Rapha Womens 100

Hurrah I managed to cycle 100 km!
It was a nice day and actually not too killer.
There was a choice of routes, with most people going over the Col du Tourmalet. I, however, chose to do the 'flat' route with only 1200m of climbing instead of the 3000m of the Tourmalet route.
There were only 5 of using doing the 'easy option' so it was nice and sociable. We met up with the super keen group at about 60km and all cycled together for the rest of the way.

With most of the other people who did it. A couple are French cycling champions (they did the Tourmalet of course)

Beautiful views

Quick rest at the top of a hill...

... with flapjack from our support driver. The French people all loved it and wanted the recipe, often they don't think much of British baking...

Support driver with some healthy bananas and apples as well as the flapjack

 ... and TEA!

Passing through Pouzac (the village we live in)

At the end, tired but happy

Yet more photos of cycling

Went for a ride with Doug and a couple of friends which ended up being waaaay longer than intended as they took over the route setting. Doug coped very well, not having had the intensive training I have had recently. It was 60km and 1200m climbing. Long day! We then cycled in to town in the evening to visit the brewery. Impressive!

A few days later I went for another nice ride with Joy and Dewar - not quite so long though. Doug stayed at home heroically fighting with the drive. I enjoy cycling round the local villages, love seeing all the houses and peoples gardens as well as views of the mountains.

Orignac church

Cycle up the Hourquette d’Ancizan

Part of my training, Doug drove up and walked the dog, bringing me my lunch at the top. Brilliant!

There are markers every km from a certain point, they can get a bit disappointing sometimes, but nice to see the distance ticking past.

At the top with a mushroom bouquet.

Support Doug and support dog

They had a nice walk while waiting for me to get there

Afterwards I went for a bit of a ride around on the flat to keep the legs moving without too much up and down. Views back to the mountains from Hiis

Cycling the Col du Tourmalet

As part of my training for the 100km ride in a couple of weeks I decided to cycle up the Col du Tourmalet. It is famous from the Tour de France, it closes in the winter as it is in the middle of the ski area!
It isn't that far, but it is really really REALLY high with most of the climbing in the 2nd part of the ride. I am very impressed I made it. Only went up though as we stayed overnight afterwards in the La Mongie flat.

Jan, Al and Alfie the dog provided a v good support and encouragement team.

This is the flat with the 4km marker. Those were 4 reeaally long km.

Yay made it!!!!!

Pretty nice view from the top

Appropriate beer for afterwards!

Not sure I fancy doing it again, but that much pain has to be good for one, so perhaps I will!

Rapha Womens 100 training

I have signed up to do a 100km cycle ride in 3 weeks time so I am busy doing a bit of training. Everyone I have mentioned it to has laughed uproariously. Which is a bit concerning, but I think it is going to be ok. I cycled 50 km on 2 separate days this week, was a bit knackered admittedly, but I just have to do on one day (gulp!)

There is a lot of lovely French countryside round here to cycle in.

Chateau de Mauvezin

Church

Bike

Another church

Lovely cycle

Nice cycle near Lourdes with Pratiwi and Robin. There used to be a railway here, now it is a cycle path. Sadly the dog couldn't come as she would be chaos with all those bikes.

Tour de France in La Mongie

The Tour de France passed right outside our flat in La Mongie, so it seemed it would be madness not to go and watch. 

A lot of people without flats up there moved in temporary. This is normally a car park along side the road

The camper vans parked all along the road right up to the Col du Tourmelet

I was impressed that the supermarket planned ahead and had a stall outside selling bread in the morning.

Waiting for the cyclists to arrive. This is on the bank just outside the flat

Some friends cycled up to watch it with us

Lots of helicoptors

The cyclists. It was good as we could see when they were near on the TV and rush out to see them

An eclipse of the moon rounded of the day nicely