Daddy's Cycling updates

There is much cycling to do in our little journey.  From the English countryside, through Belgian cobbles, French climbs and the "strade bianchi" there is much to explore.  This entry will be updated regularly (daily?) withy what cycling has been done.

June 21- England 

25km after a long plane trip a nice little ride to get the legs going 

June 22- England 

No riding :-( Rainy English day.

June 23- England 

28km. Early morning towards Dorking and up to the top of Staple lane to west hanger.

June 24- England 

33km in the Surrey country side. Done to Godalming and the charter house rise in the early morning. 

June 25- Belgium 

31km after In the afternoon Eurostar from London I in packed the bike and went out for a short ride. I tried out Oude Kwaremont as my first cobbled climb.

June 26- Belgium

63km including Oude Kwaremont, The Paterberg and Kopenberg. 

June 27- Belgium 

55km. Similar climbs to yesterday but followed the route of a map I got from Jowan bike shop in Kruisbergen.  Added another few awesome climbs and cobbled section

WEEK ONE WRAP UP

235km. Only one rainy day and lots of cobbled climbs.  Love the cycling here in Belgium.  It seems you don't ride with a coffee, but with a beer stop! 

June 28

No cycling today. A great day visiting Ypres and family time

June 29

70km in the early morning along the back lanes of Flanders including long cobbled sections including Doorn gate. The roads constantly cross cross the landscape and have lots of little ups and downs. I was the only one out.  Along with a beer at the pit stop Belgians don't seem to ride early in the morning.

June 30

35km in the early morning, a flat spin along nice cycle paths.

July 1-3

No riding while we were at Disneyland. It was just too hot (39 degrees) too longer a days (10am-10pm) too many kms walked and too much fun with the family! 

July 4

Still no riding. Enjoying Paris

WEEK TWO SUMMARY

105km.  Lots of family time over the last week, but lots of riding to come

SO FAR 340km

July 5

33km An early morning spin on a Sunday morning in Paris. It is a city not designed for serious bike riding. I rode to Bologne du bois, a big park. Took a wrong turn and ended up in a very seedy area. 

July 6

Transferred to Loire valley, no one riding

July 7

63km in the early morning to Chinon and return to Richelieu.  Nice roll along

July 8

35km. Very windy in the afternoon and on the back roads of the Loire Valley. It was also my first weak run in about 6 weeks

July 9

77km. Lovely early morning ride through the the sunflowers of the Loire.

July 10

Day off

July 11 42km in the early morning before packing up and driving south 

WEEK THREE 

250km

Total so far 590km

July 12: day off to relax.  Pyrenees start tomorrow. Can't wait.

July 13: 66km an epic day in the Pyrenees, well for me anyway. Rode down from Cauterets and then along to Hautacam. It took me 1:05 to ride the 14km.  Hardest earned coke in a while. It was hot and breezy and the mountain was full of riders.

July 14: Bastille day. Watched the start of the tour in Tarbes and then a family day.

July 15: 94km.  Woke up early so we could watch the tour in the arvo.  Rode from Cauterets down into the valley Nd then onto col du Soulor and then Col d'Aubisque.  From 17km to 47km it is was up hill for all but about 2km.  That makes it 30 km long.  Again the descent was great.  Then back up to Cauterets. Such fun!!!

July 16: no riding today as we transferred to Ax Les Thermes and watched the tour

July 17: 58km.  Rode up Col de Palheres.  It is a 19km long climb with the last 6km all over 9% in gradient.  I rode down again and then went up Ax 3 Domaines.  It is only 8.3km but with a grade of over 8% on average and the temperature at about 36 degrees it was hard

July 18: family day

WEEK FOUR SUMMARY

218km

So far over 4 weeks 808km

July 19: 97km.  A fantastic way ride along Route Des Corniches from Ax Les Thermes to Tarascon  It is a ride that travels along about half way up the valley.  It is spectacular and so quiet.  In about 70km only 3 cars overtook me.  I finished it off with Col de Marmare/Chioula.  

July 20: 46km. For my final ride in the Pyrenees I went up a very secluded col, Col du Pradel.  It was about 15km. The first 8km was the same as Palheres but the 7km was about car's width the whole way up. Once back down the bottom there was a 

Title 7km long dead end I needed to try along a beautiful fast flowing river and a couple of lakes used for Hydro Electricity. The Pyrenees has been great fun to ride. 

July 21 and 22: no riding as we have been transferring and then watching the tour.

July 23: 104km.  A great day to ride. It rode up Col du Lauteret and then Galibier, then over the top to Valloire so I could climb the Galibier from the other side.  Really exciting.  But in reality it was just an excuse to go out and get a coffee

July 24: watching the tour so no riding

July 25: 80km.  Up and over Col d'Izoard then back up from the other side. Again it was really about getting a coffee.

WEEK FIVE SUMMARY

327km

So far 1135km

July 26: transfer day so no cycling

July 27: 69 km.  a nice lap around lake Tresamino.  Gently undulating, warm and windy on rough roads but a pleasant ride

July 28. 47 km the final ride of the trip to Chiusiand back.  Nice but unremarkable

TRIP SUMMARY

1251 km all up in 5 and a half weeks.  Some great riding done in lots of different environments.  There are so many more places that would be great to explore, but I am extremely happy with what I got to ride on this trip.now it is back to reality.