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Monday, September 9, 2013
It all started with a bang
Not the story we wanted to tell but nevertheless it did happen.
Everyone excited after arriving in Thonon les Bains to go riding. Different groups headed out while others were still arriving at the airport.
A txt from Dallas - Where are you ? Jef has crashed. Thoughts of non helmet riding Crown Range dweller rushed through the head. The worst of course - but it was not that bad but bad enough.
A car had stopped un-expectantly in front of Jef and Dallas and both hit the back (Dallas only glancing as he was further back) Jef hit the back of the car. He crashed over the bike to collect the car with his scapular. Which broke a small piece on the bottom edge.
Ambulance / police / hospital all followed and on return from Geneva we went to sit in the hospital. (it so happened that our driver Agnes knew two people in the town - one a doctor at the hospital, so we followed up with a call to him and he duly arrived in sandals and t-shirt after spending a day on Lac Leman)
With his assistance we started getting feedback and soon Jef was back with us - drugged to the eye balls, arm in a sling and not feeling so good about the world.
Not the start we wanted but that was it. Dammmm
Sunday 8th
Gentle riding in scattered groups before the rain, or for some in it. Exploring routes above the lake. French low mountain countryside, riding with paddocks of musical cows.
Monday 9th
The depart.
0820 - pedals clicked in and away. Jean Louis (the doctor) joined us for the ride to Morzine up the valley of the Dranske. Deep in the gorge where he sun don’t shine - 11 degrees - which is a surprise after riding in 30 + just a day or so before.
A unexpected detour forces a climb up the walls of the valley before descending through sunlight shafts in the trees back to the valley floor. The valley climbs only gently all the way to Morzine so it is really a nice way to warm up.
According to the guide book it was lunch - in fact it is only 10.00 and a chance for those keen to add a bit of extra hill work ie climb to 1800meters / 10 kms above Morzine to the ski station of Avoriaz. Only two keen souls chose this option - Dave Drew and Leslie Logan, so of course I had to accompany them.
A great climb done at easy pace - 1hr 10min takes us to a ‘out of this world’ ski station. Some amazing architecture
But it was cold - so no hanging around. Jackets on and 10kms of flowing descents to follow. Coffee and chips in Morzine , while the main peleton had ascended the Col de Joux Plane on the way to Samoens.
It is steeper - up to 9 degrees on the sign posts (but 11 degrees in places)
From our guide book (produced in Qtn)
Col de Joux Plane
Starting from Morzine, the Col de Joux Plane ascent is
‘ . . . a deceptively tough (but not too hard) climb as it starts with a real kick from Morzine town centre. There are a couple of easier sections that give the legs a quick break and the
climb ends with easy last 2km to a small lake. Its not a hair-pin climb so a rhythm is
difficult to achieve."
Col de Joux Plane 10.9km Average Grad 6.5% Vertical 711m
The descent is fantastic again - fast following roads - although very rough in places with slumps, bumps and big cracks.
A great start for the trip
Leigh takes the dummy award - riding around a roundabout the wrong way
Tomorrow the Colombière
Col de la Colombière (1613 m).
Max Gradient 12%. 19.5km Vertical 1120m
and then the
Col des Aravis (1486 m) 10km. Vertical 566m
Everyone excited after arriving in Thonon les Bains to go riding. Different groups headed out while others were still arriving at the airport.
A txt from Dallas - Where are you ? Jef has crashed. Thoughts of non helmet riding Crown Range dweller rushed through the head. The worst of course - but it was not that bad but bad enough.
A car had stopped un-expectantly in front of Jef and Dallas and both hit the back (Dallas only glancing as he was further back) Jef hit the back of the car. He crashed over the bike to collect the car with his scapular. Which broke a small piece on the bottom edge.
Ambulance / police / hospital all followed and on return from Geneva we went to sit in the hospital. (it so happened that our driver Agnes knew two people in the town - one a doctor at the hospital, so we followed up with a call to him and he duly arrived in sandals and t-shirt after spending a day on Lac Leman)
With his assistance we started getting feedback and soon Jef was back with us - drugged to the eye balls, arm in a sling and not feeling so good about the world.
Not the start we wanted but that was it. Dammmm
Sunday 8th
Gentle riding in scattered groups before the rain, or for some in it. Exploring routes above the lake. French low mountain countryside, riding with paddocks of musical cows.
Monday 9th
The depart.
0820 - pedals clicked in and away. Jean Louis (the doctor) joined us for the ride to Morzine up the valley of the Dranske. Deep in the gorge where he sun don’t shine - 11 degrees - which is a surprise after riding in 30 + just a day or so before.
A unexpected detour forces a climb up the walls of the valley before descending through sunlight shafts in the trees back to the valley floor. The valley climbs only gently all the way to Morzine so it is really a nice way to warm up.
According to the guide book it was lunch - in fact it is only 10.00 and a chance for those keen to add a bit of extra hill work ie climb to 1800meters / 10 kms above Morzine to the ski station of Avoriaz. Only two keen souls chose this option - Dave Drew and Leslie Logan, so of course I had to accompany them.
A great climb done at easy pace - 1hr 10min takes us to a ‘out of this world’ ski station. Some amazing architecture
But it was cold - so no hanging around. Jackets on and 10kms of flowing descents to follow. Coffee and chips in Morzine , while the main peleton had ascended the Col de Joux Plane on the way to Samoens.
It is steeper - up to 9 degrees on the sign posts (but 11 degrees in places)
From our guide book (produced in Qtn)
Col de Joux Plane
Starting from Morzine, the Col de Joux Plane ascent is
‘ . . . a deceptively tough (but not too hard) climb as it starts with a real kick from Morzine town centre. There are a couple of easier sections that give the legs a quick break and the
climb ends with easy last 2km to a small lake. Its not a hair-pin climb so a rhythm is
difficult to achieve."
Col de Joux Plane 10.9km Average Grad 6.5% Vertical 711m
The descent is fantastic again - fast following roads - although very rough in places with slumps, bumps and big cracks.
A great start for the trip
Leigh takes the dummy award - riding around a roundabout the wrong way
Tomorrow the Colombière
Col de la Colombière (1613 m).
Max Gradient 12%. 19.5km Vertical 1120m
and then the
Col des Aravis (1486 m) 10km. Vertical 566m
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Riding in Europe
A preliminary to the route des grandes alps tour.
The refuge Miage sits at 1560 in a high valley under the towering massif of Dome de Miage
For the locals who know it is a short walk of 1 hour to experience the sun set on the massif with a glass of beer or fine wine before retiring inside for dinning. The specialty of the house is a fondue with the local mushrooms, and so this was the choice for us.
Two beers before dinner sitting outside after the 1 hour walk from the valley floor (on track or 4 wheel road)
The refuge is on the route of the tour du Mt Blanc - just a few walkers there this night - one from Sydney who heard us talking (he had completed the tour in 10 days with his father of 83yrs) and had walked from Chamonix to get away from the crowds of this mountain metropolis.
So fine dining of fondue followed by a offering of the house - a glass of locally produced
genepi (I'm glad there was no naked light around otherwise there might have been a problem). It made for interesting walk down in the dark - was it the road wobbling or just my head.
Génépi can be made at home through the simple addition of prepared herbs to vodka or grain alcohol. Each Alpine mountaineer or refuge has their own recipe for génépi, but a generic recipe for a liter would require forty flowers and forty grams of sugar to be added to 40% alcohol by volume.
But the riding.
Those white wall tyre's give it the impression of an old classic, but we all know that it is a modern carbon speed machine and that the guy riding it is an old classic !! Beau Rapley
With all the pieces of the bike finally here (one bag with skewer and peddles and clothes took their own time) it was time to test the legs.
From Saint Gervais to St Nicolas and then around past the Bettex Telepherique, down a narrow and rough cracked old tar road to the find a connection to Megeve A quick 8kms on good road to visit and then home. A local rider went past with some enthusiasm but the legs were there to give chase and stay with him. He dived off on a side road soon and was gone.
Narrow country roads - steep at times but surrounded by peaks reaching to the sky on a cloudless day. What more to ask.
Perhaps the chance to catch up with some others tomorrow although I did get a txt from Dallas saying it was hotter than he expected, and that was before him and Barry went for a ride.
The Mtn behind the bike is just the biggest in Europe Mt Blanc.
the second photo is at Miage and the third outside the house.
A preliminary to the route des grandes alps tour.
The refuge Miage sits at 1560 in a high valley under the towering massif of Dome de Miage
For the locals who know it is a short walk of 1 hour to experience the sun set on the massif with a glass of beer or fine wine before retiring inside for dinning. The specialty of the house is a fondue with the local mushrooms, and so this was the choice for us.
Two beers before dinner sitting outside after the 1 hour walk from the valley floor (on track or 4 wheel road)
The refuge is on the route of the tour du Mt Blanc - just a few walkers there this night - one from Sydney who heard us talking (he had completed the tour in 10 days with his father of 83yrs) and had walked from Chamonix to get away from the crowds of this mountain metropolis.
So fine dining of fondue followed by a offering of the house - a glass of locally produced
genepi (I'm glad there was no naked light around otherwise there might have been a problem). It made for interesting walk down in the dark - was it the road wobbling or just my head.
Génépi can be made at home through the simple addition of prepared herbs to vodka or grain alcohol. Each Alpine mountaineer or refuge has their own recipe for génépi, but a generic recipe for a liter would require forty flowers and forty grams of sugar to be added to 40% alcohol by volume.
But the riding.
Those white wall tyre's give it the impression of an old classic, but we all know that it is a modern carbon speed machine and that the guy riding it is an old classic !! Beau Rapley
With all the pieces of the bike finally here (one bag with skewer and peddles and clothes took their own time) it was time to test the legs.
From Saint Gervais to St Nicolas and then around past the Bettex Telepherique, down a narrow and rough cracked old tar road to the find a connection to Megeve A quick 8kms on good road to visit and then home. A local rider went past with some enthusiasm but the legs were there to give chase and stay with him. He dived off on a side road soon and was gone.
Narrow country roads - steep at times but surrounded by peaks reaching to the sky on a cloudless day. What more to ask.
Perhaps the chance to catch up with some others tomorrow although I did get a txt from Dallas saying it was hotter than he expected, and that was before him and Barry went for a ride.
The Mtn behind the bike is just the biggest in Europe Mt Blanc.
the second photo is at Miage and the third outside the house.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
a love story
A love story
Each year a small diverse group of people meet at 4 or 5 different venues around New Zealand for one reason - they are in love, with the sport of skiing, but it is not just the skiing but also the competition.
Masters ski racing draws this diverse group to compete from all different parts, from Hong Kong, from Winton, Auckland and Chch. Everyone comes for the skiing and also for the competition.
We all love the competition, we love the winning, and hate a bit the losing, but we enjoy the race and the company.
We enjoy the family of skiers, the quarrels, the tribulations, we pick each other up when we fall down and feel for the skiers who miss a gate, cheer for the competitor when he or she has a good run, regardless if their time beats you in the end.
We race in a sport that is very unique - the course is laid down a steep icy mountain side that has hugh variation in pitch angle and consistency. In slalom maybe 30 gates drilled into the snow (or more lately the ground) in what appears to the outsider a absolute confusion of red and blue poles. Even to the racers it requires some ‘course checking’ to establish the line, and then to figure out the fastest way to ski the line - the magic route between the gates that will get you down the mountain first.
34 gates in less than 30secs and to win it means that you will beat the opposition sometimes by only 2 / 100ths of a second over two runs. Yes in 60secs the result can come down to less than the time it takes to tap a key board, or blink a eye.
To be beaten by a second is enormous in one run of 30 secs, and if you are more than 1.5 secs of the pace then then run is analysis in the mind over and over to see where on earth you were soooo slow. We are talking just 1.5 secs. here.
Its the same in other sports isn’t it. In swimming and athletics the winner is often fritters of a second part. The same - I think not. Athletics - a running surface that is exactly the same start to finish, in swimming - the pool here is exactly the same as the pool in Barcelona, but in skiing every inch of the course is different every time, but I get lost . . … . .
This group of racers are in love . . with the sport of ski racing and the sport of skiing. For most it began from the very first time they slid down the hill - can they remember the exact moment - perhaps not, but many will.
Each year a small diverse group of people meet at 4 or 5 different venues around New Zealand for one reason - they are in love, with the sport of skiing, but it is not just the skiing but also the competition.
Masters ski racing draws this diverse group to compete from all different parts, from Hong Kong, from Winton, Auckland and Chch. Everyone comes for the skiing and also for the competition.
We all love the competition, we love the winning, and hate a bit the losing, but we enjoy the race and the company.
We enjoy the family of skiers, the quarrels, the tribulations, we pick each other up when we fall down and feel for the skiers who miss a gate, cheer for the competitor when he or she has a good run, regardless if their time beats you in the end.
We race in a sport that is very unique - the course is laid down a steep icy mountain side that has hugh variation in pitch angle and consistency. In slalom maybe 30 gates drilled into the snow (or more lately the ground) in what appears to the outsider a absolute confusion of red and blue poles. Even to the racers it requires some ‘course checking’ to establish the line, and then to figure out the fastest way to ski the line - the magic route between the gates that will get you down the mountain first.
34 gates in less than 30secs and to win it means that you will beat the opposition sometimes by only 2 / 100ths of a second over two runs. Yes in 60secs the result can come down to less than the time it takes to tap a key board, or blink a eye.
To be beaten by a second is enormous in one run of 30 secs, and if you are more than 1.5 secs of the pace then then run is analysis in the mind over and over to see where on earth you were soooo slow. We are talking just 1.5 secs. here.
Its the same in other sports isn’t it. In swimming and athletics the winner is often fritters of a second part. The same - I think not. Athletics - a running surface that is exactly the same start to finish, in swimming - the pool here is exactly the same as the pool in Barcelona, but in skiing every inch of the course is different every time, but I get lost . . … . .
This group of racers are in love . . with the sport of ski racing and the sport of skiing. For most it began from the very first time they slid down the hill - can they remember the exact moment - perhaps not, but many will.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Tuesday night riding 11th Sept 2012
Tuesday night riding
Tuesday night riding - every Tuesday during the winter we have been riding under lights. On my bike and helmet I have about 1800 lumens so for sure I can see where to go.
Sometimes this winter the riding has been nicer than others, and earlier in the winter the enthusiasm levels were higher amongst the crew.
During that cold snap - one or two months ago we had some wonderful nights with stars above, frost crunching under the wheels below, breath condensing in the night air, frozen hard sand tracks on the deltas to ride on, and companions to ride with.
As the winter continued the numbers have dropped away and we have just a few riders going out.. . one or two or 5, . . . . . . .and so when it came to Tuesday this week and the 'big snow' arrived Beau decided in his wisdom to cancel the night, but hey . . . . it was Tuesday and so lights on and out the door. Fully rugged up as I left the warmth of the house I turned first towards Frankton, but decided that no one would go to the beach since it was a cancelled night.
I u-turned and headed on the 29er along the track toward Jacks Point. Funny thing was that even though we had a slight southerly, and to the south I could see another snow laden storm front coming, I soon warmed up and had to stop and remove clothing. Light weigh Goretex rain jacket - off, Buff headgear - off, buff neck gater - off. Now just three layers on top - long sleeve wool, Patagonia zip neck and old Patagonia Wind Jacket; and three layers on the bottom - cycle bib, long johns and light weight Macpac over pants (taped shut at the bottom, . . . ah and of course booties over the shoes.
So into the night. The snow pattern from this storm was vary variable. No snow on the track from home around the golf course and towards Jacks Point - just a dash in shady patch's but the track is basically hard and fast. Only at the Jacks Point boundary do I strike snow - about 7cms or so., and this makes for interesting riding as I access the Jacks Point level and take off across the edge of a groomed fairway, and then through some short grass paddocks. ( all in 7cms of fresh ) The swirling snow makes it interesting riding as well. Past the club house ( a ghost house with only mannequins standing inside) and along snowy lanes to Beau's house.
The brakes squeal loudly as I stop outside his window and the look of surprise on his face makes the ride worthwhile all by itself.
I step just inside onto the dog rug. It's hot - well at least the temp difference is marked. A short conversation and back into the dark, squealing down the hills - picking my way between snow flakes and road paddles.
I only fall once - on the steep descent out of Jacks back onto the track - but it's soft so no problem.
The ride home continues the surreal experience. Alone in the night and loving every second of it. Back onto the track at Kelvin Heights and a blaze of lights - top and bottom, follow a short distance behind. Not waiting to see who else is crazy I put he 'pedal to the metal' and come back along the track towards home at some speed. Had the big wheels rolling along. Halfway back to Frankton I slow as I enter the 'snow zone' and the compacted surface on the bridges adds some excitement. Brendan pulls up behind with a ' hope you weren't just out cruising because I just had a good work out catching up?'
Another mad bastard enjoying his Tuesday night riding in Queenstown.
Wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Tuesday night riding - every Tuesday during the winter we have been riding under lights. On my bike and helmet I have about 1800 lumens so for sure I can see where to go.
Sometimes this winter the riding has been nicer than others, and earlier in the winter the enthusiasm levels were higher amongst the crew.
During that cold snap - one or two months ago we had some wonderful nights with stars above, frost crunching under the wheels below, breath condensing in the night air, frozen hard sand tracks on the deltas to ride on, and companions to ride with.
As the winter continued the numbers have dropped away and we have just a few riders going out.. . one or two or 5, . . . . . . .and so when it came to Tuesday this week and the 'big snow' arrived Beau decided in his wisdom to cancel the night, but hey . . . . it was Tuesday and so lights on and out the door. Fully rugged up as I left the warmth of the house I turned first towards Frankton, but decided that no one would go to the beach since it was a cancelled night.
I u-turned and headed on the 29er along the track toward Jacks Point. Funny thing was that even though we had a slight southerly, and to the south I could see another snow laden storm front coming, I soon warmed up and had to stop and remove clothing. Light weigh Goretex rain jacket - off, Buff headgear - off, buff neck gater - off. Now just three layers on top - long sleeve wool, Patagonia zip neck and old Patagonia Wind Jacket; and three layers on the bottom - cycle bib, long johns and light weight Macpac over pants (taped shut at the bottom, . . . ah and of course booties over the shoes.
So into the night. The snow pattern from this storm was vary variable. No snow on the track from home around the golf course and towards Jacks Point - just a dash in shady patch's but the track is basically hard and fast. Only at the Jacks Point boundary do I strike snow - about 7cms or so., and this makes for interesting riding as I access the Jacks Point level and take off across the edge of a groomed fairway, and then through some short grass paddocks. ( all in 7cms of fresh ) The swirling snow makes it interesting riding as well. Past the club house ( a ghost house with only mannequins standing inside) and along snowy lanes to Beau's house.
The brakes squeal loudly as I stop outside his window and the look of surprise on his face makes the ride worthwhile all by itself.
I step just inside onto the dog rug. It's hot - well at least the temp difference is marked. A short conversation and back into the dark, squealing down the hills - picking my way between snow flakes and road paddles.
I only fall once - on the steep descent out of Jacks back onto the track - but it's soft so no problem.
The ride home continues the surreal experience. Alone in the night and loving every second of it. Back onto the track at Kelvin Heights and a blaze of lights - top and bottom, follow a short distance behind. Not waiting to see who else is crazy I put he 'pedal to the metal' and come back along the track towards home at some speed. Had the big wheels rolling along. Halfway back to Frankton I slow as I enter the 'snow zone' and the compacted surface on the bridges adds some excitement. Brendan pulls up behind with a ' hope you weren't just out cruising because I just had a good work out catching up?'
Another mad bastard enjoying his Tuesday night riding in Queenstown.
Wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tour de Grande Alpes Sept 2012
1st Sept Sat Day 0
Fly to Geneva
pu at the airport and drive to Thonon les Bains (36km down the side of the lake)
2nd Sept Sun Day 1
Thonon-les-Bains -> St Jean de Sixt 80kms
The Col des Gets (1 170 m), the first pass on the Great Alps Route and the Col de la Colombière (1613 m)
3rd Sept Mon Day 2
St Jean de Sixt -> Bourg Saint Maurice 90kms
Col des Aravis (1486 m) and col les Saisies and then climb Cornet de Roseland (1850meters) cross and descend to Borg Saint Marice.
4th Sept Tues Day 3
Bourg Saint Maurice -> Saint Michael de Maurienne 132km
The Col de l’Iseran (2 764 m) is the summertime link between the two high Savoyard valleys, the Tarentaise and the Maurienne. This pass, created specially for tourists and certainly one of the most beautiful in the Alps, is definitely the highest. Between Val-d’Isère and Bonneval, in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, this section is simply magnificent.
5th Sept Weds Day 4
Saint Michael de Maurienne -> Briancon 61km
Climb Col de telegraphe 1. 570m on the way up to the col du Galibier. Col du Galibier is the mythical passage of the Tour of France (53 tims)
6th Sept Thurs Day 5
Briancon -> Briancon / rest or ride. Some fantastic rides around here.
7th Sept Fri Day 6
Briancon -> Barcelonnette 115km
cols d’Izord and / col de Vars - great two pass ride
8th Sept Sat Day 7
Barcelonnette -> Beuil 80km
Col de la Bonette and Col de la Cayolle 2300m,
These passes are not among the highest, the often twisting roads, in an exuberant setting, lead up to the mountain summits. Fantastic little hotel
9th Sept Sun Day 8
Beuil – Saint Martin de Vesubie 59km
Our blog says this is the best ride of the tour
10th Sept Mon Day 9
Saint Martin de Vesubie -> Nice 78km
On this route, the Route des Grandes Alpes plays leapfrog from one valley to another.
Always on the edge of the Mercantour National Park, ski resorts rub shoulders with traditional villages of the south.
The atmosphere mdéiterranéenne is increasingly felt. Gorges Piaon announce Sospel, behind the city before the sea front
11th Sept Tues Day 10
Nice -> Nice - non riding
12th Sept Weds
Depart Return to the World
Cost: all hotels., (all breakfasts and a couple dinners) rental van / petrol, driver wages and their accommodation, special designed cycle top and booklet
Between $2.333 - $3.000 NZ land cost.
As close as I can do it now without checking all hotel prices - Note: this based on a price last time.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
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