Uk, Santander, Picos, Andorra , France Run 2010 Early June

[duibhceK]

Most excellent report! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img]
And a lot of roads I recognize of the past 2 weeks [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yahoo.gif[/img]

<!--quoteo(post=165318:date=Tue 8th Jun 2010, 02:39 PM:name=Hartside Man)-->QUOTE(Hartside Man @ Tue 8th Jun 2010, 02:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Begins with a look at the maps as with half of the col du tourmalet closed we have to re route to get to la Mongie for the cablecar up the Pic Du Midi (more on this later)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Actually, on a bicycle or motorbike you could squeeze past the roadworks on the Tourmalet [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

[amarko5]

<!--quoteo(post=165847:date=Fri 11th Jun 2010, 04:10 PM:name=duibhce Kaelann)-->QUOTE(duibhce Kaelann @ Fri 11th Jun 2010, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Most excellent report! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img]
And a lot of roads I recognize of the past 2 weeks [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yahoo.gif[/img]
Actually, on a bicycle or motorbike you could squeeze past the roadworks on the Tourmalet [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

according to the locals it was the metre of snow that was the issue at barrages

my rear pads changed out today, methinks i may have worn em out , what do you guys think ? any life left ?



fronts were nearly the same i have changed them as well.

[dapleb]

They should be fine. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

EDIT: Me patoota is struggling to load Day 6 pics!

This post was last modified: 11-06-2010, 04:58 PM by dapleb.

[duibhceK]

<!--quoteo(post=165854:date=Fri 11th Jun 2010, 05:49 PM:name=Hartside Man)-->QUOTE(Hartside Man @ Fri 11th Jun 2010, 05:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->according to the locals it was the metre of snow that was the issue at barrages<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'm not sure how many days exactly you guys were there before us, but we did not see <i>any</i> snow on the Tourmalet. Only roadworks and sheep spraypainted blue [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img]
It is nice to see what the Aubisque sort of looks like though, when we were up there it was even foggier. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]

[amarko5]

<!--quoteo(post=165864:date=Fri 11th Jun 2010, 06:16 PM:name=duibhce Kaelann)-->QUOTE(duibhce Kaelann @ Fri 11th Jun 2010, 06:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm not sure how many days exactly you guys were there before us, but we did not see <i>any</i> snow on the Tourmalet. Only roadworks and sheep spraypainted blue [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img]
It is nice to see what the Aubisque sort of looks like though, when we were up there it was even foggier. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


we could only go 1/2 way on the aubisque as well (shut gate blocked road) had to turn round and suffer the route back to eaux bonnes and beyond [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

it was the receptionist in the hotel thst told us the snow was blocking the tourmalet hence our detour around lourdes to get up to la mongie.

did you do the col du aspin and the mente then ??

[sidestand]

There were signs at La Mongie as well saying that Tourmalet was closed to all but pushbikes & pedestrians
Duibhce went a week or so after us, so the snow probably melted a bit more by then (It is June now!)
There was half a metre of snow at the top just above Cas de la Pasa in Andorra when we went through into Spain a couple of days after
Never mind, there's always next year [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img]

[amarko5]

<b>Day 7 begins</b>

Another cracking day and a fantastic route courtesy of Mick

start along the d117 then to the gorges of st georges



entering the gorges



Not the best road surface through here (bit bumpy) and some of the road repairs were a sprinkling of tar and very loose patches of chippings thrown down , however that said the scenery was STUNNING, and we were soon off the loose stuff and onto the decent roads again





isnt this just Lush



then Mick says "im gonna take you to a Ski resort i know" what he really meant was some fantastic roads up a mountain LOL




all this fast furious tight and twisty riding is giving us a Thirst






we have packed a lunch today so decide to find somewhere nice to go eat it more devilish roads





Then our leader turns up a nice little road and takes us here









so we find a nice spot to eat our lunch ( lucious bread, palma ham, camemburg *sp) NICE




After lunch we revisit some places that were damp the other day (what a spectacular sight when the clouds have lifted.





Now we are heading out of France into Andorra via the high route



I am thinking this if fan dabby dozy up the col de puymorons





then i am introduced to the massive pass de casa



now we are at a height twice that of Ben Nevis on smooth tarmac in sunshine (tis a tad chilly though LOL)

A height profile of todays run



dropping down through the andorran shopping centre and out into Spain ( no need to stop) then once in spain and introduced to a fast flowing section of the n260 its time for a break again



Mick took us back towards this place (does it look familiar :-) ) but now its DRY and sunny Yeehaa here we go again only quicker






Views are amazing as usual




roads are fantastic (hope your all sick by now LOL :-p )




and just to end the day nicely another run along our racetrack leading to Mick's pad

Tomorrow is another day and its sun, seafood, sea, and mountains LOL stay tuned folks

[vicens66]

Thanks to show everybody mi back yard.Born in that part of the country some 43 years ago.AGAIN THANKS. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

[duibhceK]

<!--quoteo(post=165905:date=Fri 11th Jun 2010, 10:38 PM:name=Hartside Man)-->QUOTE(Hartside Man @ Fri 11th Jun 2010, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->we could only go 1/2 way on the aubisque as well (shut gate blocked road)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The gates were open when we got there, but the fog was so thick we couldn't see anything of the landscape. The big Bicycles you guys climbed were only hardly visible from the parking lot across the street.
We'll have to go back for a proper look [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yahoo.gif[/img]

<!--quoteo(post=165905:date=Fri 11th Jun 2010, 10:38 PM:name=Hartside Man)-->QUOTE(Hartside Man @ Fri 11th Jun 2010, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->had to turn round and suffer the route back to eaux bonnes and beyond [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Oh, the horror. I'm sure [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]


<!--quoteo(post=165905:date=Fri 11th Jun 2010, 10:38 PM:name=Hartside Man)-->QUOTE(Hartside Man @ Fri 11th Jun 2010, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->it was the receptionist in the hotel thst told us the snow was blocking the tourmalet hence our detour around lourdes to get up to la mongie.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The signs at the bottom of the col and at La Mongie all said the Tourmalet was closed. We ignored them and just rode to the top. There were some "route barree" signs blocking the road on the other side. But plenty of room for a motorcycle to pass [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pimp.gif[/img]
We had lunch at the bar on top of the col and saw a couple of cyclists and bikers come up the other side, so decided to just go for it. Had to squeeze passed some roadworks and a herd of blue sheep but otherwise it was fine. Go back next year, it is definitely worth it [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]

<!--quoteo(post=165905:date=Fri 11th Jun 2010, 10:38 PM:name=Hartside Man)-->QUOTE(Hartside Man @ Fri 11th Jun 2010, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->did you do the col du aspin and the mente then ??<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Not the Mente. I can't remember all of them but that part of the mountains we did Porte, Portet d'Aspet, Bonaigua, Portillon, Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque. And before that some smaller ones further east. It's all superb riding down there, you really can't go wrong. Only the Portet d'Aspet was slightly less fun as it had <i>gravillon</i> all over the road from bottom to top.
My personal favourites were Col de Porte (did it both ways, west to east is nicest) and Bonaigua (both ways as well, east to west is nicest).

Can't wait to read the rest of the RR [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]