Tell us about your weekend ride

Until quite recently, I too had a place in the Pas de Calais, not far from you in the lovely village of Boubers sur Canche.

The roads in the area are indeed a delight for cycling - well maintained and virtually traffic free.

Here's a few of my 'photo's from previous rides.

First, just down the road from you, the site of an historic conflict:

Next up, rush hour in Hesdin:

The area was, of course, the scene of intense fighting in both World Wars, of which a great deal of evidence remains. I never fail to be moved by the Commonwealth War Graves, which are everywhere, and are immaculately maintained. I often visit this particular one, just outside the village of Ligny sur Canche:

Here's the fields on the hilltop above Boubers:

Finally, here's a link to a load of Youtube videos (not mine) of the area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SopXtW7SYg&index=39&list=PLY5P2qs4J3I-8CgI5b3MaKCfn5ex5viTY
-8CgI5b3MaKCfn5ex5viTY&v=5SopXtW7SYg

I miss the Pas de Calais :(

Hesdin?
Ernulf de Hesdin was one of Guillaume Batard's mates who joined him at Hastings. As a reward he was given some marshy land a clear days journey north west of London.
The local Catholic church in Ruislip Manor has a function hall named after him.
@hamrack

Ranulph Fiennes comes from a family originally from the village of Fiennes in the Pas de Calais. Some of his predecessors fought in the Crusades, and at least one came over in that cowardly French action in 1066, when they attacked England when we were up North handing the Scots a beating.

Also, the spot where one of his relatives was buried is now known as Finsbury (Fiennes-Bury) Square.

Basically, the Pas de Calais, like much of France is, in fact, English.

Sorry to hear you're not around PdeC anymore. I'd certainly miss it now if I couldn't go there.

Hi Oliver

That's a valid comment, but I'd like to point out that I was never a pure tester and really preferred road racing (even though I wasn't much good at it).

However, when it comes to organising TT's are much easier. Don't forget the original idea in England was to have a race that didn't look like a race. My thought was that first attempt at a TT there would be informal, although subsequently it might be possible for a group of English riders to set up a challenge with the local clubs.

Incidentally, it was suggested in the 1890's, when the police were being troublesome in England, that one possible answer would be to run events in France. Given the difficulties we face now (too much traffic, too much health and safety, clapped out roads) maybe it's time to reconsider this idea.

Quick Tour Transalp update:

Day 2: @Cycliste's chain fell off, again, this time at the bottom of the first descent, the Furkel Pass. This time it took half the front derailleur cage with it, so this was the first of about 8 or 9 chain unshipping incidents. For the rest of the day, I'd sit on the front dragging @Cycliste behind me, trying to make up time, with a queue of 20 or 30 competitors behind me. Then @Cycliste's chain would fall off, all the people I'd been dragging along would overtake us, @Cycliste would swear a lot, and I'd go back on the front for another hour of tempo effort to try and catch up with the group I'd be dragging along before. Exhausting.

Day 3: Fast and flat run to the bottom of Passo Giau. @Cycliste and I were going well, top 10 of the B group just before the start of the climb up Giau. Then @Cycliste fell off when she got shoved into some roadworks by a friendly Brit who wanted to talk to her. We rode Giau hard, but @Cycliste had run out of beans a bit for the final climb up Passo Cereda.

After three days of racing we're back in 27th place in the Mixed category, exactly where we started after Day 1. Monte Grappa and Croce D'aune tomorrow.

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Cycling the Maratona dles Dolomites tomorrow. What a bike region...

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SRAM front mech? Oh, good going...!

Arran

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Yep, SRAM Red. Temporarily replaced with a second-hand Dura Ace 7800 FD from the repair man's spares box. Vast improvement.

P.S. We finished the Tour Transalp today with no more major calamities. 25th place in the Mixed teams event in the end. 819km, 17,739m of climbing according to the finishers' medals.

Now feeling a little tired.

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Dura Ace 7800

#heart

Quick hour ride along the flats. Pretty easy speed and nice uneventful.

Then 5 minutes from home tyre went bang. Brand new spare tube went pffff. Pit stop went fizz and foam came from a billion points.

Sat in glorious sunshine for 15 mins waiting for a lift home.

4/10

I think that’s quite a common replacement for sram red FDs, got better front shifting.

Wanstead flats? Spotted an lfgss jersey

Nah, out in the west country, there’s a couple flat routes and the rest are hill rides.

Currently mid way through a very hilly 120km route near Newcastle, ending with a bit of spectating at the National Road Race.

It’s beautiful, but hot and very climby.

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First ride that wasn't commuting in 5 months today, running 3 times a week and working out 3 times a week left little time or energy for cycling. 37km along the coast to Wassenaar and back in 29*C sunny weather was beautifull. 4/5 Beaufort wind could do one. Was great being on the bike again, fitness was there still, probably because of commuting and running, legs burned a bit on the "climbs" through Meijendel. Looking forward to cycling more and running less. Repped the LFGSS today...

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Based on your form, your body may need extra rest today.

I'm sure there's an app for that. :)

Love that Master Xlight

What's that from?!?

Training Peaks and a heroic score

TrainingPeaks, after a 12hr TT followed by a week of dragging my fat arse all over the Alps, pretending to be in a race. It basically says I'm fit but fucked. Which sounds half right from where I'm standing at the moment but then again the 4am start to get back to the UK probably hasn't helped.

longest ride to date in preparation for london to paris. 82 miles from home to broadstairs. things learnt, greggs coffee aint too bad. google maps is ducking useless at planning a route if youre on a track bike with thin tyres. much suncream needed. much.

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google maps is ducking useless at planning a route if youre on a track bike with thin tyres.

Did it send you off-road somewhere the other side of West Malling by any chance? Similar fun and games for me getting to Whitstable earlier this year. Looks like it was worth it in the end! :)