Tell us about your weekend ride

Boredom make Homer go crazy.

@hippy do you have any comprehensive writeups of the rides you do or do I need to head on over to the TT thread for that?

The post up there wasn't comprehensive enough? Hmmpf!

@hippy judging by your ride reports, you accomplish some herculean feats but I'm always left wanting more details. #youbigtease

That's a strong week of col bagging, SF.

Well done.

Not sure which of those I like the most, the Croix de Fer is long, the Galibier hard, Iseran long and hard, Madeleine at total bastard, Mont Cenis is exposed (great descent down into Susa though), Alpe d'Huez over-rated, Izoard hard and when I did it, swarming with flies (I had my one swarm that followed me up to the summit, I didn't mind them but told them if they landed on me they died, which they seemed to accept).

Col de Croix de fer, Col de Madeliene – Overheated and out of water on Madeleine 6km from the top. Barely made it.
strava.com/activities/1977797­79

Have some kudos for this. Riding up the Croix de Fer. Descending in the summer this road was as busy as Euston Road heavy car crashes and everything.
But that Glandon descend eh!

I rode for 30 hours. Then I stopped riding.

Become a poker pro?

Snap! is more my style.

St Jean de Maurienne is actually in the Arc Valley. On the other side of the Madeleine is the Isere and South of the Galibier is the Guisane to Briancon and the Romanche to Vizille.

One side is ok, the other is sketch.

That's a strong week of col bagging, SF.

Well done.

Not sure which of those I like the most, the Croix de Fer is long, the
Galibier hard, Iseran long and hard, Madeleine at total bastard, Mont
Cenis is exposed (great descent down into Susa though), Alpe d'Huez
over-rated, Izoard hard and when I did it, swarming with flies (I had
my one swarm that followed me up to the summit, I didn't mind them but
told them if they landed on me they died, which they seemed to
accept).

It was too hot for me on Madeleine. We climbed Croix de fer, and I was pushing for a longer ride. Felt fine at the start. But 6km from the top my body seemed to give up. had to slog it out to the summit.

Nothing prepared me for the South side of Croix de fer though. I ended the day having climbed 4700m. So anything would have been hard. But it just went on forever. Barely a switchback, or a change of scenery. Just the odd short 15% section to screw you over. It was getting dark, I was barely moving, and desparately hungry. I figured I could decend to the appartment in the dark if only I could get to the top. Barely 2km from the top I stopped to put my Wind jacket on. But I was shaking from sugar depletion. Not from Cold. Luckily my mate that had driven to the base of Alp d'huez to do some shopping, had doubled back. He stopped and I could have kissed him. But then some idiot part of my brain told him to give me a gel, and meet me at the top. I made it. But I have o idea why I felt I needed to put myself through that.

Galibier (from the north) was my favourate. It just seemed to have everything. Woodland switchbacks at Telegraphe, a long slog from the ski town, winding roads at the top, and an impressive altitude. Plus that amazing TdF attack from Pantani in shitty conditions on the same face, added the feel of history.

We wanted to Climb Madeleine from the other side. But ran out of days.

This was just river philosophy. Is the Chaussy not vey romantic! Hence he best way up the Madeleine surly is this?

http://www.strava.com/activities/182144842/segments/4258006261

For that pre macadam TdF feeling.

Century Saturday on a punishing 48x15

What's you bar & stem combo there? Looks very nice.

Trigon bar and the Pro Vibe Sprint Carbon Cavendish stem or whatever the name is - someone stole my topcap, anyone got one spare? [pro vibe doesn't stock them].

In Provence.

Well, there was a 3 x 3 m patch of Lavender in Ware.

1. http://www.strava.com/activities/200554266
   
2. http://www.strava.com/activities/200554309
   
   

Plus some pointless rambling around London waiting for the gf to let me in the house, and getting to and from a mates house just outside St.Ives.
Was fun, roads were absurdly empty until Essex. 10/10 would ride again.
Train back to Nottingham later, and then work out how on earth I get to Mansfield. (Probably ride)

Bloody hell, good averages.

Constant downhill from the 'North' ;). Saddlebag was a bit of a pain, but yeah, not displeased- I had so much fun.

Ride to Alty, Train to Delamere then 30km mix of easy trails and quiet roads back to the next station (crumpetlington or some similar name) then back to Alty, beer then ride home via Timperley to say hi to this guy:

Frank Sidebottom?
spent all day yesterday trying to get students to sign up to free track coaching,
got a lift to run race today,
rode to poole after for 1km swim,
is that enough?
be back on bike all week everywhere again, promise

Frank Sidebottom?
spent all day yesterday trying to get students to sign up to free track coaching,
got a lift to run race today,
rode to pool after for 1km swim,
is that enough?
be back on bike all week everywhere again, promise

pressed the button wrong
someone delete