My Biking Blog: June 2015

Monday 29 June 2015

100 Col Day 18 Saint-Pons-de-Thomières - Soubes 116kms 2000m climbing

“Simply maaarvellous days cricket!” in the words of Ritchie Benaud. Ritchie was a great Australian sportsman and commentator. Not sure if his family came from around here but his family name is definitely French. The ride today was more relaxed than any of the days so far, with a number of cols to cross, but none too steep or too long to slow progress to the finish. At 116km it was possible for most of us to get to the campsite by 4pm. Everyone enjoyed the day and many commented that it was the most enjoyable day of the trip since Strasbourg 3 weeks ago. For me it was a great chance to admire the views and look for photo opps. I also had a chance to chat with other riders along the way. The conditions were cool and clear in the morning, with an early start at 730am. The first climb of the Col du Cabaretou was long and steady but not too hard. The coffee stop at Murat-sur-Bevre was very pretty. That’s the great thing about cycling along all these regional roads – you get to see the authentic French country villages, not the worn out tourist trail. Ype chose a very pretty spot for lunch at the 65km mark. Alongside a river with tall trees all around to provide shade. The final climb of Col d’Engayresque was long and hot, but Ype saved the day again with water, coke and fanta at the top. I really enjoyed the day, which concluded with a refreshing dip in the river at the campsite at Soubes. Having now completed more than half the “Circuit des 100 Cols” we have left the Pyrenees and are heading towards the French Alpes. The “day of tomorrow” will take us up Mont Aigoual at 1570m. This hill has been used only once in the TDF (1987). It’s part of the Massif Central, and it’s possible to see the Mediterranean, Pyrenees, Alpes, and even Mont Blanc, if the weather is clear. It impossible to record everything one sees on a trip like this but here are a few photos to give some idea of the experience we are fortunate to enjoy. Garmin linnk here
Saint-Pons-de-Thomières Cycling by peterjkemp at Garmin Connect - Details

Murat-sur-Vebre

Murat

Col de Serieres

Arnac-sur-Dourdou

Col du Cabaretou

Col de la Landettes

masses of flowers

Rob

A lake and campground

Murat-sur-Vebre

Murat

Col d' Engayresque

Plateau de Escandorgue

Soubes

River at campsite

The WiFi Bar

Damian

Sunday 28 June 2015

100 Cols Day 17 Léran to St. Pons-de-Thomieres 144km 2000m climbing

With a relatively (NO days are easy on Bike-Dreams trips!) easy day ahead we left this morning feeling that it would be a great day to enjoy some coffee stops and sight-seeing in the tourist city of Carcassone. After a few rolling hills and 66kms we arrived at Carcasonne in good time and the group I was riding with decided to take a wander through the Cite Carcasonne. This is a medieval castle and fortress which has been restored and rebuilt in various incarnations over the last several hundred years. It is certainly an amazing structure which sits imposingly above the surrounding valley and commercial centre. The site itself is UNESCO protected and remains as it was at the end of the last reconstruction in the late 1700’s. The streets are packed with souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. So it has become somewhat of a tourist trap and the buses arrive regularly and unload their loads of French and overseas visitors.
After our brief tour of the “walled city” we headed to lunch just outside Carcasonne alongside the Canal Deux-Mers which passes through the city on the way between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. After lunch we rode an exposed valley road towards our destination at St Pons-de-Thomieres.
The last two cols of the day were tough enough although not that steep. Col de Salette at around 900m and the relatively short ride up to Col du Croix Jubilee. In camp the temperatures were in the mid-30s and some went the pool for a dip. Others braved the cold mountain stream nearby.
This area in southern France is close to the coastal locations of Narbonne and Perpignan. There are many steep gorges and mountains in behind the coast and it is an area that can be very hot in the summer months. We certainly experienced that today.
A great meal of pork chops and vegetables with apple sauce complimented with green peppers (very hot) was enjoyed by all. Tomorrow we expect another hot day so all the jackets and arm-warmers have been packed into the bottom of the luggage bags. Garmin link here
Léran Cycling by peterjkemp at Garmin Connect - Details