Day 6 – Le Tour Challenge Complete. September 2, 2010

The final day to what had already proven to be a difficult and challenging week presented the Tourmalet yet again, this time from the side thought of to be the sterner test. By now as a group, we had conquered all the Pyrenean Cols and climbs of this year’s Tour and most of us would be riding with little in the tank. The weather had remained clear and the heady temperatures of the previous day had subsided. This final jaunt up the Tourmalet was a fitting end to a great week and one I felt I wanted to reach the top of with nothing left by way of a thank you to all that had supported and donated to our cause in the last year. Whether it was just the fact this climb was the final one, or that by now my legs were accustomed to the terrain, I enjoyed every metre of 2115 to the top. Looking from the summit back along the winding road as it turns and twists through hairpins and corners, climbing from the valley in the distance, was appropriately symbolic of a journey we had all be on as a group in the week.

The Guide Dogs Le Tour Challenge is exactly that, a challenge. A tough challenge, one that we collectively enjoyed the satisfaction of completing whilst tucking into pizzas in the sunshine, in a ski station we had passed 3 days previously where we could barely see the road ahead of us.  Being new to the event, Seth and I had come along not knowing what to expect. What we found were a fantastic group of dedicated people brought together by two underlying factors, a love of cycling, but more importantly a desire to use that passion to push themselves beyond their normal limits to ultimately help those less fortunate. I know I’ll be back again.

The event itself was made even more enjoyable by the tireless work on a daily basis, of Dave, Wendy and Ian. Without their organisation, support, keeping us fed and watered and of course endless stories, the challenge itself would be undoubtedly less appealing. These guys deserve great praise for giving their time.

Finally Seth and I would like to thank everyone that donated so kindly to the Guide Dogs and followed and supported us along the way. We reached and surpassed our target whilst we were in the Pyrenees and the money raised will go a long way to helping those who less fortunate than ourselves regain a sense of freedom and independence in their lives.  Thank you!

Day 5 September 2, 2010

The Longest Day, Some Like It Hot, Heat ….. if you were to look for a film title to use as a metaphor for day 5, these appear to be apt points of reference. We always knew the week in the Pyrenees had a two pronged sting in the tail, a second ascent of the Tourmalet on the final day, preceeded by a long 130 plus kilometer day visting the Soulour from the longer side and starting with a longish ride to the climb the pros fear most when racing – the Col De Marie Blanque. However the penultimate day would prove to be a challenge greater than any of us expected. Another cloudless sky greated the Guide Dogs chain gang as we left the hotel early in the morning, looking back we should have guessed the sky was portentous for the day ahead. We rattled over an early fourth category climb like Gulliver in a Lilliputian cycle race – everyone’s legs now accustomed to much greater challenges, however this was only 10am and the unusual heat was becoming apparent.  By the time we reached the foot of the Marie Blanque the temperature was pushing the lower 30’s. The Marie Blanque is a brute of a climb, not long but incessantly steep, the road rears up and up, touching 14-17% in places, at times for half a kilometer or more. The pros will race up this at over 25 kph, I was satisfied to keep my ‘speed’ barely in double figures. Dave our trusted guide had added his own bit of Guide Dog graffito to the melting tarmac, riding over mine and the other Guide Doggers name’s on the road as he poured water over my back from the support van felt as close to being a pro as I’l get. My already great respect for those guys has increased immeasurably.

The summit couldn’t come soon enough, there is no stunning view of sorts, in some ways it was a good thing as all I could see through my eyes as they stung with sweat were the back doors of the second support van and the ever present Wendy handing me much needed water and Haribos. If that had been the last action of the day we’d have all gone home satisfied with a hot day in the saddle having conquered another tough climb. Only it wasn’t time to retire for the day, we still had 70 kilometers to go. The descent from the Marie Blanque initially wasn’t much to write home about, a freewheel through pine trees with cattle lowing in the shade, but then it opens out and drops away in to open fields, sweeping corners and heat, oh the heat. This was heat the like nothing I had experienced whilst riding a bike before-stinging, skin burning dry heat. Descending quicker in the hope the wind would cool my legs had little effect and only proved to speed up our arrival in the baking valley below. The temperature guage in the van was reading 40 degrees celsius and it was only just 1pm. The next hour or so we rode tempo through rolling Pyrenean foothills, no one said too much, dry mouths and the thought of the 20 kilometers up to the Soulor kept minds occupied. By the time we arrived at the climb, the group had thinned somewhat, the heat had taken it’s toll on many. As a group we decided to ride together, we knew without saying a collective effort would be required to complete the final climb. By now the temperature in the shade was 43 degrees, the problem for us was there was no shade on the vast majority of the Soulor.

The next hour or more on the Soulor had a week of emotion crammed into it. The climb has everything, initially rising through traditional Pyrenean villages, with tiny roads barely wide enough for a car winding through deserted buildings, a stream adjacent to the road but cruelly out of reach, teases you with it’s enticing coolness. Our bottles had been drained long ago as we melted into the road. The scenery changes with each turn, one moment the landscape reveals an almost alpine pasture, before turning again and presenting a typically Pyrenean rugged outcrop of rock to ascend. The only constant in this ever changing environment is the gradient. By this point I didn’t care if it was 7 or 8 or even 12% – it just hurt, we had run out of water and gears.

The last 2 kilometers were something of a battle with your mind, we’d given up fighting our legs and the mountain long before. We ground to the top, 3 weather beaten cyclists, Seth, Fraser and myself and said nothing for 5 minutes. We all appreciated what we had just achieved, but the exertion had left us with neither the energy nor the inclination to speak.

We rode for 7 hours on day 5, but chappeau to Roger and Jim who stubbornly battled through for 11.

The Guide Dogs Le Tour Challenge, was as billed – Challenging! As for the film metaphor, think Ice Cold in Alex as at times you could have been mistaken for thinking you were in the desert rather than the mountains.

Day 4 September 2, 2010

On paper day 4 looked to be a bit easier, a welcome respite from the two previous days total of 2 second category climbs, 2 first category climbs and 2 hors category climbs. With only the Col du Soulor to climb on the way to Col D’Aubisque, the atmosphere around the breakfast table was lighter than day before with the notable absence of a Tourmalet shaped sword of Damocles. The weather too seemed to match the mood, cloudless skies greeted us as we rolled out.

As it turned out the route to the Soulor wasn’t quite as gentle as it looked on the profile. A steady gradient from the off and the climb wasn’t due to start for a good 20 kilometers. Gradually the efforts of the previous days began to show and the group stretched as it snaked it’s way to the foot of the Soulor. When the Tour passed over this climb six weeks previously the organisers thought not to even categorise it as a separate climb as it was part of the higher peak of the Aubisque. Well, it’s definitely a climb in my book and the legs felt every twist and turn and steady ramps of 7-8-9 and10% grades relentlessly rising for it’s 10 kilometers. The reward at the top was one of breathtaking scenery and this proved to be only the hors-d’oeuvre before the Aubisque. Having seen only 30 meters of mist the previous day from the Tourmalet, the completely clear vista from the Soulor and the narrow mountain hugging road to the Aubisque must be difficult to surpass. A natural amphitheatre of craggy rock faces, the serrated pinnacles contrasting sharply against the deep azure, buzzard filled skies. What breath remained from the lung busting climb, was taken from you once you reached the summit.

Once the group had reassembled at the cafe at the top, tried as best they could to truly take in the view and got their legs and lungs back, there was the lengthy descent and an hour or more of rolling roads to look forward to in the run in to the day’s hotel. Sadly the descent from the Col D’Aubisque saw the weeks only serious accident. Get well soon Mac – I’m sure you will, as a fitter 60 something year old I have yet to meet.

Day 4 turned out to be quite a challenging day, epic climbs, stunning views and a fair share of drama. Unsurprisingly we were all in bed by 9.30.

Day 3 August 25, 2010

One word TOURMALET! The original Pyrenean Col in cycling history would be the main course of another super tough day following the not insignificant aperitifs of Col de Peyresourde and Col D’Aspin. Our start point from the spa town of Bagneres du Luchon on the valley bottom meant serious gradients from the first turn of the pedals. We would cover 70kms and climb both peaks of 1500m before we even reached the bottom of the  Col du Tourmalet and the start of it’s 18km ascent to 2115 metres. A behemoth on the horizon from all directions, Tourmalet dominates the locale, only we could bearly see 50 metres as rain and mist engulfed us on the lower slopes. Gradually we made our ascent, in near silence as the kilometres were mentally ticked off and all our efforts went towards moving onwards and upwards. Reaching the ski station at La Mongie some 5kms from the top, the road kicks to an even greater incline, I was beginning to appreciate why the first cyclists in the Tour de France to ride the Tourmalet 100 years ago, accused the organisers of being assassins. I’ve been told the view from the top is quite something, this time the weather was so bad you couldn’t see 50 meters. It’s ok though we’re doing it again on friday – from the other side – for good measure, so I hope the weather is better suited to the vista.

Days 1 & 2 August 25, 2010

After meeting up at Toulouse airport with our fellow Guidedoggers most of the talk was about the weather, mainly the rising temperatures and distinct lack of cloud. Sure enough, day 1 greeted us with clear blue skies and seering heat, thankfully the riding was a short 74kms to warm the legs. Day 2 was an entirely different story. The Pyrenees weather is notoriously changeable and quite often the mountains are swathed with cloud and the day greeted us with damp and humid conditions. This was where the serious stuff started -115kms  Portet D’Aspet, Col des Ares and finally the Port des Bales. The day proved to be just as tough as expected, particularly as a wrong turn after 70kms led to an additional 25kms being added to the ride. In addition to this the first 2 descents off the mountains were in the wet and these made for a serious baptism for Seth, who up to this point apart from our foray on Ventoux had previously come down nothing steeper than his stairs at home. The final climb of the day  was the highlight but also the toughest and by now the skies had cleared to allow the sun to compound the test. Port des Bales is a meandering gradient through wooded glades for the first 7 or so kilometres before breaking out into a natural bowl of rock as the road points to the sky for kilometre on kilometre. The climb Andy Shleck made look easy despite losing his chain in this years Tour de France , is anything but. In contrast to the murderous gradient the landscape is quite simply stunning. We climbed for well over an hour and a half covering just the 19kms to the summit. The view made it all worthwhile.

A massive thank you! August 18, 2010

Amazingly, in the last 2 weeks we’ve raised £800 towards our overall £3500 target. With 3 days to go before we start our challenge, thanks to your  support and generous donations we are 93% of the way there, having raised £3240.

We’d like to say a huge thank you on behalf of The Guide Dogs Association for the Blind – all your donations are gratefully received. All that remains is for Seth and I to raise the final few quid, oh and the small matter of cycling over  a few lumps between France and Spain. Some of these ‘lumps’ it turns out, are known locally as the ‘Circle of Death’ and the others, the ‘Bears Jaw’. All sounds like a terribly hospitable place for a bike ride.

Watch this space for a daily update.

All kitted up and ready to go….. August 18, 2010

There is a bike in there somewhere!

20,000 Kilometres chalked up….. August 5, 2010

In two weeks time Seth and I will depart for the French Pyrenees and start the Guidedogs Le Tour Challenge to raise money for The Guidedogs for the Blind Association. The six days of riding ahead of us will be the hardest and most gruelling both of us have had on a bike and possibly by the end of it, if it really is bad,the last days we spend on a bike for a while.  Now completing the four toughest mountain stages of this year’s Tour de France in six consecutive days is no easy undertaking and something that a couple of laps of Richmond Park a few weeks before and a hearty intake of jam butties and mars bar on the day wont prepare you for. Since Seth and I decided to take this challenge on last summer, (Seth may wish to rephrase that to press-ganged into taking this challenge on) we have covered over 20,000kms of training between us. That’s not a typographical error – 20,000 kilometres in all types of weather. Seth and I have both spent an unhealthy amount of time in lycra, alone and together. We’ve gained dodgy tan lines and lost  kilos of body mass. We’ve become slightly obsessed with the weather, fearing the wind more than the cold and rain.  There have been injuries and mishaps along the way, and our wallets have been relieved of their contents in physiotherapy clinics and what little remained has been frittered away in bike shops on lightweight goodies in the misguided belief these will somehow propel us up the mountains quicker and with less suffering.

Through all of the ups and downs of training in the last year, our raison d’être has been fundraising for The Guidedogs for the Blind Association. If you’ve read any of our previous posts you’ll know that Guidedogs are funded totally through voluntary income.  Any donation, regardless of size, goes directly towards not only the training of dogs to give invaluable freedom to assist blind and partially sighted people in leading normal lives but also funds crucial opthalmic research.

So far Seth and I have raised 70% of our target, in the next two weeks we’d really like to get as close to that target as possible. Whilst we don’t want you to feel obliged and we know that you may support other charities, a donation, no matter how small, will help us to help The Guidedogs for the Blind.

Thanks

Nick and Seth

Nervous moments… July 23, 2010

There comes a time in the lead up to event for which months of training and sacrifices have been made, where an injury mishap could jeopardise participation. As we enter the final month of preparation for the Guidedogs Le Tour Pyrenees challenge, a bit of extra vigilance on the roads during our daily commute by bike has been on our minds. This however still didn’t help much as I was  broadsided by a small truck coming out of a side street whilst using one of Boris’s new Cycle Superhighways  on Wednesday morning.  Despite a bit of road rash, some bruises and scrapes, I emerged relatively unscathed. I hope the extra grams of hip skin I have lost will be a benefit when I’m hauling myself over the lumps of the Pyrenees in four weeks time.

Speaking of which, if anyone has watched any of the coverage of the Tour de France over the last week, you’ll have got an idea of the challenge that awaits Seth and I at the end of August. The route we’ll be doing in the 6 days of the event contain all the major climbs the professionals have covered including the gruelling  Col du Tourmalet, twice.

We have received some very kind donations in the last few days that are helping us towards our £3500 target. So thank you to all. We’re not there yet though and we will be looking try and achieve the goal before we set out for the Pyrenees.  The Guidedogs are a charity that rely totally on donated income, even a small amount of money goes directly to fund activities associated with training puppies, caring for working dogs and more far reaching opthalmic research, all of which enables blind and partially sighted people to lead much more independent lives.

Thanks

Nick and Seth

Fundraising Update July 14, 2010

With little over 6 weeks until the ‘big one’, Seth and I have raised nearly £2000 for The Guidedogs for the Blind Association through your kind donations. We are still short of our £3500 fundraising goal and we hope in the next few weeks that you’ll be able to dig deep, if you haven’t already done so and help us reach our goal.

By donating even £5 you’ll be directly helping to sustain an organisation that for the last 80 years has given freedom, confidence and safety to blind and partially sighted people.

You can donate easily and securely through the link to our JustGiving page on the right hand side of this page.

Once again, thank you to all that have pledged some money so far.