What did we do today and how do you fill a day in Ulaanbaatar? Pretty easily if you are with Leah and she convinced me to have our toes painted.

First up was a 30km ride out and back to last years start line, and the local ski hill, with Nico (one of the favourites to win the overall) and John who is back for his 5th time. We meet Nico and John 2 years ago at this race. Ulaanbaatar is not a great place to ride a bike, so we headed out at 730am and at least at that time of the day on a Saturday morning there was not too much traffic. Today was an easy day, and I pushed it a little on one climb to get the heart rate up, and straight away felt the altitude. Ulaanbaatar is at 1400m above sea level, and although this is not super high, you feel it if you live at pretty much sea level. It was a good reminder for tomorrow, that you did not recover as fast.

Back into town, and straight to Millies Cafe for breakfast and really good coffee and a more lazy start to the day, having ridden already. The only plans we had today was for me to pick up a local SIM card, and for us to maybe get out toes painted in time to make the sign in and briefing.

Two years ago, when we were across last time, we had a toes painted at a local pedicure place, and could not resist this again. In we went, and Leah sat in the hot seat first, while I went and got the SIM card. The SIM card was a bargain, as 30 days, although we are only here for 8, and 8gb of data for 16,500 togrog (MNT), or €5, so I should be able to update this if we have coverage in camp. Then back to the pedicure and into the hot seat I went. I had a special request from my nieces in New Zealand for pink toes, and gave in to them on 2 toes, meanwhile Leah was far more sensible with a deep blue. The result are striking!!

Tomorrow we race. Now it is time for something to eat, then the final bag pack and get a good nights sleep.