Day 3: Friday 7-15-2011 Pyrenees Mnts: (Col d'Aubisque) - Col de Soulor

Day 3: Friday    7-15-2011   Pyrenees Mnts:   (Col d'Aubisque) - Col de Soulor

Day / date / Location: 

Miles on bike:    From the top of Col d’Aubisque to Lourdes;    1 hr 41 mim             Elevation gain:   1801

                               

                                Total miles: 85.35

$ toward Pledges at 0.026 per foot gained:  11,181 x 0.026 =  $290.71

Highlights:  Leave hotel on bus at 8, Riders started at 10 at the bottom of the d’Aubisque.

I and Tim rode the bus to the top of d’Aubisque; my legs were not ready for a Cat 1 or HC; its difficulty index is 120.  The Tourmalet I did yesterday was 133; and the reason I bonked on Luz-Aridien was it is a 111 right after the Tourmalet.  Oh well.

Great pictures and views at the summit.  So Tim and I started down on our bikes from the top of the Col d’Aubisque.

The heart rate elevator today was when one guy a bit ahead of me stopped to be with his friend and pulled his bike horizontal on the road right in front of me.  I and a girl behind were yelling NO! N O! NO! and when I veered to the right of him my left foot blasted into his rear tire.  Fortunately I stayed upright and continued down with no other issues. 

After the short ascent of Col de Soulor (difficulty index of 28), a totally incredible downhill.  Let me repeat that. 

What a fantastic downhill ride; the road was closed to cars and just an occasional walker going up to a viewpoint. 

Here Tim had a flat on his front wheel heading down at a good clip.   No wipeouts when slowing and the sag wagon was 1 min away; a quick fix and he was off.  Only 25 k to go and we have to beat the Caravan.  Time to go fast!  Tim set a personal speed best for 10k and even did time in the pace line.  I stayed tucked in on the back.

Then for the last 15 kilometers, our group were the only riders out there meaning the whole road was ours!.  Sweet!

Is this cool?  Going thru old town Lourdes filled with spectators yelling and clapping for us was 10 times better than any IRONMAN finishers ending crowd.    And Tim and I riding together thru the town was a real highlight moment.

Then on to the VIP viewing area, free food, T V, upper deck viewing from 150 meters from the finish line, not crowded and porta-potties.   Proof that this was a VIP area.. 

We are enjoying every min of this. 

Back to Beaudean at 7; dinner at 8:30; work on pics and posts;  sleep at 1AM

Tomorrow is early again…..