24/7/2012 Part 2 my time with the tourmalet

Off the top of the aubisque you go down a small bit before a small climb to the top of the COL Soulor, a short 2km or so climb bringing you to the descent of the day. I followed Laurence down what is a lovely descent with a seriously good surface, however about half way down he punctured i stopped to check the issue could be resolved, ah la gadret i did not offer a wheel, after about 15-20mins we sorted the issue that he would wait for the van as the rim tape on his wheel had melted, i pushed on with 2 of the lads well up the road at this stage.

At this stage i was in no mans land, after a good descent for remainder i stopped in town at base to ensure a bike shop would have rim tape for the following camper. I tend powered on feeling bit hungry and the big drag before the tourmalet was no joke, taking the bit of energy from you before you reach luz saint savieur and the base of the climb.

Stopped for lunch after finding the two lads, a bit of sausauge, some chips and the most important a lot of spinnach. topped up with pack of hairbo for the pocket and some pastries and fresh water for the climb. Just 200metres from our stop the climb hits you. only km in we are suffering the heat is unsettling. the first 5km are hard going, i stop for coke regain my senses, tie my helmet to the handlebars and regain my focus. About 5 of us are near enough each other at this stage on the climb, i finally get my focus and start climbing well.

I did suffer alot for the middlepart of the tourmalet passing the ski resorts you can see so much of the valley down below spotting some of other raid lads making their way up. I made another stop with bit to go under a sole tree to cool down and get heart rate down for the final bit of the climb. Passed by a cruising Spaniard i got going again. Their are some switch backs later on in the climbs, great views are what you get with these. I caught the Spaniard and we rode together for while, i was starting to feel good, with the higher altitude and less oxygen also came a cooler temperature relative to the bottom of the climb.

I took my turn 3-4km out, and he followed, one bend had seen a rock slide. I pushed the final run in of 3-4km on the tourmalet are unrelenting an even 9-10% sapping all that you have left. It takes and takes, and then trys to finish you off, but their is also an energy off the climb, the packet of hairbo helped here knocking them back with some water gave me the energy for the final 2km. As you take the big switchback right you can feel the summit is near. Around a km to go at that point, then you take another left, i turned to the guy on my wheel to make sure the finish was near, i kicked i may as well give it all and finish in style. as you get around that bend to the right you see the sign you see the monument you see the crowds. The top is pretty busy.

I chat with some danish guys and take pictures awaiting the rest of my raid partners, i stayed up their quiet long, longer than i probably should have considering i could easily catch a chill after my efforts or been near to heat stroke too which one of other members of party suffered with. I descened in mid order, to find our hostel at the base. A nice cycling hostel made to feel well at home, lovely showers, plugs, and just 2 to a room. A decent bit of grub also, with an interesting start of cold cous cous.

The greatest day of my cycling life. 2 massive climbs alot of time alone, but the final km i always took it in and enjoyed it, i hated the first 10km of tourmalet but once i got going i enjoyed it, little was i to know it could get worse.

Pictures of fellow raid colleagues at the top of Aubsique:

The famous sign at the top of the tourmalet

another raid colleague makes it up in one piece, thanks for the earlier coke.

 a picture of the fantastic climb up i had just completed.

 views from the nights accommodation. Landscape around here is other worldly.

Garmin Stats read:
101.9km covered
3,038m of climbing
3,484 calories burned
16.5km p/h moving speed
Avg Heart rate 126 max HR 155

straight away i notice how much lower my max rate is, the heart is already feeling one day in hills and the limit is much lower.

Hope get the other 3days soon.