The finale. La Monte Discrète

Last night's dinner in town was a bit of a disappointment. I ordered a cheese burger and chips from what looked like a decent restaurant but when it arrived it was like warm and the beef was even too rare for me, in fact I think a good vet could have resuscitated it. 

We didn't hang around there very long and wandered off through a seemingly ever busier town for a couple of beers in a bar. 

This week has been slowly building to a major cycling weekend with a number of sportives culminating in La Marmotte on Sunday. La Marmotte is essentially all the climbing we have done added together over a 177km course with 8000 riders taking part. 

Today's weather has been a bit mixed. We headed off knowing we were in with a chance of getting wet but hoping it would miss us. 

Sadly the thunder started soon after we started and the cloud literally enveloped us as we climbed out of the valley and then it just got wetter and wetter for about an hour. 

Today's route took us about two thirds up The Alpe D'Huez climbing to 1500m in about 7 miles which although a relatively easy gradient tested the legs a tad on day 4 of back to back riding. 

We got to the top and the skies brightened just as we hit the road down the Alpe. Despite the rain the roads were still busy with cyclists and although the rain had stopped the road was still wet and at those gradients it focused my mind on braking as we descended. 

The descending was hard work on the wrists and fingers as braking was almost constant and it was more than a little scary as we dropped like a stone over 1200m. 

Once at the bottom we shot into town for coffee and some lunch and then back to camp to get packed up ready for an early start as there are some road closures we need to avoid tomorrow. 

Today's stats. 

Miles 23

Climbing 884m

Top speed. 39mph. 

 

The long ride up. Col de Lauteret

Today was a tough day in the office. 

Last night was really hot and humid and the accommodation was boiling so sleep was at a premium. 

After yesterday's accident and technical issues we were 3 down at the start and if honest I was running at about 70% so wasn't full of the joys of spring as I knew it was going to tough. 

Nevertheless we set off in good spirits and I felt quite perky. After about 6 miles or so the road started to gently climb and that set the tone for the first half of the day. 

Burtie and I plus Ross and Nick stayed together but Robin and Kev headed off into the sun. After about 10 miles we regrouped at a dam and then continued along a newly laid temporary road around a beautiful lake. Once past the roadworks we continued to climb at a relatively easy rate in terms of percentage but both Burtie and I were really feeling it in our legs and it became a bit of a slog. 

We stopped a few times to take some photos as it was once again spectacular and then arrived at the top of the Col de Lauterat and both almost instantly agreed we were not fit for the Galibier which was another 8km with a horribly steep finish. 

After a relaxing drinks break we spoke to Robin who was at the top of the Galibier and arranged to meet for a coffee half way back down the climb. 

The descent was a much more relaxed affair with sweeping bends, some more challenging switchbacks and the odd tunnel just to spice things up. 

We stopped for a drink as arranged and Kev and Robin caught is up and then we headed down for 55 minute descent topping out at about 40 mph. There was only one notable incident when a numpty in a car decided to overtake us in a two lane tunnel on a blind right hand bend and came very close to us. He was lucky that we didn't see him again or he would have had learnt some basic Anglo Saxon!

At the bottom of the ride we headed into town for lunch then back to the campsite to relax. Tonight we are out for dinner in town so that should be fun. 

Today's stats

Miles 59

Climbing 1931m

Max speed 38mph. 

Onwards and upwards. 

Croix de Fer

After a disappointing night watching England lose to Iceland we hit the sack and we're ready if slightly leg weary for the off at 8 am. 

Today's ride was billed as a bit tougher than yesterday's but I didn't realise just how much tougher it was going to be. 

The Croix de Fer and Col de Clandon are both HC rated climbs on the Tour de France which means they are bloody tough. 

Our ride started well until after about 500m Stewart realised he hadn't filled his water bottles so we had a well earned break whilst he shot back to the campsite and rectified the situation. 

After that it was basically uphill for 20 miles with the profile varying between 5 and 14%, which in anybody's world is tough. 

2:40hrs later I arrived st the top about 3kg lighter and just a tad knackered!

Having said that I had cycled through some stunning scenery including frozen waterfalls and numerous switchback bends. 

Towards the top it became somewhat remote and I began to think I had taken a wrong turn but then I saw Burtie who had waited for me and we managed the last 5 miles or so together ( well almost as he rode away from me again). 

Once at the top I have to admit I was very chuffed, this was the longest continuous climb and probably the steepest I had ever done.  

After everyone had arrived we had a coffee and then the descent started. 

Frightening is a word I could use or maybe exilerating but either way it was at times very fast (44mph) and very bendy. 

Sadly one of the riders came a cropper about half way down and ended up upside down in the verge with two blown tyres. He got away relatively uninjured but it put the wind up us a bit and we took it a bit easier for the rest of the trip home. 

Once back in the valley Robin, Burtie and I headed into town for lunch then back the campsite for a relaxed afternoon. 

Tomorrow is scheduled  to be even tougher with a 20 mile climb up the Col de Galbier. I haven't decided if I'm doing it yet as only 4 others are I guess I'll decide in the morning. 

Today's stats

Mileage 49

Climbing 6000ft

Top speed 44

Alpe D'Huez

Today was the first test of the trip up the famous Alpe D'Huez, a climb frequently used in the Tour De France.

We were all up early and eager to get going although I must admit I was a little concerned about the climb as its been a while since I've climbed anything as big as today's challenge. 

We headed off in beautiful sunshine and soon got to the bottom of the climb. 

About an hour and a half later I got to the top having had a relatively pleasant ride. I was really pleased with my fitness and the scenery was spectacular

After a coffee we headed off down a little bit before starting to climb again up the Col de Sarenne which unbeknown to us at the time was steeper than Huez and sadly into a strong headwind which made it a tough climb even in my lowest gear. 

After summiting we plunged down the other side and when I say plunged I do mean it. The descent was very difficult with hairpin bends, gravel and rough tarmac that if you weren't careful bounced you all over the place. Add into that the steepness and a nasty gusting wind and it added up to a real challenge. 

We regrouped about half way down and my neck was spaziming from all the tension in my arms and shoulders as I had fought the elements down the descent and been using the brakes a great deal. 

The second half of the descent was much less demanding and we whipped along at 35/40 miles an hour sweeping through tunnels and back into town for lunch

Lunch was very welcome after which we had a relatively gentle ride back to the campsite where we've been busy getting food shopping and housework done. 

Tonight it's vegetarian chillie and then the football to watch. 

Tomorrow we are heading up the Crois de Fer which is another famous climb. 

Today's stats

Mileage. 44

Climbing 5900ft

Top speed 43mph. 

Onwards and Upwards

The long road South

Our adventure has begun.

After what seemed like an age the date has dawned and Ross, Nick and Stewart arrived on Friday evening raring to go. We had a pleasant evening catching up and then were joined by Matthew and Robin on Saturday morning. Bike loading went well despite a minor issue regarding symmetry, (it's always difficult coping with people who are slightly OCD)  and we hit the road at exactly 9am as planned. 

The journey South to Dover was very relaxed and we hardly touched our brakes, rolling into the ferry terminal in plenty of time for our ferry.

Robin managed to attract the Police's attention as he struggled to fit his headlamp protectors and then shocked the group with his revealing of his Man Bag. 

After lunch on the ferry we departed Calais and without any real problems knocked off about 160 miles before stopping in Laon overnight. 

We passed our time discussing very interesting philosophical issues such as do bird have accents and how do trees know when to stop growing? As you can imagine with our combined intellect we solved many problems for the world.

Laon looks impressive with a huge Cathedral dominating the horizon atop a rocky outcrop way above the rest of the horizon. Sadly we are stuck out on an industrial estate about 3 miles from the centre so we didn't get to see much of it. 

The lads have presented me with a cycling top and a very nice bottle of whisky to say thanks for organising the trip which was very much appreciated and no doubt won't get home unopened. 

Dinner was a pleasant affair in the Ibis restaurant and we settled in to watch the football over a few beers. We continued our philosophical discussion although Matthew didn't really buy into the process and started actually answering the questions rather than discussing the broader issues which buggered things up a bit. 

Tomorrow we have about 350 miles to cover but hopefully we should get a short ride in once we've checked into the accommodation. 

Onwards and upwards. 

Bourgeois D’Oisans

Dawn broke after a good nights sleep and then after a quick breakfast we hit the road.

About 7 hours later we arrived at the campsite nestled in amongst some huge mountains where we met Kev, Snics and Ringers who had already arrived

Once we'd unpacked we got changed into our cycling gear and headed out for a bit of a leg stretch. 

It was good to be out after two days in a car but we didn't go too far, just enough to warm the legs up and see some scenery. We popped into town for a coffee then headed back to the campsite for dinner and an early night. 

Tomorrow we are climbing up Alp D'Huez so it's going to be fun with the first climb taking anything up to an hour and a half!

Today's ride stats. 

20 miles. 

1100ft climbing