08T11:50:44.563-04:00Looks like fun, and good to see the sun come outLooks like fun, and good to see the sun come outDave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-37839136228963247742015-11-25T19:26:17.290-05:002015-11-25T19:26:17.290-05:00Im coming over to give this a shot myself in dec. ...Im coming over to give this a shot myself in dec. hopefully someone likes my courage enough to send me some details for cyclists over there like this Anibal chap mentioned by heinrich. That would be really helpful. Glenthegardner(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)ukthe Red Bicyclehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14498363962036922568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-84193069098958916032015-10-17T12:09:42.737-04:002015-10-17T12:09:42.737-04:00Hi there Duncan,
Cant seem to find a contact email...Hi there Duncan,<br />Cant seem to find a contact email for you on your blog but have some quetions about climbs near Medellin and am working on a project to help cyclists from colder climates to get down here in the Winter for training. You can contact me at fifofum@mac.com<br />Thanks so much!<br />Fionafifocyclehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10892098211850157916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-34169679312150843512015-10-02T11:33:13.838-04:002015-10-02T11:33:13.838-04:00Hi, Duncan,
First of all, congratulations for you...Hi, Duncan,<br /><br />First of all, congratulations for your terrific rides. Well, I´m planning for november a travel to Colombia with a friend, and our aim is mainly the Puerto de Letras from the easy side, Manizales.<br /><br />I´ve seen your comments on heavy traffic on La Linea...we already assume to don´t climb this col.We expect to go to Mariquita and then turn south to the former town of Armero My questions are; from Armenia to Manizales there are also lots of traffic with trucks jam and so on? since we will head southward to the former city of Armero and maybe even south to Neiva...we will see...the other question is could you suggest something about the itinerary?<br /><br />thanks in advance, best wishes<br /><br />Eduard Bernadich<br />Barcelona, Catalonia<br /><br />PD: really good you´ve had a great time in my hometown Barcelona<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-35824143568061239912015-06-18T10:13:05.986-04:002015-06-18T10:13:05.986-04:00The hospital scene looks all to familiar. I hope t...The hospital scene looks all to familiar. I hope the driver is held accountable.Dave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-34150374083382147682015-05-31T18:43:34.423-04:002015-05-31T18:43:34.423-04:00Sounds like you are very lucky to come off with so...Sounds like you are very lucky to come off with some minor cuts and bruises. Great news they caught the driver. Looking forward to hearing the verdict!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12996252518038456509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-81731235390537081982015-02-20T14:00:23.766-05:002015-02-20T14:00:23.766-05:00Heinrich - that is very helpful information; thank...Heinrich - that is very helpful information; thank you.Duncan Grosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16887472907081583775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-5360183141591771832015-02-19T11:34:11.829-05:002015-02-19T11:34:11.829-05:00Hey, it has been a while since the last activity h...Hey, it has been a while since the last activity here. I am wondering whether you made it. I am Peruvian (living abroad now) and used to be a competitive cyclist in Lima. I have cycled the Carretera Central countless times. Competitions usually took only a portion of the road. (Chosica-Matucana-San Mateo) but it is true that the road climbs very slowly and gently. The quality of the asphalt is perfect but there is indeed a lot of traffic. Try avoiding rain season in the Andes (Dec, jan, feb). Landslides are very common. I'd recommend you to get a vehicle to follow you. You could pay a truth worthy cab driver to follow you. It wouldn't cost must taken the level of safety you will get in return. Also I could put you in touch with the local cyclists. The constantly bike there and have following vehicles. There is a Peruvian cyclist who in the 80s established a record biking from the shore of Callao all the way to Ticlio. (Dipping his back tire symbolically in the sea first). He is friend of mine. His name is Anibal Seminario.Dirk Heynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02333857712133838235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-30595781665590456212014-12-02T10:40:17.436-05:002014-12-02T10:40:17.436-05:00Are you getting in the hours? 10 hours per week is...Are you getting in the hours? 10 hours per week is a nice goal. I wish I could ride outside more often. More than half my yearly rides are 1 hour sessions on the ergo (stationary bike).Dave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-85322751112251102932014-09-30T07:55:35.136-04:002014-09-30T07:55:35.136-04:00Hi Duncan. Great story, congrats for your success ...Hi Duncan. Great story, congrats for your success climbing to letras. Am at 5 -days to go and really very excited for this challenge. I will start my journey riding from Bogota until Mariquita. 1-day resting and then will climb to Letras in my way to Manizales. Hope to feel the greatness you felt once you saw Alto de Letras at the top of the mountain. All best!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01632988221613535484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-60515315278692098992014-06-19T17:09:35.452-04:002014-06-19T17:09:35.452-04:00Good analysis. I can share my experience, now in m...Good analysis. I can share my experience, now in my fifth year of bike racing. I prefer to do the races I’m good at—hilly with an uphill finish. Training for these is a combo of weekend 3 hour rides with lots of intervals from 1-13 minutes. Weekdays are usually spent on the ergo [indoor] trainer for an hour with 25x 1-min hard/easy or 12x 2-min. I’ll get outside midweek for 2+ hours. Once a month I try and get in a 6 hour ride. Basically I don’t think high volume does much compared to the 25x1-min intervals, and the hard weekend rides with repeated intervals. All this is good, but so is the proper positioning in the race at the crucial times so as not to get gapped. I’m glad I have a day job, it’s a hard sport!Dave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-63894094671507871732014-05-20T09:26:29.379-04:002014-05-20T09:26:29.379-04:00Good analysis. Yikes on the power meter fix! I do ...Good analysis. Yikes on the power meter fix! I do a lot of my training indoors on a trainer (weekdays at lunchtime), then I get outside for 3-4 rides each week. No doubt about it, work gets in the way.Dave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-53735066368436634912014-05-10T03:06:29.341-04:002014-05-10T03:06:29.341-04:00We bought it from "Barrow" in the Westfi...We bought it from "Barrow" in the Westfield Mall on lower Queen St but it closed recently!Duncan Grosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16887472907081583775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-1727420642081359642014-05-10T00:57:40.881-04:002014-05-10T00:57:40.881-04:00where did you find the P.A.N. in Auckland?? I can...where did you find the P.A.N. in Auckland?? I can't find it anywhere ;(<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-6615821982563819972014-04-15T11:01:36.740-04:002014-04-15T11:01:36.740-04:00Congrats! No quit the day job and focus.Congrats! No quit the day job and focus.Dave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144078428841328139.post-49041358024709093732014-03-17T08:55:09.875-04:002014-03-17T08:55:09.875-04:00Nice!Nice!Dave Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10134636967908007672noreply@blogger.com