MONDAY 23rd June - 2 weeks to go

Miles last week 80 (80 road, 0 indoors)
Climbing 5,000ft (1,500m)
Weight : 14st 5.0lbs (-0.0 lbs)
Body fat : 24.5% (0%)
Tantia body type 2 (obese)


Weekend of the annual RPRC summer outing to the Pyranees, plus a trip to Ascot with Paul, Isabel and Ros. Came back early from weekend in order to head out to Mallorca with Ros to celebrate 25th wedding anniversary (more of that next week), which meant day of trains, planes and automobiles on Sunday when up at 6.00 to get train to Toulouse for flight to Gatwick and train to Guildford in order to re-pack to get back to Gatwick for evening flight to Palma, phew... still I am getting pretty used to packing and un-packing my bike.

Great day out at Ascot, against expectations weather was sunny but a bit windy which meant hats flying everywhere and the added bonus of dresses too... Specularly bad at betting but Paul proved a bit of a dab hand - Isabel refused to bet, saying that as a dealer she spends all day betting but only when she has the right information... sensible girl. Here I am with Ros and Paul...

Then on Friday off to Pyranees for some hills... along with: Pete, Rupert, Gareth, Alan and Matthew. Bit of a trek to get there, only arriving after 10 to find most of the place closed, however, gite owner managed to get a local pitzeria to stay open for us. Next day off for a great ride, starting with a five mile 1000m climb at 5%. Then some beautiful rolling cycling to a lunch stop at a little French restaurant. Rose was the wine of choice, so said Pete, and Rupert was nearly convinced but so convinced that he did not order his own personal bottle of claret. A little sluggish after lunch but some very fast riding along the flat.. eventually finding ourselves at a hill top village where we stopped for a refreshing beer and some supper. Probably stayed a bit longer than we should have and found ourselves lost and cycling back in the dark... eventually Mattew talked us in by phone and off to bed... Next day I was off before the rest got up but by all accounts Rupert sorted out a challenging ride for that day too...