Wednesday 6 July 2011 #7 a continual bike riders dream

Happy San Fermin 2011 6th of July --- with special thanks to all the people who contribute to Wikipedia, below is a brief review of the festival:

‘The festival of San Fermín (or Sanfermines, Basque: Sanferminak) in the city of Pamplona (Navarre, Spain), is a deeply rooted celebration held annually from 12:00, 6 July, when the opening of the fiesta is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo,[1] to midnight 14 July, with the singing of the Pobre de Mí. While its most famous event is the encierro, or the running of the bulls, the week-long celebration involves many other traditional and folkloric events. It is known locally as Sanfermines and is held in honor of Saint Fermin, the co-patron of Navarre. Its events were central to the plot of The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway, which brought it to the general attention of English-speaking people. It has become probably the most internationally renowned fiesta in Spain. Over 1,000,000 people come to watch this festival.’ From willapedia - let the mayhem begin!

Food - bodega for lunch - fried calamari on a fresh roll with mayonnaise ... yummmmm! 

   

Weather - The rain never falls on these plains in this part of Spain! Hot, HOT, HOT! The wind came up in the afternoon, which wouldn’t have been too much of an issue but when you ride for 2.5 hours you’re going to get some head wind at some point, more on that below ... I guess there is a reason why there are wind farms on all the mountain ranges around here, please excuse my stupidness. 

Car - Pamplona needs more scooters, bikes and less gypsies, all their vans are taking up valuable spaces around town. It took me 20 mins to find a spot y’day around our apartment, no kidding! 

Conversation - Tourist “look they have Mercedes as cabs here” - nuf said! 

Animal - forget animals, lets talk HUMANS! Those crazies that were atop the ‘jumping fountain’ in Pamplona today! I cannot believe they climb to the top then jump into peoples arms - L-O-C-O (spanish for crazy!!) I must admit, I’m so glad that I saw it happen. Did you know that on their maps of ‘old town’ Pamplona they’ve got that jumping fountain labelled with a small icon of a man falling off the fountain! If you’re a facebook member you can see the footage by clicking here. If not some of these photos will help you understand the craziness! 

What else of note: Great ride through the rolling hills of Pamplona this afternoon. I was lucky enough to have a little free time to explore, it took me a while to track down the right road but once on it - WOW! Amazing rolling road, FAST surface and wheat/sunflower fields a plenty! It was a massive tail wind out and a humongous head wind of the way home. I’m certainly not complaining, just stating a fact ... it slowed me but the ride/surface/serenity of the ride was just bliss.  

Parting thought of the day/blog: Pamplona Citadel - my suggestion, ride around it on a single speed/fold away bike at 12am on a week night, before San Fermin or any time not associated with the festival. It was amazing, NOT a sole around, the only noise was from the frogs in the drains and the lights on the walls are just spectacular - here are some pix but they just don’t do it justice! 

There are too many pix, more photos can be found here.

Monday 4 July 2011 #6 a continual bike riders dream

Happy 4th of July --- after living in the States for 8 years (and only ever being there for 2 of them) I feel that I need to acknowledge their big day. 

Food - don’t let this out but I got to cook tonite, with left over vodka what else can be done, Salmon Vodka a sure fire winner! Also more bananas today! 

Weather - Most of the day was spend doing work for the upcoming TdF trip - plenty of cool breeze in the apartment which was nice. Still on my drive around there was a heap of men and women in full winter clothing, Amazing!  

Car - forget the cars, it’s all about the car parking here in Pamplona! Granted the spots in Pamplona are tiny which doesn’t help but still! I parked the Renault Traffic today. It was in a spot where the car next to me was parked next to one of their rubbish bins on the street. So he (or she) had plenty of space on the garbage side. So the guy parks right on the line on the opposite side from the bins! Leaving NO space ... if I wasn’t ‘in the Spannish mood’ this may drive me a little crazy but ‘when in Pamplona’ does as the locals do! Since the R.T’s are massive it is easier to park on the line as well ...

Conversation - the conversation around the dinner table tonite was priceless, reminiscing about past trips, characters and what’s to be expected. Good times and the clients haven’t even started.

Animal - again a shame, no animals today, the opening ceremony is tomorrow and the bulls run the next day. This was the closest thing I saw to an animal. 

What else of note: I may have to talk about another food situation, at lunch we had Pintxos (tapas) and there was one which we called ‘surf and turf’ - ham, crab, anchovy, egg (of course) 

Parting thought of the day/blog: Parking W H A T parking in Pamplona ... good thing they produce a lot of VW’s down here ... hopefully they have a huge spare parts division! 

Sun 3 July 2011 #5 a continual bike riders dream

Food - breakfast cereal with OJ, please tell me if you do enjoy long life milk!? Why oh why is this the 'norm' in EU!?

Weather - First real day in Pamplona, true to form the weather was HOT! If you were to ride here you’d be up early or riding really late ... I’d lean towards the early part and then enjoy a siesta. 

Car - did you know that Pamplona has a huge VW factory and they are everywhere, so that'll have to take the cake.

Conversation - the gypsies are in town, they do all the major events over the summer, what a life they would live!! Take good care with your valuables around here! The best conversation would have to of been watching the locals deal with them with such distain, precious!

Animal - honestly I didn't see one animal today! Bulls will be the flavor of the month in coming installments!

What else of note: Today's entry seems to have more unanswered questions than previously, please excuse, I'm not tying to be Seinfeld! 

Parting thought of the day/blog: Thought of the day, how is it that older gentlemen can wear wool pants, shirt and tie, plus wool hat in 36c heat!?

Sat 2 July 2011 #4 a bike riders dream continues

Food - The two pastries out at Orio ... just a little sugar rush to get me home. Tonite off to Pamplona so who knows what we’ll have on the dinner table ... just hope it is not freeway food! 

Weather - Almost Cut and Paste from y’day ... this is what everyday should be like, cool breeze, sun and more sun, glorious.  

Car - it is going to be a Renault Traffic - I’ve not seen it yet but that is my trusty steed for the next oh - 3 weeks - on the road. This automobile will end up with a nickname and will most likely appear is a few of these blogs

Conversation - it would have to be with the rider E’kite, who I rode up the second last mountain with today, 18 years old, just done 100k and not even out of breath. We chatted on the monster (many more monsters to come and they’ll be ‘worse/better’ than this pee-on) of a hill between Orio and San Sebastian.

Animal - the cows on the road between Orio and San Seb - they have one amazing view, I bet they don’t even appreciate it.

What else of note: I’m pretty excited that my 2 months of gear has fitted into my army duffel and I can ‘comfortably’ carry it around for the summer ... hmm will I ever bring a bag with wheels to EU!? 

Parting thought of the day/blog: San Sebastian is one amazing place, many many thanks to Gorka and his crew for taking me in. I see a trip to SS with a group of riders sometime in the very near future. One more thing, there was another picture in the restaurant that we had lunch in yesterday, it was of Neil Stevens, he too lives in the area but I forgot to mention him in y’days notes. It is also the first day of 'le tour' it is one of those things that I think being back in Sydney you get to see more of le tour but it is still great to be here, see the newspapers (try and interpret what they say) and watch it without it being at 2 in the morning, sorry Australians. 

PS Congratulations to Philippe Gilbert on winning stage one of le tour

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!