Unexpected new route, Tarosero Mountain

Tarosero mountain.

It is challenging to find a new route from your house without travelling big distances to the start .  So either you spend hours riding there, or use a gas guzzler to get there.  (I have an issue with that on a routine basis.)  It is okay to ride 2 hours to the start of the "ride".

After yesterday's experience I wonder if it is because of blindness over there being no routes.

During the work week riders start thinking about the weekend rides and routes.  Mostly it is established rides that have been done many times.  Mike suggested Tarosero and that was an exciting idea as it is a blank space on my map of places visited.  It is a 2,400 meter peak sitting on the edge of the Monduli Juu plateau.  the base about 40km from home.

There are purists among us who would not consider riding for hours on a highway to get tot the start of a mtn bike route.  Didn't seem to bother Mike or I.  We publicised the ride but only got a nibble from Sammy.  Sammy tried to drive and meet us  but his phone had an issue .  Maybe the lack of takers was because we are on the slow side of the pack, or maybe it was the 530am meet up,  or maybe is was an unknown route.

We arrange to meet on the west side of town at 530 am  after we had both ridden for 30 minutes in the dark to the meet up.  Daylight is a few minutes before 6am.  We both had lights and an excited mood.

As the soon rose we were treated to a red sunrise and hazy views back to mnt Meru.

On a road bike drafting behind strong riders it is one hour to monduli town, but it took us closer to two hours.  We chatted the whole way.  We have black spice tea and a few chapatis in Monduli.  In a sense the ride begins in monduli town, as we immediately climb through a forest on a good gravel road to the Monduli Juu plateau.

 Immediately after reaching the top and passing the village we ask and take a track leading to Tarosero. Sometimes we are on vehicle tracks and sometimes trails as we head for those meadows up on the mountain.

I should mention that Mike had heart surgery a year ago.

The cattle trail is steep and sometimes rocky.

Great tracks that lead us to the top and through Montaigne forests.  We note the Loliondo trees.

 Before we admire the view we eat our breakfast and take a breather.  about 50 km from home.  that is Lepurko mtn below, on my mental map but not climbed with a bicycle,only by foot.

Looking the other direction.

 We go down the same trail half way and then try a new one.  I worried about my brakes wearing out as it was ten minutes with the brakes on fully. this is the less steep section.

We had considered heading west o the plateau but finding a route took some asking, backtracking, and energy.  We got to the edge of the plateau caldera and decided to head back as it was now noon and we have 40km into the wind.

I left home at 5 AM and got home about 4pm.  the last 5km were very hard.  I struggled and shifted to low gears on hills.  mike said about 1200m elevation gain.

Great ride, a real classic with incredible views.