The Cycling Thread

[pookie]

just a reminder about aldi cycle kit tomorrow...also in the mirror there is a voucher for £5 off on £35 spend
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/buy-...d-aldi-1321081

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

We went over it in late July on the VFR and yes, there were nutters diving off it!
Sent from my phone.

Ahhh found a photo of said nutters

Bloody pot hole!

Just pinged two spokes out, can I simply get them done at an LBS? If so how much is it likely to cost?

Wheel is now buckled!

[maviczap]

Yep, LBS should be able to do this, depends if the spokes are a standard type or a unique to the wheel make

I just had my front rim fixed, needed a new spoke and a straighten, £9. Bargain.

[maviczap]

Ok, I'm a bit behind here.

So here's the last days ride, setting off for Velovercors base in Jean St Royan, some 127km away. After a hearty breakfast, with my American friends discussing how many ghosts or similar things they'ed heard in the Chateau during the night. Me I was dead to the world and saw or heard nothing

So we headed off, with low cloud covering the mountain tops & making everything very chilly, so knee & arm warmers were order of the day.

Both Joel and my legs were still feeling the effects of the previous days ride and despite the route profile we'd been given showing it to be flat for the first few Km, it was decidedly rolling and neither of us were happy. Plus the road we were on, was like an A class road here, fairly heavy traffic wise, with big lorries etc.

So we were glad to turn off this and start the climb of the Col de Menee back on a nice quiet road, with next to no traffic. Its long climb, nearly 20km from the base, but not steep and near the top it flattened out and was nice to ride. Apart from we'd ascended into the low cloud, which was making it cold.

But no problem here, and we transited through the tunnel at the top to completely different conditions on the opposite side. Gone was the cloud, only to be replaced by high winds. Descending was a new experience, with the winds buffeting us both on certain corners, plus I'd got quite cold, even though I'd donned my jacket & gloves, which was affecting my concentration.

It got to a point, where I stopped in a sunny sheltered spot, just to warm up Which was a shame, because it would have been a great descent if it had been warm and less windy.

But once we'd got to a certain altitude and got onto the flat section between the climbs, where a helpful tail wind helped us along, it wasn't too long before we stopped to take off leg warmers and jackets. Especially as the sun was out now.

We made our lunch stop at the aptly named town of Die



Velovercors had recommended a cafe/restaurant for lunch, and we had a pleasant lunch there.

Fortified and fueled, we headed off for the first part of a two part climb



Still nearly 20km of climbing to go, the troublesome wind returned with a vengeance, some places it was full on in your face, with progress nearly coming to a standstill, but in other places, it was super helpful as the road twisted and turned up the climb. But we made it and we were rewarded with this view

Most of the roads you can see below is the climb up the Col Du Rousset





So after transiting the tunnel, we descended for a bit, before starting the final climb of the Col de la Chau, where there is a museum to the Resistance fighters of WW2. By this time, my legs were still feeling ok, and quite used to the daily effort and because it was only a short climb, we made it to the top with no problem.

So the final 25km was all downhill to Jean St en Royans, using this road which was nailed to the side of the mountain. I haven't got any pics of the sheer drop off the road to the bottom of the gorge, but it was a long way



So after loads of great descending and no cars, I arrived back at VeloVercors house for a welcome beer. I'd never ridden that far on the flat here, so I was pretty pleased with doing it on such a hilly route.

Our hosts were expecting us to call them from Die, to ask them to come and collect us, but we didn't, so that was cool.

Sorry its a long post, but it was a long ride

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/223529605

[Luckypants]

Great write up Mav. Where did you have lunch in Die, it would be interesting to know as we also lunched in Die and it was hard to find somewhere at first.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Great write up Mav. Where did you have lunch in Die, it would be interesting to know as we also lunched in Die and it was hard to find somewhere at first.

Thanks LP

The place we had lunch was appropriately called Bar de l'etape.

You probably wouldn't have stumbled across it as it was right at the far end of the main drag on the corner.

Nice 2 course with a blue cheese and walnut salad starter, with a pork or beef rib main course.

[Luckypants]

Oh really? Guess where we had lunch?!!! Just google street viewed it and we had lunch in the same place! We never noticed the name though!

The view from our table...



Recognise it?

Its a small world eh?


EDIT: Just looked at your route and we took a different route to Mensac but it's remarkable how many of the same roads we covered.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Oh really?

Recognise it?

Its a small world eh?


EDIT: Just looked at your route and we took a different route to Mensac but it's remarkable how many of the same roads we covered.

Not sure, but if you say so