Friend of mine is renting a 20 man villa in calpe, jan-feb. I'm hoping to spend feb out there. Will be full of elites coming and going mostly, just having a laugh/training every day. Will get more details nearer the time if interested
Ps your trip looked insane. unbelievable memories no doubt
Now that I have come back to earth and sorted my stuff out I am missing a couple of things....I know this happens all the time....but wondered if anyone picked them up on Monday? A Trisports plastic bag with some bits in...assos arm warmers..and a cut off bidon with a veloflex tub in....
Chuckle. Unfortunately the van left 98 hours ago and ain't coming back.
I am sure someone has your gear Carmelo.
Thanks all for an awesome trip. I've been falling asleep around 9pm every night this week. Presumably something to do with last weeks's effort. Missing the routine and our little community on the road. Oh and sorry about the punctures before we even left the car park on day one. Stroppy did you catch up with my 4 tyre changes over the 6 days?
Great effort by all.
I have a photo of the guy with the white shorts on day 6. Fortunately he is not pictured our of the saddle. Me could have housed an elephant down there....... Eek.
Agreed Vince: missing the routine and great sense of friendship/fellowship/respect that this ride engendered. People from all walks of life coming together and enjoying riding their bikes with fellow minded souls. Magic.
Remember this time last week chaps:
In the middle of the night I go walking in my sleep From the mountains of faith......
Can't get that tune out of my head, even a week later....sorry MC!
Where to start, and I agree with everyone above. We all made it, job done, but this doesn't even begin to express the sense of achievement we all felt in so many ways. One thing we all had in common was an aversion to sitting on a saddle for some time after, save for J.Mac who was riding TT on Sunday. France seemed time locked in the rural areas and charming for it. Good on them keeping their culture and environment. Vast acres of maize, wheat, sunflower, vines and lavender for oil and eau de cologne were the main crops. Logging was the main industry in the mountains and the size of some sawmills eye boggling. Pity we couldn't stop to sample the various regional wines especially as they were harvesting for this seasons vintage. The shade offered by the tall forests was most welcome offsetting the continuous heat of hard ridden miles. Six days of sunshine was a blessing considering the later forecasts.
Day one was relatively flat and fast giving everyone a chance to get into a cycling rhythm and become accustomed to each others riding style. However good the intentions it was clear from the off that with the wide range of abilities, some better suited to climbing and others to a rolling big ring there would be splits. Days two to six seemed somehow to merge and blurr as we grew more tired and rushed to wake and pack for each new day.
The planned stops each day allowed group changes and recovery keeping us together and pepped up. The vast range of terrain gave all riders an opportunity to test themselves to the limit and regardless of who took turns feeling better or worse the club spirit showed through. Each rider had their agenda and some days proved harder than others for the support to shine through. Good intentions often take second place to the joyful feeling of rolling effortlessly when one is in the zone. For my part, I just wanted to discover if I was still able to complete such an epic classic ride in six days, however long each days riding took. There were no illusions about being a front runner pushing the pace whatever the terrain. Apart from the odd necessary comfort stops and planned stops I rode every mile somehow still being able to appreciate the magnificent vistas opening up before me.
A note of thanks here to our tour company ACT who were nothing less than perfect. Ray and Rachel were friendly, accommodating, supportive and highly competent. Thanks to Robbie and Mark who made it happen for the club and kept it together. We only missed one food stop due to this idiot who left his tool bag at the hotel after a gruelling day 3 ride which left me totally disoriented. Glad Ray went back for it because it came in handy when we repaired a charming 80 year olds wheel on Mt. Ventoux after a gruelling climb.
So the weather was kind, the miles long and hard, the climbs momentous and the scenery stunning. Some views mind-blowing whilst others were warmly reassuring. Wonderful roads to ride, with some descents seemingly endless with wide sweeping bends. Chasing the blue train down these was exhilarating allowing us slower climbers to often catch up, sadly getting distanced again on the next climb. Riding with fifteen other club riders of differing abilities but common purpose made me very proud of how CCA has grown as a club. Long may it continue. Special note to Dom who as a newish cyclist exceeded his own expectations riding very strongly at the end and to John L. who rode far more of the route than he ought to have done, on his own. He more than anyone drove himself to his limit to finish the ride as did we all at some point.
So despite overcoming colds, sore spots, blowing tyres and near scrapes on some descents, we all kept going and made it to Nice. After 2 days rest in Nice I wrote this on my return to Paris by train allowing me to fully appreciate the distance and country we had ridden through. An easier passage, but nowhere near as fulfilling. Thank you everyone for a wonderful, life affirming experience.
Comments
Ps your trip looked insane. unbelievable memories no doubt
A Trisports plastic bag with some bits in...assos arm warmers..and a cut off bidon with a veloflex tub in....
I am sure someone has your gear Carmelo.
Thanks all for an awesome trip. I've been falling asleep around 9pm every night this week. Presumably something to do with last weeks's effort. Missing the routine and our little community on the road. Oh and sorry about the punctures before we even left the car park on day one. Stroppy did you catch up with my 4 tyre changes over the 6 days?
Great effort by all.
I have a photo of the guy with the white shorts on day 6. Fortunately he is not pictured our of the saddle. Me could have housed an elephant down there....... Eek.
Remember this time last week chaps:
In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
From the mountains of faith......
Can't get that tune out of my head, even a week later....sorry MC!
Day one was relatively flat and fast giving everyone a chance to get into a cycling rhythm and become accustomed to each others riding style. However good the intentions it was clear from the off that with the wide range of abilities, some better suited to climbing and others to a rolling big ring there would be splits. Days two to six seemed somehow to merge and blurr as we grew more tired and rushed to wake and pack for each new day.
The planned stops each day allowed group changes and recovery keeping us together and pepped up. The vast range of terrain gave all riders an opportunity to test themselves to the limit and regardless of who took turns feeling better or worse the club spirit showed through. Each rider had their agenda and some days proved harder than others for the support to shine through. Good intentions often take second place to the joyful feeling of rolling effortlessly when one is in the zone. For my part, I just wanted to discover if I was still able to complete such an epic classic ride in six days, however long each days riding took. There were no illusions about being a front runner pushing the pace whatever the terrain. Apart from the odd necessary comfort stops and planned stops I rode every mile somehow still being able to appreciate the magnificent vistas opening up before me.
A note of thanks here to our tour company ACT who were nothing less than perfect. Ray and Rachel were friendly, accommodating, supportive and highly competent. Thanks to Robbie and Mark who made it happen for the club and kept it together. We only missed one food stop due to this idiot who left his tool bag at the hotel after a gruelling day 3 ride which left me totally disoriented. Glad Ray went back for it because it came in handy when we repaired a charming 80 year olds wheel on Mt. Ventoux after a gruelling climb.
So the weather was kind, the miles long and hard, the climbs momentous and the scenery stunning. Some views mind-blowing whilst others were warmly reassuring. Wonderful roads to ride, with some descents seemingly endless with wide sweeping bends. Chasing the blue train down these was exhilarating allowing us slower climbers to often catch up, sadly getting distanced again on the next climb. Riding with fifteen other club riders of differing abilities but common purpose made me very proud of how CCA has grown as a club. Long may it continue. Special note to Dom who as a newish cyclist exceeded his own expectations riding very strongly at the end and to John L. who rode far more of the route than he ought to have done, on his own. He more than anyone drove himself to his limit to finish the ride as did we all at some point.
So despite overcoming colds, sore spots, blowing tyres and near scrapes on some descents, we all kept going and made it to Nice. After 2 days rest in Nice I wrote this on my return to Paris by train allowing me to fully appreciate the distance and country we had ridden through. An easier passage, but nowhere near as fulfilling. Thank you everyone for a wonderful, life affirming experience.