Col des Bordères / Col du Soulor / Col d’Aubisque / Col de Spandeles
83.5km 4:23:06 2,378m climbing i.e. about 3.5 times the Crown Range
Average speed 19.1km/h Top Speed 74.9km/h
The perceptions have changed. The day above is now considered by all a easy day.
A gentle hill climb out of the hotel winds through little villages and over the Col des Bordères before going the main road to the Soulor. We are idling along until a french guy and girl pass in a ‘flyby’. Well the noise from the back of the peleton indicated that this probably was not on and we jumped across onto their tail. Phil aided by offering a draught and then it was bang straight onto the hill. Rather than a easy approach it was game on with the French peleton.
The leader made some comment to phil - like i think not and that was enough - off he went.
Everyone rode strongly up the hill (my own average wattage was about 188watts - peaking at 200watts) not high but enough to ride the french peleton leader off our tails.
Col du Soulor is reached after just 7kms or so and a short break before we head down and along the La Cercle de la Mort – The Circle of death. A narrow balcony cut into the side of the mountain. Al and myself seem to be in the front (think the others taking photos etc) and the gradient slowly ease’s up from 3 to 8% but the top is in sight and we roll up with Al leading the way to the top of the Col d’Aubisque.
Over lunch we are joined by a couple of Aussie’s. Their plans also include the Col de Spandeles.
Back across the Cercle de la Mort and up to Soulor. A brief stop and descending and descending and more to the town of Ferrieres. A couple clicks later we turn onto a narrow paved goat track which climbs through a narrow valley and ‘rain forest’ to the summit
Average grade: 8.4 %. Length: 10.18 km. Height start: 520 m. Height top: 1380 m.
Ascent: 860 m.
We chat on the way up with John and are soon joined at the top by Jenny, and we drop down the still narrow, gravelly and bumpy road to the town of Argelès-Gazost for a second lunch, and a gentle roll home
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Hautacam
What a day!!
Left the hotel in Saint Lary and drove over Hourq d’Ancizan and Tourmalet and to Saint Savin, to sit in 35 degrees in the shade to eat picnic lunch on the balcony of the hotel.
Hautacam
Hautacam is a ski station above Argelès-Gazost in the Pyrenées. It has appeared 4 times as a mountain top finish in the Tour de France (’94, ’96’, ’00, ’08)
If you like steady gradients to get a rythym, then you will hate Hautacam. Every time there is an easy stretch it means a 10%, 11%, or steeper stretch is imminent.
At the top is a sign indicating the finish. But continue because at the FAR side of the big parking lot is a sign for the offical Tour de France finish.
And still, don’t stop there. Recently, the 1.2 km continuation to Col de Tramassel has been paved. You’ll see the sign. A nice restaurant at the end of the paved road.
Little did we know what was coming -yes some thunder clouds on the horizon but no concern. So to the Hautacam (we hooked into a Italian express down the valley) to the bottom and then we are on the climb, winding up through some low villages at 3 and 5 % - no problem. But trouble to come - up to 10% and 13 on corners. A couple flat sections and then back to 10%. The top ease's in grade but not in pace with Simon and Dave off the front.
The storm is letting us know it is around with giant claps of thunder overhead. No mucking around on the top - find a newspaper and start descending just as the storm unleaches hail and huge rain drops.
Soon the road is obscured and the brakes are not working on full pull. We scurry as hard as we can to get below it but it chase's us and increases in intensity briefly before backing off. Is the road wet or dry? Can we push or should we still be careful?
Its a long way down on unfamilar roads and it is a team regroup in a bus stop to recover. After 15mins shivering in 18 degrees temperature (cold for us in France) we decide to push off. Thinking that the worst may be over
How wrong we are.! Just a minute down the road it unleashes again and the rider ahead is all but hidden by the rain and the spray from the tires. At one stage we are riding through several inchs deep water with cars passing us sendng waves of water over us (Al was scared he would be washed off his bike) The road turns to a river with rolling stones and still we maintain over 35kms hr. Amazing? a very surreal experience.
The small 3km climb home turns into a uphill sprint - to warm up / or to get home quick or ?????
https://www.strava.com/activities/350870045
Left the hotel in Saint Lary and drove over Hourq d’Ancizan and Tourmalet and to Saint Savin, to sit in 35 degrees in the shade to eat picnic lunch on the balcony of the hotel.
Hautacam
Hautacam is a ski station above Argelès-Gazost in the Pyrenées. It has appeared 4 times as a mountain top finish in the Tour de France (’94, ’96’, ’00, ’08)
If you like steady gradients to get a rythym, then you will hate Hautacam. Every time there is an easy stretch it means a 10%, 11%, or steeper stretch is imminent.
At the top is a sign indicating the finish. But continue because at the FAR side of the big parking lot is a sign for the offical Tour de France finish.
And still, don’t stop there. Recently, the 1.2 km continuation to Col de Tramassel has been paved. You’ll see the sign. A nice restaurant at the end of the paved road.
Little did we know what was coming -yes some thunder clouds on the horizon but no concern. So to the Hautacam (we hooked into a Italian express down the valley) to the bottom and then we are on the climb, winding up through some low villages at 3 and 5 % - no problem. But trouble to come - up to 10% and 13 on corners. A couple flat sections and then back to 10%. The top ease's in grade but not in pace with Simon and Dave off the front.
The storm is letting us know it is around with giant claps of thunder overhead. No mucking around on the top - find a newspaper and start descending just as the storm unleaches hail and huge rain drops.
Soon the road is obscured and the brakes are not working on full pull. We scurry as hard as we can to get below it but it chase's us and increases in intensity briefly before backing off. Is the road wet or dry? Can we push or should we still be careful?
Its a long way down on unfamilar roads and it is a team regroup in a bus stop to recover. After 15mins shivering in 18 degrees temperature (cold for us in France) we decide to push off. Thinking that the worst may be over
How wrong we are.! Just a minute down the road it unleashes again and the rider ahead is all but hidden by the rain and the spray from the tires. At one stage we are riding through several inchs deep water with cars passing us sendng waves of water over us (Al was scared he would be washed off his bike) The road turns to a river with rolling stones and still we maintain over 35kms hr. Amazing? a very surreal experience.
The small 3km climb home turns into a uphill sprint - to warm up / or to get home quick or ?????
https://www.strava.com/activities/350870045
Monday, July 20, 2015
Col d’Azet - Col de Peyresourde
Col d’Azet 1580m
Col de Peyresourde 1569m and for some nutters Superbagneres 1800m
Easy spin up Col d’Azet (I left early to ride at my own pace). and continued over that op to climb Col de Peyresourde. A sleep in the sun at the top (no crepes) the building being renovated)
The others arrived after half hour (Dave managed to get them lost somewhere)
A short break for the Super men and we split in our own directions. Wayne, Al and Geoff returned to Loudervielle for a break in the bakery before coming back over the Azet from the backside. Another easy spin up 585 meters, and back in town at 2.30 or so
The others - well phil has appeared and gone again. Looking to make sure he has the most vertical for a day - up Pla d’adet after his 5 col day. reports have simon blown on Superbagnères on the way up. Yet to return home but picking he might be tired puppy
The info below shows the day
Col de Peyresourde 1569m and for some nutters Superbagneres 1800m
Easy spin up Col d’Azet (I left early to ride at my own pace). and continued over that op to climb Col de Peyresourde. A sleep in the sun at the top (no crepes) the building being renovated)
The others arrived after half hour (Dave managed to get them lost somewhere)
A short break for the Super men and we split in our own directions. Wayne, Al and Geoff returned to Loudervielle for a break in the bakery before coming back over the Azet from the backside. Another easy spin up 585 meters, and back in town at 2.30 or so
The others - well phil has appeared and gone again. Looking to make sure he has the most vertical for a day - up Pla d’adet after his 5 col day. reports have simon blown on Superbagnères on the way up. Yet to return home but picking he might be tired puppy
The info below shows the day
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