“My” France


Because France.

First trip in 2000; since then, I’ve been back 21 times for the Tour de France, missing just three years. I think it’s three, might be just two. Once when things just didn’t work out (that was way-back-when, before I decided things simply HAD to work out), and again when they shut down spectators due to Covid. And I think there was a third, but maybe not?

There’s always something memorable in “my” France. “My” France isn’t Paris, or Nice, or Bordeaux (although I’ve spent time in all three).

“My” France is in the rural countryside and mountains in the Pyrenees and Alps.
“My” France is in inexpensive but pretty nice accommodations near train stations, because I hate renting cars and use local trains to expand my reach.
“My” France includes $1.5 (euro) double espresso from the little Relay shops at train stations.
“My” France is full of baguettes for lunch and various amazing pastries for breakfast, and Confit du Cunard when doing a fancy meal, vs Pizza and Kabobs and massive meat salads other times.
“My” France has me pushing my limits on incredibly-long climbs, trying to keep my son in sight.
“My” France involves an incredible amount of logistical planning, trying to see as many stages of the Tour de France as possible.
And, “My” France involves lugging a ton of camera gear, something I am trying to get away from, but my son insists otherwise.

Oh, right, “My” France has also included visits to the infirmary in Lourdes to diagnose two broken ribs.
I’m 69 this year. I wonder how many more trips I have left?

Nice *not* to ride solo!

There are pros and cons to riding solo vs not. Riding alone, I can put in whatever effort I want (although one of the problems when riding alone is that I tend towards trying to do a max effort, from beginning to end), or, if I see something interesting, stop/circle back and take photos. It would be incorrect to say, on my own, I can take my time and smell the coffee, enjoy life at an easy pace. That’s not really me. Not yet. I can also, on quieter roads while climbing, listen to music or podcasts in transparent or adaptive mode, where external sounds still come through (so not surprised by cars).

When riding with others, I’m usually not in the “push hard for the entire ride” mode because most people take some parts hard and then relax elsewhere. If I’m feeling good, I’ll work on my intervals, pushing hard for a bit on a climb, then allowing the others to catch up, then another hard push, until I’ve done myself in and the others ride on ahead. Basically interval training. Seeing how long you can maintain 260 watts before you blow up. And remembering the days, not that long ago, when you could do 280 watts for 20 minutes.

Yesterday, ex-Pilot Kevin showed up, his final ride before heading to Italy later in the day. I know the drill; it’s something I’ve done myself when I’ve had afternoon flights to Europe. Get in a good ride in the morning, and you find it easier to wind down and pretend you can sleep on the plane.

Strava says I averaged 3 watts more last Thursday than yesterday, which isn’t that big a difference. It’s possible I could have gotten above 220 watts averas (it was 214 yesterday, 217 last Thursday) had I done a consistent pace and not been riding with Kevin. But that’s OK; since I only do three real rides per week, each one has to count and doing hard intervals is better for leg strength and anaerobic fitness.

These days I’m also more likely to push the pace on the gradual descent from Sky Londa to West Old LaHonda. Used to take it easy on that part, since the amount of effort needed to do 28 vs 25mph is huge, so why not just relax a bit and take 30 seconds more? But pushing it on that section can really make a difference in overall effort on the ride, increasing your “suffer” score by quite a bit, and you can, if needed, relax a bit on the lower, flatter part of West Old LaHonda. Also, if riding with someone else who wants to take it easier, they can draft of you very effectively on that section, so there’s no danger of dropping someone or seeming to be anti-social. You’re just a motor to them.

Saw something interesting on West Old LaHonda; as we came around a corner on the lower section, a large female turkey with a little turkey chick. Full-grown turkeys are commong; turkey chicks a rare sighting.

Fog can create some dramatic views, but not yesterday. It was “just” fog and kind of fuzzy, lacking any sort of dramatic, sharp line between where it is and where it isn’t (as you can see in the photo at the top).

Nice morning; didn’t have to wear a base layer! Well… it might not have been a bad idea because, while nice on Kings and most of Skyline, we did get a bit of marine layer/high fog on the West Old LaHonda loop.

Got back to the start at 9:35, so just a few minutes slower than had I been solo. Actually, riding with ex-pilot, it would usually be a minute or two slower because there’s usual a stop along the way for him to get rid of excess diet coke. Not yesterday; it was a rare non-stop.

Tomorrow, should be another non-solo ride with younger Kevin showing up, testing his knee recovery. With Ventoux just over six weeks away, there’s not too much time for him to get back into dad-killing form!