Hello,
Ride Report of the Hungary Transdanube 1200 2013 ride. (Hebrew)
I arrived in Hungary on Sunday afternoon, the day after finishing the ride in Belgium.
I landed in Budapest, and toured the city for 2 days.
On Monday Itsik Heyman arrived, and we toured the city together.
When I told my friends about this ride - Only Itsik was interested in joining.
In fact, we only did one thing: We went to the Great Synagogue, but since entry wasn't free - we didn't go in (no because of lack of budget, but of principle...) from there along the river to the Parliament, and back to the hotel.
I took some pics for a future post, of "Postcard from Budapest."
On Tuesday we took the train to Veszprem, where the ride starts.
We stayed at the hotel that was recommended by the organizer, and met some friends.
Itsik met a German rider who was riding with him in PBP 2007.
As noted, I'm one of 5 riders who rode in Belgium less than a week ago. The others are a German rider (the stoker in the tandem), and 3 other riders from the USA.
I met the Americans at the bike check, and in a restaurant during dinner. I had goulash, with a side dish that was recommended by the waiter - egg whites droppings. Itsik said that it's the best protein that can be, and I said it was tasty.
We told the waiter we'd eat there again, on Sunday night, after the ride.
- -
The hotel was 2.5 km from the start.
The start time was 5:00 am, and when we got to the starting point about 20 minutes before the ride, there were already dozens of riders there.
A big picture with all the riders, and we were off.
The instructions that were sent before the ride said that we'd all ride together for the first few km.
The route starts in a long descent to Lake Balaton, and a long plain along it for several 10s of km.
Pretty soon small groups were formed, and I think Itsik and me were in about the middle of the field, in a group of 15.
The 3 Americans were behind us (they stopped somewhere, and got off of our group.)
Motorcycles escorted us for about 60 km, stopping traffic at junctions.
The group was mainly of Italians, 3 of them female riders.
We stayed in that group until the first control, at 125 km.
When we entered the town, Itsik said he feels a flat in his front, but I couldn't "see it." We saw the German who knew Itsik on his way out of town, after visiting the control.
The control was a hotel on the city's main square, and touching, Itsik's front wheel was flat. While Itsik changed the tube - I got some food. 2 buns, one with chicken sausage, the other with cheese.
We wasted lots of time there, and by the time we left - The Americans arrived.
I checked, and we were about 45 minutes behind the German.
The 2nd control was in Pecs, at 196 km, and a gelato on the town's square, with no food.
Itsik said he saw a pizzeria nearby, but I said it would be a waste of time, and we bought pastries at a bakery.
The Americans ate in McDonald's, and I was sorry I missed it.
There were tourist signs to the synagogue, but we didn't check it.
After the 3rd control there's a 100 km section until the next control.
I was hungry, and said we would better have something for lunch (it was around noon, and we didn't have lunch...)
We had headwind, and crawled at 22-24 km/h.
We stopped at a bakery, and I had a pizza pastry, and another with cocoa, or a different sweet stuff which I didn't recognize.
In this section I had long chats with Itsik about nutrition.
It seems that I do stuff that "hold back absorption" of something I want to be held back, and on the other hand, I eat stuff that doesn't help.
It's a real wonder that my belly isn't exploding, or that I can even ride more than 50 km outside of urban areas...
When we ate, we saw the Americans going by, and I thought it was a chance to join them.
After the food break, I led at 30 km/h against the headwind. When Itsik led it was 24 km/h. I guess my body heard Itsik, and absorbed what it needed, and didn't absorbed what it didn't need...
After 20-30 minutes we caught up with the Americans, and rode with them, with changes, at a constant speed of 25 km/h.
At one point they stopped, and we carried on. When I was leading I rode faster, and at some point we reached an Italian group, which included the female riders.
We rode with them until the control and said goodbye when they went to eat and we continued to the next control and hotel.
Itsik and me reached the 5th control at 408 km alone, in the middle of the night. It was a hotel, which had our drop bags.
There were at least 20 other bikes there, of faster riders.
We set the time we'd want to leave, and I set my alarm clock to 20 minutes before. Itsik said he needed more time, and set his alarm clock to 40 minutes before leaving time.
When we left, there were only 4 other bikes. 3 of the Americans, and the 4th belonged to an American living in Sweden.
There next control is in Herend, at 536 km, 128 km away, and we rode it slowly, mainly (I think...) because we only stopped for food once, at a shop in a small village.
Towards the end of the section there are hills. One of them is pretty long, a few km. Itsik climbed very slowly, and I kept my pace.
I stopped at the nearby junction to wait for him, and after 10 minutes when he didn't arrive, I sat on the road.
He arrived 25-30 minutes after me. He said it was very hard for him, he walked, and plans to DNF at the control.
I said "let's get to the control, eat, drink, and then we'll see..."
We had 4 hours to spare, and Itsik could have gotten better. I felt really well.
On the way into the control I saw L.V. (full name undisclosed...) from Bulgaria. He's a very experienced rider, who rode more than 15 1200 km rides, and even RAAM last year.
After controlling I was looking for food. I met the Americans, who said they left the hotel 2 hours behind us (meaning - we lost 2 precious hours we could use for sleeping, or advancing on the road...)
I wanted to go into a supermarket, but saw no one around who could watch over my bike. In a nearby bar I saw an Italian rider and asked him to watch over my bike for a minute. The rider who was with him went into the bar for a minute.
I ran to the supermarket and picked some stuff. There was a long line at the only register, and I put my stuff there, and ran back to "release" the Italian from guarding my bike. The rider with him was H.M. from Germany, who I met a few days ago, in the ride in Belgium. We said "hello" and they were off.
I went back to the supermarket, payed, and sat on the ground to eat.
Some of the Americans arrived, and I told them that they'll "have" to ride with me, as Itsik DNF'd (Itsik texted me a few minutes earlier.)
Meanwhile I finished eating, and the Americans were still busy, so I said I'll go and they'll catch me.
The next control is 40 km away, at 576 km. It's a pizza place, and I rode alone.
I met the German and the Italian there, and a few Bulgarians.
I didn't order a pizza, as I was hurrying to go with the riders that were about to leave. As it turned out, I was the first one ready to leave.
I thought of riding with the Bulgarians, as they are slower than the German.
I started riding alone, and pretty soon the German and Italian caught up with me. I accelerated, and joined them.
The German led at 32 km/h, and the Italian at 28 km/h. I led at 30 km/h.
Evening started, and I was still riding with them. We went into a bar to fill water. We had coke, and we shared chips.
The Italian remembered me from 1001 Miglia 2008. :-)
The Bulgarian group passed us when we were in the pub, but we quickly overtook them.
It's a long section of 138 km, and at then end of it they had a hotel.
My hotel was 88 km after there, At 802 km. We separated at the control, and I continued alone.
I saw an open pub (a rare sighting in the villages at this hour...) and went in. They were even willing to serve me some food (creamed sour cream on pastry.)
I rode the 88 km pretty tired, slowly, and stopped twice at bus stops for a 10-20 minutes kip.
I arrived at the hotel at 03:30, and set my alarm to 09:30. I had more than 10 hours to spare, but preferred to ride during the day, and sleep on the 3rd night, even though I haven't had a hotel reserved.
I woke at 08:30, before the alarm. Showered, and the receptionist asked me whether I wanted breakfast. I had time, so gladly accepted, and it was a good breakfast, although it was a bit minimalistic (scrambled egg, bread with butter and jam, tea.)
I didn't know where I was compared to the others, and hoped to learn at the next control, 34 km away, at 836 km.
I knew the Americans had a hotel about 130 km behind me, and hoped I was still in front of them.
At the control I met 2 Germans, who didn't know how many were in front of them. They left before me, and by the time I left (at a big toast in front of the Esterhazy Palace) 2 Bulgarians arrived.
The next control was 89 km awa, at 915 km, which I rode alone. I didn't pass anyone, and nobody passed me.
At the control I noticed I lost my reflective vest. It was loosely attached to my bag, and probably fell off in the bumpy roads. It's a problem, as it meant I couldn't ride at night without the reflective vest!
At the control I met most of the Bulgarians, who were about to leave together, and I left with them. We were about 10 riders.
I guessed that the German and Italian were ahead, and the Americans behind.
Exiting the town I saw a petrol station. I went inside, and bought a reflective vest. I was calm.
Next to the register I saw a chocolate snack called Balaton, which I bought. It was tasty.
I caught up with the Bulgarians and continued riding with them.
Pretty soon they split into 2 groups of 2 and 5 riders.
The 2 riders were ahead, riding a good pace, so I stayed with them.
They talked in an array of languages, each sentence in a different language. We talked a little, and it seemed that one was Bulgarian and the other Hungarian.
In the big city Gyor they had troubles navigating, so I did the navigation (I had a gps, and they didn't...)
The Bulgarian told me "You are a very good rider", and I complemented him back. :-)
The Hungarian talked a lot, also miming with his whole body while talking. There wasn't a dull moment with them.
The 51 km to the control passed quickly, and the finish was in a long steep ascent, ending in pave, to the monastery at the top of the mountain in Pannonhalma, at 966 km.
From there the route is lumpy, but I struggled, and kept with them, except a few times I was dropped.
At the control at 993 km we met the German couple whom I met that morning.
It was evening, and the Germans had a hotel nearby.
The 3 of us (Bulgarian, Hungarian, and me) said we'll ride to the next control "and then we'll see" (the Hungarian mimed sleeping in a bus station out in the cold...)
The route after the control is hilly, and after they waited for me twice - I asked them not to wait anymore.
When I reached the control (top of hill, pave...) they were still there, including 5 other Italians.
It was night between Saturday and Sunday, and the Italians said they were leaving, and the Bulgarian and Hungarian said they were leaving as well, so I joined them.
We were riding gently through the night, and I managed to keep up with them in the hills.
At one point they said they're stopping for 10 minutes kip on benches in a cafe. Without telling anyone, I set my alarm for 15 minutes "just in case..."
Everybody woke up from my alarm. It turned out that nobody else set their alarm...
We reached the control before the finish at 06:30, and there was a Burger Kind across the street which was supposed to open at 07:00.
We waited till it opened, and ate there.
The route to the finish needed some navigational skills, and although the Italians had gps's, they made wrong turns, and I yelled them to get back on course.
One time there was a junction where you had to turn in the middle of a fast descent, and it was clear they'll miss it. I was right... :-)
We all reached the finish together, 8 riders. We took pics, and said goodbye. :-)
At night I went to the restaurant with Itsik, and when we came back, Itsik was tired and went to sleep, and I went to another dinner, with Italians and the German rider I knew from Belgium. :-)
- -
A few insights about the 2 rides:
*) In Belgium everybody leaves together in the morning, so the sleep times are predefined to the riders, with pre-set days. It made the ride times be close to 90 hours, but everybody (except one) finished successfully.
*) Belgium was more hilly. I measured above 11,000 meters. In Hungary I measured more than 8,000 meters.
*) You can't get food in Hungarian villages after 18:00.
On Saturdays, the convenience stores are closed (and open on Sunday...)
*) There's no problem finding water in Hungarian villages - There are many blue pumps.
Links:
Thread with bike related pics I took in Hungary (in Hebrew.)
Tal.
Ride Report of the Hungary Transdanube 1200 2013 ride. (Hebrew)
I arrived in Hungary on Sunday afternoon, the day after finishing the ride in Belgium.
I landed in Budapest, and toured the city for 2 days.
On Monday Itsik Heyman arrived, and we toured the city together.
When I told my friends about this ride - Only Itsik was interested in joining.
In fact, we only did one thing: We went to the Great Synagogue, but since entry wasn't free - we didn't go in (no because of lack of budget, but of principle...) from there along the river to the Parliament, and back to the hotel.
I took some pics for a future post, of "Postcard from Budapest."
On Tuesday we took the train to Veszprem, where the ride starts.
We stayed at the hotel that was recommended by the organizer, and met some friends.
Itsik met a German rider who was riding with him in PBP 2007.
As noted, I'm one of 5 riders who rode in Belgium less than a week ago. The others are a German rider (the stoker in the tandem), and 3 other riders from the USA.
I met the Americans at the bike check, and in a restaurant during dinner. I had goulash, with a side dish that was recommended by the waiter - egg whites droppings. Itsik said that it's the best protein that can be, and I said it was tasty.
We told the waiter we'd eat there again, on Sunday night, after the ride.
- -
The hotel was 2.5 km from the start.
The start time was 5:00 am, and when we got to the starting point about 20 minutes before the ride, there were already dozens of riders there.
A big picture with all the riders, and we were off.
The instructions that were sent before the ride said that we'd all ride together for the first few km.
The route starts in a long descent to Lake Balaton, and a long plain along it for several 10s of km.
Pretty soon small groups were formed, and I think Itsik and me were in about the middle of the field, in a group of 15.
The 3 Americans were behind us (they stopped somewhere, and got off of our group.)
Motorcycles escorted us for about 60 km, stopping traffic at junctions.
The group was mainly of Italians, 3 of them female riders.
We stayed in that group until the first control, at 125 km.
When we entered the town, Itsik said he feels a flat in his front, but I couldn't "see it." We saw the German who knew Itsik on his way out of town, after visiting the control.
The control was a hotel on the city's main square, and touching, Itsik's front wheel was flat. While Itsik changed the tube - I got some food. 2 buns, one with chicken sausage, the other with cheese.
We wasted lots of time there, and by the time we left - The Americans arrived.
I checked, and we were about 45 minutes behind the German.
The 2nd control was in Pecs, at 196 km, and a gelato on the town's square, with no food.
Itsik said he saw a pizzeria nearby, but I said it would be a waste of time, and we bought pastries at a bakery.
The Americans ate in McDonald's, and I was sorry I missed it.
There were tourist signs to the synagogue, but we didn't check it.
After the 3rd control there's a 100 km section until the next control.
I was hungry, and said we would better have something for lunch (it was around noon, and we didn't have lunch...)
We had headwind, and crawled at 22-24 km/h.
We stopped at a bakery, and I had a pizza pastry, and another with cocoa, or a different sweet stuff which I didn't recognize.
In this section I had long chats with Itsik about nutrition.
It seems that I do stuff that "hold back absorption" of something I want to be held back, and on the other hand, I eat stuff that doesn't help.
It's a real wonder that my belly isn't exploding, or that I can even ride more than 50 km outside of urban areas...
When we ate, we saw the Americans going by, and I thought it was a chance to join them.
After the food break, I led at 30 km/h against the headwind. When Itsik led it was 24 km/h. I guess my body heard Itsik, and absorbed what it needed, and didn't absorbed what it didn't need...
After 20-30 minutes we caught up with the Americans, and rode with them, with changes, at a constant speed of 25 km/h.
At one point they stopped, and we carried on. When I was leading I rode faster, and at some point we reached an Italian group, which included the female riders.
We rode with them until the control and said goodbye when they went to eat and we continued to the next control and hotel.
Itsik and me reached the 5th control at 408 km alone, in the middle of the night. It was a hotel, which had our drop bags.
There were at least 20 other bikes there, of faster riders.
We set the time we'd want to leave, and I set my alarm clock to 20 minutes before. Itsik said he needed more time, and set his alarm clock to 40 minutes before leaving time.
When we left, there were only 4 other bikes. 3 of the Americans, and the 4th belonged to an American living in Sweden.
There next control is in Herend, at 536 km, 128 km away, and we rode it slowly, mainly (I think...) because we only stopped for food once, at a shop in a small village.
Towards the end of the section there are hills. One of them is pretty long, a few km. Itsik climbed very slowly, and I kept my pace.
I stopped at the nearby junction to wait for him, and after 10 minutes when he didn't arrive, I sat on the road.
He arrived 25-30 minutes after me. He said it was very hard for him, he walked, and plans to DNF at the control.
I said "let's get to the control, eat, drink, and then we'll see..."
We had 4 hours to spare, and Itsik could have gotten better. I felt really well.
On the way into the control I saw L.V. (full name undisclosed...) from Bulgaria. He's a very experienced rider, who rode more than 15 1200 km rides, and even RAAM last year.
After controlling I was looking for food. I met the Americans, who said they left the hotel 2 hours behind us (meaning - we lost 2 precious hours we could use for sleeping, or advancing on the road...)
I wanted to go into a supermarket, but saw no one around who could watch over my bike. In a nearby bar I saw an Italian rider and asked him to watch over my bike for a minute. The rider who was with him went into the bar for a minute.
I ran to the supermarket and picked some stuff. There was a long line at the only register, and I put my stuff there, and ran back to "release" the Italian from guarding my bike. The rider with him was H.M. from Germany, who I met a few days ago, in the ride in Belgium. We said "hello" and they were off.
I went back to the supermarket, payed, and sat on the ground to eat.
Some of the Americans arrived, and I told them that they'll "have" to ride with me, as Itsik DNF'd (Itsik texted me a few minutes earlier.)
Meanwhile I finished eating, and the Americans were still busy, so I said I'll go and they'll catch me.
The next control is 40 km away, at 576 km. It's a pizza place, and I rode alone.
I met the German and the Italian there, and a few Bulgarians.
I didn't order a pizza, as I was hurrying to go with the riders that were about to leave. As it turned out, I was the first one ready to leave.
I thought of riding with the Bulgarians, as they are slower than the German.
I started riding alone, and pretty soon the German and Italian caught up with me. I accelerated, and joined them.
The German led at 32 km/h, and the Italian at 28 km/h. I led at 30 km/h.
Evening started, and I was still riding with them. We went into a bar to fill water. We had coke, and we shared chips.
The Italian remembered me from 1001 Miglia 2008. :-)
The Bulgarian group passed us when we were in the pub, but we quickly overtook them.
It's a long section of 138 km, and at then end of it they had a hotel.
My hotel was 88 km after there, At 802 km. We separated at the control, and I continued alone.
I saw an open pub (a rare sighting in the villages at this hour...) and went in. They were even willing to serve me some food (creamed sour cream on pastry.)
I rode the 88 km pretty tired, slowly, and stopped twice at bus stops for a 10-20 minutes kip.
I arrived at the hotel at 03:30, and set my alarm to 09:30. I had more than 10 hours to spare, but preferred to ride during the day, and sleep on the 3rd night, even though I haven't had a hotel reserved.
I woke at 08:30, before the alarm. Showered, and the receptionist asked me whether I wanted breakfast. I had time, so gladly accepted, and it was a good breakfast, although it was a bit minimalistic (scrambled egg, bread with butter and jam, tea.)
I didn't know where I was compared to the others, and hoped to learn at the next control, 34 km away, at 836 km.
I knew the Americans had a hotel about 130 km behind me, and hoped I was still in front of them.
At the control I met 2 Germans, who didn't know how many were in front of them. They left before me, and by the time I left (at a big toast in front of the Esterhazy Palace) 2 Bulgarians arrived.
The next control was 89 km awa, at 915 km, which I rode alone. I didn't pass anyone, and nobody passed me.
At the control I noticed I lost my reflective vest. It was loosely attached to my bag, and probably fell off in the bumpy roads. It's a problem, as it meant I couldn't ride at night without the reflective vest!
At the control I met most of the Bulgarians, who were about to leave together, and I left with them. We were about 10 riders.
I guessed that the German and Italian were ahead, and the Americans behind.
Exiting the town I saw a petrol station. I went inside, and bought a reflective vest. I was calm.
Next to the register I saw a chocolate snack called Balaton, which I bought. It was tasty.
I caught up with the Bulgarians and continued riding with them.
Pretty soon they split into 2 groups of 2 and 5 riders.
The 2 riders were ahead, riding a good pace, so I stayed with them.
They talked in an array of languages, each sentence in a different language. We talked a little, and it seemed that one was Bulgarian and the other Hungarian.
In the big city Gyor they had troubles navigating, so I did the navigation (I had a gps, and they didn't...)
The Bulgarian told me "You are a very good rider", and I complemented him back. :-)
The Hungarian talked a lot, also miming with his whole body while talking. There wasn't a dull moment with them.
The 51 km to the control passed quickly, and the finish was in a long steep ascent, ending in pave, to the monastery at the top of the mountain in Pannonhalma, at 966 km.
From there the route is lumpy, but I struggled, and kept with them, except a few times I was dropped.
At the control at 993 km we met the German couple whom I met that morning.
It was evening, and the Germans had a hotel nearby.
The 3 of us (Bulgarian, Hungarian, and me) said we'll ride to the next control "and then we'll see" (the Hungarian mimed sleeping in a bus station out in the cold...)
The route after the control is hilly, and after they waited for me twice - I asked them not to wait anymore.
When I reached the control (top of hill, pave...) they were still there, including 5 other Italians.
It was night between Saturday and Sunday, and the Italians said they were leaving, and the Bulgarian and Hungarian said they were leaving as well, so I joined them.
We were riding gently through the night, and I managed to keep up with them in the hills.
At one point they said they're stopping for 10 minutes kip on benches in a cafe. Without telling anyone, I set my alarm for 15 minutes "just in case..."
Everybody woke up from my alarm. It turned out that nobody else set their alarm...
We reached the control before the finish at 06:30, and there was a Burger Kind across the street which was supposed to open at 07:00.
We waited till it opened, and ate there.
The route to the finish needed some navigational skills, and although the Italians had gps's, they made wrong turns, and I yelled them to get back on course.
One time there was a junction where you had to turn in the middle of a fast descent, and it was clear they'll miss it. I was right... :-)
We all reached the finish together, 8 riders. We took pics, and said goodbye. :-)
At night I went to the restaurant with Itsik, and when we came back, Itsik was tired and went to sleep, and I went to another dinner, with Italians and the German rider I knew from Belgium. :-)
- -
A few insights about the 2 rides:
*) In Belgium everybody leaves together in the morning, so the sleep times are predefined to the riders, with pre-set days. It made the ride times be close to 90 hours, but everybody (except one) finished successfully.
*) Belgium was more hilly. I measured above 11,000 meters. In Hungary I measured more than 8,000 meters.
*) You can't get food in Hungarian villages after 18:00.
On Saturdays, the convenience stores are closed (and open on Sunday...)
*) There's no problem finding water in Hungarian villages - There are many blue pumps.
Links:
Thread with bike related pics I took in Hungary (in Hebrew.)
Tal.
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