Aspin and Tourmalet-By Car

After returning from my morning ride, buying a new tube, and picking up a couple more CO2 cartriges, Maggie an I headed out by car to the Tourmalet via the Col D'Aspin. Decided not to do these tomorrow, despite the obvious challenge, I don't feel like driving that way again. it will be Superbagneres tomorrow. Right out the hotel door, and tough. So we did a bit of hiking today, and some driving.

Morning Ride up the Col de Peyresourde

After a casual breakfast, I headed up the col de Peyresourde for a quick ride. Flated on the way up. Better than the way down. but I have now run out of tubes. 4 flats, all in the front. Headed out to lunch, then the local shop to buy some tubes and a cartridge or pump. Maybe if I'm good i can get the col de Portillon this afternoon.

Resting in Torredembarra

The last day of the bike trip was absolutely killer! On paper it looked easy. Only 150 km and 2800 meters of climbing. Unfortunately my bravado in the first few days meant I lagged on the final climb. For me the Col de Joux Plane was simply a matter of survival. 14km, watching my friends ride away. Still this col was among the most beautiful and satisfying of the trip.

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Rest Day

Today we watched the tour pass right in front of our hotel. The Pre tour procession was 2 hours, then 5 minutes all but one skil-shimano rider, who was 25 minutes behind. Ouch.
After the tour I went for a nice easy solo. Down the Saisies, and up the Col du Joly.
Ended with a 2001 meter sumit after riding up the dirt road towards the ski lift.
I took it easy, but I know tomorrow with 150 km, and 2800 meters of climbing will be tough.

Just another 3500 meter day Almost

Another epic today, starting with Iseran, the beautiful Cormet de Roseland, and ending on les Saisies. Legs are stable at Toast. No worse today than yesterday. Tomorrow the tour passes our balcony. Todays big adventure. A flat front tire decending the cormet de roseland at 40 kmph+ Dipped and braked for the curve and the front just washed. Save of a lifetime figuratively and literaly, as the alternative was along way down. This being my lucky day, beers were on me.
But back to the ride: Extreme beauty in every glance. a 40Km 35mile decent from Iseran, after a 33km climb to start the day.
Puta Madre is what my spanish amigos say.

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What I'm up Against

Cat 1 Stud Continental Wanna be

Terra Diversions Day 4 Route

Part 2

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To Alp D'Huez
Part 1

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My Legs are Toast!

Did I mention my legs are Toast! But that's ok, only 3500 meters of climbing tomorrow. Then a rest day to watch the tour.
Congrats to the AWSOME RAIN group. I think the hill work deserves some credit.

Day 3

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Oh my gosh!

Internet access and activities have made it dificult to post anything, but believe me this is everything I had hoped for and more. Day 2 we did the Col Saint Martin, then up to The Cime de Bonette. I was the first to the top, even catching Danny with about 5K to go and getting to the top of the final steep part with a few minutes to spare.
Nex day. Oui. Col du Var, I'zoard, and Lautaret. Sucking wheel(danny) to the top.

Today we did Alp D'Huez and Croix Fer. 1:02 on the alp, and a 23km slog up croix fer. Got passed by 1 "climber" going about 5 mph faster than me on 8% grade.
Tour by terradiversion is awsome.

day 2

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Madone Col de Braus Col de Turini

A billiant day in the Alps Today, Great Ride with 16 New Friends. I think a bad day in the Alps would beat a great day on the road in Indiana. The views are Spectacular. The weather so far is perfect. Note to self, next time break in the tires BEFORE decending a col. I am very happy with the group. The organization is first rate and the quality is very good. Unfortunately only about 50% speak english, but it is not a problem. Lots of trash talk, as most of the stronger guys have nick names. Mine is Armstrong, Danny (Strong young, 12K kms this year) is Contador etc. My nick name chnged to Pete stong today. The Language barrier just makes it more fun.

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See my link on Motion Based Here:

The Tour Begins From Here!

Met my new mates yesterday. it was interesting, as only a couple, really speak english, my roommate Joan is pretty good. its a mixture of Studs and some older folks. I'm optomistic.

Still a good group of guys, and one lady from Uraguay.

This is the last we will see of sea level for a while. Tomorrow, should be tough. Looking in the other direction is just mountains staring 1 mile from the sea

Taper Ride

A week of taper after several >200 mile weeks. I feel like crap. Took a scenic 69 mile ride to Oxford via the Hueston woods state park, then a loop back to Camden and a run up Hoel Hill. Of course the wind resisted my ride home. The good news is that I ditched the SRAM brake pads for new Dura-Ace rubber, and the brakes once again seem to be decent. I love the Force Groupo, put the brake modulation and pulsation has been a pretty major disapointment. I cannot imagine decending major Alpine Cols with brakes like that. After years with Ultegra, I didn't realize that I was being spoiled.
Time to wash the bike, change the tires, and pack it up. Took a picture of myself while riding. Watch for more of these from the classic cols.

See my route from today below:

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Send off

Thanks to all for sharing your time and a pint this evening. Pleasant 27 mile group ride with a nice group of maybe 19 riders. One hard stretch on Willow Grove sucking along in Johns draft at 30-32mph. Ironic that I got a text from big Steve as we rode this stretch. This is where he like to lay it down! Sorry i couldn't respond immediately, I was just a bit busy.

Wengerlawn Century Wide

Looks like this was the weekend of the solo century. Congrats to John and Scott. The wait until later in the day made for a beautiful day to ride, and with the powerfull wind from the East, I decided to head that way. Ended up east of the previously unknown town of Wengerlawn, which has a bike path running right through it. Caught the tail wind back to Eaton, then decided to go south and get a few more. Ended the day with just over 104 with an 18.3 avg, one flat tire. Highlight of the ride was crossing paths with Walter on the Harshman Bridge. Another Big week, with 258 miles.

See my long strange trip below:

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Concord Church TT ish

Out for a quick visit to church, and a test of the Rain Gear. It was definitely as wet on the inside as the out! I managed 1:03 despite the rain,an the not aero Jacket. Time to drain the bike and get ready for the next ride.

More Cedar Grove Hill Work

Went down to Cedar Grove to get some work on the longer hills, with climbs over a mile long, and some pretty steep stuff this is the closest thing to mountains you can find around here.

I started with a run up English Hill, with an 8% avg this is a steady challenge, and in some ways will be closest to what I'm likely to find in France, Followed with Gobblers Knob, this on just keeps getting steeper, and ends up at about 16% grade at the top. Next the ascent of route 1 6-7% steady grade, followed by old 1, about 10%, and We we Hill to 16%, back to English,and Gobblers. Next up a run at New Trenton Hill, the same accent, but this time at up to 20%. This one is killer.

Finally a down up on Elkhorn hill, and finishing with a 3rd roll up English hill. For a total of 10 accents. This ride had about 5kft of climbing, unfortunately GPS battery was dead when I got there. Each of the 3 climbs of English took almost exactly 6:15m:s. That's pretty good considering all the climbing between accents. Ended with about 35miles. I would say this was 15miles up, 15miles down, and 5 miles of level riding. Very pretty ride with lots of great scenery, and challenging roads.

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Big Group Ride

Maybe the largest group of the year. 20 according to Pat headed out for a loop to the north west and into the wind. Despite the big group, there was no shortage of testosterone, and plenty of aggresive efforts and monster pulls from the big men. It is sometimes humbling to ride with this many strong men. Watch out for these guys come RAIN.

I ended up with 50 miles+ with some big efforts and a few pulls(before getting buried). The long weekend means I will have 3 days to pack the miles in. Watch out for the hills of Brookville