Another lunchtime col ... and a fair old bonk !

TdMB minus 59 days

Bike of choice     : Kap
Distance              : 40Km
metres climbed    : +1090m

todays offering was the Col de la Charmette, 40Km round trip in a straight out, straight up, down and back sort of way. A climb of +1090m over 11Km in 39x23 was in the end just a wee bit too hurty for someone who hadn't eaten enough this morning ....

Fred, Ludovic and I took a little too long getting away from the office but were soon on the lower slopes of the climb and peeling off the layers as the sun was shining once again. All was going OK if a bit on the difficult side until we passed a sign indicating 6Km's to the top and I suddenly had the impression that the road had tilted hard in the upward direction ... unfortunately it hadn't and I bonked proper like with 3Km to go to the summit, no food and out of water - it was a very long 3Km and the other guys were just stating to worry about what had happened to me when I finally rolled up to the viewpoint. I don't remember the view.

It was 10 to 2 ... and I had a team mtg at 2pm .... ooops that's cancelled then.

The descent was terrifying, my vision went all blurry, I couldn't focus on the road and was having problems steering round the corners, lips were tingling too. Thankfully it's a quiet road as I don't think I was holding my line too well. Even when we got back to the flat it was bizarre - legs were fine, I could spin along the road tucked in behind the others but I could barely see them.

Back at the office it was straight to the cafe on site to buy all the sugary cakes that were left and some coke to washed them down.

Great climb though :O)

Will go back next week with some fuel in the tank.

a wee col for lunch !

TdMB minus 61 days

Bike of choice     : Kap
Distance              : 35Km
metres climbed    : +1172m

I guess someone was listening then, the sun is out, there's a bit of energy flowing, the motivation is present and I didn't have any early afternoon meeting to attend.

So I casually mentioned a lunchtime ride to my colleague Fred knowing that his bike was moored next to Kap down in the bike racks.

The Col de la Porte in the Chartreuse was ready for it's first tasting of the season ... a 1Km warmup at best then straight up a relentless but fun, twisty climb in the trees to the top and back down, bit of chat along the way and into the canteen for lunch - after a shower of course !

It's one of the great advantages of working here in Grenoble, big climbs you can almost reach out and touch from the office window and a deep acceptance of the concept of a 1hr40 ride followed by a quick refeuling in the canteen.

I felt good !

I'm buzzing now I am :O)

Groof woof yip gruff awooooooooo