Day 5 - The final one. From Prades to Cerbère

Distance travelled: 53.8 miles
Average speed: 16.6 mph
Max speed: 35.5 mph
Time in saddle: 3 hours 14 min.

Last day and nice easy morning ride to the Med. Needing to get there before 1pm in order to complete the whole Pyrénéan raid in the 100 hour time limit.
Weather was once again fantastic and ensuring that the Yanks were not leading the way, very little could go wrong.
The route today was not good, at times we seemed to be cycling along the hard shoulder of the motorway.
A quick drinks break halfway in and just 25 miles left.
Not long until we finally saw the sea, but with a further 10 miles cycling along the coast road, which was up and down all the way, going through some lovely bays.
The speed was high and my legs were suffering from a cumulative effect, finally getting to the finish line with 45 minutes to spare.
Pictures taken and obligatory swim in the sea and the off to the nearby bar for beers and Pizzas. Stayed there all afternoon, gorgeous and should really be done more often.
Then, that was it, packed bike away and travel back.
Many thanks if anyone read my blog. Sorry it has not had much humour in it, the rides were tough and at times my sense of humour was lost!
I'm sure I upset some of the fellow riders on route with my comments, but that's me. Operate mouth first, think later.
All the best, Russ (writing this whilst Dave is buying train tickets. We may not be back soon!)

Day 4 - St Giron to Padres

Distance travelled: 115 miles
Average speed: 12.2 mph
Max speed: 34.5 mph
Time in saddle: 9 hours 20 min.

What a day. Over nine hours of peddling and with a few stops on route meant we left at 8.30am and got back at 8.00pm !
This was the second hardest day of the week, the day the Tourmalet was conquered being the toughest.
Thought I would post a couple of photos of a tractor and a caravan spotted on route. For all those that have read my previous blog will know how much I like spotting them.
The cols were long, but not quite as steep today. Lessons learnt on route today were as follows;
1. Don't follow the Yanks, this time when they went wrong, nobody followed them. Meaning only they had to do an extra 10 miles.
2. Old ladies in restaurants will deny having any form of stamp for the on route card unless you buy a drink. We didn't, she denied having the stammer. Others enjoyed her cokes and got their card stamped. Surprised the place was open at all, most of France seems to be shut once more. Or as the Yanks seem to think, abandoned!
3. When you go downhill from the mountain top and here something fall off your bike, remember not too get too worried next time.
4. Dead boars in the middle of the road don't smell good.
5. Reaching what we thought was civilisation once more, one of the Yanks thought he would stroll over the road for his McDonalds fix at 10pm. Sadly, like the rest of France, SHUT !
Last day Friday, with just 50 miles to do and a swim in the sea. Feeling good, but maybe wearing my best pants as no swimming trucks have been purchased. Maybe I should purchase some budgie smugglers and do my Daniel Craig impression coming out of the Med.
Aureviour until tomorrow.

Day 3 - Grippe to St Girons

Distance travelled: 91.3 miles
Average speed: 13.3 mph
Max speed: 35.7 mph
Time in saddle: 6 hours 49 min.

Firstly, welcome aboard our latest reader Geoff Howe to my blog who has joined us late after a few technical issues.
Day 3 was a lovely hot summers day and without cutting the blog short, pretty much similar to the previous day, plenty of climbing and plenty of descending. Only overshot one corner on the way down, fortunately no big drop!
Coming up the Col des Ares a couple of minutes behind Dave and some of the rest, seemed to have missed all the excitement after a wild Bull had rampaged through the cafe area and it was everyone for themselves. Fortunately being late and wearing red was a good thing.
Going up the Col de Portet d'Aspet, this one was not too long, only about 8km, but bloody hell was it steep. Some people were saying 18 percent in gradient, just Damn tough if you ask me. Picture above is of me getting to the top.
Once there, it was an easy 25mile ride down to the finish.
Apologies for those people who don't like me mixing miles with km's, but its toughet when your route map is in km's and your bike computer is in miles.
Sorry and don't be so anal !

Day 2 - Oloron St Marie to Gripp

Distance travelled: 102 miles
Average speed: 11.3 mph
Max speed: 35.6 mph
Time in saddle: 8 hours 56 min.

With four mountains (Cols) to climb today, it was going to be a tough day, didn't realise how bloody tough though. Leaving at 9am weather was already looking like it was going to be a hot one.
With our guide for the day hanging back to wait for a late starter, we (Dave and myself) decide the best option is to follow the four yanks in our group as one of them had done the tour before.
First big mistake of the day. The first col, which was the Col du Marie Blanc didn't really seem to be much of a climb, in actual fact just a bit of undulating road. After about 30 miles we all realised that we had in actual fact skirted around the col and therefore 'cheated'. The Yanks and Aussies in our group decided to stuff it and carry on regardless, but being English and daft, Dave and myself concluded we should back and complete the 12km climb, thus adding another 24km to the day. A canadian joined us for good measure. Still feeling fresh, seemed a great idea. Got to the top, photos taken to show the Yanks and Aussies they had only cheated themselves, we could then go back to where we were 90 minutes before.
Next climb of the day was the big Col d'Aubisque (1709). A long old climb, but managed to get into the middle of a group of Danish riders. Going really well till they explained to me that this was their last climb of the day and for them they could give it their all. At that point, I was out the back like a flash as I still had the monster to finish.
Getting to the top for lunch everything seemed fine, descending still slow as my new bike is for too fast for the speed of my brain.
Getting to the bottom of the Col du Tourmalet and just 18km to the top, there was just three of us, Dave, John (an aussie that skipped the first climb) and myself. We were a spent force. Around 8km to go and we could barely make headway, with me using the 'are we nearly there yet' helpful technique and wanting to stop whenever we could. Everyone kept telling us, last 3km are a killer. We got there, rebuilt our broken bodies and pushed hard. Actually, just the last 500m were really tough.
Made it to the top, everything shut as we were so damned late, just a 12km roll down the hill, which included having to miss sheep, cows, alpacas and various other assortment of animals.
Into the hotel and were told dinner was ready as we were late!
Without doubt, hardest physical day of my life. These little legs can't take much more of this punishment!

Day 1 - Hendaye to Orolon St Marie

Distance travelled: 92.3 miles
Average speed: 16.1 mph
Max speed: 36.5 mph
Time in saddle: 5 hours 44 min.

Set off from the atlantic, might has well started in it, as it rained so bloody hard. With my new American beauty as my bike, and not used to here, she was having to be treated with kid gloves down the hills. At one point she did get a little fed up with me and tried her best to throw me off going down hill.
Rained for the best part of the day, with the tractor spotting banned from this years ride, I found it really hard not to take a photo of a Lambourgini tractor spotted on route.
Highlight of the day without doubt was seeing a European Vulcher flying along side the road with us for about 50 metres. Those things are big, real big.
Anyway, finished the day with plenty of food and wine, in prep for tomorrow.
Pic of bike i am on above.
Russ

Raid Pyrenéen - September 2011

The trip this year is as follows:
From the Atlantic to the Med across the Pyrénées.
100 hours
720 kms.
11,000 metres of climbing.

Sounds easy!

Day 7 - Beuil to Menton, the final day.

istance: 84.07 miles
Average speed: 11.01
Maximum speed: 35.16mph
Time in saddle: 7 hours 38 minutes
Total distance: 441 miles

So, the final day arrived. Six days under our belts and our aim was to get to the med and pitch up alongside the topless bathers.
With Katy our resident map reader back in the saddle, nothing could possibly go wrong.

It was going to be a long day, with four big hills to get over and 80 plus miles to cycle.
Straight into the frst climb of the day Col de la Couillole (1678m) and then the Col St Martin (1500).
Spotting still thin on the ground and level of effort still going up. That would be cycling effort.
Down the second decent and it was this time Katy decides her annual puncture should make an appearance. It seems like one per bike trip is the norm.
Fueled on a bowl of chips at lunchtime as a week of French food is just too much for me. Up the hills the temperature was clocked at 32 degrees but felt like a lot more.
Over the Col de Turini (1604) where wild sheep dogs were roaming, picture attached, then finally over the Col de Castillion (707m) a mere pimple.
With all four hills done and getting late we scoot through a small tunnel which means we are just 9 miles from the Med and it's all downhill ! We can now see the sea.
Spotting now seems so much easier, with campers everywhere, only the worst allowed though.
Finally into Menton and on to the beach. Bloody pebbles and big ones. Where's the sodding sand. Crippled with agony, not due to cycling but getting barefoot, off for a swim in the Med. Lovely and warm.
Babes on the beach? It was 7.00pm, now and they had sodded off home.
Oh well, at least not many people saw me in full cycling gear going for a swim. Did I feel a self concious doing with the gear on, hey no, i'm used to wearing full rubber numbers on the beach (for sailing if you didn't know).
Group photos of Team 43 and our recent signee to the team Martin.
Off for a quick glass of champars and more French food.
I am so looking forward to good traditional English cooking once more, so Curry and Kebabs will be on the menu this week back at home.
Waiting today (Sunday) for the flight back to Gatwick ready for work on Monday!
Finally, thanks to you all for reading my wittering, hope you enjoyed the pictures I posted. Apologies go out to all those cyclists out there wanting more, reality is, I know sod all about bikes, all you need to do is get on one and pedal. Not the most complicated of activities, but damn good fun and a good form of exercise.
Any ideas on what to spot on my next little adventure, let me know. I was going for different hand dryers in toilets, but taking picture would probably not been a good thing!

So, until next year aurevior!

Russ

Specification of cycle ridden:
Black
Two round things
One buckle that had to be sorted out.
Two brakes once buckle was fixed.
Uncomfortable saddle.
Drinks holder, mp3 station and quiche early detection alert professionally installed on the third day.

Specification on the cyclist (one sad spotter):
Taller than the average dwarf.
Legs of steel
Gaps in hair
Strange tan lines
Daniel Craig lookalike
Generally top bloke!!!!!!!!

Day 6 - Barcelonette to Beuil

Distance: 51.76 miles
Average speed: 10.61
Maximum speed: 34.25mph
Time in saddle: 4 hours 52 minutes
Total distance: 357 miles

With just two hills today, things were looking good, unfortunately the hot weather and the hard ride took their toll on Katy our resident map reader. Taking the day off to make a recovery for the final day.
With my legs feeling tired now, off we went up the 13 mile mile climb up the Col de Cayolle (2326m). This was a fairly 'easy' climb in comparison to a lot of the others, but the weather was hot.
Must have been taking things far too serious as I missed a couple of great spots, the couple trekking with a donkey to carry the load and the sheep dogs that just roam free. I dId see the dogs, actually tney came so close I thought I was going to be lunch, but sadly no pictures.
Best sight of the day was reserved for the top of the hill. Yes, Katy was there with fruit cake. How pleased was I to see fruit cake.
Downhill to lunch should have been a straight forward affair, but with no Katy to stop the boys racing, Dave, Martin (recent recruit from another team) and myself offwe went. All going well until with Dave leading he met a coupke of bikers coming the other way. With Dave firmly in the middle of the road, all took avoiding action, Dave left some of his tyre on the road and probably soiled his pants, bikers went to their left and all crossed English style. I followed suit, deciding that biking on the left is much safer.
Dave put the blame on the bikers, citing the fact they shouldn't have been in the middle of the road, that was reserved for him? However, slight confession was made once I mentioned that I may well have captured the moment on video.
Lunch at the bottom, weather getting hotter, Ice creams the order of the day. Every sports scientist will tell you a bowl of chips and ice cream is the best thing to power you up a big hill.
Just a mere 8 mile climb up to the Col du Vasson/Valberg (1762m) but with the heat two full water bottles emptied.
The top was a complete anti climax with one sodding road sign acknowledging the top. Not even a sodding little shop selling cow bells.
Anyway, I'm not bitter, down hill now till the hotel. Not the best one I've ever stayed in. Good news, is that there are four beds in the room, bad news is they are bunk beds. Floor slopes around 10 degrees so that is quaint. No power sockets anywhere. Good news, a fridge, bad news, just in the room for storage and not plugged in (well actually you can't plug it in due to the socket issue).
Anyway we have an ensuite bathroom, actually it's more of zn ensuite bedroom come bathroom. For us to use it we have to get through another guys bedroom to get in.
Shower is probably the worst I have ever used, with time strictly limited to 3 minutes, otherwise water will spill from the tray due to its inability to drain. Oh well, only one night. Never before have I been given paper table cloths as towels though, must be some eco friendly thing. Oh, maybe thats why they have limited shower time to 3 minutes, how bloody clever of them!
Sorry, no spots today, just a couple of boring pictures. Last day tomorrow and down to the med. Must buy some Speedo's tomorrow to show my tanned and muscular body off to the french girls.

Briançon to Barcelonnette

Distance: 65 miles
Average speed: Too damn slow!
Maximum speed: 34.25mph
Time in saddle: not known, but seemed like forever
Total distance: 305 miles

Two big hills to conquer today, namely Col d'Izoard (2360m) and Col de Vars (2109m), nothing could surely go wrong all I needed to do was sit and pedal for a few hours.
Straight out of the hotel in Briançon and up the Col d'Izoard which consisted of a 13 mile climb to the top. Feeling good at this stage, weather incredibly hot and generally enjoying life, mp3 player working well. Don't know what all the fuss is about these little hills in France.
Down the other side, avoiding the edges of the road as the drop either side is a little worrying.
Stopping for a spot of lunch at Guillestre 32 miles in, halfway there.
One thing i forgot to say in my previpus blogs, Katy is the map reader and Dave holds the money, I have neither, so the technique is not to loose them.
Onwards and upwards up the next hill, with Dave pushing ahead and Katy dropping back, I suddenly found myself riding on my own. However, this was fine, I thought I knew where I was going. Suddenly the road went downwards, the bike trip reset itself and several roads splitting from the main, your mind gets a bit confused. Am I cycling up the right bloody hill!
My legs had just one hill left inside them and I was halfway up it. Finally physically and mentally drained I reached the top to be met by Dave who was not looking great either. Normally there are other bikers about, but for some reason, there were none, no road signs up the hill, was I a confused chappy. Even Dave said he was a bit worried if he was on the right road and he had a map.
Anyway, just another 20 miles, first a steep descent followed by a gentle downhill through the valley.
What nobody knew was that God had decided to put a wacking great fan at the end of the valley blowing us back.
I got into Barcelonnette absolutely shot to bits. It seems France is now open for business, and no more quiche on the menus. After the first couple of days, where all we could find were quiche shops, I doubt if I will ever eat another.
Anyway, found a decent restaurant, I was barely alive and struggled to eat.
In bed by 10.30, have checked the brochure from where we booked the week away, it does actually refer to the week as a 'holiday'.
Ha ha.
What I have noticed that last year on the Lands End to John O'Groats trip most people were reasonably fit, but most carried a little exrtra weight, tnis trip everyone is super fit and most have been riding for many years. And then there's me!
No motorised beds on wheels today, so had to add a caravan in just to keep my bruv happy. I know he will lose interest if all the pictures are just views of the alps.

Day 4 - Aussois to Briançon

Distance: 62.23
Average speed: 11.95
Maximum speed: 40.32mph
Time in saddle: 5hr 16min
Total distance: 240 miles

With two big hills to do today, the Col du Telegraphe (1566m) and the infamous Col du Galibier (2646m) this had all the hallmarks of a tpugh day. Weather was hot, not a cloud in the sky, peddalling for five hours tough was not going to be easy.
Out of Aussois with a big descent and then straight into the climb for the Col du Telegraphe. A mere 8 miles to take us to the top. Taking it easy and no messing around today was the theme.
Once we got to the top, pictures taken, the best campervan seen all week pitched up. Big old Merc from Germany. Quick check with the owner and pictures taken, Jay would be well jealous of this one, probably not the fuel consumption though.
Big downhill afterwoods and a quick lunch at Valloire. Then ready for the Col du Galibier with 11.5miles to the summit.
Quck spot of a horse with bells on (goats, cows, sheep and horses now done) and onto the serious business. Going up at around 5.5mph, this meant over a two hour climb and bloody hard.
Got close to overheating, so cycle helmet came off for the first time. The hill went on and on, but at least I knew from experience that most Col's finish with the last 1km fairly flat.
So aiming for the 1km mark, cycling on my own know as everyone just had to bash out there own pace. Once I got to the 1km mark I was greeted with the tunnel and the flat that takes traffic through to avoid the last 1km of climbing.
This is banned for cyclists, so the last 1km was steep, very bloody steep. Down to my lowest gear now, it was as hard as riding my old Raleigh Chopper up hills now.
Finally to the top and the view was stunning and I was a completely shattered.
Big downhills followed with 25miles left to ride, the key to the downhills off the mountains is to not fall off the edge as your speed will increase immensely for a very short period, followed by a thud!
So, my maximum speed of the week was saved for a nice wide straight road, 40mph, my old Mini would be proud of that.
Finally into Briançon (highest city in Europe at around 1200m), found hotel and room. Room seems to be painted in illuminous two tone yellow them. Nice.
I was completey cream cackered now. Today was probably the hardest day physically I had ever had the pleasure to partake in.
Three days more cycling, could it be that I Started Something I Couldn't Finish?
Any, off to rehydrate with a few beers and discuss tomorrows tactics.

Sorry Gav and Jay.

I realise on my previous blog my brothers Gav and Jay would have been somewhat unhappy with the viewsand nothing to keep their interest on the blog. So, I did find a few caravans/campers just to keep them entertained
Sorry Gav and Jay for forgetting you, but really struggling on the subjects that interest you!