The Cycling Trip of a Lifetime or Dreaming of a Granny Gear

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It's not often you get to cross something off your bucket list but this one surely qualifies. For three self confessed bike junkies (myself, brother-in-law Jeff, and good mate Tom Melican) we get to spend the first month of winter in the south of France riding through the French Alps and Pyrenees. Along the way we catch a couple of stages of Le Tour de France and then head back to Paris to see the final stage along the Champs Elysees.

We'll climb many of the infamous mountains of "Le Tour" but we will do it at a much more relaxed pace than the pro peleton. It's not like any of us are competitive and will want to race each other to the top.

For my part, I'll post the details of our daily exploits and climbs to keep all our friends informed of how we're going, including puncture count, polka dot jersey points and most croissants consumed in one sitting.

For now the final details are being planned, booking trains, learning a few key phrases in French like: Mark: Can you direct me to the local bike shop. Jeff: Can you direct me to the local vineyard. Tommy: What do you mean that was lunch!

Ah well, I hope we're ready for this, God knows, the French aren't ready for us.

• 1

  Are we there yet?   Shanghai , China on Jul 2, 2011 0 pictures 1 comment
• 2

  Say What?   Grenoble, France on Jul 3, 2011 4 pictures 2 comments
• 3

  Le Tour de Grenoble   Grenoble, France on Jul 4, 2011 6 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  A funny thing happened on the way to Le Freney   Le Freney d'Oisans, France on Jul 5, 2011 6 pictures 2 comments
• 5

  The Classic is Conquered   Le Freney d'Oisans, France on Jul 6, 2011 10 pictures 7 comments
• 6

  Taming the beast of Galibier   Le Freney d'Oisans, France on Jul 7, 2011 14 pictures 1 comment
• 7

  Did I say we were leaving today?   Le Freney d'Oisans, France on Jul 8, 2011 14 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  The F1 Shuttle   Bedoin, France on Jul 9, 2011 3 pictures 0 comments
• 9

  The magnificence of Provence   Bedoin, France on Jul 10, 2011 9 pictures 4 comments
• 10

  Le Tour de Vineyard   Bedoin, France on Jul 11, 2011 10 pictures 0 comments
• 11

  The Toulouse Shuffle   Toulouse, France on Jul 12, 2011 10 pictures 0 comments
• 12

  You've Got To Be Joking   Lourdes, France on Jul 13, 2011 4 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  The Caravan of Crap   Lourdes, France on Jul 14, 2011 22 pictures 0 comments
• 14

  Not the Day We Expected   Lourdes, France on Jul 15, 2011 16 pictures 2 comments
• 15

  Lost in Argeles-Gazost   Argelès-Gazost, France on Jul 16, 2011 4 pictures 1 comment
• 16

  Once Upon A Rainy Day   Argelès-Gazost, France on Jul 17, 2011 16 pictures 0 comments
• 17

  The Tourmalet Double   Argelès-Gazost, France on Jul 18, 2011 14 pictures 1 comment
• 18

  Crepes at 1500m   Bagneres De Luchon, France on Jul 20, 2011 20 pictures 0 comments
• 19

  Short and Steep   Saint Girons, France on Jul 20, 2011 14 pictures 1 comment
• 20

  Pierre's Law - Who Knew Murphy had a French Cousin   Foix, France on Jul 22, 2011 8 pictures 0 comments
• 21

  Down Time in Foix   Foix, France on Jul 23, 2011 12 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  Paris by Velvo   Paris, France on Jul 23, 2011 16 pictures 1 comment
• 23

  Viva Cadel   Paris, France on Jul 24, 2011 10 pictures 3 comments
• 24

  The Bonjour Tour   Lyon, France on Jul 25, 2011 0 pictures 4 comments