09/11/2023 Bikepacking Spain Day 34 : The Butterfly Effect

by Brian · Published September 11, 2023 · Updated March 3, 2024

Photos:

Janet wanted to rest today, so I decided to do a couple of efforts on the bike to help bring back my insulin sensitivity. Also, I would buy a new water bottle because mine fell off the fork leg cage mounts. I also planned to buy 6 pairs of replacement brake pads because there still remains a lot of descending steep stuff. --

It was supposed to rain today, but the weather held - so I took my time and enjoyed it. I made it to the town with the bike stores and the bike shop that had the necessary brake pads only had these tiny 500mL bottles that seem to be en vogue amongst euro cyclists. Cyclists must always look chic with their haute couture accessories. Anyway, I found myself in the street looking at Google Maps for another shop when a guy named "Chema" asked me if I needed any help.. --

Chema directed me to another shop, but somehow asked what I was seeking. I told him about the diminutive water bottles, and he said, "I have lots at my house. Don't buy one - I'll give you one." I decided to agree - and glad I did because next thing, I'm following him and he says, "I'll get you a coffee and go grab the bottles at my house". I wanted to buy him a coffee to say thanks, but he insisted. When Chema returned, we had coffee together, and as we sat on the patio and talked bikes, lots of people drove by and waved at him calling out his name. He was pretty popular in town. Turns out that he started a school for cycling youth. A car goes by and some teens call out and wave. He says, "oh, that is Óscar Freire Gómez's kid." He notices I am unimpressed, and he says, "you know who Óscar Freire Gómez is, right??" I confess that I don't. Turns out that he is 3x world champion - up there with Peter Sagan and Eddy Merckx. Ok. Cool! Next thing I know, a team in full kit is coming towards us (my back is turned to the street). He waves and some of the cyclists call out to him. Chema says "Oh, that was Evenepoel. I know him because he's friends with Óscar too". ** Now, I'm like whaaaaaaa? Janet and I had wanted to watch the Vuelta live, but we figured that we didn't overlap with them. Now, Chema is telling me that the Vuelta is going to go down this very road that we are sitting along sipping coffee TOMORROW. I check my phone: he's for real. Wow. Later his wife came from her police training (she's a cop and has to do martial arts training 2x per week). She sat down and had more coffee with us. It was pretty brilliant. The photo is of Oscar from the internet - because I forgot to ask Chema and his wife for a photo (Janet is the one who always remembers that)... And now you know who Oscar is in case someone comes up to you and says, "What? You don't know 3x world champion!"... and of course a photo of the bottle he gave me. **Just FYI, it wasn't Remco... so either I misunderstood (this whole conversation was in Spanish) or he was name dropping (more likely because my Spanish is pretty good and mixing up a name like Evenepoel would be hard).... --

And of course, the title... the butterfly effect. Had I not lost the bottle, I wouldn't have had this great experience of meeting and chatting with a cool new cyclist friend. Hopefully we will meet up with him tomorrow to watch Stage 16 of the Vuelta. He's already offered to come pick us up, but I feel guilty being the recipient of so many favors. --

Strava Comments:

Scooter R.

Vuelta live!

Judy I.

Evenepoel!?! He has been amazing the last two days! Wow. That butterfly has some big wings!

Osman I.

We'll look for you on TV among the spectators at Stage 16.

Brian L.

Judy Isvan - unfortunately, it wasn’t Remco

I had to do some Strava flyby to find out. It was a different team (Lotto). I wonder if I misunderstood him (whole conversation was in Spanish)… or maybe he was “name dropping?” Either way, still a fun day. Agree with you about Remco’s performance lately. Really enjoying seeing him fight hard instead of giving up.

Janet W.

Wow, I missed a lot of action today. I was happy you called me from the sidewalk coffee shop! We’re “living the pro cycling life” here and in Spain during La Vuelta!

Sօʀƈɛʀɛʀ 🅅.

Chris Horner's YouTube channel makes me smile every time I tune in for his interpretation of the Vuelta.

Tony B.

I’m enjoying watching the Vuelta as well! Love seeing Sepp in the red jersey. He’s so deserving of that jersey! He’s worked hard for Jumbo Vizma for the Giro and TDF. Turns out that he’s married a Spanish woman and now lives in Andorra. So this is like defending your home turf so to speak.

Brian L.

Tony Ballard - yes! Normally I don’t feel so strongly about the winner, but definitely hoping for Sepp. Like you said, he’s worked so dutifully for his team and Jonás and Primoz kind of “owe him one”. I liked looking at Sepp’s training rides over the year - almost 10k+ of climbing every day. He would inspire me to push my measly 3k climbs to 4K.

It’s humbling to see how these guys are willing to work so hard for their goals.

Mark G.

Great Day! Just imagine all the live's we haven't lived and all the possibilities ahead due to the

Osman I.

I, too, am hoping for Sepp, and that's precisely because he, like many others, is paid to make selfless sacrifices for his "team." The concept of teaming in bike racing is a little weird. They call it a team sport, but it is not. An individual stands on the podium. Team managers decide which one of their own players deserves the glory. I understand sacrificing for your team, but this is different than that.

Osman I.

If cycling were a team sport, every player would get the cumulative time (and points) earned by their team. When Real Madrid defeats F.C. Barcelona in a soccer match, the player who scored the most goals isn't declared the winner. The team that scores the most goals will win, so everyone plays for their team. Soccer is a team sport. Teaming in a race that an individual athlete will win is borderline corruption.

Paula G.

That is so freakin cool that you got to meet and visit with him!! He obviously could tell that you were an accomplished rider and wanted to share some stories and a bottle with you.