28.7.08
update on the state of my ring[s]
ah yeah, thanks for reminding me mikey, unfortunately the granny has been getting quite the workout [sorry jen!]. i cant quite imagine doing 20+km ascents at 12+% without one!
end of the tour
on the eve of stage 17 it was time to hit the road. a quick blat down the pavement and we were being swarmed by unfriendly roadies, signaling our arrival at Le Bourg d'Oisans, the town at the base of the hill from Alpe d'Huez. we pitched our tent just down hill from bend 7; crazy dutchy corner equipped with pub, discotech and polkerdot-mini-bike.
we watched the race the next day from bend 1, the last hairpin before the finish, and it was pretty heart breaking to see Sastre powering up the hill with such a huge lead over Cadel and the other troopers. anyway, its meant we havent had to break our asses in getting back to Paris for todays final stage!
after Alpe d'Huez it was time for some cols. firstly Col du Glandon, which this pic is looking towards. we camped at the end of this lake, just before the col as the spot was just too good to ride past. the next morning coffee was only a few minutes away at the conveniently placed bar just before the col itself. not bad.
after the col, it was downhill with views over to Mont Blanc [a bit faint in this photo], down to La Chambre for an early lunch and then the most hot-arsed slog to the top of the next one, col de la Madeline at about 2000m [next pic].
we've got a bit of a thing going with Haribo's over here. they tend to feature quite predominantly on our up hill rides so we've started thanking the empty packets at the top.
and now we're lazing away in a campground just out side Albertville. we caught yesterdays final time trial of the tour in a bar in town and have been lazing it up today, soaking in the sun and getting ready for our return train to Paris, probably tomorrow.
good work blairy and matty [and barnesy!] on the transalp!
we watched the race the next day from bend 1, the last hairpin before the finish, and it was pretty heart breaking to see Sastre powering up the hill with such a huge lead over Cadel and the other troopers. anyway, its meant we havent had to break our asses in getting back to Paris for todays final stage!
after Alpe d'Huez it was time for some cols. firstly Col du Glandon, which this pic is looking towards. we camped at the end of this lake, just before the col as the spot was just too good to ride past. the next morning coffee was only a few minutes away at the conveniently placed bar just before the col itself. not bad.
after the col, it was downhill with views over to Mont Blanc [a bit faint in this photo], down to La Chambre for an early lunch and then the most hot-arsed slog to the top of the next one, col de la Madeline at about 2000m [next pic].
we've got a bit of a thing going with Haribo's over here. they tend to feature quite predominantly on our up hill rides so we've started thanking the empty packets at the top.
and now we're lazing away in a campground just out side Albertville. we caught yesterdays final time trial of the tour in a bar in town and have been lazing it up today, soaking in the sun and getting ready for our return train to Paris, probably tomorrow.
good work blairy and matty [and barnesy!] on the transalp!
21.7.08
hilly bits
we have just managed some amazing days riding through some real hills. firstly a few days through the Pyrenees, following stage 11 of Le Tour. It took us 2 days to cover the route from Lannemezan to Foix. The second days category 1 climb over Col de Portel was luckily overcast and misty so we could happily spin our way to the top without overheating. and the view from the top was probably amazing!
the wildlife here is pretty threatening. this dude probably has the best job on le tour circuit.. fanging around in a furry lion go kart. he doesnt do too bad for speed either; certainly keeping up with the giant wheely bins no problem. it'll be an awesome sight to see this guy struggling up alpe d'huez in just a couple days time!
after a train ride from Foix to Toulouse (and a day hanging out by the river in Toulouse), we boarded another train to Valence. from here it was a beautiful 2 day ride to Grenoble through the Gorges de la Bourne area, although it was a pretty hard slog. the gradient wasnt too steep, but it did go on for 30km, and the day was still and about 35°.
anyway, we're now in Grenoble, surrounded by stunning hills, and getting ready to ride to Alpe d'Huez to for the 17th stage on wednesday. should be a winner!
the wildlife here is pretty threatening. this dude probably has the best job on le tour circuit.. fanging around in a furry lion go kart. he doesnt do too bad for speed either; certainly keeping up with the giant wheely bins no problem. it'll be an awesome sight to see this guy struggling up alpe d'huez in just a couple days time!
after a train ride from Foix to Toulouse (and a day hanging out by the river in Toulouse), we boarded another train to Valence. from here it was a beautiful 2 day ride to Grenoble through the Gorges de la Bourne area, although it was a pretty hard slog. the gradient wasnt too steep, but it did go on for 30km, and the day was still and about 35°.
anyway, we're now in Grenoble, surrounded by stunning hills, and getting ready to ride to Alpe d'Huez to for the 17th stage on wednesday. should be a winner!
12.7.08
bordeaux
im sitting in the cultural heart of Bordeaux, mcdonalds, sipping on the worst coffee ive had in france. i thought id give it a shot... anyway its cheap internet.
after a few days hanging out with joe in Paris we hopped on a train and shot across to Cholet to catch the tour. we had a great day watching the time trial, wandering the course and eventually settling on the finish straight [at about 200m to go] to catch the action. cadel 'le metronome' put in a strong showing as im sure you all saw.
next day we hung around to see the peloton head off before doing the same ourselves, riding in a roughly south, south-eastish direction. a few days on the bikes and we'd ridden via Parthenay and Le Vert, and ended up at St Jean d'Angely in the rain. The country here is pretty nice if not boring. Its very flat agricultural land, farming corn, sunflowers, wheat and a few other crops i cant pick. Our last day of riding it was raining and we had a headwind the whole way so it was time to jump the train and skip forward... to Bordeaux.
So this arvo we're training it south from Bordeaux to Lourdes. From there we'll be able to catch the end of the ninth stage in Bagneres-de-Bigorre, the end of the tenth in Hautacam, and the start of the eleventh leaving Lannemezan, before figuring out how we get over to the Alps.
Anyway it should make for a bit of a workout climbing some real hills in the Pyrenees:)
after a few days hanging out with joe in Paris we hopped on a train and shot across to Cholet to catch the tour. we had a great day watching the time trial, wandering the course and eventually settling on the finish straight [at about 200m to go] to catch the action. cadel 'le metronome' put in a strong showing as im sure you all saw.
next day we hung around to see the peloton head off before doing the same ourselves, riding in a roughly south, south-eastish direction. a few days on the bikes and we'd ridden via Parthenay and Le Vert, and ended up at St Jean d'Angely in the rain. The country here is pretty nice if not boring. Its very flat agricultural land, farming corn, sunflowers, wheat and a few other crops i cant pick. Our last day of riding it was raining and we had a headwind the whole way so it was time to jump the train and skip forward... to Bordeaux.
So this arvo we're training it south from Bordeaux to Lourdes. From there we'll be able to catch the end of the ninth stage in Bagneres-de-Bigorre, the end of the tenth in Hautacam, and the start of the eleventh leaving Lannemezan, before figuring out how we get over to the Alps.
Anyway it should make for a bit of a workout climbing some real hills in the Pyrenees:)
5.7.08
japan photos
I had this pose for most of the week.
Kyoto. Great city. The most amazing mix of old and new. We stayed at the Gojo Guesthouse for the first few nights, then were lucky enough to move up to their Annex for the last 2 nights where we had our own balcony with views over the city.
Had a great night down by the river downing tinnies of Asahi.
Possibly the best thing on earth, the sushi train. This place is pretty famous for its handrolled sushi. Went back here a second time cause it was so good. Managed to rack up 20 plates which made for a slow waddle home.
Cruzing the streets on the Gojo bikes. Po looking very wise.
Breakfast of champions. Coffee in a can and pastry goodness.
Onsen at Kurama, just north of Kyoto. Nude photography is the next big thing.
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