Similar to a good record or song, some video games accompany me ever since I was first introduced to them. "The Sentinel" ("The Sentry" in the US) from 1986 is such a game. I was first introduced to it when I bought the tape version at a discount for my Commodore 64 (which was somewhere in late 1987).

I also played the AtariST, Amiga and ZX Spectrum versions, the latter being my favourite 8 bit version.

Today "The Sentinel" is often described as a "3D strategy game, involving resource management and timing". But back in the day the concept was absolutely new and often bulkily described as a "3D variant of the classic chess game".

And it seems that this game made an impression on other people as well, which is why there is a nice "fan remake" for modern systems: Pinnacle

https://viperfishgames.itch.io/pinnacle-a-fan-remake-of-the-1986-classic-the-sentinel

If you like those 1980s "chequerd floor" aesthetics and like to solve logic puzzles but do not yet know "The Sentinel", then you should try out "Pinnacle"

#Pinnacle
#TheSentinel
#1980s
#Strategy
#Game
#Firebird
#Remake

One Weekend – Two Pinnacle Rides

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This weekend I know of two challenging rides that I could do. The first is a 140km ride with 2000m of climbing, eventually getting to the top of the Salève. The second is a 153km walk with 2500m of climbing to the Col Du Grand St Bernard.

Col Du Grand St Bernard

With the ride to the Col Du Grand St Bernard I suspect that I would be okay with riding from Nyon to Martigny. It's when the climbing starts that I have doubts. It's a one thousand meter leap. My biggest climb in a day of cycling was 1600m in total. With 2500m of climbing this is 900m than I have done before. I am not comfortable with making such a big leap, especially after one of the longest distances I have ever cycled.

Geneva

With the second ride I am not too worried about the first seventy kilometres. I expect the pace to be fast, and to have to work to keep up, and fuel up regularly but I think I can cope. It's with the climb of the Salève that I have a small doubt.

There are thirty five kilomtetres of climbing to get to the top of the Salève but the gradiant is reasonable. This is not La Baudichonne or the climb to La Barillette. It is doable.

And Finally

Usually by this evening or tomorrow morning I will know what other opportunities are available for group rides. That is when I will make my decision. I will rest on Friday and Sunday, so I can push myself on Saturday. I think that cycling to Martigny would be a good first step, and then I can try cycling from Nyon to the Col. I think that to do both challenges at once is bound to fail.

With the salève climb I believe that the probability of success is high, if I remember to cool myself at fountains and avoid sprinting on downhill sections. Ideally if one or two people are at my level that would be pleasant. I am the Lanterne Rouge regularly enough on rides that involve climbing.

#challenge #climbing #cycling #effort #endurance #pinnacle #vertical