16 July 2011 #14 a continual bike riders dream even - Mt Ventaux

I've been slack, well busy - clients are in and that means running and running or riding and riding. Here is a bit of info from a few days back - hopefully I'll have something more recent in the next few days. 

More playing on the bike today - Mount Ventaux (MV) and first clients coming in. 

Food - okay so I’ve missed a few days of catching up so I’ve got a few tails. The first ‘food’ related point would have to be the poor kid who was bringing up his food on the way from Vaujany to Mane, the road is quite twisty and I guess it got the better of him. Sometimes I hate it when I’m inquisitive and you look where you are not supposed too! Yesterday we ate lunch at Le France Bistro in Mane, the paillea was just amazing, so much food and it hit the spot. This morning breakfast was just a pastry-athon, nothing like fresh out of the oven snails and pan-ocholoate!   

Weather - here come the kestrels! We are in Provence and the winds down here are famous. They have not arrived yet but we’ve been warned that they’ll be here tomorrow. It’ll make climbing MV on Monday all that more exciting. I have heard a rumour that on really windy day they actually close the top of the mount down! That wouldn’t be such a good thing for the clients. 

Car - I’ve got many, where the clients are staying is a 5 star accommodation in Mane called Couvent des Minimes - quite spectacular. Of course with this being the case they’ve got the cars to match, a car park full of Porsches, AMG’s and Fiat Bambino’s! On the flip side, there was a yard full of old Citroens today, DS’ and the like, oh so sad to see such classics just wilting away. Last but not least was the hay bale truck on the way to MV - classic!

Conversation - easy! On the way down from MV I stopped at the cafe at the intersection, 6k from the top (for those who have been). There was a lead guy (LG) from a bike company, no names, who was talking to one of the riders who still had to climb to the top of MV. LG “wasn’t that just the best climb (remember just the first part) you’ve ever done, where else can you get a workout like that!?” Rider “yeah, amazing” (sincerely). LG “now don’t forget to replenish your electrolytes as you’ve got another 6k to the top”. Rider “yes I’m feeling like I could use some” ... nuff said!

Animal - The sheep that were on the side of the road on the way up MV, thank you for not coming across the road whilst descending!

What else of note: MV what types of bikes have not climbed this Mount!? There was everything making it up today, old clunkers, re-cumbants, family bikes, kids bikes, heaps of standard pedal bikes and of course super expensive bikes!   

Parting thought of the day/blog: Riding through the lavendar fields on the way back down MV, they are harvesting sections of it at the moment and the smell from it was just amazing! 

Friday + Saturday 8/9 July 2011 #9/10 a continual bike riders dream with a bull or two

Day two and three of running with the bulls - time to watch it from above the crowds then watch it from up in the stands in the bull ring!? 

Food - Friday - pastries while waiting for the bulls (and people) to run by, a lovely way to start a day + our dinner at the Convention Centre last nite while watching the fireworks! Saturday - home cooked dinner tonite, potato salad with spanish sausage, mushrooms and onion and some cider, with ‘the team’ before Vic and I split.

Weather - Cold - long pants and t-shirt were not the dress of the day ... that was what I was in till changing into cycling gear and getting a few k’s in. Saturday, HOT and plenty more people in town due to it being a weekend, again this ‘celebration’ goes on and on and on! 

Car - Ambulances, there were heaps of them today, carting those poor buggers off to hospital. Sad enough, as I was driving past the hospital today there was someone being ‘released’ with a bandage wrapped around his head, he’ll have a memory for life. More ambulances on Saturday, a guy was in our street getting his heart pumped when we left early this morning ... a guy about midday was also being kept alive by the ambo’s. 

Conversation - Friday - Tourist to me in regards to last nights firework display “Those fireworks are the best I’ve ever seen” - I hate to be a fireworks SNOB but they were not as good as the Sydney’s New Years Eve celebrations, kmon! Saturdays conversation, it was with Seb who I was sitting next to in the bull ring this morning, anything he said was a drunken slur ... not bad for a 17 year old, his parents would be so proud ... I just wish that I had a breath mint for him!

Animal - Friday, seeing the bulls run was quite amazing, more on that later, they take the cake but up there with them were ‘the bugs’. On the ride on Friday evening I was riding along with a million of my newest friends, flying nats! Thank goodness for sunglasses!! It was only for a small section but there were enough of them to have a few still swarming around inside my jersey when I got home. Saturday - the five bulls which are let out to play with regular Joe/Joannes in the bull ring. These ones get to live for a few more years that those which ran in the morning. They entertain us in the stands and punish many of the drunkeds that try to be a matador! 

What else of note: The running of the bulls, in one word ‘crazy’. I decided not to see the ‘riff-raff’ on Friday, instead I decided to be above them. To do this you need access to a private apartment which overlooks the alley. These people hire out their apartments for the mornings of the festival. People use their lounge rooms to watch the bulls run. I guess you’d get a little passé about it all after a few years. I must also admit that living above these streets during San Fermin would be a little tiresome due to all the ‘partying’ during the night. The city is absolutely mobbed ALL night, people are everywhere, the streets are full and they stay there for the whole night/festival. The days wouldn’t be so bad. Most revelers head to the parks to sleep before waking in the afternoon to start all over again. 

Parting thought of the day/blog: to the guy who stripped down to his birthday suit and  then proceeded to get recked by the bull. He was pulled away from the danger by good hearted strangers and was visibly bleeding from the head. Once he caught his breath he went straight back in! He got collected again and people saved him ... humanity really is special. Only once that bull was out of the ring did the police come in and take him away! For MORE PICTURES - CLICK HERE

Fri 1 July 2011 #3 a bike riders dream

Food - I’m a cooking dinner tonight so WATCH OUT! Smoked salmon and vodka, one of favorites, who knows who is coming for dinner but I’m sure there will be a few extras as this seems to be the Spanish/Basque way. I’m also going to be a little hungry after the 4 hour MTB ride today in the Basque country, a great ride with more ups than downs, cheers to Gorka and Anna for the guide - BTW Anna rode in the Giro de Italia last year for women, need I say “impressive” and she can climb! 

Weather - this is what everyday should be like, cool breeze, sun and more sun with 90% of the riding in the shade.  

Car - Gorka’s “egg” a 4 door white Cleo - it was overheating this morning when he had to run out to get my bike ... he made it home then added some water and down came the heat ... perfect as we needed it to go riding today. 

Conversation - the conversation with the waitress today at lunch, who knows what she said but an Alan Davis photo was on the wall and I said “Australian-o” then pointed to myself and said “Australian-o” - she went off for about 10 seconds in Spanish and all I could do was smile. Or was it the interpretation of a conversation down the beach ... Girl 1 “I would never go topless at the beach with my boyfriend and his best friend” - Girl 2 - “I wouldn’t either, he’d just spend the whole time looking at your breasts!” Obviously topless bathing in EU could almost be considered the ‘norm’.

Animal - is a Specialized Stump-jumper an animal or a MTB? It was wailing today, it even bottomed out a few times in the front suspension but it got me through the entire day. It was great to ride an old-skool bike again ... makes me miss my good old Trek 7000. 

If must know about real animals, there were more cows today but the horses take the cake, in particular the foal on the trail up the top of our last hill. 

What else of note: Last nite one of the guests at dinner was Inigo Altuna, he owns and runs Cortadores y Venenciadores - what is this you ask, he cuts ham’s, he has won awards, needless to say I was CAPTIVATED over dinner hearing all about his skill! Different parts of a ham leg taste different and he HAND cuts the meat with a knife as fine as any machine slicer, he also makes art out of the ham leg, he has won awards for this as well, I could go on but I won’t. 

Parting thought of the day/blog: Pamplona tomorrow ... running with the bulls starts 6 July, it’ll be a hoot but I can’t say that I necessarily agree with killing bulls in the fashion ... are you with me or against me?

Thur 30 June 2011 #2 ride 'it's the dream'

Food - home made breakfast with Gorka and his crew in the garden at his place on the hills of San Sebastian. Love it!  Then again we have not had dinner yet. We went shopping at Spain’s version of Costco and it was a hoot! Where else can you buy a scooter, meat slicer and endless amounts of ‘rape...’ in the same place. You even get a fluro jacket for the cool room, note to self when you go to this place again, NO THONGS! 

Weather - a tad overcast but shorts and t-shirt weather, also perfect riding weather. See above for fluro jacket.

Car - “not today my good man” - we’re on the scooter! Forget the speed limits, we’re going to top this thing out! I’ve got tears streaming down my face and they’re not from crying it’s the wind I promise. 

Conversation - it’s all in Spanish and I love it ... if only I knew what they were saying! They all look like they’re having a great time, it is truly great to see talking with such passion. It may just be talk of the weather or when to get their next hair cut but they do it with such gusto. 

Animal - the woman living up stairs definitely takes the cake, thank goodness she didn’t throw her nail clippings into our breakfast this morning (if you could breakfast at 11am). Plus I did see some cows ... pix below, yes that is Gorka riding with the bulls.  

What else of note: Kids outside playing at 7:30pm, all having a blast and not watching tv and eating $hit! Well that is my impression after 10 mins of sitting outside waiting for poor Gorka to get some energy back in his body before the last killer hill to home base. Then again he most likely used up all his energy popping wheelies here, there and everywhere! This boys has no fear. The ride today out to Irun through the back mountains of San Sebastian were just amazing, does riding over someones name make you ride better ... maybe not if the name is ‘Gastro’ but it makes you smile nonetheless. 

The ETA is still evident here in Basque country, event through lots of graffiti. This pix was at the top of the first hill today. Coming back into San Sebastian was the National Police stopping cars to look for any wanted ETA’ers, machine guns included! 

Parting thought of the day/blog: Ride Zannox kit is amazing, first ride in new ‘team’ kit was a success! Glad I got 50 pairs of knicks and jerseys to keep me in kit for months to come. 

I could go on with more reports but it is time to hit the shower and then help in the kitchen, we’re having a FEAST tonite, maybe tomorrows write up of food will cover tonites meal, then again we may not eat till midnite. 

 Yes that is a real gun!! Forget complaining about the Americans and NRA - these people in Irun love their guns!! 

Wed 29 June 2011 #1

Bags packed, under weight check, everything fits and it is carry-able!?

Ah isn’t traveling fun!? What use to be a glamorous way to get around the world has now turned into waiting in to dealing with the masses, standing in lines, waiting to be ‘searched’ by professionals and eating something they call food. 

Although I shouldn’t complain, what is the alternative ... other then paying through the nose for business or first class tickets, you’ve still got two of the four I’ve mentioned above.  It all began in Sydney saying good bye to a chilly Sydney it was time to depart this beautiful city for two months. 

As I write it has just begun to rain in Frankfurt! Ah the German’s ... side-note, it is raining in Sydney as I write as well! Ah the Australian’s. In fact from a beautiful sunny morning (now 8:36am) to a day that looks like the next stop of sunny Spain will be a much better choice. 

Where was I, ah departing Sydney, I will miss the place. Looking at the video enticing people to come to Sydney, as we are departing ... makes it all that much harder to leave. The stunning harbour, the never ending beaches and smiling people everywhere ... ins’t that the sum of Sydney, obviously they have not been on Military or Parramatta Rd during peak hour! 

Without sounding like a whinger I will continue. 

Starting up your own company is one of those things which was never going to be easy. Now that ‘I’ve made it’ but having the chance to spend two months OS every year seems to make people mate me more than like me, ah jealously. 

From the humble start back in 2009 of taking MTB trips, Sydney riders down to the super single track of Canberra, to following the TdF in 2010 and now leading groups for that last epic week of ‘le tour’ and doing a multi-day race is heading in the right direction. Hence the reason to ride this blog during my time away. 

I guess that I cannot comment too much on my trip thus far as I’ve been away for just over a day. The trip other than the dealing with the masses, waiting etc I’ve laded in Frankfurt and have only been stung 70euros for excess baggage to get my bike to Bilbao. 

My blogs will endeavor to write about a few things of interest including food, weather, best car, best conversation overhead, most interesting animal, especially leaning towards cow’s as there is a great site called http://www.lesvachesdutour.com which is a specialist in cows and cycling, and last but not least obviously other points of note from the day. Plus (recently added) parting thought! What could be a more interesting mix!

At the top of each entry, from this day forth, you will see at the top of the entry:

Food - airplane food, need I say more ... then again I did have a banana, my first in a while  as they’ve been up to $14.99 a kilo in Sydney at the moment, it was 1.10euro and green at Frankfurt airport.

Weather - thus far, since leaving Sydney, mostly air-conditioned and darkness. Upon arriving in Frank(furt) it as been mostly rain ... I’ll keep you posted on San Sebastian, one of my favourite places in the world. 

Car - a Porsche Cayenne just pulled up in front of where I am waiting for my next flight. It dropped some heavy looking business dude right to his Lufthansa A321-100, now that is service! 

Conversation - Has to be the one at Abu Dhabi airport, Guy 1 (G1) to Stranger 1 (S1) - G1 “Are you from Indonesia?” G2 “sorry?” G1 “Are you from Indonesia?” G2 “SORRY??” G1 “Are you from Indonesia?” G2 “No I’m from Paris” G1 “Oh you look like you’re from Indonesia?” G2 “NO, I’m from Paris” ... they talk for a while longer then they get back to the good bits. G1 “How many languages do you speak?” S1 “English, French and a bit of German but not very good. A few friends of mine speak all those languages really well AND Italian.” G1 “I know a guy who can speak all those languages, his name is Andras and he lives in France down near Switzerland, do you know him!?” S1 “NO!” Dare I keep going, I really could but it’s not about them ... ps that was all true!!  

Animal - toss up between these Americans checking in their two dogs at Frankfurt, they held the line for 20 mins (!) and the animals in the smoking rooms at Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt airport, they really do look like caged animals. 

What else of note: Looking forward to getting to San Sebastian, hopefully my bike makes it in one piece!? I’ll be staying with a good friend of mine who’s name in Gorka, a good dude.

Parting thought of the day/blog if it's 38C in Abu Dabi at 12am what would it be like in the middle of the day, even worse out at the airport!

PS San Sebastian - love it! Picked up by good friend Gorka and went to work with him and a few of his buddies doing some landscaping - that’ll starve of jet-lag. As a thank you for the work we’re having steaks for dinner ... hopefully I can stay awake for a few hours to enjoy it!? 

PPS Well done to the RIDE Magazine crew for an epic Tour Edition - that kept me entertained for hours while on the plane!

AMB + mtnbike weekend = May 29/29 '11

Life is never meant to be dull! It is has been another great week both on and off the bike. 

In brief:

AMB

Trizone

SMP Saddles 

Day Trip

Ladies MTB Skills Sessions

AMB - Australian Mountain Bike (!) - the big news of the week is that we've got a weekend coming up where the boys from AMB will coming down to Canberra. To start the weekend a skills session will be held, during this block of time riders will be coached on techniques such as cornering, braking, obstacles and many more MTB skills. Throughout the weekend AMB will be riding with us and continuing to coach and instruct. A truly great way to improve your riding ability and a great learning experience. More info can be found on the site by clicking here. 

Trizone - Big thanks to trizone for their great work and helping to spread the word of bikeshuttle.com.au - we have some events coming up which we will be shuttling bikes to, these including the USM Event Mooloolaba Triathlon (late March) and the Olympic distance Byron Bay Triathlon (early May). No more packing your bike, putting it in a bag, then taxi, then plane etc etc! Let us transport your bike from Sydney to your event without the hassle. 

SMP Saddles - this week I added to my Cannondale CAAD 10-1 a SMP Composit saddle. I've been riding my old saddle for almost 10 years now, afraid of change! How very wrong I was, Oly, from Cheeky Monkey Randwick, suggested that I give it a test and I'm sold! It does seem a little hard to the touch but the way it is designed is quite impressive. Obviously much research has gone into these saddles and my body appreciates it in every single way!

Day Trip - mtnbike is about to take its first official day trip from Sydney. Heading out from Moore Park Super Centre and North Sydney Post Office on Saturday 26 Feb we will be heading to Ourimbah and Awaba MTB areas. These two great ride sites offer plenty of flowing single track and are favourites to many Sydney MTB'ers - the only issue is that they are not really in Sydney ... they are 1.5 hours away! That is where we come in and take you to both locations, provide you with lunch and do all the driving! Come join us for an MTB day trip - we will be offering these trips once a month, our next one is slated for Saturday March 12. 

Ladies MTB Skills Sessions - it is hard to believe but we are just about to finish another block of our MTB skills weeks for ladies! We will be running another block in March and we have a number of eager riders looking to enhancing their bike handling skills. These MTB sessions take place in the Moore Park/Centennial Park areas on Tuesday nights. We work on different skills each week including the following:

Session One - Slow Corners - Sweeping Corners - Braking - Neutral Position - Balance

Session Two - Changing a tyre - Tight Corners at a Higher Pace - Climbing Technique - Balance - Neutral Position

Session Three - Cleaning your bike - Obstacles - Neutral Position - Pumping the Bike - Wheelies

Session Four - Putting Practice into Trail Sections

---

That is all the info I can muster for the week. Take good care and look forward to seeing you out on the road or trail. 

One more thing - Australians wanting to head to Haute Route - this will be an amazing cycling race - here is the new flyer ... 

Cheers - Will 

Will Levy

will.levy@twowheeltours.com.au

+61 (0) 430 121 776

www.twowheeltours.com.au

www.bikeshuttle.com.au

www.mtnbike.com.au

Mooloolaba Triathlon - Ben Henderson - Switzerland MTB - Haute Route

Some busy times for the three facets of the family - bikeshuttle, mtnbike and twowheeltours

---
bikeshuttle

The Mooloolaba Triathlon is coming up ....

This is for Sydney based triathletes who do not want to pack their bikes and put them on the flight up North, then once the competition is over do it all again to bring it home.

The details are:

Thursday 24 March 10pm-5pm Drop off Cheeky Monkey 28 Clovelly Rd Randwick

Saturday 26 March 10am Collection Car park across from Landmark Resort 10 Brisbane Rd Mooloolaba

Sunday 27 March 5pm Drop off Car park across from Landmark Resort 10 Brisbane Rd Mooloolaba

Tuesday 29 March 10am-5pm Pick up Cheeky Monkey 28 Clovelly Rd Randwick

In October of 2010 we took 14 bikes from Sydney for the Noosa Triathlon. Just last week we got back from the TDU in Adelaide, we transported 17 bikes on this trip.

Please note that we have a maximum number of bikes that we can transport, total 25.

Cost $200 - includes bike and a 5kg bag transported from Cheeky to Mooloolaba.

Transport will be in a specially made bike trailer.

---

mtnbike - two things are on the horizon that need a little more attention

1) Swiss Trip - August 6-12 - more info can be found here! Two bookings have just been received!

2) Saturday 5th March to Sunday 6th March 2011 will be an epic weekend with BEN HENDERSON. This is the perfect weekend to learn and train with one of Australia's best. Late 2010 Ben won the Opening Round of the Jayco Australian National Series at the You Yangs in Victoria.

Saturday will be a three to four hour session with Ben on his route which he used to train for the World Championships in 2009. That evening Ben will take an hour session talking about his training principles, MTB nutrition and recovery. Sunday will see another three to four hour session with Ben, departing directly from the Australian Institute of Sport and ending up on the flowing trails of Mt Stromlo.

Spots are limited to ONLY 10 riders

This will be the perfect training weekend, especially if you're one of the lucky ones with an entry in The Mont, April 9 - 10.

Please note that this is a weekend where you need to have a high level of fitness.

This will be similar to our regular weekends, depart Sydney on Saturday morning and return Sunday night. All transport for you and your bike included, accommodation at the AIS and food food food.

If you know of anyone that may be interested tell them to get in fast. We have sold four of the 10 possible seats!

---
twowheeltours

Things have heated up for the Haute Route - the ad is about to appear in RIDE Cycling Review and enquiries have already started to filter in. The trip will go from 19 through 29 August 2011. It is an 11 day fully catered adventure, including entry to the first edition of the 7 day Haute Route, one of the highest and hardest cyclosportive in Europe 5 star accomodation, gourmet food, dedicated mechanical support and tours of Geneva and Nice.

---
So it is an exciting time and life is NEVER dull!

Will Levy

will.levy@twowheeltours.com.au
+61 (0) 430 121 776
www.twowheeltours.com.au

www.bikeshuttle.com.au
www.mtnbike.com.au

Tour Down Under 2011

It is funny - today I heard from a guy who has been down to Adelaide for the past few years - he was going to write another report but he thought that everyone would think that he had just copied and pasted it from years past - 'every year is just amazing' he said and I could not agree with him anymore.

 Perfect weather, great riding locations, very people, excellent food and cyclists everywhere - what more could one want!? I could bore you with the day to day goings on of the time in Adelaide but that would be tedious.

In sum I spent time on the road and mountain bike - all of it amazing riding! I look forward to bringing a week long trip for MTB'ers sometime in the near future.

In regards to shuttling it was a huge success! We shuttled 14 bikes over from Sydney to Adelaide and brought back 17! Those three people who took us up on the return trip mentioned how difficult it was to transport bikes to such a large event! In talking to people, many had their bikes delayed and damaged - no airlines are to be mentioned here - one guy had his derailuer bent so bad he needed a new one!

The trip over and back was without issue - then again I would never want to be a truck or bus driver. Doing this a few times a year is a hoot - I love a good road trip! Everyone appreciated the level of service and will be using us again in the future for their bike shuttling needs.

We did work for Shimano and also a tour company down there - taking the issues away from transporting bikes is what we are here for. It was great to be invited along to the Shimano gig on one night where we got to meet a heap of the riders in a very relaxed environment - thanks to Greg from Shimano for the invite.

It was also amazing to ride with the Liquigas-Cannondale team, their Monday recovery ride was just that. Nobody was in a rush, everyone was in a good mood and those who tagged along all had an amazing experience. It was fantastic to really be apart of the L-C team - even if just for a morning.

Attending the L-C launch was also pretty darned amazing, having them talk about their day to day goings on, how many in their team, what a day entails and even their nutrition was certainly eye-opening. Also to meet the management team of the Cycling Sports Group Australia - it is good to know that we are in good hands and the future certainly does look bright for CSG. Thanks to Al, Lucien, Martin and Mario Stein for the invite and for making us feel so welcome.

So to end it all up - Adelaide TDU - if you're a cyclist and have not been get your tyres over there! To everyone that made our trip so great (even Bongo the Emu) I salute you:)

Till next time - Cheers - Will

PS Haute Route Cycling Race - Aug 2011 - accommodation is being booked this week - make sure you get in early as we only have very limited spots. It really is going to be amazing!

Haute Route - Here We Come

twowheeltours and Ride Cycling Magazine 

heading to Geneva - Nice and all the Col's between

This is the advert that will be placed in Ride Cycling Magazine in the next issue

For more information click here - you can also email info@twowheeltours.com.au for more details.

6 Degrees and 6 Months

Welcome to the first instalment of my blog for twowheeltours.com.au - this will be the first of many blogs about getting ready to head to Europe in 2011 for some amazing adventures on bikes. 


To bring you up to speed, twowheeltours.com.au is a bike tour company which was created to take cyclist on tours to amazing destinations. Many companies offer cycling trips, yet our subtle difference is that not only do we take those who cycle but we also take their loved ones (other than their bikes) along for the adventure. We offer a client focused adventure which is activity based for both the cyclist and non cyclist.


The heading of this post is 6 Degrees and 6 Months. 


6 Degrees is due to the movie and the thought that the world is separated by only 6 people. So if I sent out an email to all those who I know they would in turn send it to those they know etc etc. I did mention that I hope the email got to Barrack Obama but something tells me it may only reach his secretary ...


6 Months is due to the fact that it is only around 6 months till we head OS and get ready for these trips to begin. Needless to say, I can't WAIT!  


So this week has been busy sorting out the emails, fixing up the web site and getting on my bike to continue the quest to keep up with my long time friend Carl - he will appear in many of these blog entries. 


So until next week may you all get on your bikes at least once - those in the snow are to get on their trainers