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14 years ago
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
All these ideas
All i'm getting is ideas running round my mind for touring trips next year! I'd love to to go to France again but don't want to leave Jeni and the kids behind thats why Birmingham to Lands End is more feasable for me as i can have a couple of days down lands end or somewhere near with the family.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Theres an idea
I just had the best idea last night, i was looking at Lands End to John O Groats but then i thought why not do it from home then i don't have to travel anywhere. So i am now getting ideas of doing this and came up with a list of questions to get answered by myself and fellow cyclists.
Some of the questions. Solo or not?, Camping or hotels? What Bike? How many miles per day? these are just some questions i have asked myself and i'm sure people will give me advice on some of these.
Some of the questions. Solo or not?, Camping or hotels? What Bike? How many miles per day? these are just some questions i have asked myself and i'm sure people will give me advice on some of these.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
More Pictures
These photos are from Beaufort. It really was a nice place, we stopped about 10 minutes walk from here and after our longest day on the bike (55 miles). The signs were for the Cormet De Roseland but we never tackled it but maybe next year. These pictures will live with me for as long as shall live aswell as the memories of the good and bad experiences we both had on the road.
Those memories
An E-mail has just arrived reminding me of my first real challenge as a cyclist. The Tour Of Worcester, this was a 93 mile course going through the Malvern hills, The Ankerdine and about 14 other climbs.
I will remember this day for the whole of my life it is where i "Bonked", I was drinking well on my bike but not eating as i felt bad. The climbs are still fresh in my mind and as many cyclists just starting or probably older will tell you "You'll always remember your bad memories more than the best" this is true, the week leading up to it i had a nightmare my gears were messed up and i was fiddling about with them and eventually Geoff fixed them. Then the ride was a nightmare it was nearly 8 hours in the saddle, my body was aching, my mind beaten and myself not on this planet. I got home slept and it took me some 4 days to get back to normal. I'd love to take it on again and think i would do it.
I will remember this day for the whole of my life it is where i "Bonked", I was drinking well on my bike but not eating as i felt bad. The climbs are still fresh in my mind and as many cyclists just starting or probably older will tell you "You'll always remember your bad memories more than the best" this is true, the week leading up to it i had a nightmare my gears were messed up and i was fiddling about with them and eventually Geoff fixed them. Then the ride was a nightmare it was nearly 8 hours in the saddle, my body was aching, my mind beaten and myself not on this planet. I got home slept and it took me some 4 days to get back to normal. I'd love to take it on again and think i would do it.
Friday, 4 September 2009
Les Gets descent
Just a few more photos, these are the descent from Les Gets where we stopped it was freezing and also my first taste of descending.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Some photos
Here are a few pictures of my time in France hopefully in the future there will be many more summits added to my list
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
I'll be back
As i type this blog i should be doing it from France on a wierd keyboard but instead i'm at home typing it. The adventure of Traversing the Alps had failed but what went wrong you might ask?
From landing in Geneva Airport the humidity and heat hit straight away after departing the Plane to collect our luggage and bikes. After finding a quite spot to unpack and set up our bikes, the sweat was rolling off me and it's not normal for that to happen. We set off from Geneva Airport to merge with the Chaotic city after we left the city and rode beside the lake myself was gasping for a drink but had no Swiss Francs to buy one. After about 15 miles we seen a sign for "Camping Municipal". We decided to have a look so we decided to stop some 15 miles from Thonon which was meant to be our first camp. We had the most expensive but refreshing coke and water which cost 17 Euros.
After a thunderstorm that continued till 4-30am we woke to sunshine and set off at 9am heading towards Thonon-Les-Bains after finiding a shop and filling our bottles with water and set off we stopped in Thonon for a bite to eat. We tried to look for some gas for Geoffs burner at no success, we was riding along the most breathtaking road from Thonon riding along a ravine with white water rafters taking on the rapids. We stopped after a little climb and 2 dark tunnels we then stopped at a sign Bioge. Geoff was dripping with sweat and the heat was intense, after climbing almost 2,000 feet into Les Gets we stopped for 20 minutes but little did we know another thunderstorm was rolling in 10 mintues or so it poured with rain, the thunder and lighting rollled in with it after sprinting for cover under a Car port. We decided to get a hotel room to re charge our batteries and have a nice long soak.
We woke up and had breakfast, i was feeling a bit anxious and we set off on a good note descending into Cluses where i had a puncture. We headed towards Sallanches where we had climbed some 13 mile onto the Col Des Saises some 1650 meters to the Summit. After the first few km's it took its toll on both of us but Geoff wasn't feeling to good. The heat we was told was 42 degrees, half way up we stopped at the best cold water i have ever had washed my face and was ready to go. After finally reaching the summit we descended down into Beaufort. I don't know what was worse desceding or climbing it, with your hands firmly gripping the brakes and constantly braking into corners, my wrists were hurting. We headed camped just outside Beaufort and tomorrow was going to see us taking on the Col Du Pru and the Cormet De Roseland.
That night we slept through another thunderstorm but with it echoing around the valley we were in, Geoff had cramps through the night and was still dehydrated. After paying we set off and the heat was already up even though it was only 10am. We decided against taking on the 2 climbs due to the heat and Geoff not feeling at all good so we went into Albertville to see how much the train would be after a decision not to take the train, we made our way towards Grenoble where the road was kind to us. After riding into La Rochette and today bought a bit of good fortune for us.
A couple Naroper and Muriaina from Derby decided to take early retirement and to travel europe in "Gordon" the campervan. After speaking with them they intrigued both of us, they decided to ask us if we wanted a lift into Grenoble where our Plane was booked from to fly to Stansted. On Saturday they both cooked us a lovely Vegatable curry, they saved us in actual fact that if we had rode into Grenbole and packed our bike we still had some 30 odd mile from Grenoble itself. So many thanks to both of them for their company and time, you both saved us. I hope to speak to them both later on in the year.
Sorry to all those who sponsered me to do this and was willing me on, it was just too hot. I had the perfect training in the run up to it and would of battled on but took the decision not to take on them Alps for now anyway. The concern of the Health is more important than killing yourself.
As for them Alps I'll be back to conquer you lot next year and you have made me more determined to do battle with you wether it be touring and camping or on my racing bike and stopping in hotels etc. I'll see what the future holds!!
From landing in Geneva Airport the humidity and heat hit straight away after departing the Plane to collect our luggage and bikes. After finding a quite spot to unpack and set up our bikes, the sweat was rolling off me and it's not normal for that to happen. We set off from Geneva Airport to merge with the Chaotic city after we left the city and rode beside the lake myself was gasping for a drink but had no Swiss Francs to buy one. After about 15 miles we seen a sign for "Camping Municipal". We decided to have a look so we decided to stop some 15 miles from Thonon which was meant to be our first camp. We had the most expensive but refreshing coke and water which cost 17 Euros.
After a thunderstorm that continued till 4-30am we woke to sunshine and set off at 9am heading towards Thonon-Les-Bains after finiding a shop and filling our bottles with water and set off we stopped in Thonon for a bite to eat. We tried to look for some gas for Geoffs burner at no success, we was riding along the most breathtaking road from Thonon riding along a ravine with white water rafters taking on the rapids. We stopped after a little climb and 2 dark tunnels we then stopped at a sign Bioge. Geoff was dripping with sweat and the heat was intense, after climbing almost 2,000 feet into Les Gets we stopped for 20 minutes but little did we know another thunderstorm was rolling in 10 mintues or so it poured with rain, the thunder and lighting rollled in with it after sprinting for cover under a Car port. We decided to get a hotel room to re charge our batteries and have a nice long soak.
We woke up and had breakfast, i was feeling a bit anxious and we set off on a good note descending into Cluses where i had a puncture. We headed towards Sallanches where we had climbed some 13 mile onto the Col Des Saises some 1650 meters to the Summit. After the first few km's it took its toll on both of us but Geoff wasn't feeling to good. The heat we was told was 42 degrees, half way up we stopped at the best cold water i have ever had washed my face and was ready to go. After finally reaching the summit we descended down into Beaufort. I don't know what was worse desceding or climbing it, with your hands firmly gripping the brakes and constantly braking into corners, my wrists were hurting. We headed camped just outside Beaufort and tomorrow was going to see us taking on the Col Du Pru and the Cormet De Roseland.
That night we slept through another thunderstorm but with it echoing around the valley we were in, Geoff had cramps through the night and was still dehydrated. After paying we set off and the heat was already up even though it was only 10am. We decided against taking on the 2 climbs due to the heat and Geoff not feeling at all good so we went into Albertville to see how much the train would be after a decision not to take the train, we made our way towards Grenoble where the road was kind to us. After riding into La Rochette and today bought a bit of good fortune for us.
A couple Naroper and Muriaina from Derby decided to take early retirement and to travel europe in "Gordon" the campervan. After speaking with them they intrigued both of us, they decided to ask us if we wanted a lift into Grenoble where our Plane was booked from to fly to Stansted. On Saturday they both cooked us a lovely Vegatable curry, they saved us in actual fact that if we had rode into Grenbole and packed our bike we still had some 30 odd mile from Grenoble itself. So many thanks to both of them for their company and time, you both saved us. I hope to speak to them both later on in the year.
Sorry to all those who sponsered me to do this and was willing me on, it was just too hot. I had the perfect training in the run up to it and would of battled on but took the decision not to take on them Alps for now anyway. The concern of the Health is more important than killing yourself.
As for them Alps I'll be back to conquer you lot next year and you have made me more determined to do battle with you wether it be touring and camping or on my racing bike and stopping in hotels etc. I'll see what the future holds!!
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