Mont Ventoux?... er no

The changeable weather continues but Saturday was ok enough to get something in in the afternoon, down round Haywards Heath way. A crosswind hampered progress on the way back, but I gamely struggled on! Returned to watch the closing stages of the battle up Mont Ventoux where Contador, the Schleks Armstrong, Wiggins and others gave their all.

Rain in the Forest

Felt re-energised this week, probably from watching all the exciting Tour action in the Alps where the battle for Yellow has really hotted up. Monday evening I rode to Uckfield. Used the A22 on the way down. Whilst it was fast, it was also nastily busy, so came back through the lanes via Nutley. Last night I was out again, this time across to Tunbridge Wells. The rain came down heavily on the home run, quite refreshing in a way. The roads though are in a bad way, potholed from all the recent bad weather and slippery to boot. Some of the potholes are like moon craters and would cause you a nasty problem if you hit one on a bike. You certainly have to concentrate on the road ahead around here. Oh to be back in France!

A blast ...

Managed a short blast around Hartfield and East Grinstead before the bad weather set in last night - the sky being lit up with massive lightning streaks and deafening thunderclaps very soon after I had arrived home. What struck me on my ride after being in France was the traffic volume. Not nice.

Taking it easy..

After yesterday's exertions I opted for an easy early morning ride of just over an hour. The weather was again perfect with no wind! Ended the ride in Mirepoix with a grand cafe creme in the square, where there was a painting and sculpture weekend. Returned to Les Senies with lunchtime baguette jammed into the rear pocket of my retro Carrera jersey.

Le Tour 2009

Beautiful hot cloudless day in the Pyrenees today. I was up early and with bike and various food and refreshments packed was out of the door soon after 7am. Headed straight for the slopes of the Col D'Agnes via Massat, the final climb of the day for the Tour De France. Eventually found a passable spot about 6km from the summit and had the foresight to turn the car so it was facing down the mountain for a quick escape after it was all over. But first I was on my bike up and over the summit- quite steep and already very crowded with spectatours shouting encouragement. Obviously not really a good idea to launch straight into a strenuous climb without some warm up flat, but I coped. Stopped for the obligatory photo at the top at 1,57o m then it was a plummit down the other side towads St Girons. I turned off to climb the beautiful 942m Col du Saraille which also had some petty steep sections, especially early on. From there it was back to Massat and the balance of the climb of the Agnes back to my car. The last 2kms were a real struggle against 'Le Bonk'. It was a long wait for the publicity caravan and I occupied myself in the traditional manner, eating bread and cheese and reading. The usual cheap items of tat were slung from the caravan, although I fancy this year rather less than nomal. Perhaps it's the credit crunch taking its toll! The riders started to come through mid afternoon and the leading groups were going up at a pace that defies belief. Hats off to them. Poor old Mark Cavendish the sprinter was in a group some 20 minutes down who seemed to be going little faster than myself at my best. Or so I would like to think! Thyere were still some stragglers after that. Now back at Les Senies feeling exhausted. I think it will be a more local flatter jaunt out tomorrow.

Le Vent

Yes the wind is back with a vengence. Today it was sometimes a full on headwind and at others a debilitating cross wind. It never seemed to be behind me. It took an awful lot of effort to get round today's circuit. I had opted for a ride from the house, as tomorrow will involve alot of driving to watch the tour go through on either the Col De Port or Col D'Angnes. Today's climb was the Col De St Benoit near Chalabre which only goes up to 600m but still felt hard probably becuase of the heat and yesterday's exertions.

No pain no gain

Got the morning flight down to Toulouse. After an early lunch I popped the bike in the car and headed off to Foix - weather not too great, overcast and threatening rain. After parking up I headed out towards St Girons and immediately warmed my climbing legs up on the Col del Bouiche which featured in last year's tour. Some 6km in length but not too steep. The road over the other side was busy though and none too pleasant. After around 20 minutes I turned off at La Bastide De Serous and headed up a small road meandering up the valley to Nescus. At around the 25km mark the road started to narrow and head seriously upwards as the main climb up to near the summit of the Portel began (I think it is the climb of the Col de Jouel but I am not 100% sure). The climb was made harder as the road had been regravelled, so that every time I stood up out of the saddle the back wheel would slide under the load. Altogether it was a toughie 12km climbed starting at around 5oom and ending up at 1375m making an average gradient of over 7%. Certainly stopped a few times and not just to admire the stunning views! At the top it was a fabulous wide road down all the way virtually into Foix, some 25km making around 6okm in total. I certainly felt like I deserved that beer!.

Cold Turkey

Am stuck up in the wilds of Leeds and not been out on the bike for a week - so getting withdrawal symptoms. Compensated with a couple of runs over the past two days. Felt weird after all the cycling. Still off down to Toulouse Thursday morning for a few days of cycling Nirvana and also to watch a stage or two of the tour - that is hotting up after yesterday's stage three and the wily old Lance snatching some 40 seconds over some of his rivals in a main bunch split. Team time trial starting soon... that will be interesting!

Heatwave

Tonight was the first opportunity I had since coming back from France on Monday morning. The temperature has been sweltering around the 30c mark and my office has been like a sauna. once it had cooled down a bit this evening, I slipped out for an hour or so still working up a big sweat. feels good now though! Also greatly looking forward to the start of the Tour on Saturday and Armstrong's return....