December 2009

Warmer Weather

December 28, 2009

After a very cold couple of weeks we have returned to warmer weather, we had 8 days in which the temperature never rose above -2°c. This afternoon it rose to 12°c so I’m back on the road, it was damp today and there was only a handful of cyclists out and about. Lots of tourists in the [...]

View Comments Read the full article →

Joyeux Noël.

December 24, 2009

We wish all our customers and website visitors a happy Christmas and prosperous new year.

View Comments Read the full article →

Cold Snap

December 17, 2009

We are experiencing a cold snap at the moment, today is the 5th day temperatures have not risen above 0°c. It is -2°c in Saint Savin this afternoon but a rather chilly -13°c on Pic du Midi. Night time temperatures up there are down to -20°c, while here in Saint Savin we have had -8°c. Check out [...]

View Comments Read the full article →

Col du Berbérust

December 9, 2009

Cycled up to the Col du Berbérust today in beautiful warm sunshine, it is a 7km climb from Lugagnan to the summit from the east, with the real fun starting after the right turn at the village of Juncalas. There are sections of impossible steep gradients including one at 27%. The climb can be ridden from 2 [...]

View Comments Read the full article →

Col du Tourmalet meaning

December 8, 2009

The interpretation of the name is most often given as “Bad trip” or “Bad detour”; this would be fair enough if the name came from the French language. Tour being the same in English, a trip or circuit, and “mal” being the French word for “bad” which derives from the Latin word “malum”. It is [...]

View Comments Read the full article →

Col d’Aubisque 70 times

December 8, 2009

The Col d’Aubisque has been ridden by Le tour 70 times, 2010 will be the 71st. It is the second most used climb in Le Tour. Tour de France, 2007, George Hincappi on Col d’Aubisque. This is the list of the first rider up the climb on each stage. 2007 – Michael Rasmussen – Denmark [...]

View Comments Read the full article →

80th journey to the Tourmalet

December 8, 2009

In 2010 Le Tour will make its 80th journey to the Tourmalet and 1 or 2 more names will be added to the list of legends. The Tourmalet is the most used climb by Le Tour over the last 100 years. The second most used climb is Col d’Aubisque. Summit of Col du Tourmalet, Le [...]

View Comments Read the full article →

First Bike

December 5, 2009

Looking through some old photos I found this one. It is me on my first bike in 1971.

View Comments Read the full article →

Ski Season Opening

December 5, 2009

Ski stations are officially opening today, there is good snow reported for Cauterets, Luz Ardiden and Col du Tourmalet. Upper sections have up to 2meters is places and with clear sunny weather for the weekend lots of Spanish tourists are expected. The 8th December is the feast of the Immaculate Conception which is a public [...]

View Comments Read the full article →