I can see the finish line..

As we are on the straight away I can see it already.. Yes the finish line..!

The year is coming to an end soon and with the weather changing I don't see my numbers taking a huge drop or a huge increase..

As I woke up this morning I felt sort of melancholic and went reading old posts and a lot of comments from them, till I got to the post that give me the idea for this one.. Do you remember the What your goals are? Well if you don't, just follow the link and it will bring you to it..

So mine were extremely ambitious and involved huge changes in my life and my family life.. Did I accomplish any of them? Did anything change from the day I wrote them to now? Lets find out..!

My goals for 2016:

- Moving to Malaga with the family. DONE!
- Get a job that allows me to follow my dream. (wait for iit is coming) Working on it.
- Buy a nice BIG house in Malaga. Discarded, at least for now
- Start our own B&B. Discarded
- Start offering my cycling guide services in Malaga. I started..!!
- Go back to Argentina to get my older son, Pablito. Leaving on the 25th for Argentina
- Ride 15.000 Km for the year. Have you seen where I live? Not this year..!
- Climb 150.000 meters in a year. Will be close..! Stay tuned for this one
- Lower my weight to 85 kilos. Ha..! Not even close..!
- Write more in my blog. And better should I add. Ons and offs.. I like interaction and the blog doesn't give me that
- Become financially independent. Working on it every day

- Meet more PdC members. Yes..! Yeehoo, thebongolian, maratsafin and Paul from Scotland

-And the most important one….. TO BE AND MAKE MAKE FAMILY HAPPIER..!!! We are HAPPIER!

So to me has been a nice mix of yes and nos but I will take it as us (family and me) finishing ahead with all the changes that we faced..

The Pablo's Cycling Tours Facebook page is running and I am looking forward to this business to take off.. by the way if you didn't like the page yet please do.. If you already did.. Thank you very much..! Feel free to suggest anything that might help.. Good and bad critics are the only way to move forward.

But enough about me.. Tell me, tell us...

What your finish line looks like?

To Instan with the fast guys

On Saturday my day started early… Couldn’t sleep well the night before.. Went to bed at 2 and was up before 7… So I was the first one at the meeting point..

It was a hard ride on our way to Instan, that is the name of the town on top of a beautiful climb.. As we rode hard up I didn’t take any pictures.. I was trying to get a few PR on my way up and I was doing extremely well…. Till we found a guy laying on the ditch and a bunch of other cyclists around him and a car parked a little farther up the road.. My first thought was the worst.. I thought he got hit.. Fortunately I was wrong..

He was coming down the hill hit a rock and ended up on the ditch on the other side of the road.. Lucky him he wasn’t hurt too bad.. scratches and bruises, road rush and shaken.. The hip too a nasty hit and might need x-rays.. But he was conscious and nothing obvious broke…

After this incident my momentum was gone and I just follow the rest of the guys up the hill at whatever speed I could go.. We finally reached the refilling point..

You should see the size of the bike and water bottle holder of the guy with the green bidon..

Then I joined them down there for a pic… Pay attention to the guy on the left…

Next time you have something to complain think of this guy and what he does every time he gets on the bike.. And don’t give silly excuses anymore on why you didn’t go for a ride.. Also a bit of his background: He finished 20 on the world championship of his category.. He is a very strong rider..!! Yes he passed me up the hill…!!

Coming down the hill I hung off the back to take some pics.. The guys… Well they didn’t wait..

So it was like this till they dropped me.. Take pic..Chase..

This guy was a slower descender… I kept him close by.. Enjoying the view..

And that is a dam in the middle of the mountains.. Makes for a nice size lake..

A bit closer to the lake… I wanted to go for a swim there..

After a few minutes going down the hill we got to Marbella and rode for a few minutes on the side of it.. Interesting place (filthy rich) but to get home we had to go over that rock in the back…

And here is the start of it.. And my riding buddies passing me as I take pics.. Salvi is impressive..!!

After that last shot I took a few more but they didn’t come out as I expected… Besides I was too busy with my head hanging over my handlebars climbing the rock on the pic I showed you earlier.. Got a PR there as well..!!! Woohoo..!! Here is the link to INSTAN ride.. He he.. couldn’t help it with the name..

So there you go this is a loop that I hope to show you the day you come by for a visit.. Has lots of lovely views and if you do it at a more relax pace there is lots of pictures opportunities..

Remember to LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE to stay up to date about rides and events.. Also if you are interested about any specific dates..

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and stories..

See you next time 

Pablo

Thw Weekend Report Guy

Remember La Vuelta Stage 2 of 2015??

I am not going to get into details.. Main reason I do not like to do research.. It was a finish at la Vuelta last year I believe..

And I went up it… Slowly… But I did it..

Getting there… You pass this lovely area..

New experience.. Ride under the clift..

Let the pain begin… Bobastro is the name of the climb as well..

Jasper lives in this town so I am guessing he had a lot of friends over.. Lots of paint on the road.. failed to get good shots of them..

Another one 15% or so ramp..

I thought I was was climbing into the sky here..

Over the shoulder hairpin shot….

Photo finish at the top?

And if you pass the finish line you can see this

And farther up the route..

Time to head home… Another climb before we hit a big long downhill with a massive head wind.. I mean really bad one.. Here I took the front for 99% of the time..
23 km of fun against the wind…

But all was worth it.. We had a great day out and finished with a few claras and chips with jamon serrano..

So my extended weekend was:

Thursday: 38 and 750
Friday: 64 and 770
Saturday: you saw this one up there… Yes the one I posted earlier.. Killer ride.. Seriously..
Today: 98 and 1600

The week was a nice one and a new record high in numbers for me here in Spain:

15 hours
368 km
5505 meters of climbing

I am chasing my 10.000 kilometers… So far? 4163 km ridden…

As I mentioned in previous posts I started offering my services as a bike guide3 around this beautiful area of the world.. So if you decide to come this way and want to have someone with some local knowledge of the area and the language give me a call, send me a message or use the Facebook Page to get in touch with me..

Thanks for reading..and see you soon..!

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy

Discovering the HC climb

What did I had in my mind? No idea..!! But sure it didn’t look like this..!!

This was my third day of climbing.. It was a while since I had 3 days in a route of riding much less of this much climbing.. It was a painful day where I had plenty of shot of my friends behinds…

At the start of the climb things looked like this… And they didn’t change much more for the next 14 km… 6% average gradients..

We even passed 2 tunnels… This one was scary..! Couldn’t see poop in there..!

I am not sure when but this climb was part of the Vuelta?? Maybe 2015?? No clue.. Kill my ignorance.. And Go Purito..!!!

As I got to the top… Antonio and Juan Diego were eating.. Texting and ready to come down… I was like 5 minutes slower then them..

No matter what my time said of me… I was in a good spirit..!! Dead but in a good mood..!

The view of Málaga and the mediterranean sea from the top of this mountain… Is great to get to the top on your own... It gives extra value to it..

And once we made it back home… Refreshments were on..!!

Great day..!! I am done..! So when are you booking your trip to Coín..?

Thanks for reading and sharing.. Don't forget to follow us in +Facebook HERE IS THE LINK

Pablo

The Weekend Report & Retreat Guy

We are OPEN for business..!!!

You knew it was coming for a while if you are a regular of this place... If you are not don't worry you will catch up as the post progresses..

So as I finally consider that I know enough of the routes around me to offer YOU a few days of great cycling when you come I decided to create and open The Weekend Retreat !!

What is this? here is where I offer my services, local knowledge and support the day you come here to ride your bike...

Do you need me if you decide to come? Absolutely not..! Would it be helpful to have me next to you as you ride..??? Definitely..!!!

Why? Simple knowledge.. I have it.. I know where the water filling spots are.... Where to eat.. What routes have a bit more of shade... What times the routes have more traffic... Where the flat roads are... Where the mountains are.. You know what I mean.. I know the details to make you remember this trip forever.. And I want to make sure that you come back a second time..!! Or third..!

We are starting small.. I am not offering anyone to stay with me because the house is small.. Unless you are a close friend and don't mind 2 dogs and kids running up and down...
I do offer you my interpreter services to help you book a room in a local hostel.. After all you are coming here to ride a bike not for the 5 stars hotels.. (you see? I am already making this cheap for you)
The eating and drinking around here are just great pick any bar and you will leave happy and full for no much money spent...

If you want to know more...  Here is the +Facebook page where you can ask any questions or just ask in the comments below...

If you are a long term friend just let me know when are you coming and what would you like to do...

Questions and suggestions are always welcome..

Remember we are starting really small..

Thanks for reading and see you soon..

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy

The extended weekend..

One of the things I do not fully understand here in Spain is how every little town has their own holidays... Well today was my little town turn to have his... Where do I live? Coín for you..!

So we had another day off.. To me makes no difference really since I am still in the process of validating my paperwork here in Spain while I am looking for work but not luck so far... Thanks God my wife is working and I can stay home for now and take care of the kids, the house and the pets... But I am not going to lie is getting a bit frustrating...

BUT it has a positive side to it right? I can venture out almost every day on my bike and take pictures and write stories that I believe you enjoy and makes you pass a few minutes traveling around Spain thanks to the internet... Maybe one day we meet on the roads???

Well too much blah, blah blah already..!!! We went for a ride down the beach with a few detours... First we went to Alhaurin el Grande before heading into the mountains of Mijas and here is where the real fun begun.... But I posted many pictures of these climbs before.. You can look them up on the previous posts...

Today was about the beach...
Here is one pic as we got to the beach area on what I believe was Benalmadena

The images are great to perceive the peace and quiet of a Monday morning by the beach.. I would say was around 10:30 AM but I wish there was a way to make you breath the sea air as you were riding... That is something that you have to come down and experience for yourself... A true amazing feeling!

In between your riding you can visit the other towns.. Or why not just ride along the Mediterranean sea while you visit them? Fuengirola

As I was telling you... there is a great marine path where you can enjoy a relaxed ride by the beach.. Follow her example...

And eventually when you get enough of the beach and the flat lands you can make a short detour to start climbing almost right away...

While you are climbing you will have this amazing surrounding where the sun and mountains will keep you company for as far as you can see...

Now don't forget that this is Spain and if you decide to come here for a ride you will be HOT so is very important to have 2 full water bottles and plenty of sunblock..!!! So you can enjoy this roads..

What the routes are like? Let me tell you I was glad to be going the other way here... Not that was much less getting here..

So at that point I put the camera away to start the downhill into home... No I am not that crazy to take pictures while doing over 50 km/h on the bike...

As a resume and the route for you here is a LINK to the +Strava ride, you can have a better understanding of the ride and the routes by looking at the profile and speeds that the +Garmin records while I am riding...

Thanks for reading and SUPPORTING this blog...

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE ONES THAT DONATED

Faster? Stronger?

Semana Santa here in Spain... Holly week that means... Most of the people already at their favorite holiday destination or at home relaxing and enjoying each others company... You know what this means for us cyclists???? ALMOST traffic free routes all over the place... I don't think I crossed 100 cars today in my 3+ hour ride...

Using this unique conditions I set out with a plan in my head... I was going to actually train..!! My plan? Since is almost impossible to ride around here without hitting a climb and this is great for me since I really suck at it I picked this climb to be my playground today..

According to +Strava this is a 14.5 km long climb with a 4% average gradient... Some places had more..

And some others has less....

But is a rewarding climb... As you heading for the top you can soak in this views around you..

And I could keep posting views like this for hours...

You wondering what the routes look like?

Nature and man made structures made up for a nice picture here...

This one was standing alone at the top of a rise in the distance.. A silo? A windmill? Great view..!

Don't we all hate those skinny, young and stronger riders?? This one was a gentleman and said Buenos Días as went by... OH..!!! This was the top of the climb.. Right there is the highest point.

After the las picture it was a downhill... I was trying to catch the guy that passed me at the top but I never saw him again... I am not a good bike handler so I use my breaks a lot coming down the mountains... So I got down to the town of Burgos.. There I decided to turn around and head home again.... Following the same route and trying to do better in this segment.. 35 km till we get home.

The routes offer a variety of bars and restaurants where one could stop for a refreshment, snack or even a full meal..!!

Other riders are polite as well most of the time so don't forget to wave or say Hola..!

Specially if you see this big guy suffering up a climb... Hola..! Hello..!

And getting back up to the Puerto the las Abejas... Port of the bees...Actually saw a few around...

After cresting over Las Abejas for second time started the loong downhill home... And I was in a mission to cut my time on the segment mentioned above.. Camera went in my jersey and didn't come out till I got home....

The ride home? fast downhills with lots of little leg breakers and some others that are categorized as category 4 climbs... Lots of sections that are flat or false flats.. I was trying to hold a steady heart rate at a tempo or high tempo pace.. (for me that is) I was doing well and could it be a bit faster if it wasn't for the head wind coming at me...

So by the time I got home what did I have? I had a lots of PR that are easy to get when you are new in an area.. So Strava told me my final numbers look like this.

And my legs where beat and tanned..!

Thanks for reading and sharing

See you next time

Pablo

The Weekend Report Guy