'Dominion Post' Newspaper article in New Zealand in Mid May 2011

SuperEuroride 2011 - Completed - Done & Dusted!

Sunday 5th June 2011.

Hi Folks, sorry for the delay in postings and pics lately. Some of the last hotels with not so reliable internet or wireless connectivity... Anyway 'SuperEuroride 2011' was duly completed yesterday ! Very pleased to have done it and finished it... and I am now somewhat tired but rapt!  So all up to complete SuperEuroride, I rode 2490 kilometres over 18 stages at an all up average speed of 26.1 kmph. Total riding time was just on 95 hours and 5 mins. I punctured four times. Total ride elevation was just on 33,000 metres. Wore out one full set of brake blocks and 1 set of my Michelin road tyres. And pleasingly did not get sick once. Many did.

Now we (Carol & I) are in Bern, Switzerland staying with our Swiss friends, the Messerli's and getting some R & R in and a bit of great sightseeing at the same in this beautiful country. On Tuesday we travel to Paris and then on to London. The real holiday part of this long trip has started. The bike is packed back up again now and tomorrow Monday it will be airfreighted back done-under to Melbourne. Talk again soon. Cheers, John M. :-)

In Aarberg Switzerland - just finished the BIG ride! With our Swiss friend Christoph Messerli

Stage 19. Bex to Aarberg Switzerland. The Final Stage !

Saturday 4th June. 125 kms. Bex to Aarberg, Switzerland. 750m climbing.

Montreaux

Lake Geneva / Montreaux

Stage 18, Megeve, France to Bex Switzerland.

Friday 3rd June 2011. Megeve France to Bex Swizterland. 110km. 1450m climbing. Col de la Forclaz.

Martigny, Switz.

Mont Blanc Mountains, France

Stage 17, St Jean-de-Maurienne to Megeve, France.

Thursday 2nd June 2011. 125km's including Col de Saisies.

Stage 16. Guillestre to St Jean de-Maurienne: The cancelled stage !

The bus route today

Packing into the bus

Cold!

Colder !

Wednesday 1st June: The first official day of summer up here in Europe and for us the stage that was cancelled – due to the weather ! There was talk last night at dinner that it was closing in and this could be a problem as today we have scheduled three Col climbs – two over 2000 metres. The organization last night cancelled the first climb, the Col d’Izoard at 2361 metres as logistically it would be a problem in terms of having vehicle support on all three climbs for all the groups needs. So the Col d’Izoard was gone. This morning we woke to light rain but windy weather in Guillestre that was quite cold and during our early breakfast – it got worse. And the calls went out to the authorities in regard to the Col du Lautaret and Col du Galibier (at 2647m). In short the roads up the Cols were open but it was freezing and snowing. Not a good climate for cyclists! So the organization smartly cancelled the days riding and very quickly organized a bus transfer for us on to the next town to here at St Jean-de-Maurienne. Many of us were quite relieved. The bus trip was enjoyable and 100 km long and took us around the Cols as such via a tunnel from Briancon into Italy briefly (see the map above) and then back into France via a 13km long road tunnel. The snow started falling as we drove up out of Briancon at just 1300m so one can imagine what it would have been like at 2600 m! Brrrrrr… When we got here, it was drizzling and all of maybe 4 deg C!  The hotelier here told me just a few minutes ago that it was 31 deg C here just a few days ago and last time it was this cold was January 5^th ! And on the Col de Telegraph climb just near here (at some 1500m) – there was 15 cm of snow there this morning. Crikey!... what does tomorrow hold for us then? We have 135km’s and the Col de la Madeleine at 2000m on the menu to ride over in the morning. The forecast is better and we will review it later today and in the morning. So today we ended up with plenty of R & R time here at the hotel and I guess a surprise 3^rd rest day off the bike. So three days to go now. Looking forward to getting into Switzerland and catching up with our Swiss friends, Christoph, Claudia and their family and... Carol who as I type this is enroute up flying up to Zurich from Melbourne. Bonsoir for now!       

Stage 15: 110 km’s. Sisteron to Guillestre.

Sisteron, France

Europes biggest Lake.

Tuesday May 31:  And did the weather turn ! We woke this morning to steady drizzle and low misty clouds after a night of steady rain in Sisteron. Despite our best wishing over breakfast, the wet conditions were not going to clear before our 9am start so out for the second time this Euroride came the wet weather gear. We had 110km’s to ride today from Sisteron to Guillestre and a course that was not overly challenging thankfully after the fairly solid last two days. But still 110 km’s is 110km’s and wet weather tends to sap ones strength even if the terrain is not difficult. We had an interesting ride up over a few lower level Col’s (up to 1000m but long and steady climbs at low % gradients) and then we rode along and through some stunning deep valleys where we had high mountains with some cliffs on both sides of us. We also passed by a huge man-made lake and hydro dam system as you can see in the pics above. It is the biggest lake in Europe. It drizzled on and off lightly throughout most of the day and at best was some 13-15 deg C. But while we were riding, we were not that cold, just a little uncomfortable by being in cycling clothing that was fairly damp all through. On the climbs and flat it was OK but when descending we felt the cold air. Our group stopped for a lunch break at the 85 km mark at 12.30pm where a hot coffee and warm ham & cheese sandwich eaten inside was great. Getting going again after 45 mins or so was a challenge as the legs and body kind of go into hibernation or sleep mode and the first few km’s after lunch – the body somewhat resists –especially when it’s cold out. We arrived here in Guillestre which is another small town hugging the sides of the mountains that are tourist/ski/outdoor enclaves. The hotels in the last few days have been considerably older with less ‘stars’ and I guess typical hotels for the French but the beds are comfortable and the showers are hot so that is what really matters. This weather is a little of a concern tonight as it brings snow also and we are at altitude with three large Cols – two in excess of 2000m plus tomorrow to ride over…Lets see what the morning brings – maybe a break in the weather…or ?          

Stage 14. Orange to Sisteron. The famous Mt Ventoux stage !

 

 

Monday 30th May:  Bonjour. This stage was one I was really looking forward to...and dreading at the same time. After yesterdays 196 km's in the sun and heat I was wondering how would I pull up this morning when we had 150 kms to do including the famous Mont Ventoux climb up to some 1912 metres at an average of some 7.5%.  Mont Ventoux is a classic climb - seen in the Tour de France a lot and the scene of many superb battles as such. In addition the nature of Ventoux in terms of its shape and roads means it is a revered climb for cyclists from around the world. It also was the scene so tragically back in 1967 where British Pro cyclist, Tom Simpson collapsed and died near the summit during LeTour. That's me sitting just near the memorial site to Tom that is a must stop, must see and must get one's photo taken at it for any keen cyclist climbing and conquering Ventoux. We started at 8.45am in Orange and had some 30 kms' of mainly flat riding at a steady tempo before getting to the foot of the climb. The weather again today was superb (gee we have been so lucky...) as you can see in the pics above. The climb of Ventoux is 21 km's long and as I said above is at 7.5% average- some parts steeper and some a little easier. It is by no means an easy climb for any cyclist in any fitness level. So with still some 90 km's to do after getting to the summit - it was a day to be careful on Ventoux. It is a brut and can bite you big time if you go about the climb to quickly or the wrong way. I can report that I had a good day going up it and after some nearly 2 hours of climbing - I reached the summit. Yay! Nailed it! It was not too windy but quite cold at that altitude and due to the exposed nature of the climb and summit. I quickly put on my arm warmers, jacket and like everyone else jumped into the summit cafe for a coke and coffee. We climbed one side and descended the other side and so stopped at the Tom Simpson memorial then dropped down to the town of Sault for a light lunch. We then had a couple of small climbs but mostly downhill on the balance of the distance down to our overnight stop here in Sisteron. A very old town nestled amongst some steep cliffs/hills with a pretty town centre. Its 10pm now and I am yawning...so its time to turn off the laptop. Remember you can double click on the above images to see them bigger on your screen. Bonsoir everyone !   

Stage 13, 186 kms. Cap D' Agde to Orange....recalculating...recalculating...

Studying the GPS's....





Sunday 29th May:  ...recalculating...recalculating... This became the kind of theme at times today on our scheduled 185km ride but in reality it turned into a 197 km ride on stage 13 to here in Orange. We got off course courtesy of our guide and the GPS system about seven times and did an extra 12 km's and one small climb more than anyone else in the process. The day was again beautifully fine and the wind gods were being kind to us yet again. A tail or cross tail wind for this long flat stage. The temperature also got up again and the average high was 29 deg C for the day. The stage started off for me with my fourth puncture of the ride - today after just 1 km! I changed the front tyre yesterday and I think I may have pinched the tube as it blew out so quickly. Anyway a quick change and away we went. However it was short lived action as we managed to get lost in a suburb of Cap D'Agre and ended up in a cul de sac! Eventually we got back on track and enjoyed an interesting first 50 kms right on the coast then it became a little boring as we headed inland...town after town, roundabout after roundabout and the french motorists on a Sunday having their driving day being interrupted by a bunch of cyclists. We also passed by plenty of vineyards that I am told are renown for making very expensive wines and we just bypassed the famous Rugby towns, Beziers and Montpellier. We had lunch at the 120 km mark in a food hall of what in essence was Mega bulk retail place that fortunately was open. Most retail stores in France are closed on Sunday - even the big barns similar  Bunnings are closed too. We arrived in Orange a bit late at about 5.30pm after nearly 7 riding hours in the saddle but it was mostly flat terrain and it was fine. A Ok but slightly frustrating day but you get them on these sort of things. The town of Sete we passed through was particularly nice on the coast early in the day- see pic above . At about 25km's to go to Orange we caught our first sight of tomorrows big climb. The mighty and famous Mt Ventoux. More on that tomorrow though. So into the last week now, legs holding up OK and health good. Into the Alps now - move hard riding and plenty of it uphill! Bonsoir!       

Rest day: Cap d' Agde, France.

 

Saturday 28th May: Bonjour! Rest day # 2 in Cap d'Agde. A pretty coastal holiday town with three main areas on the Med coast .The old town a few kilometres away from the Cape as such where we are which reminds me to a degree of Gulf Harbour in NZ or maybe Sanctuary Cove in Queensland - but older than both. Today I had a bit of a sleep in, a late breakfast and enjoyed the excitement of picking up the cycling and casual clothing from the laundrette place across the road all washed folded and ready to pack back into the suitcase. Sad somewhat when that is a highlight of the day right? Everyone cleaned their bikes in the hotel carpark and I changed my front tyre after changing the rear tyre a few days ago. Then Chris and I wandered over to the Marina area for a pizza lunch. Also today we have studied the Tour 'book of words' to preview what lays ahead for us in riding this third and final week of this SuperEuroride adventure.

Looking back..here are some stats so far:...In the first 12 stages, I have ridden for 63 hours and 41 mins on the bike. Covered 1670 kilometres at a average of 26.49 kmph. Total elevation gains has been 21,493 metres and I have punctured just twice.Touch wood. 

We have ridden up through central Spain to the Atlantic coast in the south western pocket corner of France and then across southern France via the Pyrenees to Andorra and breifly Spain to get here to Cap d' Agde on the central Med coast. 

We have a tough third week awaiting us as well. Less kilometres in total but still some bruts of climbs to conquer. To get to Aarberg in Switzerland by next Saturday 4th, we will ride another 945 km's over 7 stages and climb another 14,105 metres in total elevation gains. Awaiting us are some more famous Cols...Mont Ventoux on Monday, Col de Lautaret-Col de Galibier and Col de Telegraph on Wednesday, Col de la Madeleine and Col de Saisies on Thursday. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday are no walks in the park either. Our fingers are crossed on the weather front now as well. We hear its getting a bit colder and damp with some lower snow levels than usual ahead of us in the Alps and southern Switzerland.
Bonsoir !

Stage 12: 156 km's. Couiza to Cap D'Agde.

Friday 27th May:  An easy day...in theory. And it was not too bad. 156 kms from Couiza to here in Cap D'Agde on the Med coast. Last night while we slept in the Castle in Couiza, it poured down with rain. Fortunately in the morning it was just a light drizzle but it was decidedly cooler and the forecast was we might get a bit damp in the early part of the days riding. We set off at 9am and as per usual - we were into a climb fairly quickly in the days riding- yes a pattern developing here. It was a moderate climb up to some 640m  but our group took it quietly and crossed the summit togther and after that it was largely downhill or flat for most of the rest of the day. We had  a mixture of road qualities today due to the nature of the ride route that had been determined for us. Some motorways, some narrower roads and some back roads that had plenty of potholes. A day to keep alert also. We were now heading into the flatter lands of south eastern corner France and with it comes as we expected, more winds - both tail and cross winds today that had the result of keeping the pace reasonably quick as well. Some 28 kmph average for the day. After 85kms we stopped for lunch in a delightful village near the coast where the local cafe owner was expecting us. The sun and warmth had returned  and the cafe put on a great lunch of pasta, sauce, cheese, bread coke and or coffee for just 7 Euro's per head with fast service. Great value once again. Some of the lads headed up the road to the local Boulangerie shop (for pastries, cakes and other yummy stuff!) but not me. See the pics above. After lunch we had a largely coastal route flat ride on these mixed roads for some 70 km's before we rode into Cap d'Adge to our hotel, the very nice Palmyra Golf Hotel that backs on to a nice looking golf course. A bit of drama about 7 kms out from the hotel when two guys in our group crashed into a rather big pothole on a backroad. They were ok though- just a few small cuts, bruises and hurt pride maybe more than anything. One of them was my roomie, Glen but he is a tough Canberra lad so he bounced back up again pretty quickly.  Just across the road from the hotel is a supermarche' and a very accomodating laundry shop owner where we prompty dumped a few days washing to be ready at 9am the next  morning. Tomorrow Saturday is our second rest day of the Tour. A sleep in, late breakfast, clean the bike, pick up the laundry and find a nice cafe is the early order of the day. The weather is still great here but quite a bit windier as is usual in this region. Till next time - caio !    



Stage 11: 107 kms. Puigcerda Spain to Couiza France.

 

Thursday May 26th:  Bonjour ! Today was just what many of us needed and wanted - a much easier day in the saddle of 107 km that was mostly downhill apart from the first 30 kms that was made up of a gentle climb and some undulations. In fact the last 45 km's or so were all down hill where we averaged more than 40 kmph and descended some 1200m down here to this lovely little french village/town called Couiza. So no more ramblings today from me about grinding and suffering as there was none of it today. Apart from to say today was a good day to 'ride yesterday out of the legs' as such. I recovered quite well overnight - as I expected too. And the Pyrenees are behind us now. So 3 hours & 36 mins riding time today at an ave of 29.2 kmph all up. We arrived at the hotel early this afternoon to discover that tonight we are staying in 16th century castle that is a listed historical monument here in the Cathaze country. In short a 500 year old castle that is now very tastfully refurbished into a charming private hotel & restaurant. Pretty nice! Its called the 'Chateau Des Ducs De Joyeuse' in Allee du Chateau in Couiza. Google it on the web and have a look at it. Dinner is on at 7pm tonight so that is a good 90 mins earlier than in Spain- much appreciated by us all. By the way we are being very well fed up here each day. Typical European buffet breakfasts of yoghurt, cereals, various pastries, bread, ham, cheeses, coffee, juice and cooked (eggs, bacon, breaky sausages etc) is avail if wanted at the hot buffet. Dinners at night are along the lines of a starter of green garden salad, french stick breads with dipping oils followed by a bowl of pasta - spaghetti mainly with sauce and cheese and then a main of grilled chicken or veal or thin steak etc with roasted tomatoes, maybe some veges, lightly fried 'frites' (chips) or boiled potatoes and then desserts of say fruit salad, small cakes, fruit and all this with at times complimentary wine (cab sav red). One cannot complain! Our morning tea stops are usually Coca Cola and coffee (yes a caffeine hit) - coffee is either with milk, espresso style, americian style or in Spain - a ripper little coffee called  Cafe Bon Bom ! A double shot of espresso sitting on top of a good base of thick condensed milk in a small glass. Stir it up and drink! Very nice! Our 30 min lunch on the ride is either a roadside picnic with french bread rolls filled with ham and cheese, sliced oranges, fruits and more coke prepared by the organisation support team. Or we sit at a local roadside cafe and have a small bowl of pasta with sauce and cheese and french bread for just 6 Euro's. Value! Again more coffee and coke if desired!. Our only free time each day is a couple of hours or so after the days ride finish in the late afternoon and before dinner to do things like emails and blogs and we also at this time do any laundry by hand (as us men normally do...) and maybe a short walk to the local village and supermarket to stock up with any small needs such as snacks, toiletries, ride food or after ride snack food for before dinner each afternoon. We also get a small amount of TV time to maybe watch the Tennis at Roland Garros in Paris or the Giro di Italia (Tour of Italy) pro bike race on at present. Yes its kind of sleep, eat, ride, eat, sleep and then do it all again the next day. This Saturday is the second rest day and its being held in Cap d' Adge on the Med Sea coast so we are all looking forward to that. The above pics are the route map from today and the valley we rode up and along towards the big descent today, the main street of Couiza and the view outside our hotel room looking down into the atrium of the Castle I guess you would call it. The weather has been remarkably good apart day one from Calpe in Spain on May 15th and the first day of climbing in the Pyrenees earlier this week. Fingers crossed it stays that good way. Bless the creators of SPF 50 sunblock! The roads are fantastic largely - smooth, well sealed and well constructed. A joy to ride on. Hotels have been excellent also and we share rooms with another rider. In my case with Glen Freebody who is from Canberra. A not so difficult 155 km tomorrow from here to Cap d' Agde. I am sure I have lost some more kg's but just no sure how many. Anyway enough dribble today - talk again soon !    

Stage 10: 140 kms. Sort Spain to Puigcerda Spain (via Andorra and briefly France!) One day, two climbs and three countries....



Wed 25th May: 140 kms today and the fourth day on the trot on the Pyrenees. And another sunny and hot day too. Today was in many ways a key day on this whole ride as the next few days (Thurs & Fri) are not so tough at all and we have rest day # 2 on Saturday and the next big climbing day is on Monday next week. So get through today in one piece was the requirement. I had this little concern this morning that something might just give today...and something did. It unfortunately was me...We started at 9am on Sort, Spain (a smallish ski/tourism town) and within literally 200m we were on the first climb of the day. The 18.5 km long Col d' El Canto up to just over 1728m from our 635m starting altitude. That was not so bad as the group that Chris and  I adopted for the day took it quietly at a steady tempo so we crested the summit with the group. Albiet sweating a lot in the process and wondering if the summit was ever going to come! An awesome long winding descent down to yet another valley floor saw us riding up towards Andorra. As we rode up the valley the temperature rose considerably and as we rode through Andorra, the temp hit 30 deg C with no breeze at all. The sun was baking our backs and we were climbing up again in altitude all the time. We had a breif picnic roadside lunch stop in Andorra before heading off on the rest of the second big climb of the day and I think the highest altitude of the ride. The Port d Envalira pass at 2408m that takes one from Andorra into France. A real brut. At 10kms to go - I hit the wall so to speak. Or cracked as we say in cycling terms. The legs had just about had enough today and after the last few days as well and so I struggled in another slowish grind session of climbing and trying to just get over the climb without stopping and looking for a bus to jump on. Looking back we really baked ourselves in the Andorra valley with little respite from the gradient and the heat. That did not help me with 10k's to go. Eventually I got to the summit, recovered somewhat and reconnected with the group and we descended down into France breifly before taking a right hand turn and after another small 3km moderate climb, we rode down towards Spain again. Although here in Puigcerda, we are just a kilometre or two inside the Spanish border. A damn tough day on the bike again. A quiet 100km's tomorrow with the last 70 of it downhill. I am happy about that. By the way the image above is me at the summit of the the Port d Envalira pass at 2408m - looking half alive I hope although I was feeling smashed at the time. I have my wind vest on ready for the descent. At 2400m it was still some 17 deg c! The map and elevation graph above come directly from my Garmin bike computer data after finishing the stage today. Bed time up here in Spain. Talk more tomorrow...   

Stage 9: 106 kms. Luchon, France to Sort in Spain. Here we go again?...

 



Tues 24th May : I have to find the smarty pants who decided it would be fun to put a 1200m climb just 2 kms after todays stage start! Arrgh... Talk about opening up the lungs and legs quickly! Bought three new tubes this morning from the local bike shop. Hope I do not need them. So stage 9 - just 106kms - just he says.. and two climbs. Not at all an easy day on the bike - and this after yesterday?. (Can someone out there reading this please remind me again why I signed up to this three week torture session?) Climb # 1 was the Col de Portillon out of Luchon and at the summit we actually left France and were back on Spanish soil. Then after a awesome winding descent and I think about some 25kms in another beautiful Pyrenean valley we started climbing the Col de Port d La Bonaigua that took us up to over 2100m again! It was a long steady gradual climb but still tough. The pic above shows the valley we went up doing the second Col today. Pretty is'nt it? The climbs were not so difficult but again like so many of the Pyrennean climbs - they are just grinds for cyclists. Its like this- get a small gear, get a rythym or tempo going, focus on the breathing and get the heart rate steady and not too high. Yes and most importantly drink and eat at regular intervals wether thirtsy or hungry or not. Above is a pic of me just getting to the top of the Col de Port d La Bonaigua at 2100m. So in total 4 hours & 29 mins riding time today. The gut was a bit better today though I still felt just a little washed out as such but the climbing legs were somewhat better again - thankfully. No punctures today. Weather was again stunning as you can see in the pics. And hot everywhere except the top of the climbs. In the valley heading down to Sort - it was 35 deg C. Tomorrow Chris and I are going back to ride in group # 3 for the stage- they average around 25 kmph (so far we have been in group # 1 which averages some 28 kmph)  Group three is just a little slower on the flat and the climbs and tomorrow is a tough day - 140 kms and some nearly 3000m of climbing throughout the day. We just want to take care of ourselves on this long-hard day and not blow ourselves to pieces trying to stay with the slightly faster lads. A couple of kmph less on the flat and mountains will make a lot of difference to getting through the day in reasonable shape.Tomorrow we ride from Sort through Andorra back into France again and say 'adios' to Spain for the last time. Time almost for our 8.30pm dinner. Not possible earlier say the Spaniards - siesta time and dinner with the family come before feeding a hungry bunch of cyclists apparently...