I'm back....Internet connections have been very hard to find. The Alps are behind me as I'm in the Ardeche. This area is just east of Provence on the west side of the Rhone. I'd say it could be the perfect place. Maybe it's the flatter roads which I sorely missed in the Alps. Jim and I rode 4 days up there and the rides where measured in hours not miles. My luck on staying healthy didn't hold out. I got a cold on the day we drove north and it stuck with me until yesterday when I drove south after spending the night in Lyon. Jim's flight home is a story I'm sure he's willing to share. Needless to say, flight direct is my story and I'm not budging from it.
Today's ride is down the Ardeche river through the Gorges de L' Ardeche to the Rhone and back.
This part of France is perfect for this time of year. Warm but not too hot. Outdoor dinning everywhere, Rose' flowing like water. How could life get any better? Rose' you might ask, it's that pink wine what high school girls drink? Hell no, if you haven't had a good Rose' sitting outside as the sun goes down you have one more thing to do. I'm living a dream come true if only I wasn't alone.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
I have left Italy and arrived a few days ago in Lyon France. I must say it's a nice as Paris, in fact I'd call this city the little sister of Paris.
Jim Taylor arrived and we made a quick but long drive to Provence. After two nights we traveled northeast to the Alps. The rains that we encountered yesterday are past us so the peaks are now in full view. More posting later today after we go up a famous climb this morning. Oh yea, the French roads are not as steep as the Italians. Not even close to the same. If you have rode your bike in the Alps and suffered ,say the hell away from Italy.
Jim Taylor arrived and we made a quick but long drive to Provence. After two nights we traveled northeast to the Alps. The rains that we encountered yesterday are past us so the peaks are now in full view. More posting later today after we go up a famous climb this morning. Oh yea, the French roads are not as steep as the Italians. Not even close to the same. If you have rode your bike in the Alps and suffered ,say the hell away from Italy.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Wednesday
I rode around the Stella. 4 or 5 passes, I can't remember but I saw 2000 meters at the summits more than once. I felt much better than I expected. My body has ajusted to the time zone. Going up the Pordoi wasn't anthing like last year were I thought I'd never make it to the top. This short ride in distance took me 5-6 hours ( I don't have a watch or bike computer) to complete. My brake pads have less than 500 miles on them and they look to be half gone. As one mate would say "they're wearing out like **** pencil erasers". At this rate 3 to 4 more days of this descending and I'll be metal to metal.
I'm shipping 1/3 of my clothing back home as I need to lighten my load and there's no need for cold weather gear. I'm throwing away 1/3, now I can carry all my gear without going into a anaerobic state.
1 beer outside on the deck, then dinner. It was a early night.
Thursday
I'm in need of something else do as this morning I felt completly drained. I guess 2 beers was to blame or was it the fact that I'm old? The map of the local area shows a gondola that goes south which I can see and one that goes north which I can't seem to find. After short walk (less than 200') I found the ski lift that goes north out of town. You take the escalator up to a tunnel that moves you through the hill just behind the hotel. From there you take the gondola to the upper base area and chair lifts from there. I'm too beat (lazy) to take the ride up and catch the view from up top,
My plans for tomorrow are shaping up. I'll catch the bus out in the morning to Bolzano and the train south from there. Once I get to Verona I'll go west to Torino and settle in for a few days. Sunday In the morning of the 24th I'll get into Lyon pick up the car and be ready for a long but with luck quick drive south with Jim. In the mean time I'll look for some flatter country.
I rode around the Stella. 4 or 5 passes, I can't remember but I saw 2000 meters at the summits more than once. I felt much better than I expected. My body has ajusted to the time zone. Going up the Pordoi wasn't anthing like last year were I thought I'd never make it to the top. This short ride in distance took me 5-6 hours ( I don't have a watch or bike computer) to complete. My brake pads have less than 500 miles on them and they look to be half gone. As one mate would say "they're wearing out like **** pencil erasers". At this rate 3 to 4 more days of this descending and I'll be metal to metal.
I'm shipping 1/3 of my clothing back home as I need to lighten my load and there's no need for cold weather gear. I'm throwing away 1/3, now I can carry all my gear without going into a anaerobic state.
1 beer outside on the deck, then dinner. It was a early night.
Thursday
I'm in need of something else do as this morning I felt completly drained. I guess 2 beers was to blame or was it the fact that I'm old? The map of the local area shows a gondola that goes south which I can see and one that goes north which I can't seem to find. After short walk (less than 200') I found the ski lift that goes north out of town. You take the escalator up to a tunnel that moves you through the hill just behind the hotel. From there you take the gondola to the upper base area and chair lifts from there. I'm too beat (lazy) to take the ride up and catch the view from up top,
My plans for tomorrow are shaping up. I'll catch the bus out in the morning to Bolzano and the train south from there. Once I get to Verona I'll go west to Torino and settle in for a few days. Sunday In the morning of the 24th I'll get into Lyon pick up the car and be ready for a long but with luck quick drive south with Jim. In the mean time I'll look for some flatter country.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
I'm alive!!! What an ordeal. When I asked Pete Banko about his trip to Italy a few years ago he said the Campagnolo Granfondo was the best day he's had on the bike. This guy has more miles than anyone I know so when he says it's the real deal I take notice. His advise to me was "train like a madman". Well I must be a madman as I didn't come even close to my goal of fitness. But heck, no problem how bad could it be? 212 K 4000+ meters 9 time zones from home. Well let me say I spent all day on my bike going up grades so steep I'll never want to do this again. And for my sins I'll get to live another day. I'm getting back on the bike this afternoon to test my legs.
I'm in the north of Italy in a area called Val Gardena. The village of Ortisei is where I'll call home for the next 3 days. With luck I'm based at 1200 meters because the passes I'm going over in the next few days over 2200. I'd like to get in some flatter rides but I'm afraid it's back to the same old game of suffering.
I'm in the north of Italy in a area called Val Gardena. The village of Ortisei is where I'll call home for the next 3 days. With luck I'm based at 1200 meters because the passes I'm going over in the next few days over 2200. I'd like to get in some flatter rides but I'm afraid it's back to the same old game of suffering.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
What better time to rebuild my bike than one day before I fly? No problem, if only I could find my 13X29. Bummer I'm not able to find it, someone must have taken it from me and in it's place they put a worn out 12X25. Again, no problem Italy is full of bike shops. I'm sure I can find a 29 tooth cog somewhere.
All my clothes are washed, bags are packed, tickets, passport in place where I'm sure to not loose. The new camera is no longer a complete unknown. Heck I've got it mastered in 8 hours. Simple and light Nikon D200, not! Holy cow, what was I thinking? All I wanted is to take a few nice pictures for the world to see.
All my clothes are washed, bags are packed, tickets, passport in place where I'm sure to not loose. The new camera is no longer a complete unknown. Heck I've got it mastered in 8 hours. Simple and light Nikon D200, not! Holy cow, what was I thinking? All I wanted is to take a few nice pictures for the world to see.
Friday, May 25, 2007
What? No rain this weekend. But it's the 3 day party weekend, Memorial Day. So how's a nice ride the Sunday sound? Drive to Randle, http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=randle,+wa&ie=UTF8&ll=46.522966,-121.961975&spn=0.043525,0.079823&z=14&om=1 ride south up and over the hill, down the south side to Swift Reservoir and back. This road maybe one of the best keep secerts in western Washington. Very little traffic, a solid climb with a fun desent between Mt St Helens and Mt Adams. Budget all day.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Day one of my training and I'm only a month late. Maybe 2 months late if I hope to show any form on what I expect to be the hardest day on my bike ever. I've had many days were I though the end would never come but I've always finished.
The Campagonlo Granfodo is my goal http://www.granfondocampagnolo.it/ which by all accounts is epic. What better way to spend Father's Day but suffering on my bike. 1000's of other cyclist treat the granfondos as a all out race. Maybe that's why there's a finish line, timing chips and results. For me it's going to be a race against darkness on my Ritchey Breakaway travel bike. She's no light weight, so here's where the 34X50 comes in. In order to climb 13% grades you need to be young, fit and strong or as in my case low gears. A 34X50 compact drive crankset with a 12X29 rear cluster better to the trick because it's all I'm going to have. Hence 34fifty.
My trip starts June 13 when I depart Seattle and arrive in Venice Italy via Air France. From the airport I'll take the train to my hotel http://www.hotelbrennero.com/ in Bassano del Grappa. I'll call BdG home for a few days before going farther north into the mountians. After the GF I'll arrive in Canzei where I'll stay for 3 night. From my hotel http://www.hotelcristallo.net/index.htm I'll be able to ride as many of the Giro routes as I find possible. This will include returning to Pordoi where I watched the Giro last year and the likes of the Gardena, and S. Pellegrimo.
June 24th I pick up a rental car and Jim Taylor in Lyon France. We'll head south to a small village in Provence http://crillonlebrave.com/index.html where we'll get in a few rides as Jim gets his clock adjusted in a proper fashion. Then it's north to the French Alps. We'll base our operactions out of la Bourg d' Oisans. From BdO many of the famous Tour routes are just a few kilo meters away. The list includes Alpe-d' Huez, Col du Lautaret, Col du Galibier, Col du Telegraphe and Col de la Croix de Fer.
July 2nd Jim departs Lyon for home and I take the car in a direction unknown at this time. Maybe Abertville, maybe back to Italy to attempt the Stellvio.
My trip ends July 5 on TGV across France and a flight from Paris arriving in time for dinner.
The Campagonlo Granfodo is my goal http://www.granfondocampagnolo.it/ which by all accounts is epic. What better way to spend Father's Day but suffering on my bike. 1000's of other cyclist treat the granfondos as a all out race. Maybe that's why there's a finish line, timing chips and results. For me it's going to be a race against darkness on my Ritchey Breakaway travel bike. She's no light weight, so here's where the 34X50 comes in. In order to climb 13% grades you need to be young, fit and strong or as in my case low gears. A 34X50 compact drive crankset with a 12X29 rear cluster better to the trick because it's all I'm going to have. Hence 34fifty.
My trip starts June 13 when I depart Seattle and arrive in Venice Italy via Air France. From the airport I'll take the train to my hotel http://www.hotelbrennero.com/ in Bassano del Grappa. I'll call BdG home for a few days before going farther north into the mountians. After the GF I'll arrive in Canzei where I'll stay for 3 night. From my hotel http://www.hotelcristallo.net/index.htm I'll be able to ride as many of the Giro routes as I find possible. This will include returning to Pordoi where I watched the Giro last year and the likes of the Gardena, and S. Pellegrimo.
June 24th I pick up a rental car and Jim Taylor in Lyon France. We'll head south to a small village in Provence http://crillonlebrave.com/index.html where we'll get in a few rides as Jim gets his clock adjusted in a proper fashion. Then it's north to the French Alps. We'll base our operactions out of la Bourg d' Oisans. From BdO many of the famous Tour routes are just a few kilo meters away. The list includes Alpe-d' Huez, Col du Lautaret, Col du Galibier, Col du Telegraphe and Col de la Croix de Fer.
July 2nd Jim departs Lyon for home and I take the car in a direction unknown at this time. Maybe Abertville, maybe back to Italy to attempt the Stellvio.
My trip ends July 5 on TGV across France and a flight from Paris arriving in time for dinner.
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