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As you might have guessed this
cycling trip in the Pyrenees requires a high level of fitness, both
in strength and endurance. This is not
a bike tour for inexperienced riders or
people who aren't fit. You must be
accustomed to riding centuries and
climbing hills, you must be capable of
riding 5 to 6 hours for multiple days in
a row. In essence you need to be a
biking junky, someone who trembles and
drools with excitement at the thought of
this bike trip. If this is you,
then this trip is for you. This
isn't a race, you will need to pace
yourself, but don't even think about it
if a 50 mile bike ride is what you
consider a long ride. Bottom line
you need to be an experienced and fit
cyclists, and you need to know what it's
like to suffer. |
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The Kiwi, Krystal and
Scott get ready to descend the east side of the Col
d'Aspin. |
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I have planned each day to be challenging but not
insane. The climbs are long, 8 to 14 miles, sometimes
more, and they average 7 to 10 percent grades. There
are multiple climbs in a day. The average ride per day
in the mountains is 74 miles and 8,423 feet of climbing;
that's a lot when you have eight days in the Pyrenees,
and more then enough when you consider that the return
trip averages 111 miles and 7,208 feet for the first 3
of 4 days. Believe me, no one who has done this
tour lobbied for longer
rides. Furthermore, you will want to have some time
left in your day to enjoy the towns that we stay in. |
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Day 5, 3rd of 5 climbs
for the day, 90 miles and 12,200 ft climbing total, Allan and Jeff. |
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Everyday you will be riding from
hotel to hotel. The support van is used to carry your
luggage, the food for the rides, and any other extras
necessary for support. It will not have the capacity to
seat and carry more than 3 riders and their bikes when
filled with all the luggage...therefore don't plan on
being able to automatically bail into the van when the
going gets tough. If everyone starts thinking this way
simultaneously it will cause problems, for me and you.
Then again if you sign up for this trip you are the kind
of rider who won't settle for anything less than
completing every ride. The van should be your last
resort. |
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Krystal, Gordon and the
Kiwi stay committed and focused. |
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