Training Log Archive: kido

Just a quick blast today, from our campground just outsides Bagneres-de-Luchon up the Col du Peyresourde and back. Tried to convince Kyhil to keep going up the next climb, another 4km to the Peyregaudes ski fields as they did in the tour this year, but he wasn't having it. Not as enjoyable as the Aubisque or the Tourmalet, quite busy, no km markers and not as good scenery. But a great descent.

Followed in the arvo by a little walk from the top of the Superbagneres gondola along the GR10 route.

Part 1 of our trip from Capvern les Bains to Bagneres-de-Luchon, before we stopped in Saint Bertrand de Comminges for some sightseeing. Quite a climb to start then downhill for the rest. Fighting with showers. Garmin giving some trouble with speed and distance sensing.

The rest of the trip to Bagneres-de-Luchon. All uphill but fairly gradual. First half on a signposted cycle route which was a lovely single road without cars. Weather improved. Still too cloudy to see the Pyrenees proper!

Transport day 1 of 2 on the way to Bagneres-de-Luchon. Finished up in Capvern Les Bains, with a cat 4 climb that was near the start of Stage 19 of the tour this year! The town was extremely decked out for the event. Legs pretty tired and feeling the beginnings of a knee niggle which began yesterday.

C • Is your seat too low 3

Extremely slow crawl to visit Chateau de Mauvezin. It was nice but sadly the cloudy day blocked the allegedly amazing view of the Pyrenees.

Climbing the Col du Tourmalet! Starting from Lourdes and going up from the Luz Saint Saveur side, 19km at 7%. Very tough climb and I'll admit I wasn't feeling amazing today, so I'm pretty glad in the end that I didn't have the Hautacam in my legs.

Again pretty slow, but just wanted to survive it! So cool at the top with so many cyclists, including some impressive 12 and 13 year olds and people on mountain bikes! Stunning views again, almost had to pinch myself to believe I was there.

Last 2km were mean - at averages of 9 and 10 percent respectively - but the last 400m took the cake, just an absolute pain cave!

Plans to ride the Hautacam scuppered by 1. A mechanical requiring bike shop repair and 2. Undending rain and thunderstorms.

Day 4 Cycle Touring

Just a short hop to Lourdes today, which we did in two stages, this being the first. I had considered doing Col de la Marie Blanche before leaving (the summit was only 16km from our campsite) but Kyhil is still really struggling and I didn't feel keen on going alone. Also it was precisely 1 million degrees today so a shorter one seemed OK. Legs felt surprisingly good today.

Between the two parts we stopped at the Betharram Caves, which were nice and cold (13C) and reasonably interesting (though definitely not "the best in the world" which they claim).

Part 2 of the hop to Lourdes. Felt awful on this part, possibly q combination of having cold legs from the cave and the outside temp rising even more. There also seemed to be a hot headwind and more climb.

C • Lourdes 4

Today we climbed Col d'Aubisque (16km, 7.2%) and Col du Solour (2.6km, 4.6%). from Laruns side. This is the opposite side to what they did in the tour this year - if you climb Solour from Argelès-Gazost it's 19km at 4.5% then 7.5km at 4.5% up the Aubisque. We made it a loop so came back down through Arbéost instead of turning around and going back the same way.

Pretty tough, and I certainly miss my carbon fibre Wilier, but I got up it OK. Just a bit unfit and was quite slow, with some stops on the way up for photos but also just to recuperate. Kyhil really struggled and I hope he will come good later on. It was another stinking hot day today which was OK up on the mountain but we certainly felt it once we were on the flat again.