Beuil - Col de Turini 94kms

Beuil - Col de Turini  94kms
Time 5-6hrs Elevation:3090m +


Col de Saint Martin (1 604 m)   20km   Vertical 1050m
Col de Turini (1 607 m)   12km   Vertical 1100


0830 - dropping in.   Brandi the ‘col hunter’, Chris ‘possum hunter’ Yeates and JG ‘dog judge’ Green with yours truly - ‘whitey boss’ trailing along.

‘Dropping in’ are the right words as just after 10 meters from the hotel the brakes are applied for the first time the day. The red rocks and tunnels and blue water canyon of the Gorges Sup du Ciane beckon. After one stop in the middle of the Gorge with the sun just striking the tops and making the red rocks stand out amongst the scrubby green vegetation, JG and the possum hunter are off.

When Brandi and I reach the turn off these is no sign of the other two - just Agnès our trusty driver. Mmmm - first corner turn left ! - must have gone unheard or the winding road was too tempting. Agnès is off in pursuit and its not to long really before she appears.  ‘Found them. They are just behind me’.

Re-group and away on very small country roads up towards the remote village of Pierlas.

The road is narrow and cuts through dramatic tilt slap rock countryside. Must be hard to keep open sometimes with rock falls. The gradient increases and Chris complains of the early morning cold so pushes on and I join him and keep the pace honest to give him a chance to warm up. As I warm to the task I continue on to the village.

Some of this road is really dramatic as it climbs a buttress with the road supported by many levels of stacked stone - the covers so tight the car is forced to do a three point turn and we cycle on, one above the other. At the town I turn and drop back down to ride up with John.

Meanwhile Chris seeks a coffee shop. I had not told him there was not one but a local lady (actually a retiree from Nice) offers him a cup of tea and before she knows it she has 5 of us in the tiny house supping coffee with hubby and her 85 yr old mother-in-law. Fantastic hospitality. We realize later that none of us know her name. Thanks anyway.

Departing the village for the summit of the col de Seine and the ‘col hunter’ is off. I keep company and soon Chris and John are lost behind.
Picnic lunch on the summit - it’s perfect. Cheese, saucisson, apple, bread, butter, chocolate, orange juice,  sparking and still water, sun shine and a hint of the sea in the far distance.

But the time demands that we press on.

We descend past Ilonse on rough twisting tar (this road was pushed through and tarred once 25yrs ago) but after Ilonse the road is in better condition and I press on through snaking corners and hairpins. The valley is 25mins of downhilling away

As I descend I watch a piece of tinfoil blowing across the road and swerve slightly to miss it but int keeps moving across the road  Mmm - there is no wind and as I flash past behind THE SNAkE - it slithers off the road and disappears. I slam on the anchors and turn to try and get another glimpse as i climb slowly up the road edge, but its gone. The others go past and I turn to catch them and recount the story.

Down finally in the valley - cheeks flushed with smiles and hands tired from braking through endless hairpins, we regather our thoughts and begin the valley climb (just a couple clicks) to turn right onto the road to  Col de Saint Martin - some  20km  and  1050m vertical above us.

I ride with Chris and we slowly ascend to the col while Brandi and John chat their way up. Coffee and tart, and for the boys a omelet on top - before more descending. A thousand meters to the valley floor and then another 500meters and 12 kilometers down the valley before the 3rd 1000m climb of the day.

Col de Turini (1 607 m)   12km   Vertical 1100
John and Chris are already into the climb before we arrive but after 3 or 4 kms we catch John and then Chris a km later and we head up. The first kms are tree lined and shady, but it opens and we ascend through open countryside.
Through La Bollene-Vesubie and ahead the famous zig-zap of the Col de Turini.
(the Monte Carlo rally passes this way each year and the braking marks are obvious on the road)

The forest closes in and we snake ever upwards passing from one zag to another. They are endless but the gradient is good so we can spin  / tempo ride in low gear. This last col is unmarked - no signs on the side of the road to indicate the distance or grade. Something we have grown so used to throughout the length of the ride.

A french yells ‘bon courage’ from the side of the road and ‘une kilometer’. I know better than to believe him but Brandi’s eyes light up temporarily. I warn her that it is more like 3 kms to the top and just to continue to pace herself - last climb  - ‘I’m going to leave everything out there’ and so she does in the final rush to the summit.

With some rain in the air we gear up an turn downhill to ride again with John. Brandi soon gets cold and stops and I continue down for John. Soon the three of us are at the summit. The rain that has been threatening now unleashes in full force with hail bouncing of the deck as we cover the bikes and scurry inside. The bags will have to wait.

Bonjour Geoff. Our host Michele is always pleased to see us and passes us the keys. John is in the gods - 4th story but the rest are on a more sane level.

As fast as it arrives the rain departs and we gather our bags, shower and change for dinner. Another day done and the last of the climbing on the Route des Grandes Alps. That beer will sure taste good tonight.

Beuil - Col de Turini 94kms

Beuil - Col de Turini  94kms
Time 5-6hrs Elevation:3090m +


Col de Saint Martin (1 604 m)   20km   Vertical 1050m
Col de Turini (1 607 m)   12km   Vertical 1100


0830 - dropping in.   Brandi the ‘col hunter’, Chris ‘possum hunter’ Yeates and JG ‘dog judge’ Green with yours truly - ‘whitey boss’ trailing along.

‘Dropping in’ are the right words as just after 10 meters from the hotel the brakes are applied for the first time the day. The red rocks and tunnels and blue water canyon of the Gorges Sup du Ciane beckon. After one stop in the middle of the Gorge with the sun just striking the tops and making the red rocks stand out amongst the scrubby green vegetation, JG and the possum hunter are off.

When Brandi and I reach the turn off these is no sign of the other two - just Agnès our trusty driver. Mmmm - first corner turn left ! - must have gone unheard or the winding road was too tempting. Agnès is off in pursuit and its not to long really before she appears.  ‘Found them. They are just behind me’.

Re-group and away on very small country roads up towards the remote village of Pierlas.

The road is narrow and cuts through dramatic tilt slap rock countryside. Must be hard to keep open sometimes with rock falls. The gradient increases and Chris complains of the early morning cold so pushes on and I join him and keep the pace honest to give him a chance to warm up. As I warm to the task I continue on to the village.

Some of this road is really dramatic as it climbs a buttress with the road supported by many levels of stacked stone - the covers so tight the car is forced to do a three point turn and we cycle on, one above the other. At the town I turn and drop back down to ride up with John.

Meanwhile Chris seeks a coffee shop. I had not told him there was not one but a local lady (actually a retiree from Nice) offers him a cup of tea and before she knows it she has 5 of us in the tiny house supping coffee with hubby and her 85 yr old mother-in-law. Fantastic hospitality. We realize later that none of us know her name. Thanks anyway.

Departing the village for the summit of the col de Seine and the ‘col hunter’ is off. I keep company and soon Chris and John are lost behind.
Picnic lunch on the summit - it’s perfect. Cheese, saucisson, apple, bread, butter, chocolate, orange juice,  sparking and still water, sun shine and a hint of the sea in the far distance.

But the time demands that we press on.

We descend past Ilonse on rough twisting tar (this road was pushed through and tarred once 25yrs ago) but after Ilonse the road is in better condition and I press on through snaking corners and hairpins. The valley is 25mins of downhilling away

As I descend I watch a piece of tinfoil blowing across the road and swerve slightly to miss it but int keeps moving across the road  Mmm - there is no wind and as I flash past behind THE SNAkE - it slithers off the road and disappears. I slam on the anchors and turn to try and get another glimpse as i climb slowly up the road edge, but its gone. The others go past and I turn to catch them and recount the story.

Down finally in the valley - cheeks flushed with smiles and hands tired from braking through endless hairpins, we regather our thoughts and begin the valley climb (just a couple clicks) to turn right onto the road to  Col de Saint Martin - some  20km  and  1050m vertical above us.

I ride with Chris and we slowly ascend to the col while Brandi and John chat their way up. Coffee and tart, and for the boys a omelet on top - before more descending. A thousand meters to the valley floor and then another 500meters and 12 kilometers down the valley before the 3rd 1000m climb of the day.

Col de Turini (1 607 m)   12km   Vertical 1100
John and Chris are already into the climb before we arrive but after 3 or 4 kms we catch John and then Chris a km later and we head up. The first kms are tree lined and shady, but it opens and we ascend through open countryside.
Through La Bollene-Vesubie and ahead the famous zig-zap of the Col de Turini.
(the Monte Carlo rally passes this way each year and the braking marks are obvious on the road)

The forest closes in and we snake ever upwards passing from one zag to another. They are endless but the gradient is good so we can spin  / tempo ride in low gear. This last col is unmarked - no signs on the side of the road to indicate the distance or grade. Something we have grown so used to throughout the length of the ride.

A french yells ‘bon courage’ from the side of the road and ‘une kilometer’. I know better than to believe him but Brandi’s eyes light up temporarily. I warn her that it is more like 3 kms to the top and just to continue to pace herself - last climb  - ‘I’m going to leave everything out there’ and so she does in the final rush to the summit.

With some rain in the air we gear up an turn downhill to ride again with John. Brandi soon gets cold and stops and I continue down for John. Soon the three of us are at the summit. The rain that has been threatening now unleashes in full force with hail bouncing of the deck as we cover the bikes and scurry inside. The bags will have to wait.

Bonjour Geoff. Our host Michele is always pleased to see us and passes us the keys. John is in the gods - 4th story but the rest are on a more sane level.

As fast as it arrives the rain departs and we gather our bags, shower and change for dinner. Another day done and the last of the climbing on the Route des Grandes Alps. That beer will sure taste good tonight.

Started the morning in Barcelonnette.

Started the morning in Barcelonnette. Saturday morning market starting to organize in the town square. We were in search of cheese and bread for the day. At 7:11 am we happened upon a very nice man who was setting up for market and sold us cheese. There was a boulangerie where we found beautifully baked bread and Chris filled his hands with patisseries.  We were greeted by the most cheerful lady in town.

The morning was cool and overcast yet the rain from the night before was almost dry. After breakfast and bike prep we began our departure from Barcelonnette about 8 km until starting up one of the highest roads in Europe "The Col de la Bonette". A few drizzles made us put on some rain jackets but luck on our side we did not see much rain just low lying clouds.  We started the climb together when after a few km Chris and Geoff road off and I was happily accompanying John on the climb. Again joined by Geoff and Chris hammered to the top (very top). A lovely climb 2715 meters and 2802 meters to the Cime de la Bonette of which Chris was the only one to venture above the Col which earned him the Marmot Award for tomorrow.

The climb itself was beautiful with low gradient climbs through open landscape where the low lying clouds sat in the belly of the valleys and the peaks graced us from time to time and the clouds moved up and down. It was quite nice at times biking into a cloud with very little visibility except the white lines on the sides of the road. Made the ride quite mythical.

At the top of the Col were greeted by sunshine yet ambient temperatures still cool.

Not quite knowing where Chris and Agnes were and no communications we decided to descend, hoping to all join somewhere in the middle.  That was not to be.  John started the drop and Geoff stayed with me.  I immediately found out that I was a little unprepared for the downhill as it was really cold. Geoff waiting on me and John ahead I could not get rid of the shivers and the bike was shaking really hard underneath me and had to stop to try to warm up numerous times.  All of up were at different places for a while, John ahead wondering if he had gone too far and Chris still on top of the Cime de la Bonette and Geoff and I in the middle.   Geoff directed me to eventually follow him on some uphill sprints to warm up before could complete descent.  Amazingly enough we all ended up at the rendezvous place for lunch at a pizzeria in Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee

I walked into the restaurant to start warming up and within a few minutes we were all inside for lunch. A nice French family were inside enjoying a very jovial Saturday afternoon lunch. The eldest man of the family was most gracious and gave me his jacket to put on and warm up. I accepted and found it very helpful. They also gave us to plates of their fries.  Very fun.

Fueled with cappuccino, coffee,fries and pizza margarette John lead the train down the road about 25 km to deliver us to our next Col. Eventually we swapped leads down the road and bike path to begin Col de la Couillole (a nice Geoff Hunt deviation). A beautiful narrow winding road of 18km approx.  Went into a nice town Roubion built into the side of a hill. With a couple of more km to go, all met on top for our short descent into Beuil where we were met by friendly faces recognized by Geoff from previous stays at the Hotel L'Escapade. We enjoyed a multi course meal of Michelin Star quality. We all needed a small walk before heading to bed and happened on a singing play in a old old church.  Very vibrant costumes and eloquent singing.

Forgot also upon our arrival enjoyed some Italian opera coming from a house where a man outside was tending to his garden.  Ciao he said as we pedaled up the hill.

Very beautiful day.
Bonne nuit.  Off to Col de Turini tomorrow.

Sent from my iPad  Brandi Beauvais

Friday 16 Sept: Day 8 Briancon to Barcelonnette via Col d'Izoard and Col de Vars.

Friday 16 Sept: Day 8

Briancon to Barcelonnette via Col d'Izoard and Col de Vars.

This morning we said goodbye to our hosts Jacques and his lovely family who took excellent care of us for three nights and dropped down from their home that is in a valley up behind Briancon and started our journey towards Barcelonnette.

It had rained overnight and the prognosis was for a wet and cold day on the bike. As we started up the climb out of Briancon towards the Col d'Izoard light rain began to fall and as we made our way up the climb it became steadier. Having started out at 7 degrees it got progressively colder as we made our way up the mountain.  Chris & Brandi went on ahead while Geoff stayed with me through the length of the climb which was close to 20km with 1150 meters of climbing.

1 km from the top there is a refuge (hotel/restaurant) which is where Geoff and I found Chris, Brandi, and Agnes our driver sheltering from the cold and wet.  By now the temperature had dropped to just 2 degrees and hot drinks and food were well received.  Once everyone had changed some gear and put on extra layers it was back outside for the final km to the top and then the descent.

Geoff & Brandi took off down the mountain while Chris and I stopped to take in the view, albeit hampered somewhat by the low cloud and rain.  The view down the mountain is spectacular and in some ways it was enhanced by the wet and low light level. I checked the Garmin (my best friend) and the temp had dropped to 0.2 degrees.

It was a cautious descent as we were wary of how steep it was a
nd how wet the road was. 5 or so km's down it got easier and Chris and I were able to enjoy the ride and let the bike run a bit more.  All in all its a 30 km descent and as we hit the bottom the weather started to clear. We enjoyed the ride along the river gorge through tunnels and small towns to Guillestrie where we stopped to have lunch and warm up in the early afternoon sun.

After a lunch of pizza we were back on the bikes and straight on to the start of the Col de Vars. This is another 20 km ascent with 1100m of climbing.  Geoff and Brandi went ahead at their own pace while Chris rode with me to keep me company from the bottom to the top. The ride passes through a number of small towns and some serious ski resorts.  Once at the top we regrouped for the descent which was a joy to ride with the dry road and lovely open country. 

When we hit the valley floor we had a fast team time trial down the valley to our destination of Barcelonnette, a quaint small town with narrow streets and a lot of character.


As is custom, dinner included a review of the day and the chance to nominate who should ride with Mon Amie Le Marmot on their bike the next day. The worthy recipient was Brandi who is actively hunting the KOM jersey on this trip. Her dedication to eating beetroot at every opportunity has us all believing this is the superfood of champions.

Another great day on the bike with just over 112 km's covered and 2400m of climbing. According to friend Garmin I burned 2700 calories for the day and my heart rate spent the day in Zone 3, nudging into zone 4 for just 3% of the time. While always last up the hill each day seems easier and everyday is enjoyable. 


John Green

Day 5 Lanslebourg Val Cenis -> Briancon

Sept 13th  Day 5   

Lanslebourg Val Cenis -> Briancon (Val des Pres)    138.8km
Time: 7:08:22     2,836m

Leaving Lanslebourg the road descends constantly for 40kms as we drop to the bottom of the Telegraph - thats right 40kms descending at up to 60kms hr. Although most of the descending was more like 3okms hr with some peddling - but the kms fall quickly away.

A local rider catch us near Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and we hook up with big smiles. Suddenly we are there - the bottom of the ascent of the Telegraph. A stop at the bottom to remove clothing and stuff them in the back pocket which is now bulging.

The Col du Telegraph is really part of the complete climb of the Galbier. It’s more than 7% for most of the 12kms, and there is no real respite until you get close to the top. Brandi, Chris and myself climb together.  At times Chris is ahead but a couple of slingshots brings Brandi back up and then it is her that is setting the pace and finally takes the col to raise her hand in triumph.

I pop back down a couple clicks to give John some company for the last part of the climb. It’s actually quite busy with a large group of Dutch riders and a 4 rather overweight South African’s (turns out they have won a all expenses paid trip to ride on the tour de france cols by competing in a draw during the tour de france. Air France has paid for 4 of them to come over and ride. Guess they might go home a few pound slighter but maybe not as they begin the carbo loading immediately and a couple beers slip down while we exchange All Black and Springbok banter in the cafe)

The high wild country of the Col du Galibier beckons and after our apple tart and short black we decend through Valloire and begin the mythical passage of the Tour of France. At 2645m the pass is the passage between the northern and southern alps. (the TDF has used it 53 times and many reputations have been won and lost)

Leaving Valloire the road immediately climbs into double figures accentuated by a block head wind. I stay with John to provide some cover but this skinny little white boy can provide not much wind shelter - only more encouragement.  It’s long steady climb climb with gradients around 7-8% of most. The head wind doesn’t help. At the right hand zag at Plan Lachat I leave John as he takes a break to refresh from our trusty support vehicle (Agnes at the wheel) and head out in search of the other two. It is a hard 7kms chase through the upper valleys passing again the dutch riders who escaped john and myself after Valloire.

Finally in the distance one of our tribe appears but it is not until 1km from the top that I can pull up alongside. You all good i’m asked ?  - but it is another couple hundred meters before there is any spare breath to answer with any words. Of course the last km is one of the hardest and when I pick up John for company again we are entertained by an English women who is stopping every km for a short rest before going the top

The col is cold but everyone takes their turn to snap a pic with the sign and Kiwi riders mix with English and Dutch and moto riders from countries unknown, before we drop down to the resturant a km below the summit on the Briancon side for coffee and tart.

The other three have scoffed omelets and coffee before John and I arrive.

Clothes on for the descent to Col du Lautaret. I’m riding with Brandi - giving riding speed for the corners when whoosh, whoosh, whoosh  - three English riders whizz past. The invitation is too great and without a word I go into full attack mode.  Can’t let them english folks away with that.  Its a hard chase down bumpy steeply descending Galbier - but one of the riders is quite close and its up accelerating hard out of each corner - braking late and hard accelerating again - up off the seat pounding hard downhill - the speeds  - I’m not sure its too bumpy and to much happening to look but picking between corners we are up over 6okms hr.

The last hairpin I accelerate out of on the wrong side and pull alongside and glance over.  A huge smile breaks over his face and i beam back. A half km later we break and burble to each other over ho much fun we just had.

The other soon join us on the col and we are off towards Briancon. John and Chris rip say down the wide open roads while Brandi and I descend a little more slowly. A shivering attack slows her for minute but the temp is increasing rapidly and the warmer air sees us stripping clothing. Its 41kms from the col to Briancon and 1348m of decending

In total we have had 80km and 1978m of descending during the day. A small  matter of the Galbier (34kms of ascending in between)

We arrive at the Mountain Cycle shop of Jacques (well known in Queenstown - he works at Outside Sports during hs winter) and the bike are serviced by Jacque personally before we climb out of town into the Val de Pres and our sray for the night with our hosts. Lauren and Jacque with daughters Chloe and Salamie in their house (built before NZ was discovered)


Riders for those who don’t know are John Green (Inv) Chris Yeats (West Coast) and Brandi Beauvais (ex Steamboat Colorado)

PS All photos so far are on flickr

Day 6 and 7 Val de Pres

Day 6 and 7
Val de Pres

Rest days.  On the first day - based out of the ‘house of Jacques’ john rides 40kms just to keep the legs fresh, Brandi does 20km of that and Chris makes use of the local swimming pool to pound out 52laps.

I take the George Bennet approach and do 7/8ths of sweet f all and snooze my way through the afternoon.

Dinner in the old town complements the day.

Day 7  Val de Pres - Col de Granon
The plan is to drive for a hour or two and ride the Alp de’Heuz but Jacque has a plan.
Lets go and ride my favorite climb - the hardest local hill. It should be more famous.

So we modify the plan and head out to climb the Col de Granon. 11kms from the bottom to the top at 2415m with average gradient 10% i.e. that makes honest climbing but now everyone has legs and none of us find it hard. Sorry Jacques.

It’s a fantastic climb with great views out over the French Alps (although a little chilly on top)

Chris is making his way slowly through a herd of sheep on the road - not realizing that one of the sheep is a patou  -  a sheep guarding Pyrenean mountain dog who takes umbridge with this rider passing through his flock and bites Chris hard on his buttock (well more upper thigh than buttock) But it is a good bite and one tooth left a sizeable hole.  Brandi does some running repairs at the mtn top from her homeopathic supplies in her pack.

We rug up from the car and descend once again into the heat of the valley floor.

A quick stop at  coffee shop on the way home and we lay a smorgsboard of fruit, bread , avocado  and juice sitting in the sun outside the house

Perfect French based riding, but it changes tomorrow as we head south again over the Col d’Izord.

Photos can be found on  flickr

Day 4: Bourg St Maurice -> Lanslebourg

Day 4: Bourg St Maurice- Tignes- Val d'Isere- Col d'Iseran-Bonneval sur Arc - Lanslebourg
86km- 2200m climbing- 5:20 riding time.

Starting from Bourg St Maurice around 8.30am after competing for breakfast with a large number of German motorcyclists, we rode gently down the road to the foot of "the wall" as Geoff described it and started the day's climbing. The road was comfortably wide with a steady gentle gradient and it felt easy compared to yesterday's suffering on the Col du Pre. We stopped a couple of times for re-grouping and eventually arrived at a lovely bronze statue, the Iron Lady  at Lake Tignes. Two British motorcyclists also stopped, showing off their TV dinners and coffee and tea flasks they were carrying and kept us entertained with a bit of cheek and banter and promised to give us a flick if they saw us further up the road.

We carried on through a few more tunnels for an early lunch stop at Val d'Isere, which is a ski resort set in a beautiful location. Geoff guided us to a small cafe where we all wanted to eat everything we saw, but most had a ham sandwich and John also ordered a lemon tart, which he ended up giving mostly away. I had a pastie-style thing with ham, tomato, cheese. Delicious. A compulsory stop occurred after lunch at a large beautifully-built wooden motorbike- see photo.

The weather by now was pleasantly cool and so began the 20-odd km climb to the summit of Col d'Iseran. The landscape was spectacular as we ground our way up the switchbacks. Each corner produced another awesome vista and took our minds off the effort (almost). A young Spanish guy came past me and I made the fundamental error of trying to stay with him. He gradually pulled away and as the altitude increased, so my motivation decreased. We re-grouped at the top (2770m), and ran into a nice guy called Gerry from New Mexico who was riding the same route as us to Nice but he was on a titanium mountain bike (with fat tires) carrying all his gear including tent. The bike must have weighed  well over 20kg. He must be developing legs of steel.

Also at the top we saw the "flying hairdo", a French-looking mature guy who rode without a helmet (lest it affected his hair we surmised) and who we had passed numerous times during the day after our various stops. It started to feel bad passing him all day but he seemed pleased when we saw him at the summit.

We stuffed in a bit of food and drink, wrapped up and shot down the hill to get warm. A hot chocolate at Bonneval went down well after a lovely but cold ride down. More than one of us felt that their bike had developed problems but it was just a rough road.

A team time trial took us down the valley with Brandi almost blowing us all into the weeds without even realizing it- the boys were panting heavily on one small climb- and we arrived for the night at Lanslebourg. Agnes as always was perfectly positioned all day in the support car to offer anything we wanted and do the shopping for everyone.
A great day.

Day 3 Saint Gervais -> Bourg Saint Maurice

Sept 11th  Day 3
Saint Gervais -> Bourg Saint Maurice  115km


nous avons commencer notre jour a Saint Gervais après rester chez Agnes la nuit avant.  Elle a preparer un très bon repas avez une plat régionaux, une grande salade vert et un desert formidable.


We had a short cycle thru Megève on our way to the first col of the day  -  col de Saisies.
Before reaching the bottom of the climb we had wee ride thru a Sunday french market full of treasures.

Our trusted guide geoff hunt lost his way and took as through a closed road where we proceeded to carry our bikes over a barricade onto a freshly poured concrete bridge (not so fresh as to leave footprints pas de problem - onward. )

We had a nature break at the bottom of  the col de Saisies where I found  nice sport behind a wooden building. There was a beautiful view which diverted my attention to the stinging nettle which was about to touch my bottom (ouch) - luckily to as just a touch and go.
I surely thought i would be out of the running for the marmot now. (the award for the clumsy or exciting or silly act of the day)

The col de Saisies was a really good warm up for the day [1600m] 15km average 6-8 percent gradient  our decent was quite nice, photo op at mont blanc. Before the town of Hautlauce John found himself going too hot into a very sharp left hand turn and was off his bike by the time I rolled through unable to stop. Luckily Chris was there to assist. 

When they showed up where Geoff and I were stopped we sat a little blood on his forearm and then he opened his jersey showing a red line where he did a little dance with the guard rail and and was lucky not to loose his right nipple.  John is a real trooper.  Smelling of lavender which I poured on his wounds he continued.

Rolling along through Hautlauce then Beaufort then lunch destination above La Lac Roseland via col de Pre.  Funny thing out this col, Geoff never seemed to mention much about it. We found it pretty relentless.

A series of switchbacks of 7 to 10 gradient. Chris ahead, geoff riding with me and John next.  I was about 1/2 km from summit [thank the stars above] headed for the lunch spot and Geoff rode back down to accompany John on the rest of his climb.  What an amazing feat as just riding it once was enough at a time and Geoff rode it double.

I’m at the resturant greeted by Agnes and Chris with a beautiful table that Agnes managed to commandeer for us on a busy Sunday afternoon.  Chris had already had a pastry and fresh water at the table.
Thank you very much!  60 some odd km before lunch - not bad.  And the lunch was the best ever
Geoff and John arrive and we proceed to order desert first because after all life is short - eat desert first N’est Pas?  Best fresh blueberries tarts, chocolate chaud and expresso with jambon and saucisson sandwiches   yum yum

And we are off to a beautiful decent of which I even did ok,  then over the barrage Roseland then again a climb of Cornet de Roseland  which Geoff and Chris tempo rode.

 I again found my self in the middle between them and John.  The descent into Borg Saint Maurice starts wind and open with flowing corners but then drops into a series tight dropping hairpins  - fantastic before rolling out of th vally direct into one of the largest towns in the Haue Savoie Another great day riding

To cap of the day - I was awarded the Marmot award for the stinging nettle attack
By Brandi

Day 2: Samoens to Saint Gervais

Day 2: Samoens to Saint Gervais via Cluses - Le Col de Colombiere - La Clusaz - Col des Aravais - Flumet - Megeve - Sallanches - St Gervais

After a fun night in Samoens where we had nice meal out it had been an early night in anticipation of a big day to tackle the famous Col de la Colombiere. There was a mix of apprehension and excitement at breakfast for those of us doing this ride for the first time. After what had been my biggest day on a bike the day before I was particularly wary of what lay ahead.

As we prepared to leave the hotel at 8:30 I had the dubious task of attaching our new found friend - Mon Amie the Marmot to my stem so he could accompany me for the day. I was able to situate him just nicely so that he could watch my speed and the gradient on the Garmin for the duration of the day. His presence must have helped as I'm pleased to say that I managed to complete the various descents of the day with out over cooking any corners or taking any undue risks.

We hit the road at 8:30 and travelled through the valley before descending into Cluses where the climbing began. From here we worked our way up the Col de la Colombiere climb - 19.5 km of climbing with a vertical gain of 1120 m. The roadside markers countdown the climb - telling you how far to go to the top, the gradient for the next km, and the elevation. These are great motivation to keep going and keep you focused. The individual sections varied from average gradients of 6% to 10% but at times the gradient exceeded 12% but fortunately not for too long.

We stopped at the top for coffee and a small snack. It was busy up there as not only were their a lot of other cyclists, motorcyclists, and tourists, but the route was part of a Ironman race that had started at Lac Montriond early that morning and involved the competitors doing a cycle leg that include the Joux Plane, the Col de la Colombiere, Col des Aravais, and Les Hauches to Chamonix. They were to follow that up with a marathon run through the mountains that included 2000 m of climbing.

After coffee and the photo of proof we took off down the descent to wind our way down to La Clusaz for lunch. After that it was straight on to the Col des Aravais which was a lesser climb of just 10 km in length and 570m of climbing.

From there we descended down to Flumet and then along the valley to Megeve and along to Sallanches so we could make it to the bike shop before they closed. A quick top up of protein bars and protein powder and we were back on the bike to St Gervais where we are spending the night as guests of the wonderful Agnes who is our fabulous driver for this trip.

Unfortunately we caught a passing shower for the last 20 mins of our ride but after a long hot day that wasn't all bad.

We had a wonderful home cooked meal and a chance to reflect on the day. My companion for the day - Mon Amie the Marmot - was ceremoniously passed on to Chris for his efforts at lunch time where his eyes were bigger than his stomach.

All in all, another great day where we completed 112 km of riding with 2450 m of climbing. It's an early night as tomorrow's we have a number of good climbs including the Cornet de Roseland.

John

Day 1 Thonon to Samoens Day 1 2016

Thonon-Les Bains D902 -> Bioge -> Gorges and the Pont du
Diable -> Montriond -> Morizne > Samoens 84kms  Elevation gain 2209m

The Ride today
After the standard departure picture we left Thonon-les-Bains on the journey south
Destination Nice some  - 700kms away and many thousand of meters of climbing.

A easy spin up the valley of the Dranske River in the Gorge Diablo. Its uphill climbing - but it is only a 3 % grade. We sit comfortably on 22km/hr with only a altitude gain of 100meters or so in the first hour. But the next couple hours are somewhat different.

Before Morzine we turn left towards the lac Montriond and beginning climbing seriously at the lake edge.  On the horizon above I show John and Brandi the destination - those grassy paddocks way up there.  See that chairlift  - we go the top of that.

The road zig and zagged its way up - never below 9% and more often 10 and 11 and 12%. Chris is long gone and we don’t see him until goat town (Les Lindarets)
This town is full of goats that stink and the shit runs in the streets with the water. Lovely!

A further 4kms up through mossy forest with Brandi John and Geoff cresting the main drag to Avoriaz together.  A further 2kms brings us the to 1966 built wooden ski station of Avoriaz.

A quick chat to some ‘old french folks visiting the ski station for the first time in 30yrs’ and the 13.4km descent to lunch in Morzine beckons. Smooth flowing roads  - although a little rough in places. The first descent in the Alps so everyone is beaming. We stop a couple times to let Brandi catch up and cool her brakes off and then its free falling again into town.

Salad Ceasar seems to be the choice of the day for lunch in one of the few restaurants open.

Soon its time to head out again to climb the col de Joux Plane (this was used this year in the Tour de France as the final descent into Morzine (won by Ion Izagirre from Movistar)

The Col de Joux Plane ascent is a deceptively tough climb as it starts with a real kick from Morzine town centre. i.e. from 0% directly to 10%.There are a couple of easier sections that give the legs a quick break and the main climb ends at the top of the Ranfolly chair-lift before a flat last 2km to the lake. Lovely scenery  - riding up through a skiing area - chairlifts disappearing in all directions - the skiing looks awesome.
From the top great views of the Mont Blanc Massif - although a little hidden by clouds

Col de Joux Plane is 10.9km Average Grad 6.5% Vertical climb of 711m

John wins the award of the day - a small soft toy marmot that he is expected to display proudly all day tomorrow attached to his bike.  (He had a moment with a truck as he approached Samoens - both him and the driver got a fright but both survived to tell the tale.)

Another perfect day of riding in the Alps with temp ranging from a cool 15 degrees in the gorge earlier to 30 degrees on top of the Joux Plane.

Athlete update for August
After a busy prior working towards the Torpedo7 Peak to Peak, getting results , news etc out I spent a couple days at the end of the week checking out routes for The Pioneer race next Feb.

Steve ‘Goo” Gurney and myself travelled to the Ahuriri River area parked the car at the Ireland Bridge and started a 55km loop to check out some potential changes. Riding downstream with the Hwy across the river to the right we encountered easy 4 * 4 roads until around the corner when the surface changed to a hard and fast wide internal farm road. Easy going so far.
Stopped in to chat to a couple farmers before turning up towards the Qualiburn Station. On a real road now but this soon changed to gravel and then rolled across some uplands (its actually part of the Alps to Ocean track)

At the Quailburn Station we turned up past an old historic woodshed and yards, and entered the Quailburn / East Branch Ahuriri DoC track. The recent snows still remained in the bush along with lots of deadfall so it was a little slow going. Two thirds of the ride already covered but the last third was going to take the time.

. 

Mostly now we are taking the bikes for a walk, but after 30mins we clear the bush and push towards the saddle. Not riding yet but we see the potential to do so, and as soon as the grade flattens we are on the bikes and riding through ankle deep soft snow  (deeper in the drifts)  I opt for a sunny face which has cleared while Steve persists with the snowy trail. 

Now I am riding old faint sheep trails with the odd hole - one which caught me out for a slow front wheel stopped dive into the tussocks beyond. This had Steve laughing from the other side of the valley. I got that back at him when I was sitting behind a tussock, out of the gentle breeze and a simple hello as he went past gave him a good fright.

Into the East Branch of the Ahuriri - flat wide really bottom with no tracks - just riding the bare ground with the shocks turned on - spread 500metres apart looking for the Te Araroa trail. Eventually we find a marker pole and follow the track as it sidles around a hill and empties onto very rough bumpy rabbit infested paddocks. Extremely hard riding but by keeping power on we are able to keep the speed up. But it is hard riding. A marker pole every now and again

The Te Araroa trail crosses the main flow of the Ahuriri at this point but we head downstream looking for a suitable crossing point in our direction of travel. We find a crossing but even with no snow melt the crossing is deep - mid thigh at times and swift flowing.

A 5km time trial to the car finishes the riding for the day. This section does not work for the Pioneer race (great for a Southern Traverse route but not a mtn bike race)

Next morning it’s a short drive from Omarama to the Clay Cliffs to assess the track around the front of the Cliffs.  To see if it’s ridable back to join the Ahuriri.  Yep it’s fine but at 0800 in the morning the frost is still around and the hands are cold. This works a treat and we get nice visuals of the Clay Cliffs with the morning fog lifting.
Back to Omarama for breakfast and on the way home.

Well not quite - we have to check a piece beside the Lindis Road. A farmer has made a new track and this needs checked. Another hour or so of riding and a bit of uphill pushing on the brand new cut track (has not bedded in yet and probably to steep to ride anyway)  But the race is going the other way and it’s easy coming back - with a river crossing of the Lindis thrown in just to make sure our feet are cold enough. (click on the link to see the video)

Two winter riding days - great to have the sun for those ones.

Back Friday in Q’town with Sunday the Charity ride up the Remarkables Road. I choose to ride the road bike - but everyone else is on their mountain bike. Wise choice on my behalf as the road, even the gravel at the top is hard and fast so the road bike was a good choice.

Torpedo7 athletes first and second.   Hamish Fleming first (fresh from his Peak to Peak win) and  myself second.  Hamish was so far ahead that he is descending one kilometre from the top as I am still going up. The next fastest up the hill are two runners. We only got away from them on the flats.

So a good little tune-up for the legs. But what I did find was that skiing legs are good for biking.  No problem with bike fitness except the bum was a bit sore, but a small ride yesterday showed that this has come right.

Skin to the Summit

Skin to the Summit

Part of the Queenstown Winter Festival

NEW venue!  This year The Remarkables will be hosting Skin to the Summit.

Drag yourself out of bed for the most amazing dawn experience. Headlamps and determination are essential as competitors ‘skin’ from the Base Building through a challenging course that will be determined closer to race start date. 

Make your friends jealous with the gorgeous sunrise photos you will capture. There are great prizes for the speedy and not so speedy, so come and join in the fun.    This is a challenge for true mountain champions!

 

Skin to the Summit

The advertising sounds great and some ‘touring’ on Coronet Peak in May on new equipment had me excited about this race. Some long poles and a early alarm clock and up and away. The advertising said 0700 so that means a real early start (0540 alarm)  Away by 6 with only a mouthful of muesli. It is hard to race with much in the stomach ( I need a good two hours to digest)

So here we are a 0630 in the carpark - boots on and throw the skis over the shoulder and up to the base building. It’s still dark but a light sensor turns the lights on. The rego folks are sitting upstairs in semi dark with the lights just triggering on and off as someone moves  -  but strange not so many here yet. Anyway as I register the lights come on finally and a few more turn up. Not much sign of ‘racing’ as 7 comes and goes.

It’s an 8 o’clock start - great - what the hell am I doing up here so early.

(sure enough when I check later the printed info it does say 7 o’clock but somewhere in between a decision was made to change that to 0800)  OK fine. 

8 o’clock outside into blowing snow and a cold wind, but stripped ready to race. But it’s 10 mins of standing in the cold before - time gentlemen  - start your engines and beeeeeep - we are off.

A couple of them run out of the start line and of course i’m dragged along with them but after 50-70 meters of that everyone - all 4 of us decided that long strides are a little easier and we settle in. Boy that guy has a long stride and mine are a bit shorter so two of them pull away.  Then a couple more pass but thats enough. A quick glance around as we head up a bit higher assures me that no one else is even close.

 The breathing is fine and as we ascend I drop the bindings up and down to adjust for the angle but this always costs a stride or two and I settle for 6th in line with a good gap to the front. But two of them are on split boards and I know they will change slower.

 Curvey Basin top - rip the skins of the skis and stuff down the front, turn the binding and clip my heels in. Off.  Drop into a semi tuck in the semi light. With the knees pressed forward I don’t realise until I hit a bump that my boots are still in touring mode  - so guess I will just have to 'stand on them’  We whistle past racers still on the way up - some a long way down the hill still.

 

A short skate over the top of the Alta lift top and another snowboarder clipping in.   hi Josh!   We descend hard lumpy snow to the next ascent up Calypso toward the top of the Shadow Basin Chair.

 A quick chat as we remount the skins and away. What have you been up to over the summer / how the kids / did you get any skiing done / hows the house and such like. Without realising we are actually climbing now but Josh just moves away  - not much I can do about it.  Guess now that I could have tried harder -  but that’s now. No taste of blood in the mouth from memory so can’t have been trying at all.

 But at the time I seemed hard enough. The slope pitches up and requires a little concentration - push with those long poles - weight back on the heels, make the skins bite, but still one slides out  - I catch it but have to concentrate to keep the grip. No wonder Josh looked like he was working hard.

  

The last slope to the top and the leader whistles past followed a minute or so later by a second skier.

 I reach the top as Josh is just clipping the board together and buckling in. The official asks something but my reply is just really just a grunt as I concentrate on the change over. Remember this time to do the boots up - yep got that and off.

 Shit - didn’t realise it was snowing that much. Clear glasses fogged up while I was stationary and plastered on outside by snow flakes.  Can’t see a thing. Whip them off and tuck them down the front - shit thats even worse with snowflakes driven into the eyes as I assume a flying wedge tuck sort of thing. 

 Where was that steep part?  I increase the wedge and take the glasses out and sort of wipe them with wet gloves and get some visibility back. Whoops there it is.  Down into the murk guessing the terrain and using the tips to feel it. The small rocks on the return road give at least some definition - move over coming through.  A couple skiers just starting up towards Shadow. They are going to be a while.

 Off the end of the road you have to cut across to the ‘beginners slope’ area as as I drop off rocks. a hollow, free flowing creek appear - 'hold on tight' and I’m through - just had to lift one ski over a rock. 

 Finish line if sight,  and someone with a bib on in front slowly zig zagging down. I can catch him, I know I can, and do just a meter before the line (even though he was only in the recreational division and had done only one climb)

 They even have results a little later inside after coffee (well make that two coffees) and a pain au chocolate - mmm

 The results would show I am 3rd but think I was 4th.   Anyway here is what they show. 52 mins for the two ascents / descents. Bib no 100

 

 

 

 

Peak to Peak Training Story

The area at Arthurs Point for starting the Peak to Peak is in a state of perma-frost (of course this is not that unusual under the base of the hill), so I pulled into the old Cattle Barn driveway and found a frost free area under the trees and sat in the car and changed into cycling gear.

Outside the landscape sparkled in the early morning sun, but it was stil a shock to the system stepping from 22 degrees in the car to minus 2 outside. I didn’t want to put too much clothing on as I know that you get warm quick enough.

Out carefully onto the road and across frozen snow piles and gently along to the base of Coronet. It is hard to peel the clothing back to have a quick glance at the watch. 10.27am start time.

The electronic sign board flashes -2 degrees and ‘Welcome to Coronet Peak’. The road is gritty but a clear ‘racing line’ exists so it is not problem for grip down here. I climb slowly up through the trees - still under the cloud layer (although he sun is filtering through). As I come into the open the cloud clears from the edge of the road and the temperature climbs a degree (aided by the internal temp rising as well).
The road is still quite busy with the later skiers heading up.

Mostly the car are being nice and I get the occasional wave and toot. Although the buses pass quite close I have to hold my line on the left hand tyre track and force them to go wide. The gradient changes - a little steeper here, and then a little less and then its flat. A quick stop to remove the vest and wind jacket.

Across the flats I ride easy to avoid the icy patches in the shade and to lesson the wind chill - now just in merino and cycling top.

Up past O’Connel’s Bush and the road pitches up again with a constant gradient to the half way / Skippers turn-off. I stop to put the vest back on as a slight breeze picks up and I am just riding gentle.
From here the road gets more slippery and it is almost impossible to stand up on the pedals. The clear line is not so appealing any more and I ride in the edge of the fine grit to ensure traction. There is another slight easing and then the long drag up to the big hairpin.

I always feel that the ride is conquered by then and the end is in sight, but of course it’s not. Another turn back to the right before you can see the building in the distance. A couple twists and turns with the clear line now unrideable out of the saddle.

The gradient increases again just before the top but the grit is everywhere. 11.19am as I touch the building with a few odd looks from ski clad punters getting of the shuttle bus.

The ride was an easy 52 minutes with a couple stops for clothing.

Coffee awaits.

Peak to Peak Training Story

The area at Arthurs Point for starting the Peak to Peak is in a state of perma-frost (of course this is not that unusual under the base of the hill), so I pulled into the old Cattle Barn driveway and found a frost free area under the trees and sat in the car and changed into cycling gear.

Outside the landscape sparkled in the early morning sun, but it was stil a shock to the system stepping from 22 degrees in the car to minus 2 outside. I didn’t want to put too much clothing on as I know that you get warm quick enough.

Out carefully onto the road and across frozen snow piles and gently along to the base of Coronet. It is hard to peel the clothing back to have a quick glance at the watch. 10.27am start time.

The electronic sign board flashes -2 degrees and ‘Welcome to Coronet Peak’. The road is gritty but a clear ‘racing line’ exists so it is not problem for grip down here. I climb slowly up through the trees - still under the cloud layer (although he sun is filtering through). As I come into the open the cloud clears from the edge of the road and the temperature climbs a degree (aided by the internal temp rising as well).
The road is still quite busy with the later skiers heading up.

Mostly the car are being nice and I get the occasional wave and toot. Although the buses pass quite close I have to hold my line on the left hand tyre track and force them to go wide. The gradient changes - a little steeper here, and then a little less and then its flat. A quick stop to remove the vest and wind jacket.

Across the flats I ride easy to avoid the icy patches in the shade and to lesson the wind chill - now just in merino and cycling top.

Up past O’Connel’s Bush and the road pitches up again with a constant gradient to the half way / Skippers turn-off. I stop to put the vest back on as a slight breeze picks up and I am just riding gentle.
From here the road gets more slippery and it is almost impossible to stand up on the pedals. The clear line is not so appealing any more and I ride in the edge of the fine grit to ensure traction. There is another slight easing and then the long drag up to the big hairpin.

I always feel that the ride is conquered by then and the end is in sight, but of course it’s not. Another turn back to the right before you can see the building in the distance. A couple twists and turns with the clear line now unrideable out of the saddle.

The gradient increases again just before the top but the grit is everywhere. 11.19am as I touch the building with a few odd looks from ski clad punters getting of the shuttle bus.

The ride was an easy 52 minutes with a couple stops for clothing.

Coffee awaits.

Endurance Racing - the madness of the very wise

Endurance Racing  - the madness of the very wise
             By Jane Cox
                                       1st printed in the Otago Daily Times
                                               Weds Nov 19, 1997
       'Is your husband out there burning his underwear too?"  asked a
friend. She knew that, like the Brazilian team who were in the news
recently for their unusual way of keeping warm, my husband was competing in
the Southern Traverse, an annual endurance race round the mountains near
Queenstown.

       "Are they all mad?" she added brightly.

Well, the Southern Traverse is not for your average person. The race
involves teams of three or five jogging the equivalent of two or three
Routeburn tramps, mountain-biking three or four Milford Tracks and kayaking
at least twice the length of Lake Wakatipu; all in the space of a working
week. For the past few years, competitors have been allowed to travel
through the nights as well, picking their way by torches worn on a strap
round the head.

For the first 35 hours, continuous traveling is no problem for the very
fit, provided the weather and terrain are not too rugged. After that,
however, when lack of sleep is combined with extreme physical exertion, the
mind starts playing tricks. Stories of athletes waving and chatting to the
tussock and falling off their mountain bikes fast asleep, are common. My
husband once tiptoed up a pass in the Nevis, distressed that his
shoes were dirtying the Persian carpet beneath his feet.

There is no set route apart from checkpoint co-ordinates issued at each
stage along with a map. Sometimes tracks point the way, but mostly there is
simply a lake or mountain in front of the teams which has to be got over,
somehow.

The ability to read the terrain becomes crucial: merely proceeding as the
crow flies can lead over a bluff or through a dozen matagouri bushes.

One year, competitors were sobered to see a pale beam of light far below in
the dark as they inched along a narrow ledge. Someone's headlamp had been
knocked off by a rocky overhang: one false step and it could have been more
than a headlamp in the ravine.



Mountain weather can also be treacherous. Last year, an exhausted Japanese
team went to sleep on the road in the Von Valley They were fortunate there
was a team still on the move two hours behind. For in that time a storm
blew up and the Japanese athletes were discovered, still fast asleep, under
a couple of inches of snow.

As well as extremes of cold and heat, hunger dogs the endurance
racer. The need to refuel the body is counteracted by the difficulty of
digesting food when under physical pressure.

More than one athlete has been violently ill after earnestly shovelling in
pasta and rice pudding and soup and filled rolls at a transition. They then
have to face carrying a heavy pack on a 12 to 20 hour journey on an empty
stomach with only a few endurance bars and drinks and, a banana or two. to
sustain them.

So why do they do it? A strong affinity with wild places would be one
reason. These are people at home in the bush and the mountains. They know
the spine-tingling experience of a moonrise on a still night in the
mountains and they have real joy in feeling their physical freedom as they
glide through beech forest or over tussock ridges.

But there is more to it than that. Curiosity drives many endurance racers -
curiosity to test their inner resources under pressure. How long can a
person stay focused as the hours of darkness drag on and the shorts round
their sweat-chafed legs feel like sandpaper?

What psychological strength can a team bring to a member who has fallen out
of a kayak on a wind-tossed lake several times and is frozen, frightened
and seasick?

For in the end, endurance racing is about encouragement and the camaraderie
of shared effort. The emphasis is no longer on who can get there fastest,
but on helping everyone to get through.




This is particular true of the five person teams in the Southern Traverse
which must have at least one woman. Though women are strong on endurance,
they can go beyond their limits trying to compensate for their lesser
physical strength. Wise teams take great care of their women athletes,
sheltering them from the wind in cycle legs and carrying some of their
gear. On the other hand, more than one highly fancied team has broken down
because their best athlete has set an impossible pace.

Endurance racing is ultimately about finishing against the odds. It often
works on the hare and tortoise principle. The young bloods and the
professional athletes are hours ahead after half the race and often finish
impressively.

But a surprising number of grey heads and recreational runners are high up
in the placings year after year. The longer the race, the more the balance
shifts from physical prowess to mental toughness.

The older ones tend to sleep more and use their experience better; they
don't get lost so often, take fewer risks, look to prevent blisters and
chafing, and set great store on careful preparation and organisation.

They tend to have big, well-equipped support crews who follow them
faithfully through dust and snow ready to provide clean dry clothes, hot
food and lots of encouragement.

The result is that at the race's end some teams - athletes and support crew
- have become a palpably close unit. They treat each other with marked
gentleness and almost telepathic understanding.

On the other hand, some teams grow to find some members so insufferable
that they will not even sit with them at the prize-giving, and their effort
is tainted with rumours of stupid risks and damaged egos.

There is say the sports experts, a need in all of us for controlled danger
- that is, activity that puts us on the edge of life and which makes us
live more intensely and thoughtfully. For the majority of us, that won't
mean going up and down mountains. But those who do find ways of extending
their horizons would understand that the survivors of the Southern Traverse
are mad in a very wise way.



Entries Are Now Open for the Traverse - We can only Take the first 50.

Qtn to Alexandra - just a couple small mountains in the way.

Qtn to Alexandra - just a couple small mountains in the way.

High in the country behind the Gibston ridge line I'm ridng down a series of rutted tracks at 30kms/hr heading for a deep ditch. Suddenly a figure looms in my peripheral vision and the elbow and shoulder pushing hard against my side is Dallas forcing his way through - not apologies no excuse me - just Dallas coming through.

While I am well used to that with Wayne, Dallas pushing so hard was a surprise but we both survived the shallow water crossing - in the same deep rut - somehow!! Setting the tone for the rest of the day were you Dallas.!

As we roll around the shoulders into the Nevis the average speed increases but the 4hrs have already taken their toll on the bodies. 3 of the team had already decided to take a short cut home after climbing out of the Nevis valley. Back down to Bannockburn and home. (Barry, Charlie, Jeff and reluctantly Mary)

That left Lindsay, Geoff, Dave Cartman, Wayne, Al, Dave Drew and Dallas heading to Alex.

Away in the distance is the Oblisk - the boys can't believe that we are even going anywhere near it let alone past it. Up and up - but gentle angles but 15kms along and up and up before the downs start. Riding in big wild country with large snow patches and rough 4 by 4 trails. Past numerous gold mining ruins, climb back out again, and then roll along before finally we get to a turn point. Down is appealing now - 10hrs or more has past but the trail goes back to the right and up and now the Oblisk looms high above us and behind. Finally the dye of the world - with Alex a long way down.

We are at 1357 meters and Alex at 200 meters - that is a long way. The down tracks are overgrown tussock cover4ed 4*4 - rocks and ruts hidden from view, so slow going but and hard work on the brakes which are smoking. The pace increases as the tracks open up and soon (well 35 mins later) we are woopering and hollering through open paddocks at 5okms.

5kms to Alex on tar (time trail mode) and as we roll into Montieths the elapsed time reads 11.35mins

The other stats
Distance 84kms / Average Speed 8.3kms/h  / Ave moving Speed 12.2km/h  /  Ma Speed  48.9km/h
The big one  Elevation Gain 3,193m  (with a elevation loss of 3,453m)

The weather - perfect still sunny day.  Here is the connection to Dallas's Garmin

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/407938484#



Not a bad test for a new Trek - thanks R & R.