My Tour de France

[toolonglegs]

Yes my weight is a problem...probably more so yesterday because I was too far back in the bunch and also there where sharp corners before a few of the climbs which meant I had to really expend energy getting up to speed...was a good experience thou and good training in the end as well!.
I have no idea on the distance....I thought we where doing 50km but it appears we did one more lap than I thought ....maybee if my French was better or I had rolled to start on time I might of heard more info!....av speed was 39.2kmph...when I left Div 1 & 2 were lining up....they had a hell of a lot more riders than us!!!!.
Went for a little roll out with my wife when I got home...would feel quite good now if my boy didn't wake us up every hour last night...grrr.
Well today is a rally with the club...90km plus 22 each way there and back...I am going to arrive late so I have to chase them down for an hour or so...then settle into a nice chat ride....2 hours of French lessons

[zozza]

Make sure you pick up some choice words for "Keep your effen line"

Enjoyed the report, almost like being there. Hard to imagine racing against 70-80 competitors in the same grade though.

[ruscook]

Yes my weight is a problem...probably more so yesterday because I was too far back in the bunch and also there where sharp corners before a few of the climbs which meant I had to really expend energy getting up to speed...was a good experience thou and good training in the end as well!.

Great outlook on things, all I know is I'm not as good as I'd like to be

You must be quite fit and strong to carry the high 90kgs through that countryside.

......Went for a little roll out with my wife when I got home...would feel quite good now if my boy didn't wake us up every hour last night...grrr.
Well today is a rally with the club...90km plus 22 each way there and back...

132k today??? I thought I'd been good doing 140k over this weekend but none of it was racing and the hills were pretty non-existent..... No wonder you're fit.

I am going to arrive late so I have to chase them down for an hour or so...then settle into a nice chat ride....2 hours of French lessons

Fantastic way to look at it and what a way to get French lessons.

Good luck with the next race. I look forward to the report.

Russ

[toolonglegs]

Thanks guys ...ended up chasing for 60km or more today into the wind...when i finally settled in for my French lessons they were just to slow and i started to get cold....so I took off again acting as wind break for another two riders who wanted to up the speed....legs felt good thou.
Good to get my head cleaner out of the way early in the week...Tuesday will be back into 3 x 20's

[Spiza]

Noticed you're injured in BJ. Hope it's nothing too serious Ian.

[toolonglegs]

Noticed you're injured in BJ. Hope it's nothing too serious Ian.

Hope not.... I have strained the top of my calf / rear of my knee somehow... Tuesday's session was very tough and I over did it I think ...have been ice and massage for 24hours and I think I will get a recovery spin in today...fingers crossed!.

[Spiza]

Noticed you're injured in BJ. Hope it's nothing too serious Ian.

Hope not.... I have strained the top of my calf / rear of my knee somehow... Tuesday's session was very tough and I over did it I think ...have been ice and massage for 24hours and I think I will get a recovery spin in today...fingers crossed!.

I did the same thing last week. Top of the left calf just behind the knee. I did a bit of research and I think it's the Iliotibial Band (ITB). It took a few days to recover.

I think it was related to the saddle been a little high due to new shoes and pedals. I was using spds with mtb shoes and now using Sidi with Speedplay. An 8mm drop seemed to cure the problem.

I hope it gets better before the weekends racing

[toolonglegs]

Just checked Etape Du Tour website.....and YES!!!

[zozza]

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

UberCool Congrats TLL

[Spiza]

I hope you have your medical certificate ready

Mont Ventoux looks nasty - 21,2 km at 7,6 %

[toolonglegs]

Medical cert is needed for my license so already done...haven't really payed too much attention to the course yet but will have to have a good look.I have a mate coming over from Sydney who enter in Aus...but he races a grade and climbs rather fast...so don't think we will be riding together somehow!!!.... but now I have my aim it will motivate me more!.

[toolonglegs]

how hard can it be after 140km of hard racing?

[Chuck]

The last 8k looks like real HTFU territory

[Chuck]

The last 8k looks like real HTFU territory

Oh ok got the gist of the graph now still looks mighty tough though, especially after 140k of "racing".

[toolonglegs]

Going to be a PAINFULL!!! race tommorow...hopefully for the right reasons thou...have a self imposed 3 days off after pulling something a touch on Tuesday...could of ridden yesterday but thought better of it...could of riden today but my boy is home from school so will just have to wait till tommorow for some very exposed gutter action.I have been told this is one of the hardest races of the year because it is very exposed / flat and always windy (wind has been getting stronger over the last few days just in time!)....so lots of time in the gutter and lots of crashes.
I may end up skipping the race but fingers crossed all is good!!!.

[ruscook]

Holy crap TLL you're going to ride THAT hill as part of a 140k race?

You're mad no wonder, you've been deported

Good luck with the race and whatever medical attention you need after it!
Russ

[AverageSpeed]

Toolong, you've found paradise. How green is that grass? .. and how good the bread and wine when you get to your destination! Once you can speak some French and really get into the local familial scene, you'll find a special side to the French - they APPRECIATE friendships over many years. The countryside to the EastSouthEast of Lake Geneva is absolutely spectacular. My brother lives in Brittany, and has found cycle touring along the canal tow-paths can be fun; away from the roads, almost in another universe...

[mikesbytes]

after pulling something a touch on Tuesday

Um... TMI ? or should I ask what your pulled?

[toolonglegs]

Holy crap TLL you're going to ride THAT hill as part of a 140k race?

You're mad no wonder, you've been deported

Good luck with the race and whatever medical attention you need after it!
Russ

no it is after 140km...here is the parcours.It is a cyclosportive,but I am sure I will be riding it harder than many races I have done...now how fast can I lose 10 kilos!

[toolonglegs]

Toolong, you've found paradise. How green is that grass? .. and how good the bread and wine when you get to your destination! Once you can speak some French and really get into the local familial scene, you'll find a special side to the French - they APPRECIATE friendships over many years. The countryside to the EastSouthEast of Lake Geneva is absolutely spectacular. My brother lives in Brittany, and has found cycle touring along the canal tow-paths can be fun; away from the roads, almost in another universe...

An expensive paradise for sure!...cold too!...wine great...bread I have to stay away from,it is just too moreish!.I follow this blog from a guy in Geneva...can't wait to have my mtb back up in running,tried riding my roadie in snow up mountains,while been a good work out it is tricky!.

[toolonglegs]

after pulling something a touch on Tuesday

Um... TMI ? or should I ask what your pulled?

Nah just strained the top of my calf muscle on my left leg,not really sure why...maybee getting back onto the race bike after a winter on compact cranks...175 to 180mm...plus a change from winter boots to race shoes...I think the Sidi boots may have a bit more distance foot to pedal axle.Yes my seat is 5mm lower with the longer cranks but I did notice I was rocking a bit on Tuesday...and was a very hard training session as well.It is blowing a gail out now and even thou it is sunny it is pretty cool...still haven't decided to race or not tommorow.

[ruscook]

Even more impressive then. Have a great ride. and don't pull anything else while riding, it will only get you talked about

Look forward to your ride report.

Russ

[sogood]

Loverly! Don't forget to have your photo taken on each of the peaks. You know the rule... No photo, no ride.

Otherwise it looked like Legoland. Can you get a Lego bike?

[muggah]

Not many flat sections in that course!

[mikesbytes]

Um 1.7k of vertical and that's not counting the hills running up to it.