Pyrenean Adventure - Intro

I'd had it in mind to do a big ride through a mountain range or other this year. Last year I rode part of the Route des Grandes Alpes. I'd also been a few times to the Dolomites. So with only very limited experience of the Pyrenees (mainly from the Etape du Tour of 2002 and 2003), we decided it would be good to spend time over there.

The aim was to do something as close as we could manage to a trans-pyrenean ride, and be self supported. It was a bit of a daunting task - the gradients in the Pyrenees tend to be more brutal than in the Alps. The weather is also capricious. But our incentive was the beaches that would await us once we reached the Mediterranean, and our weekend in Barcelona.

Stan chose to take his mountain bike because it would be sturdier than his road bike for carrying panniers, and also he would have a good choice of gears. I chose my road bike as it would be lighter, and the brakes would be better if we got into wet conditions. I used the wheels from my cyclo cross bike for better grip, and also switched the carbon fibre seat post for a steel one, so it would cope with the pannier rack. Gearing wise, I believed I would be ok with the compact chain set (34-50) and 12-27 sprocket. Stan wasn't so sure.

The plan would be this :

1. Take the train from central London to Stansted on Fri 24th August, spend the night at a B&B in Takeley, 2 miles from the airport.

2. Ride to Stansted Airport at 3.30am on Sat 25th, put our bikes in bags and get the 6am flight (with Ryanir) to Pau

3. Arrive at Pau airport, set up our bikes, ride to Pau town centre.

4. Find a post office and send our bike bags to the hotel in Barcelona where we would be staying

5. Start our Pyrenean tour Saturday afternoon

6. Reach the Med Coast (St Cyprien Plage) on Thursday 30th August

7. Do the short ride from St Cyprien (France) to Portbou (Spain) on Friday 31st

8. Catch a train to Barcelona, where we would spend the weekend

9. Fly back to London Gatwick (with British Airways) on Sunday 2nd Sept

10. Train from Gatwick to East Croydon, and then ride back home.

I hadn't done any specific training for the ride - I hoped that the usual routine of road racing, track racing, cyclosportives, and the training that goes with it would be enough.
I had already used my panniers on my road bike in the past so I was comfortable with doing that.
However, despite all that preparation you always feel a little anxious about how things will actually turn out. There'd be many stages to go through between leaving London on 24th August, and returning on 2nd September.

Summer seems so long ago !

This time yesterday Stanley and myself were enjoying tapas on a cafe terrace near the Picasso museum in Barcelona. The sun was hot and we'd been trying to find somewhere shady to sit. Even I found myself burning at one point !

The previous day was spent lounging on the beach at Sitges in 30 + degree heat. I kept burning my feet when getting up to walk barefoot through the sand.

Today, given that we only arrived back in London in the early hours of the morning I was in a rush to get ready and out for work. Putting on the only clean blouse and cardigan I could find with my trousers seemed enough clothing to wear in this morning's sunshine. But it wasn't. The northerly wind definitely had a cooling effect. 16 degrees celsius was a bit of a shock to the system after our adventures in southern France and Spain.

So here I am sat at my desk (during lunch hour) getting back into the swing of work and the drudgery of London life ! The holiday had to end some time I suppose !

Anyway, before I forget, a brief run-down of where we went for our Trans-Pyrenean adventure :

Day 1 :
Pau to Laruns (via Oloron Ste Marie, Col de Marie-Blanque)

Day 2 :
Laruns to Luz St Sauveur (via col d'Aubisque, col du Soulour, Argeles Gazost)

Day 3 :
Luz St Sauveur to St Beat (via col du Tourmalet, col d'Aspin, Arreau, col du Peyresourde, Bagneres de Luchon)

Day 4 :
St Beat to Massat (via col de Mente, col du Portet d'Aspet, St Girons)

Day 5 :
Massat to Querigut (via col de Porte, Tarascon sur Ariege, Ax les Thermes, col de Pailheres)

Day 6 :
Querigut to St Cyprien (via col de Garavel, col de Jau, col de Ternere)

Day 7 :
St Cyprien Plage to Portbou (Spain) (via Coulliore, Port Vendres, Cerbere)
then train to Barcelona

650km cycling through the pyrenees, climbing lots of cols, while carrying 10kg of panniers on a slightly overgeared bike. I am glad I stuck with the challenge and hopefully am abit stronger for it, albeit with a slightly sore bum !

Day 8 : Sunbathing in Sitges
Day 9 : Basking in Barcelona

A great fun-packed holiday. More details and photos to follow (I promise).