Un jour d'enfer
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 23 July 2007, 20:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

1. The bloke with one leg. No prosthesis, just the one leg. Pedalling away merrily up the climbs, in his Credit Mutuel-sponsored kit, and telling his mate not to got too hard. His mate's reply was that he'd only catch him later because he descended "like a madman". He certainly did from what I saw as I tried to follow him down one of the mountains.

2. Melted asphalt like black treacle. Smeared all over the Port de Bales road on the way up, sticking me to the road, making a mess of my front tyre to the point that it wouldn't roll properly at low speed.

3. My front wheel rubbing. It was fine before I went out to France but as soon as I assembled the bike there were problems that I thought were fixed until the start. I might have gone a bit quicker without the drag it caused and my front fork might be in a better state still.

4. The descent of Port de Bales. Narrow at the top with no barriers on the corners. Because what you really need as you hurtle into a corner at speed is the knowledge that if it goes tits up there's only the horizon to stop your fall down the mountain.

5. Time disappearing in the turn of a pedal stroke. Minutes to drag the bike a matter of a few hundred metres. Climbing so slowly I was barely moving.

6. The cowbells. Either being rung old-skool style by roadside fans or clanking on yer actual cows. The latter went from being "soothing alpine sounds" to "death march to the summit" over the course of at least two of the climbs.

Posted by Alex on 18 July 2007, 22:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You can read one of my reports on this year's event on 606 here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A24909889

I'll be adding more colourful bits on here as well. There's so many wonderful memories that I want to get down somewhere before they fade. I have never been so glad as when I saw the flamme rouge and rolled to the finish. Hopefully the photos will be about soon as then you'll get to see just how much some of it hurt.

Posted by Alex on 18 July 2007, 10:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Get in!
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 16 July 2007, 17:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Done it! Last climb nailed
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 16 July 2007, 16:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Col aspet. It's got as sin
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 16 July 2007, 09:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Band at first feed Feeling ok 70 done
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 16 July 2007, 08:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top of col de port
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 16 July 2007, 06:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here we go! It's time for the big one.
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 16 July 2007, 04:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The obligatory free bottle Done registe
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 15 July 2007, 14:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Vive la france!
Originally uploaded by leguape

Posted by Alex on 14 July 2007, 11:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Looking at various forecasts it looks like we could be in for a plus 30C day on Monday. Which means keeping hydrated and not overheating is going to be an issue. If you haven't packed some already, energy drinks with electrolytes could be a useful thing to make sure you have.

Last year I found myself cramping on the Lautaret due to getting depleted on that side of things. This year, with the tougher course etc, they are going to be just as important.

But don't forget the wind/rain jacket for descending as it can get a bit fresh when the sweat is being chilled at 65km/h.

Posted by Alex on 12 July 2007, 11:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Firstly let me apologise for my lack of writing on this blog over the last few months. I've come to the conclusion that writing two blogs is probably a bit more than I have time for.

My last distance test before the Etape was the London to Canterbury sportif which clocked in at 203km. My plan was to go out fast and ride up near my threshold to simulate the power output required for the Etape. Given the relatively flat and fast course this seemed the most sensible way to attack it. You can read my report on it here:

London-Canterbury Sportif: fun and fast

Admittedly it was a bit slower than I had hoped for but that was down to time wasted at stops and helping people with punctures. When I got into the groove I was really flying and I'm feeling reasonable happy with my form going into the big one.

This year's setup is slightly different to last year. I'm riding a compact 50/34 with a 12/27 cassette instead of a triple 52/42/30 with 12/27. The frame is a Merckx aluminium rather than a Giant alu/carbon composite and my position has been tweaked so that my position is now much better and less painful.

Should I have gone out and tried the route? Possibly, but where's the challenge and excitement on the day if it's familiar? I'm not going to win the damned thing but I am going to enjoy it.

I'll be blogging it by phone if I have time/flickr works. It'll be a bit experimental so I can't guarantee anything.

If you are riding, remember to enjoy the experience. Some people forget this isn't about being a pro, it's about enjoying riding your bike.

Posted by Alex on 9 July 2007, 17:07 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)