The Cycling Thread

[maviczap]

Day 2 - Izoard

Again it was raining again, but the Accuweather forecast said it would clear up, so I waited & waited, and sure enough it did. Having learnt my lesson from the previous day, I donned a long sleeve jersey and base layer, as the sun was still hiding.

The Izoard climb starts in Briancon and starts off at a nice 6%, a nice easy start for the legs. As I was heading out, there was still some rain falling, not much but I did have 2nd thoughts about carrying on or stopping to put my rain jacket on. But it never got any worse, so I carried on. I was quite pleased, as I hadn't gone into bottom gear and still had it in reserve. Of course as the Km's ticked off, I had to change.

The road was nice an quiet, with only the odd car or motorbike passing me, including a Brit couple on a Triumph Tiger, who were staying at my hotel. I did get caught by a local rider, on his 1990's mountain bike, short sleeves, trainers & a rack with his holdall on! He had muscles where I don't have muscles, but he said bonjour as he disappeared up the road like Pantani would have!

It got colder and damper toward the summit, although I was sweating with my long sleeved top on.

P_20160917_120820 by maviczap, on Flickr

P_20160917_120815 by maviczap, on Flickr

Nice climb, descent was dicey under the tree cover, and I took it easy, especially on the hairpins. Once out of the trees and the road was dry I let it go

I'd like to do this climb from the other side one day, and see the La Casse deserte, its a long way down from the summit & on a day like the day I did it, not feasible, as there's no short cut back to Briancon

http://www.cycling-challenge.com/col...rd-both-sides/

[carelesschucca]

C'mon c'mon where's the rest of the trip???

[maviczap]

You can have too much of a good thing, I'm rationing it

[maviczap]

I'd love to go away cycling. For now I'll just stick with TTing lol. Maybe 2018 I'll give it a shot, really want to try Ventoux.

[pookie]

great stuff.. wish i could get off my behind and do it..

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Starlet_gt

I'd love to go away cycling. For now I'll just stick with TTing lol. Maybe 2018 I'll give it a shot, really want to try Ventoux.

Do it

Originally Posted by pookie

great stuff.. wish i could get off my behind and do it..

Get on with it

[carelesschucca]

I've been working on Northern Spain ideas because of your trip. Yeah the climbs ain't as famous but I love the area. Sadly it most certainly won't be next year so hopefully 2018.

I want to do;

Alto de l’Angliru
Lagos de Covadonga
Puerto de San Glorio
I'd also like to climb up to Tresviso in the area.

We shall see if I can save enough to get it done... Only way I can do that is stop buying cycling stuff.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by carelesschucca

I've been working on Northern Spain ideas because of your trip. Yeah the climbs ain't as famous but I love the area. Sadly it most certainly won't be next year so hopefully 2018.

I want to do;

Alto de l’Angliru
Lagos de Covadonga
Puerto de San Glorio
I'd also like to climb up to Tresviso in the area.

We shall see if I can save enough to get it done... Only way I can do that is stop buying cycling stuff.

Wrong, Angliru & Covadonga are famous, maybe not the mythical status of the French & Italian climbs, but all the same famous.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by carelesschucca

I've been working on Northern Spain ideas because of your trip. Yeah the climbs ain't as famous but I love the area. Sadly it most certainly won't be next year so hopefully 2018.

I want to do;

Alto de l’Angliru
Lagos de Covadonga
Puerto de San Glorio
I'd also like to climb up to Tresviso in the area.

We shall see if I can save enough to get it done... Only way I can do that is stop buying cycling stuff.

Angliru & Covadonga are famous, maybe not the mythical status of the French & Italian climbs, but all the same famous.