Mark arrived last night from Greece. Looking nicely tanned. Good to see him again. With everybody still sleeping after a late night, we went for a run. Ran up to St M d Campan and then back. My foot seem to be OK. But for safety sake have all but given up the idea of trying to run off my toes.
Got quite a late start and headed down through Bagnere over a really nice little route down to the outskirts of Lourdes. The Canadians mean business. They hade a pace line going and were really hammering along the valley floor.
Hautecam would turn out to be the toughest climb of the week. I suffered like a dog. For starters it was as hot as hell and maybe I started to fast. But needless to say with about 2k to go I ran out of puff and had to stop for a break. Fortunately even a 10 second break makes a HUGE difference. Also as so often is the case I stopped probably 100m from where the climb seemed to flatten out a bit. (only 8%)
Hautecam has 2 summits. One where they finish the tour stages - which is just a big parking lot. WITH NO WATER. This forced us up another 2k to where the ski lift is that at least has a kiosk. With cokes a mere R30 for 200ml. Bought 2. Nearly forgot Nicky's camera on the counter. Would not have been thrilled to ride up again to fetch it.
Rode back down to St Saeveur for lunch - which turned into another bit a hammer session. And it also started to rain. Yuck.
St Seaveur is really a beautiful village. Heard that it has won the prize for one of France's most beautiful villages. Easy to see why. Think if I had to plan this trip again, I would consider this as a base.
We bought a few things from the supermarche and watched the Canadians buy a Lot of things. I'll be honest I was not in the mood to get going again. And if knew what was waiting for me I would not have moved.
The climb up the Tourmalet was probably one of the hardest things I've done on a bike. I nealry died. The 1h30 it took to get up felt like 13 hr. There were many places that I stopped enjoying myself. Getting to the top was more with a sense of relief than achievement. The guys were spread all over the mountain with some losing more than 1hr30 over 22k's!!!!!! They had lots of photo's though.
That night went into Bagneres for supper. Had a good laugh at the Canadians. Not a quiet bunch. Learn't what a "Dirty Sanchez" and a "Donkey Punch" were. DEFINATELY CENSORED READING. Eventually leaving just befor 1 am. Only to see a another group of about 10 people arriving for supper.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tourmalet and Col d Apsin
Nicky and I were up fairly early and quite eager to get going. With the Canadians being sans equipment we decided to go alone. Being situated at 3k from the start of the Tourmalet, we decided to give it a go first.
How short one's memory is. The climb starts from the moment you turn onto the main road from our driveway. You first ride 3km to a little village called St Marie de Campan. We stopped here to fill our bottles at a fountain just outside the church (holy water?)and grab a few snacks at the local tabac for the trip up. Nothing like a chocolate croissant. I'm hoping to lose a bit of weight this week - so take a banana instead.
The climb starts just round the corner from the tabac. 16.9km said the sign. Up to an elevation of 2100m. A vertical ascent of some 1300m. No wonder Alberto Contador rates this as one of the scariest climbs.
The climb starts fairly tamely with gradients of 4% on average. Every km there is a big sign board telling you how far to the top, the average gradient for the next km and your present elevation. Really nice to have.
With about 12k to the foreplay is over and the Tourmalet grabs you behind the neck. It kicks up to 8.5% and then hovers between 8 and 9% for the next 7k's or until just before the ski village of La Mongie. This is where you get to the business end of the climb and it kicks up to 10%. For me a gradient of up to 8% is OK. I feel in control - in the sense that I can vary my speed. Between 8 and 10% you stop having a choice as to your speed. Its about keeping the bike upright and pointed up the hill.
Took about 1hr20 to get up. Didn't feel too bad though. Passed some French dude running up. Respect. Waited for Nicky at top and then rode back down to La Mongie for a Cafe Grande (Noir). Luv he stuff.
Free-wheeled down and then went up Col 'd Aspin. A much shorter climb - which I thought would make it a lot easier. Unfortunately it was getting hotter and suffered like a dog in the heat. Until you get used to the heat it's a real struggle to keep the heart rate down.
The top of the Aspin - except for the view - was quite disappointing. just a few smelly cows lying around. We didn't stay here long and went down to Bagnere de Briggore (sp)in search of lunch.
Eventually got home some 7 hrs later. Just as a Pyrenean thunderstorm was about to let us have it. Didn't stop the Canadians from borrowing my bike and going out for a ride up the tourmalet. These guys really are used to naaaasty weather conditions.
How short one's memory is. The climb starts from the moment you turn onto the main road from our driveway. You first ride 3km to a little village called St Marie de Campan. We stopped here to fill our bottles at a fountain just outside the church (holy water?)and grab a few snacks at the local tabac for the trip up. Nothing like a chocolate croissant. I'm hoping to lose a bit of weight this week - so take a banana instead.
The climb starts just round the corner from the tabac. 16.9km said the sign. Up to an elevation of 2100m. A vertical ascent of some 1300m. No wonder Alberto Contador rates this as one of the scariest climbs.
The climb starts fairly tamely with gradients of 4% on average. Every km there is a big sign board telling you how far to the top, the average gradient for the next km and your present elevation. Really nice to have.
With about 12k to the foreplay is over and the Tourmalet grabs you behind the neck. It kicks up to 8.5% and then hovers between 8 and 9% for the next 7k's or until just before the ski village of La Mongie. This is where you get to the business end of the climb and it kicks up to 10%. For me a gradient of up to 8% is OK. I feel in control - in the sense that I can vary my speed. Between 8 and 10% you stop having a choice as to your speed. Its about keeping the bike upright and pointed up the hill.
Took about 1hr20 to get up. Didn't feel too bad though. Passed some French dude running up. Respect. Waited for Nicky at top and then rode back down to La Mongie for a Cafe Grande (Noir). Luv he stuff.
Free-wheeled down and then went up Col 'd Aspin. A much shorter climb - which I thought would make it a lot easier. Unfortunately it was getting hotter and suffered like a dog in the heat. Until you get used to the heat it's a real struggle to keep the heart rate down.
The top of the Aspin - except for the view - was quite disappointing. just a few smelly cows lying around. We didn't stay here long and went down to Bagnere de Briggore (sp)in search of lunch.
Eventually got home some 7 hrs later. Just as a Pyrenean thunderstorm was about to let us have it. Didn't stop the Canadians from borrowing my bike and going out for a ride up the tourmalet. These guys really are used to naaaasty weather conditions.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Accommodation
The Canadians booked our accommodation, 3k from St Marie de Campan.
And so after flying to CT, then to JHB, then to Frankfurt and to Toulouse. And then catching a bus to the station, a train to Lourdes and a taxi to our house - we arrived at our house 25 hours after leaving JHB.
After our trip to the Alps last year Paul, Matt and Brett had gone and spread the gospel. This year 8 Canadians arrived. They're all part of a really sweet cycling group/team, known as the "Massive Hammerages" - with specially designed kit. With all (except Brent - he's their banker)in the medical profession the name is a play on words. Get it? Got it? Good!!
Bevan, Brent, Terry, Dave, Jens, Paul, Matt and Brett arrived not long after us - but with half their luggage missing. I'll admit I would have bee a lot more pissed off than they were. Without exception a nice bunch of guys. Loud. But nice.
And so after flying to CT, then to JHB, then to Frankfurt and to Toulouse. And then catching a bus to the station, a train to Lourdes and a taxi to our house - we arrived at our house 25 hours after leaving JHB.
After our trip to the Alps last year Paul, Matt and Brett had gone and spread the gospel. This year 8 Canadians arrived. They're all part of a really sweet cycling group/team, known as the "Massive Hammerages" - with specially designed kit. With all (except Brent - he's their banker)in the medical profession the name is a play on words. Get it? Got it? Good!!
Bevan, Brent, Terry, Dave, Jens, Paul, Matt and Brett arrived not long after us - but with half their luggage missing. I'll admit I would have bee a lot more pissed off than they were. Without exception a nice bunch of guys. Loud. But nice.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Temptation
No probs getting our bike onto the plane and booked through all the way to Toulouse. Wonder why the American's have such an issue with sporting equipment. Heard that fellow athlete travelling to Kona has been quoted $300/ leg to take her bike. That's insane!!! Probably because your average American traveller is just so grossly overweight.
Booking in in JHB were told that the plane was horribly overbooked. We were asked if we'ed be prepared to fly tomorrow. To sweeten the deal we were offered. Free hotel accommodation. Meal vouchers - enough to satisfy an American. And 600 euros. Nicky didn't want to shorten his holiday by one day so we turned it down. FUCK!!!!!!!!! Really could have done with the money. Would have paid for EVERYTHING. The things you do for your mates.
Booking in in JHB were told that the plane was horribly overbooked. We were asked if we'ed be prepared to fly tomorrow. To sweeten the deal we were offered. Free hotel accommodation. Meal vouchers - enough to satisfy an American. And 600 euros. Nicky didn't want to shorten his holiday by one day so we turned it down. FUCK!!!!!!!!! Really could have done with the money. Would have paid for EVERYTHING. The things you do for your mates.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Kimberley
Sitting at the airport in Kimberley.(All airports in SA under construction - 2010). The idea of getting away not completely sunk in yet. Until now everything been a mad rush. Fitting in my clinics and trying to get into the pool for a few sessions. Meeting up with Nicky in CT tonight.
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