25 July 2011 #15 a continual bike riders dream even - Paris

Time to recount! 

Okay so being on tour is busy, there is no doubt that 23 clients takes effort - logistics, riding, eating, more riding and eating then add atop the TdF are bound to take you away from writing daily reports.   

In sum:

The riding, having the chance to do Mount Ventaux, Alpes d’Huez, Col d’Ornon, Col d’Gannon, Col de la Croix de Fer plus many others and most of them twice was an amazing experience. This year, compared to last, was 95% amazing weather. Only one day did we get caught in the rain, which then proceeded to turned into a thunderstorm. 

On the riding front, there really are too many highlights to lay out in text but I’ll pass on two. One, the winds of MV were actually with us and the ride back into Mane. It was just spectacular, that day we descended more that we climbed! The other would have to be climbing up Alpe d’Huez the day before the TdF climbed up. Going past all the crazies on the corners, especially the Dutchies, will leave a lasting impression. I do have to share this point, on the Dutchie corner there was a group of drunken men who had gathered to contest body function noises, needless to say the pace through that section picked up to the cheers of the men in orange.  

Food - we’ve had some grand meals, some very traditional meals and plenty of pastries. Unfortunately this trip I have not been having my daily almond croissant but that may change now I’m in Paris for the next 2 weeks. Highlight the desserts at Col du Lautaret, on the Galibier Stage, we were based at Col d’Lautret, they were all hand made on site and it was an all you can eat opportunity! Blueberry tart, cheesecake, apple crumble and pear tart ... did I sample all of them, why not! 

Weather - other than getting caught in the thunderstorm and subsequently freezing while the clients went home and I looked after the bikes in a bus shelter, the weather was perfect. I was hoping to see a little more rain on the day of the time trial in Grenoble, to make it more exciting - but Cadel Evans won anyway, but it was glorious. Even yesterday on the finish line of the TdF the weather was a pleasant temperature  

Mode of Transport - I’ve been aligning myself in buses the past week, does that count? I did see a tandem bike yesterday which was of interest, unfortunately I didn’t couldn’t get my camera out quickly enough. It was a tandem with one rider facing one way and one the other! They were either IKEA workers or from Sweden according to their outfits. I was just hoping that they didn’t ride all the way down from up North!  

Conversation - “Obama is like Hitler” I kid you not, one person said this yesterday and in lieu of what went on in Norway this week we don’t need any more comments like this! 

Animal - The cows on the climb to Col du Sabot, not far from Vaujany. A shame that I did not get to ride this road, I was sagging as we only had 2 riders and it was a little wet and dangerous - safety safety safety ... They were on the road, in the hills and running along the side of the van on the way back down to Vaujany. 

What else of note: Cadel Evans winning the 2011 Tour de France, not bad for a 34 year old! Congratulations to him and his team, it will be fascinating to see what next for the boy. Two MTB World Cups, World Road Cycling Title and now wearer of the Yellow Jersey!  

Parting thought of the day/blog: TdF in 2012 ... we’ll see. Now for two weeks in Paris, two weeks in the South and then the Haute Route. I do feel a little more confident about the route for the race after being down in the Alps for the last week. Bring on the next exciting chapter!

14 July 2011 #13 a continual bike riders dream even - Bastille Day

Time to go play on the bike today - Alpe d’Huez (AdH) and some other pretty big hills/MOUNTAINS!

Food - had to be lunch, hands down, so tired after pedalling. Choice of tagliatelle cabonara   - hit the spot, salty big serving and lovely surrounding by the lake ... with a few flies!

Weather - a little cloudy in the morning but the locals said “it would blow off” - they were right. Half way up to the Alpe d’Huez the clouds started to part. The ride down the Alpe was very chilly - newspaper on chest but from then on it was a glorious day to be out on the bike.

Car - maybe I should change this to vehicle - there were MILLIONS of bikes on A-d-H today! So impressed!

Conversation - the lady who owns the hotel that we are staying in is so happy, again maybe it is just being French but whatever she is saying is like a song.

Animal - The big bull on the way home from the ride today, impressive! 

What else of note: Climbing Alpe d’Huez this morning I had to cross the path of MEGAVALANCE a few times, kind of wish that I had a cyclo-cross bike ... well maybe not but it would be amazing to see those riders fly down the mtn!

Parting thought of the day/blog: tomorrow off South to Provence, Mont Ventoux is on the cards in the next few days, can’t wait. Is it just me or are these getting shorter ... So tired off to bed. 

12 July 2011 #12 a continual bike riders dream even in the wet

What a wet day - it definitely started to turn for the worst last night! After such a beautiful day the rain started to come in on Tuesday night and the locals called for it to be here tomorrow. When you open the shutters and this is what you see you've got to hang up the helmet for the day. 

Food - a tough one today, a typical hotel b/fast, nothing special, a sandwich for lunch, typical french-fair then a hotel meal tonite which was a-okay ... hmm nothing to report of that much note.

Weather - one word summed it up - WET and cold. It was 5C at the top of Col de Lautaret. Those poor bastards who had ridden up there! We ran into a dutchie who was coming down of Col du Galibier, he was wearing a blue long sleeve jersey but you couldn’t tell where the jersey ended and the tips of his fingers! The poor guy was absolutely freezing!! Thank goodness there are two bars at Col de Lautaret that could warm him, and the other 15 cyclists that were up there waiting for the weather to clear before heading down.

Car - The trucks that go from Col de Lautaret to Le Bourg-d'Oisan. They are keeping up with cars and they’re fuel tankers ... in the rain! 

Conversation - the conversations with Missuer Gillard over breakfast, talk about a personable guy. He couldn’t wait for the chess and scrabble guys to come in over the next week to spice up life around Vaujany. First was Running with the Bulls now a chess comp!

Animal - The camel that was in Allemond, it is part of the circus which is in town, what is a camel doing at a circus!? Plus the poor old guy was standing in the pouring rain all day ... enough with the rain (skip the next two points if you're over the weather report of this blog).

What else of note: The weather was just awful! 

Parting thought of the day/blog: um the weather! Well the pix on the left is of the heavens opening but soon after it was wet again!

Tuesday 11 July 2011 #11 a continual bike riders dream 'Flash forward'

What a busy few days! Left Pamplona, drove to Toulouse then onto Aix and then onto Mane France. Not a bad way to spend 10+ hours but it got us (Joe, Michele and I) get closer to Vaujany, Alps.

Food - I just had a kings meal at our hotel, if I don’t mind saying so, well deserved after a rather large ride today, in the blaring heat. It is truly amazing the the TdF riders punish themselves up these col’s but not just one or two like us ordinary Joes! Back to the food, I wish that I took a photo of tonites dinner but I was so hungry that I couldn’t a photo of the salad with cheese pastry (entree), potato scallop and beef with gravy then creme brulee before they went right down the hatch.  Or is it cigarettes - how well they go with a meal?

Weather - The last few days have been HOT. Especially in Grenoble while we were there yesterday. Grenoble really is a lovely city but it is sandwiched between mountains and there is little to no wind, hence the baking heat! Tonite there was a huge storm that came through Vaujany and it certainly cooled things down ... unfortunately it looks like this weather may be here for tomorrow ... it may be a day off the bike tomorrow with double the efforts on the follow day!

Car - Ambulances, again with the Ambo - well for good reason. Today on the way back up to the mountain-esque Vaujany there were 20+ skateboarders coming flying down the hill. Next thing you know, a guy goes DOWN hard, unfortunately not even the helmet and elbow pads could soften the blow! He lay right in the middle of the road, actually convulsing! It was truly awful. After about 5 mins of this convulsion, still had pulse, was breathing and was not swallowing his tongue he came too. The ambulance eventually came, we are remote and took him away. Poor Simon the Englishman, holiday over.

Once over the boarder into France there were plenty of ‘hot’ cars, Ferraris, Maserati’s and even a Morgan (today). They seem to appreciate the finer cars, most likely because they allow for larger parking spaces than Spain!?  

Conversation - Anything in French sounds nice.

Animal - No Marmuts as of yet, plenty of cows and even plenty of fake ones! See pictures.

What else of note: Great to be back on the bike. The climb up Col de la Croix de Fer was truly magical! Going past waterfalls where the temp drops a good 10C and the views were just amazing. So many cyclist out on the road it was just amazing. 

Parting thought of the day/blog: I’m tired, maybe after 5 hour sleeps for 7 days it has finally caught up to me! Time for bed, hopefully I’ll bounce back tomorrow and be back in good form and be able to stay up past 10:30! GOOD NITE!