Cycle Sportives

A while back (9 June), I asked about a 5 day trip across the Pyrenees (St Jean Pied de Port to Limoux, via the Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspet, Peyresourde, Pailheres, etc). Well, I made it - despite getting lost in Spain (thanks to Chris in the bar doing the GR11 and fellow forumenger Wooderson+ for getting me out of that hole) and at a pretty slow pace.

But I don't think I would have without some of the advice from this forum - particularly Andyp and MrSmyth on time-trial pace rolling training, and on the pacing of the climb. And Hippy's mantra 'they're just bumps' was handy to knock around one's head about an hour into a climb. Thanks everyone.

Two final thoughts: (1) everyone should ride at least once in the Pyrenees, and (2) it seemed that once you got to the top of a col, there is always some kid on a mountain bike doing wheelies and assorted trix. I didn't think I'd be shouting 'do a skid' as much as I did.

Only just seen this, you must've posted whilst I was on holiday. Well done. The Pyrenees are beautiful and some of the climbs you did truly epic.