For a lot of years I am registered as potential donor of stem cells at the DKMS Germany (DKMS UK / DKMS US). Patients with Leukemia urgently need a stem cell donation to live. Their stem cells have to be killed/removed to cure the cancer and then have to be replaced with new ones from a donator.
Years ago, the donation was a difficult process, but this is no longer true. Today the stem cell donation is a relatively simple process and not dangerous at all. More information can be found on the DKMS pages.
For a donation, the donator has to match strict criteria compared to the patient. The likelihood for a match is in the range of hitting the jackpot in a lottery. Therefore it is important that as many people as possible register as donators!
On 28.5. is international day against blood cancer.
Mid of last week, Ralf asked, whether we would start at the “RTF” (organized bike tour) around Stuttgart (“Rund um Stuttgart”). In principal a good idea, but: Start/Finish in Untertürkheim, where we would have to start at the latest at 9:00 … which means we would need to take the train in Böblingen at 8:00. Hmm, that’s pretty early. And then I checked the tour… it goes via Sindelfingen/Ehningen and through Holzgerlingen, my home town!
So why not create a “Around Stuttgart Special” tour and ride the official track, but from “Böblingen to Böblingen”, great idea, right?
Thought, agreed, done: So we started at our club-house at 10:00, through the Aichtal at pretty high speed until Grötzingen where the tour started to go on roads that I didn’t know, as this is not my typical area. But with the RTF signs at every turn, it was easy to follow the roads until Untertürkheim through nice sceneries. Arrived at the start/finish area after about 50km, where we made a short break.
Then we started again and followed a sign “Tour A und B this direction”… OK, so we climbed the Rotenberg which is one of the nice hills in Stuttgart, about 200m altitude, with a great view over Stuttgart. Once being here, this is a view that you must enjoy:
A small issue with that. This was not the official route. We must have missed a turn, so climbing up here was not really intentional. OK, same way back down. Checked the GPS track on the smartphone… shortly after the sign we had missed a turn left. OK, next try. A few kilometers through the vineyards … until the next road crossing. No RTF sign, checking the SmartPhone, we are on the right track. What’s up now? Well, after short thinking it became clear. The official start was planned until 9:00, but we were at the start only at 12:00 as we had left Böblingen only at 10:00. So the organizers had already started to remove the signs. Clearly my fault, bad planning.
So at first, I started to check the Smartphone at every road crossing that was unclear. But that doesn’t work well, you have to stop each time and wait, that is not “road bike” like. But Martin, one of our team, had a bike-GPS mounted and had done this tour already some 8 years ago, and still had the old tour stored. The old tour was a bit different, but at least this would allow us to follow directions without stopping.
For the next few kilometers we first had to find to the right road of the old route and missed a few turns, so we stumbled across some of the outer parts of Stuttgart, until we reached the right track. Around Fellbach and Kornwestheim, the old route used a lot of main roads, so we had quite a lot of traffic. After about 20km we reached “outside Stuttgart” around Münchingen, Hemmingen and Heimerdingen, and things went much better. Very nice scenery again.
Shortly before we reached Magstadt, we followed known roads again, but I was a bit surprised about the road there. I already knew that after many, many years of construction work, the last bit of the new B464 was finished. However there was no side-road, and the B464 is like Autobahn, so we HAD to cycle almost one kilometer on the B464 until we could leave it and enter Magstadt. This is a bit strange. So here we left the official RTF track, as we all started to be a bit tired and wanted to take the shortest route back to Böblingen. After all, here is our home-turf.
Despite the extra-tours in Stuttgart, I think it was a nice tour, the views over Stuttgart on such a nice day were worth it. But next year we either have to prepare better by loading the official GPS track on a bike navigator,… or we don’t do the tour this day again.
Back home, I had 132,2km, 1.340m altitude with an average speed of 23,9km/h recorded. Not bad, I think we’ll all sleep well tonight.
For a number of years I participate in the organized tours of my club RSG and for the last 3-4 years, I organize the tours (RSG-Website, in German). Recently Brigitte who organizes the Holzgerlinger Lauftreff asked me if I could organize the routes for a few bike enthusiasts on Thursdays in the evening. So I volunteered spontaneously.
Last Thursday was the first tour, and I think it went pretty well. Every new group must learn a bit the coordination. We “lost contact” twice, and were a little disorganized to find us again, so finally we arrived back in two groups. Nothing that could not be solved the next time. The speed was a little bit high at times, again communication is something that can be learned 🙂
Although the forecast is really cold, we’ll do the second turn tomorrow. Looking forward to it and hope that people will come again and were not discouraged by the first time.
After the planned break, it first continued to rain on Friday. But it stopped around mid-day so we started at 14:00 and then the sun also came out. So we visited Eremita Betlem, that we missed on one of our first tours. On the way back we tried a “new” route and must have missed the bike-road. The “road” we then had to endure for 10km may only be used as a mountain-bike test-terrain, not suitable for road bikes. Anyway, day’s result: 111,7km with 1650m altitude and 23,9 km/h average speed.
Then the first top tour: Valdemossa and Soller, so over two passes. This year we did not go via the “bike road” because of too much cyclist traffic, we chose the main road from Sineu to Santa Eugenia… very good pavement and fast to go although a few meters altitude to do. The climb to Valdemossa is good, not too steep. The town is really nice, but as it is so nice, that there are too many tourists there.
Mallorca 2014, 5.4. Valdemossa
Then we continued via Deia to Soller, I was a little frightened of this section as the up/down/up/down can really kill you in the mountains. But that was not the case: just one further climb directly after Valdemossa and then the route is flat and downhill all the way to Soller. 🙂 Now the Soller-Pass, for me the first time in this direction. It is a little steeper this way, but still OK to ride.
Mallorca 2014, Sa 5.4., Soller Pass
So this was the first top tour: 160,5 km with 2100m altitude and 24,2 km/h average speed.
After such a tour, next day needs some “recovery-training”: going again to the coast (Colonia Sant Pere), in the mountains there would anyway be too much traffic on a Sunday. As flat as possible and a coffee/cake break in Petra. The day: 110,5 km with 1290m altitude and 25,4 km/h average speed.
Monday: second top tour! As this was such a great tour last year, we repeated the same as in 2013. Again (as two days earlier) via the highway to Bunyola and over the Soller-Pass. FOG! We did not get the best day. Due to the fog, it was really cold, on the ship we had to sit inside as it was freezing cold outside. It looks like we started much earlier last year, we just arrive at the harbor around 12:40 … just in time to get the ticket. Never mind: in Calobra there was also fog, but after the first 50m altitude behind, we were above fog and could continue the climb in the sun with pleasant temperature. Not such much sweat… but heavy breathing anyway, with 7% average rise and 700m altitude. Such much breathing that on top, I just thought about calming down, buy something to drink and forgot to take photos. Therefor picture from last year:
Serpentines at Sa Calobra
On the way back, we shortly visited the Monastery Lluc for a quick break. The day: 143,4 km with 2140m altitude and 22,8 km/h average speed.
For our small group, Tuesday was the finishing tour: trip towards Cap Formentor, but only till the first platform, as the total tour would have been a bit too much for the day. Something left for the next time…
Tue 8.4.2014: First platform view towards Cap Formentor
The day: 104,7 km with 970m altitude and 24,1 km/h
As Jürgen, Andi and Ralf traveled home Wednesday, I was left to do a small tour in my own speed… I chose again the Monastery Lluc, but with time for sightseeing. But for that I first had to go over another pass from Caimari:
Coll de sa Batalla, Pass von Caimari zum Kloster Lluc
The climb was OK to do, not steep. But at the beginning a lot of traffic, cyclists, cars and busses 🙁 … Fortunately this was over after the first kilometer or so. At the monastery I took an hour to walk around and enjoy the location and scenery. The day: 100,6 km (I had to do some detours, otherwise I would have been back with only ~85km), estimated 1200m altitude and 24,2 km/h average speed.
Thursday was then a slow “rolling out” tour: 61,7 km with estimated 500m altitude and 25,7 km/h average speed. A short visit at the Roadbike Festival, which started on this day. But only “window shopping” and checking out the new stuff… nothing to buy (forgot the credit card in the hotel).
For me this was pretty hard training. I had done only 3-4 small rides before going to Mallorca, not enough as preparation, and Jürgen’s tours were tough. But I really enjoyed it!!!
Summary:
13 Tours with two top runs
1.505,8 Kilometers
62 hours, 20 Minutes pure cycling time
18.450m of altitude
For the following weekend, I will just rest and leave my legs to recover. But I already look forward to the next time. 🙂
After the first recovery day on Sunday, now follow another 3 rides.
First we went to the Sant Salvador. It looks like we were early birds, there were only few people going up at that time. The weather was rather good, but this first section was just the first third of this tour, so we continued after only a short rest! At the end of the day we did 143km and 1650 m of altitude with average speed of 25,2 km/h.
On Tuesday we visited for the first time the Sierra Tramuntana, the coastal mountains. Via Bunyola to Orient, a quite frequent tour, so a lot of cyclists there. As the Café in Orient was quite full, we directly continued and raced down the great downhill road towards Alaró… for once I’m first, waiting for the others, when they usually have to wait for me after the uphill sections…
We continued onwards to Inca for the coffee break and “refreshed” we then also climbed the Puig de Inca:
So this tour ended with 120,5 km and 1450m altitude and average speed of 23,2 km/h.
On Wednesday then long and flat. Right? Well, depends on your definition. First visiting Randa, that was quite OK. With the road from Montuïri this is a nice start, not very steep to start with, then going up the Randa climb. Nice, a bit windy and not so warm today. So we continued in direction Santanyi and onwards to Cala Figuera. This second part of the ride was god-awful, all the time head-winds. but finally at Cala Figuera we had some sun to relax:
Now for once we had some luck. With head-winds on the way there, we had back-winds on the way home… unusual, normally you only have headwinds 😉 . During the tour we had average speed of only around 22km/h lag, so the way home was a pleasure going really fast! The final tour dates: 160,2 km with 1750m altitude and average speed of 25,0 km/h.
After three days riding, we now have another day break… and promptly it rains again. Currently at 14:00 there is a short break, but clouds are dark… however the forecast for the next days is great.
These first three days were really hard for me. Having skipped training mostly during winter, yes of course: my own fault, and then on day 2 90km and day 3 111km with altitudes of 1420m and 1700m, and with respectable speed.
OK, three days training and then one day for regeneration… As if planned that way, it started to rain today in the morning. We’ll see, if it clears and drys, maybe a few slow km later.
For today a strike was announced to affect also the Stuttgart Airport… so sleep was not so well, and also very short. Got up at 3:00 for departure at 5:50. Then at the airport everything was quiet and we arrived in Palma around 7:50 as planned to get our bus transfer at 9 to Can Picafort.
… But what… Started to rain heavily!?!? Whats that?
Well, around 12 it stopped again and with the sun coming out, the streets were soon drying up.
With that, on to Cala Sant Vincenç…
Our standard starter tour, today with 87km, 630m altitude and 24,5 km/h average speed.
Also in Spain, the spring-time is just starting, only few trees started to bloom…
Spring bloom, Alcalá de Henares, City of Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quijote
Aside from work, there was also time to enjoy Spanish specialties and some culture. Tuesday evening we made a little sightseeing to Alcalá de Henares, the city where Miguel de Cervantes was born.
Old University, Alcalá de Henares, where Miguel de Cervantes was bornAlso heroes from literature get statues… like Don Quijote, in Alcalá de HenaresSpring-time with family Stork
Spring-time… the storks take care for a new generation
Storks in Alcalá de Henares, city of Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quijote
This week I encountered this website/blog: untrans.eu
I was quite aware of this specific issue, before finding this site. If you talk “other” languages, you will automatically have that problem at times, there are certain terms or sayings that you just cannot translate, meaning will get lost. But its interesting to see that a professional translator, fluent in three languages, has this problem also, and even finds it interesting enough to dedicate a blog to this topic.
Just another small piece in the puzzle that makes me believe that computer translations will never really work perfectly. 🙂
For a lot of years I am registered as potential donor of stem cells at the DKMS Germany (DKMS UK / DKMS US). Patients with Leukemia urgently need a stem cell donation to live. Their stem cells have to be killed/removed to cure the cancer and then have to be replaced with new ones from a donator.
