bobinski
Legendary Member
- Location
- Tulse Hill
Andy, sounds like you are having a great time 
Turbo Club - Meet Ups / Events
- Thread starter <Tommy>
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Andy, sounds like you are having a great time
I quite describe it yet as a great time, The weather has been so hot, and with yesterday a big ride it crushed alot of the riders, just about everyone suffering with major cramps. I had walk a few km to relieve my cramp, as stretching did little for me to get i
on the bike for more than a few hundred yards . As usual once at the summit food salt tablet and water, rest for 15 mins, I was able to finish and quite strongly
View attachment 417935
Marmotte day yesterday, with some 120+ miles 16000+ft.
It didn't quite pan out like I expected, but nevertheless I had a great ride.
Two of us decided to leave 15mins before the main group, so to help us mainly, also the road crew keep the riders close together as the day progressed.
A flat 8 miles to the bottom of Croix du Fer/Glandon. We were warned to keep it really slow for the first climb some 24km. I kept heart rate just on 150bpm and let the other rider ease away, but never more than 200yards. Weather was much better and cooler. We crested the Glandon with a little time to spare from the main group and descended the climb. Coffee stop at the bottom whilst the main group came down. We then had a 30km rolling ride on busy A roads to the foot of the Telegraphe. This is where my insides began to grumble.
The Telegraphe was a lovely climb 6% with switch backs and tree cover. It started to rain but not heavy, just enough to wet your back and cool down. It didn't last long the rain, but was followed by a lovely sight of steaming roads as the water evaporates.
summit of the Telegraphe
I then had my Domoulin moment and needed to loo desperately, cafe saved my embarrassing moment. I felt a lot better and descended the 3k to start the Galibier. Man that is a climb and a half, grind it out to 2600+ metres.
it was quite warm on the ascent albeit windy, but bloody cold on the descent ( just shows alpine weather can be so different)
We then had a 20+ mile descent with a lumpy finish, body started to complain again. Frankly didn't fancy another 2hours taking a risk!! Returned to chalet, so pleased I did
It didn't quite pan out like I expected, but nevertheless I had a great ride.
Two of us decided to leave 15mins before the main group, so to help us mainly, also the road crew keep the riders close together as the day progressed.
A flat 8 miles to the bottom of Croix du Fer/Glandon. We were warned to keep it really slow for the first climb some 24km. I kept heart rate just on 150bpm and let the other rider ease away, but never more than 200yards. Weather was much better and cooler. We crested the Glandon with a little time to spare from the main group and descended the climb. Coffee stop at the bottom whilst the main group came down. We then had a 30km rolling ride on busy A roads to the foot of the Telegraphe. This is where my insides began to grumble.
The Telegraphe was a lovely climb 6% with switch backs and tree cover. It started to rain but not heavy, just enough to wet your back and cool down. It didn't last long the rain, but was followed by a lovely sight of steaming roads as the water evaporates.
summit of the Telegraphe
I then had my Domoulin moment and needed to loo desperately, cafe saved my embarrassing moment. I felt a lot better and descended the 3k to start the Galibier. Man that is a climb and a half, grind it out to 2600+ metres.
it was quite warm on the ascent albeit windy, but bloody cold on the descent ( just shows alpine weather can be so different)
We then had a 20+ mile descent with a lumpy finish, body started to complain again. Frankly didn't fancy another 2hours taking a risk!! Returned to chalet, so pleased I did
Last edited:
berty bassett
Legendary Member
- Location
- I'boro
Sounds like your having a great time Andy
Back to the grindstone for me and missing everything about our trip
I really do hope it all happens again and hopefully with more of us ccers
Back to the grindstone for me and missing everything about our trip
I really do hope it all happens again and hopefully with more of us ccers
bobinski
Legendary Member
- Location
- Tulse Hill
Nice write up Andy. I am sure the other riders were glad that discretion was the better part of valour Having endured another CC’ers odour d’ perfume the lingering consequences of a domoulin may have been a little too much to bear
Having endured another CC’ers odour d’ perfume the lingering consequences of a domoulin may have been a little too much to bear
OP
OP
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
Nice write up Andy. I am sure the other riders were glad that discretion was the better part of valour
Please... at the very least it gave you a new excuse for being dropped. I’m afraid you’ll have to go back to the big book for all the other times!
(Ps no using my sun cream in the eyes excuse I have copyright!)
OP
OP
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
Hey guys, where are the write-ups from the Pyrenees?
I wasn’t planning to do one to be honest. Don’t know if I could make it concise enough or do it justice. Maybe I’ll have a go at certain bits of it.
bobinski
Legendary Member
- Location
- Tulse Hill
Please... at the very least it gave you a new excuse for being dropped. I’m afraid you’ll have to go back to the big book for all the other times!
(Ps no using my sun cream in the eyes excuse I have copyright!)
Yeah, coz having sun tan cream in ya eyes is a valid excuse 
Yeah, coz having sun tan cream in ya eyes is a valid excuse
I had a funny episode along those lines last time I was in the Alps. My good lady had (rightly) nagged me to make sure I put sunblock on in the heat. So one day I put boatloads of spray on, particularly around my face and head. As I was climbing, I was sweating profusely and my eyes were killing me, to the point I could hardly see.
When I got back to the chalet, I realised I had doused myself with strong insect repellent and that was why it was so painful... numpty
Got a great tan though
OP
OP
<Tommy>
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Location
- Camden, London
Yeah, coz having sun tan cream in ya eyes is a valid excuse
I know you’re just trying to be funny but it’s actually worth noting how bad it was mate. Maybe the rest of the guys here know better than to put sun tan lotion on the forehead but I didn’t, and it was a massive mistake!
As soon as I started sweating it started to run into my eyes. And I can’t describe how uncomfortable it was. Basically for most of the day I was squinting. And looking at the metre directly in front of my handlebars.... even in the night afteeewarss I woke up to what felt like someone poking me in the eye. Pretty sure it wasn’t Berty or dean!
The only relief I got all day was when we came across a stream I could wash my face in and even then it lasted a few minutes. It was the day we did the tormalet so around 75 miles and 11k climbing(?). If it wasn’t for Berty pacing me up... well I’ll never forget it put it that way. There’s actually a photo one of Bob’s friends took at the top where I look completely beat head in hands type thing. Well I’m very tempted to get that picture framed! Because I’m not sure anyone else would believe the effect something as simple as putting sun cream on your forehead can effect you. But I’m quite proud of how far I digged to complete the day without bailing.
This week has been tough, tougher than I wanted, mainly due to the heat, also day after day of climbs. I would prefer some flatter days, just sightseeing. I took two days off which though reduced my riding, it has allowed me not to go deep into fatigue.
I will use this format in future and pick my days to ride. wimp mode off now
I will use this format in future and pick my days to ride. wimp mode off now
This week has been tough, tougher than I wanted, mainly due to the heat, also day after day of climbs. I would prefer some flatter days, just sightseeing. I took two days off which though reduced my riding, it has allowed me not to go deep into fatigue.
I will use this format in future and pick my days to ride. wimp mode off now
I know what you mean. I did the Pyrenean RAID last year and that was hard, hard, hard. Completely fatigued at the end. Despite my best intentions, I'll probably do the same this year - difficult to make yourself chill for a day or so, with all those famous climbs on your doorstep
