10. Support guys antics - definatley made the trip & got some great footage & laughs. certainly kept our spirits up
9. Les & his Mr Magoo routine on stage 4. Possibly the slowest I've ever ridden 100 miles keeping him from hitting anything (how did he avoid that level crossing?)
8. Spats with Mr Curtis - it shows that somethings never change after 25 years. We've always been like rival brothers but I couldn't have done it without my old comrade.
7. Those ride saving route markers!
6. Cancer Kazoo - I haven't laughed as much for years
5. Iain battling through to finish despite pretty grim injuries including the thigh strain on the last two days
4. Riding in 42 degrees - the hotest, longest and hardest day I have ever had on the bike. Topped only my beating Curtis in the sprint for Caromb!
3. Getting up Mt. Ventoux in great shape & faster than I have ever imagined. Only 45 minutes behind Lance Armstrong's record ascent. Puts it into perspective really..;-(
2. Having the two bob bits & a painful knee injury for stage 4 & still finishing & finishing in good form too
1. Seeing that everyone (I think) had a great time & all seemed to go well. Some of this was down to overall organisation but I can't forget that Mike C booked the hotels - apart from our last one booked by Les (which were all good - if some were a little 19th Century); Paul & Les are driving the van back; Graham & steve literally held the trip together on the ground &Trev donated our life-line van.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Old Mother Ventoux
The final day!
As yesterday was so gruelling and left a lot of shattered bodies we decided to tame the last stage somewhat by cutting out the two 6km climbs en-route to Marseille & instead do the Ventoux then drop down into the Rhone valley & a less picturesque run into Carry-le-Rouet.
We ascended the 22km 10% gradient Ventoux at 6:30 am to miss the heat of the day. It was a wise choice as the weather was a little humid but cool & without any of the mistral wind that is such a hazard at the summit. Only 4 of us managed the ascent as Iain was too badly injured & Les & Paul wisely decided enough was enough after the travails of the previous day & Trev just didn't have the gears - Les, Paul & Iain made their way separately to Carry via the Rhone.
It was 20 years ago almost to teh day that i tackeld this monstor last & then I had youth on my side but high gears & a lack of condition meant I remember struggling all the way.
This time I was well prepared & kept a surprisingly rapid pace all the way to the Tom simpson memorial where I waited for Mike C for our anniversary pic. despite climbing well it still took me 1 hour 45 mins to cover the 22km - which is 45 mins slower than Lance armstrong's record....ho hum.
It was great to finish it though & finish fresh. After that we had a rather boring 80 mile flat run into Carry.
It certainly was a great trip & a welcome finish crowned with a hearty meal & champagne......
Never again!!!
As yesterday was so gruelling and left a lot of shattered bodies we decided to tame the last stage somewhat by cutting out the two 6km climbs en-route to Marseille & instead do the Ventoux then drop down into the Rhone valley & a less picturesque run into Carry-le-Rouet.
We ascended the 22km 10% gradient Ventoux at 6:30 am to miss the heat of the day. It was a wise choice as the weather was a little humid but cool & without any of the mistral wind that is such a hazard at the summit. Only 4 of us managed the ascent as Iain was too badly injured & Les & Paul wisely decided enough was enough after the travails of the previous day & Trev just didn't have the gears - Les, Paul & Iain made their way separately to Carry via the Rhone.
It was 20 years ago almost to teh day that i tackeld this monstor last & then I had youth on my side but high gears & a lack of condition meant I remember struggling all the way.
This time I was well prepared & kept a surprisingly rapid pace all the way to the Tom simpson memorial where I waited for Mike C for our anniversary pic. despite climbing well it still took me 1 hour 45 mins to cover the 22km - which is 45 mins slower than Lance armstrong's record....ho hum.
It was great to finish it though & finish fresh. After that we had a rather boring 80 mile flat run into Carry.
It certainly was a great trip & a welcome finish crowned with a hearty meal & champagne......
Never again!!!
Monday 20 July 2009
The Cauldron
The profile of today's stage looks like a series of small climbs to a rolling plateau & the a long decent into a flat plain. In actual fact it was a 30 mile climb, some of which was 10% gradient with a few short descents & rolling sections. Absolutely brutal start to a 120 mile day in the saddle.
The day started cool but steadily started to warm up as we reached the top of the plateau and a huge rock outcrop at 1400 meters called Gerbier De Jonc. It was a gruelling slog but with a rewarding & spectacular view at the summit. The group was scattered across the route with myself, Mike & Dave in a group with the rest following some 10 minutes back. Over the plateau we dropped like a stone down a terrifying decent from Lachamp into Vals Les Bains. As we descended the full heat of the South hit us like an oven. Riding into Vals for some lunch the thermometer hit 42 degrees. We continued on with the support guys plying us with gallons on water en route. Les & Paul found the heat too much & climbed in a taxi for a 185 Euro trip to the hotel.
The rest of us soldiered on in the fierce heat over another long climb & then across teh Rhone valley to the foot of Mt.Ventoux in Provence. All of us agreed that it was the hardest day we'd ever had on the bike - over 11 hours (with a few stops) in 42 degrees heat with several tough climbs & 120 miles.
Tomorrow would be the final day - but we would need to tackle the infamous Mt.Ventoux first.
The day started cool but steadily started to warm up as we reached the top of the plateau and a huge rock outcrop at 1400 meters called Gerbier De Jonc. It was a gruelling slog but with a rewarding & spectacular view at the summit. The group was scattered across the route with myself, Mike & Dave in a group with the rest following some 10 minutes back. Over the plateau we dropped like a stone down a terrifying decent from Lachamp into Vals Les Bains. As we descended the full heat of the South hit us like an oven. Riding into Vals for some lunch the thermometer hit 42 degrees. We continued on with the support guys plying us with gallons on water en route. Les & Paul found the heat too much & climbed in a taxi for a 185 Euro trip to the hotel.
The rest of us soldiered on in the fierce heat over another long climb & then across teh Rhone valley to the foot of Mt.Ventoux in Provence. All of us agreed that it was the hardest day we'd ever had on the bike - over 11 hours (with a few stops) in 42 degrees heat with several tough climbs & 120 miles.
Tomorrow would be the final day - but we would need to tackle the infamous Mt.Ventoux first.
More Mountains
We set our for 100 miles today - a little less than the previous two days riding but this time with 6 classified climbs & one of over 12 miles long. The weather was better today but still cool. A lot of climbing meant the group was split from the start & we only regrouped in Sauxillanges which is at the foot of the 12 mile climb.
The climb starts out pretty sensibly, following the river valley & then splits off at the top with one road taking a shallow ascent & the other a steeper ride at 10% to finish at a lake. We again split on the climb with only a few of us tacking the steep ascent - as we took this approach it led into a very rural but pretty area surrounded by low mountains. at the top & a very steep 15% section we were greeted by 3 menacing dogs from an isolated farm. Great fun when you can only manage 5 mph! Fortunatley they were only interested in barking a lot & we made it safely to the summit & then down into St Gervais.
The finish to St.Hostien was again a tough one - all up hill with slow, draggy roads. Curtis sprang away in the final 2 miles to finish first whilst myself & Dave nursed Les back to the hotel as he couldn't raise his head to see! Nice one.
The climb starts out pretty sensibly, following the river valley & then splits off at the top with one road taking a shallow ascent & the other a steeper ride at 10% to finish at a lake. We again split on the climb with only a few of us tacking the steep ascent - as we took this approach it led into a very rural but pretty area surrounded by low mountains. at the top & a very steep 15% section we were greeted by 3 menacing dogs from an isolated farm. Great fun when you can only manage 5 mph! Fortunatley they were only interested in barking a lot & we made it safely to the summit & then down into St Gervais.
The finish to St.Hostien was again a tough one - all up hill with slow, draggy roads. Curtis sprang away in the final 2 miles to finish first whilst myself & Dave nursed Les back to the hotel as he couldn't raise his head to see! Nice one.
First Mountains - stage 4
Woke up with Diarrhea, not looking good for today's 115 mile jaunt with mountains starting after 60 miles. It was also a cool day with a lot of rain. Paul was also feeling sick & after 30 miles wisely climbed into the van. I carried on as the immodium I took kicked in & got me past what was set to me a disasterous start.
The initial half of the ride was fast & flat until we hit Montlucon. It was raining heavily & most of us crashed after hitting a railway line. I got of fpretty lightly but Ian suffered a bad gash to his elbow and from then on found it difficult to get out of the saddle.
We carried on & tacked the first 10 km climbs & then finished with an unending drag into Orcines. The weather continued to be grim all day leading to Les also packing after 95 miles.
I again finished alone to the rather nice hotel Hirondelles which was shrouded in mist. A lot of sore & dejected riders tonight.
The initial half of the ride was fast & flat until we hit Montlucon. It was raining heavily & most of us crashed after hitting a railway line. I got of fpretty lightly but Ian suffered a bad gash to his elbow and from then on found it difficult to get out of the saddle.
We carried on & tacked the first 10 km climbs & then finished with an unending drag into Orcines. The weather continued to be grim all day leading to Les also packing after 95 miles.
I again finished alone to the rather nice hotel Hirondelles which was shrouded in mist. A lot of sore & dejected riders tonight.
Stage 3
The flat stage. 126 Miles of flat & boring roads on this day. I took my ipod and we rode tight & fast for most of the day across very featureless farmlands of central France towards Bourges. It was punctuated by the support team taking some footage of us from the back of the van - so we performe a few sprints & riding as group at over 30 mph along a deserted road.
I carried on alone to be the first finisher into Fussy & Catherine Byrys' Logis. Great food that night but we were all a little wary about the following day when we would be tackling the first semi mountains onto the Massif Central.
I carried on alone to be the first finisher into Fussy & Catherine Byrys' Logis. Great food that night but we were all a little wary about the following day when we would be tackling the first semi mountains onto the Massif Central.
Update
Hi all -
A pathetic blog during the trip due to a complete lack of decent wifi access and also being totally shattered each day. Anyway I'm back now & just about recovered from the epic ride. so a few entries now on the key moments.
Thanks again for all the support!
A pathetic blog during the trip due to a complete lack of decent wifi access and also being totally shattered each day. Anyway I'm back now & just about recovered from the epic ride. so a few entries now on the key moments.
Thanks again for all the support!
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