“I was joined by Jen, an ex-pro who works with Bikestyle Tours, for the last few switchbacks and was barely able to make conversation. To give you an idea about relative effort, while I slipped quietly into my pain cave she was on the internet on her phone, looking up CyclingTips. I shit you not. Not long after she disappeared into the distance.” Matt McCullough, reporting for CyclingTips.com.au.
This pretty much wraps up the first climb on our Tour de France bike trip with Bikestyle Tours, and we were much further back in the pack than Matt. What were we thinking signing up for a group bike trip with a bunch of Australian (aka hardcore) cycling enthusiasts? Luckily for us, the Aussies have been so very friendly, accepting and welcoming, and have not kicked out the token Americans who have only been training at White Rock Lake (total elevation gain of about 16 inches), and only for 5 weeks.
We have been completely buggered (Australian for exhausted) so we’re a bit behind on our blog posts. Luckily for us, Matt and his mate Stefan, are blogging about the trip for the cycling website CyclingTips.com.au, and they have graciously given us permission to link to their blogposts here. So for now, we’ll reference their posts, and add a few pictures of our own. Hopefully we’ll gain stamina as we go along, but unless you like to root for the underdogs, don’t bet on it. These rides are TOUGH!
CyclingTips Alpe d’Huez Blogpost
Our 14 day trip follows the 2014 Tour de France (we’ll see 8 stages of the race) through the Alps, the Pyrenees and on to the finish in Paris next Sunday. We’re a group of 26 (21 riders, 3 biking guides, 1 non-biking guide and our fearless bus driver, Bernard)… more on this awesome group and staff soon!
Here’s our overall route, and for those interested in the km’s and m’s (distance and elevation), here’s our ride map and profile for the first day: Vizille – Alpe d’Huez.
Tour and Tour Organizer: BEST OF THE 2014 TOUR DE FRANCE, Bikestyle Tours
Mark & Shauna,
We feel your pain (well, not really because we’ve never done what you are doing!) Next time, check out cycling trips in Tuscany. The climbs are a much scaled-back version of what you will experience in the Alps and Pyrenees but the food/wine is the equivalent.
What is it that they say about cycling? After a major ride, you feel like you have been recycled!
The Flinks
I love the pictures. You guys look you belong on the tour. Hang in there and enjoy the ride.
The scenery is just so beautiful, it was never captured by the reporting on TV. You aren’t even sweating!
Wow! Beautiful scenery, challenging switchbacks, coordinated biker clothing and smiles galore!!! Absolutely mind-blowing and the podium pose was well-deserved!
You two intrepid adventurers are truly incredible. I love the photos and seeing your smiles as you make your way to the next adventurer. Go Mark! Go Shauna!
You crazy kids!!!! What a beautiful place.
And once I thought that I was an athlete! You blow me away and I am “in awe”. “When the going gets tough”…well you know the rest! Bravo Mark and Shawna.