Pau to Catelsarrasin
Morale: 5/10
Climbs: 5 Cat 4s, 1 Cat 3
It is with mixed emotions that we left the Pyrenees and have completed all of the mountain stages. There was something exciting about analysing the profiles of the climbs, anticipating the pain and suffering and then the subsequent rewarding feeling of reaching the top. The mindset of the group became slightly complacent as we discussed how once we finished the Pyrenees we would basically just 'roll into Paris!'
There was certainly no rolling with stage 17 (other than uphill). 116 miles is still 116 miles, even if there aren't significant climbs. The previous day's climbing took a toll on our legs and therefore we moved much slower than we would have liked. During the stops in the camper van we entertained ourselves by thinking of every possible way we could make the ride more bearable e.g. what if the brake slipped and our driver, Emma, accidentally rolled forward some 30 miles! Alternatively, what if she 'accidentally' reversed into all of our bikes thus eliminating the option of riding further that day. We continued to think through all of the possible scenarios with the ideas getting more and more absurd, and then finally settled on the realization that we simply had to suck it up and keep turning the pedals.
The moods eventually improved as we approached our destination. The scenery was beautiful in the rolling sunflower hills. We completed the stage. We're one step closer to Paris...so close we can almost taste it!
Morale: 5/10
Climbs: 5 Cat 4s, 1 Cat 3
It is with mixed emotions that we left the Pyrenees and have completed all of the mountain stages. There was something exciting about analysing the profiles of the climbs, anticipating the pain and suffering and then the subsequent rewarding feeling of reaching the top. The mindset of the group became slightly complacent as we discussed how once we finished the Pyrenees we would basically just 'roll into Paris!'
There was certainly no rolling with stage 17 (other than uphill). 116 miles is still 116 miles, even if there aren't significant climbs. The previous day's climbing took a toll on our legs and therefore we moved much slower than we would have liked. During the stops in the camper van we entertained ourselves by thinking of every possible way we could make the ride more bearable e.g. what if the brake slipped and our driver, Emma, accidentally rolled forward some 30 miles! Alternatively, what if she 'accidentally' reversed into all of our bikes thus eliminating the option of riding further that day. We continued to think through all of the possible scenarios with the ideas getting more and more absurd, and then finally settled on the realization that we simply had to suck it up and keep turning the pedals.
The moods eventually improved as we approached our destination. The scenery was beautiful in the rolling sunflower hills. We completed the stage. We're one step closer to Paris...so close we can almost taste it!
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