The Cycling Thread

[maviczap]

50 - 33 front, 11 - 32 ultegra 11 speed rear cassette

[maviczap]

I'm saving up for one of these, then even when I get to 80, I can use gears like the Pro's use

http://www.mcipollini.com/de/biciclette/mcm2

[maviczap]

[maviczap]

Last installment, the big one, Col De L'Iseran. Again for the same reason I drove to the foot of the climb at Bonneval-S-Arc, because of the main road, and because I'm lazy

However, I think that a ride from my base in Avireux to Bonneval would have been a great coffee/recovery ride, without doing L'Iseran. I might have contemplated riding the L'Iseran if I'd been staying in Lanslebourg, but that's with hindsight. In September the road was very quiet, and only a couple of bumps to speak of, otherwise pretty flat between Lanslebourg & Bonneval. That's a ride for another time.

L'Iseran climb starts properly at Bonneval, you can see the climb from the valley road. First time this week I started off in short sleeves & bib shorts, a nice day. Good job, as the climb started at 8%, so I was in the 32 at the back straight away, and it stayed there for most of the climb! There are a couple of nice sections which even go down hill or are no worse than 4%, but it doesn't really help much I found, as the worst bit was with 3km to go, just after one of these easy sections. The road just goes up straight, and you can see it all the way to the last but one hairpin. You can also see the cafe at the top, so you know how far you've got to go, but it goes on for what seems like forever. I stopped at 1.5km to go, just to get my breath back, as this is the heighest I've ever been. After that it still took a while to finally crest the summit, but what a view.

P_20160920_121731_PN by maviczap, on Flickr

P_20160920_121423 by maviczap, on Flickr

P_20160920_121647 by maviczap, on Flickr

The descent wasn't great, it was very bumpy, as they'd been laying a pipe or something on the down side of the road. Neither was it helped by a dozy old geezer just wandering across my path near the top, plus I thought his wife might do the same, so I passed them with caution, as they hadn't heard my stealthy approach.

Still got to the bottom without incident.

Having looked at the profile, I now know that I climbed the harder side at an average of 7.2%. Now I understand why I contemplated turning round. Next time I'll do the big one at the start of the week!

[maviczap]

Bored bored bored

N-1=N+1 = N-1

[carelesschucca]

I just want to be able to ride, ferking sick of all this nonsense, and still no results from my xrays. Not that results will change anything.

Trying to figure your mathematics, does this mean your a bike down?

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by carelesschucca

Trying to figure your mathematics, does this mean your a bike down?

nope

That bug has wiped you out

[punyXpress]

'tis the changes in teeth on his front sprocket.

[carelesschucca]

Originally Posted by maviczap

nope

That bug has wiped you out

New toy then? I'm still looking at lots of stuff but have decided not to spend any more cash till I'm back on the road.

Yep I'm worse now than I was at the start, there's a whole squad of people off in my work with the same repeat illness. No one that gets it seems to be able to shift it...

[maviczap]

Yep, its on its way

I've spent a bit of money on new clothing this month, but not paid full price, I got a bargain on a jersey I was going to buy. I did buy one of Aldi's thermal jackets, as it was similar to a Castelli one I was going to buy.

Time to get the winter stuff out

Rest is the only thing that's going to fix your health issue.

Your illness is one reason I have an annual flu jab now.