Pyrenees?

Quebrantahuesos http://www.quebrantahuesos.com/
La Pyreneenne http://www.lapyreneenne.a3w.fr/

Not too dissimilar in terrain but QH has 9500 starters, La Pyreneenne only 1000.
La Pyreneenne similar to the Cugnaux-Luz Ardiden stage in this year’s tour.

This is an old fave with some new bits tacked on. Last half was in darkness which made it feel completely unfamiliar (and spooky, was out solo). 35km loop from Tolosa, basque country with 1700m climbing.

Sunset over Cantabrian Coast

Vista from Mt Uli. Sierra de Aralar in the background, Txindoki being the triangular peak to the right, supposed home of the Basque goddess Mari (Yeti added for scale :wink: )

Of course I’m biased but how about the Basque Country? Weather could be a lottery in spring though if that worries you. Fuerteventura? Gerona?

If its not measured in double decker buses or blue whales it doesn’t count

+1

Also, new fangled US billions don’t count.

Melon and garlic. Goes well; discovered after not washing the knife.

Cozzy, sorry to hijack the thread.

@sunnrider, I’m off camping in Cantabria tomorrow for a week but well up for a copa when I’m back. Thought I was the only MTBing guiri in town, good to know there are more of us.!

Another stw-er in Euskadi, sunnrider? Whereabouts are you? I’m in Donostia.

Could be unrelated, but that road’s been resurfaced recently (tar then fine chippings on top), when I was up there the chippings had heaped up on the edges & middle of the road.

I suffered over Hourquette and TOurmalet couple of weeks ago; nice to see the autobus doing the same…

Try cyclingfans or steephill for links to live streams.

Was this weekend hotter than usual, and /or the ride longer?

Did it last September. Had a busy summer and just wanted to be on the bike for a week so did the camino.
In the end it only took 5 days, bivvying in parks etc. From a mountain biking point of view it was rubbish, certainly no singletrack and often on paths parallel to the main road. Doug’s suggestion of the Camino del norte would be better in that respect and is about a 10 day trip.
Getting the bike back can be tricky, you’re limited to bubble wrapping it and getting the bus. You can take it by train but only the sleeper and you have to pay for the whole cabin.
I really enjoyed it, just for being on the bike and having to do nothing more than follow yellow arrows, but if you want mountain biking there are better ways to spend a week.

Another huge saddlebag, bivvy mission to Bizkaia.
The silver ano works really well, mate has a silver painted Stumpy of about the same age as my 575 and it looks much older with all the chips and scratches.

The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill

:-)

Irreplaceable. I did enjoy Mark Lamarr ‘s shows on R2, shame those ended. Listening to Bob Harris these days who can play good stuff from time to time but also some awful records. But not awful in a good way, as Peelie did….

Club ride (road), along the coast and then up into the hills. Spanish Basque Country, Zumaia, Aizarna, TOlosa, Larraitz then home.
About 140km/2500m.

“Half a day out with the undertaker”. Always liked that particular Dibnah-ism.

If my maths is to be trusted, that’s about 3mph faster than Hutch’s record?

What’s with Millar’s funky headgear these days? NHS glasses and a beret?

^^^this

If this is a new club, surely it’s just a case of agreeing/pointing out. Same as you would decide which side to peel off to, which way the ride is going etc.

BWD, I’ve done just that, actually works OK although the odd time the thumbshifter locks until I wiggle the finger lever to release it. I can put up with it for training anyway.

After a bit of frantic calling round, an LBS told me they can get a Super Record shifter for tomorrow. Only difference between that and Chorus is the lever. The price quoted was 90€… now unless I’ve misunderstood (easy to do with my Spanish), that seems cheap for an SR shifter :?:
Chorus was 85€, but then I’d have had to wait a week.

So, not sure what’s actually going to turn up. Just the finger shifter assembly, or the body minus hood and brake lever, or the whole thing.

Just off to do the rounds of the LBSs when they open, if no luck (I’m in Spain) I’ll give Mercian a bell. Cheers.

I like that idea (rubber band)! Thing is, it’s my only bike and I’ve got races coming up from this weekend, so I can’t remove it and send it anywhere (it’s prob. under warrenty).

Why do we say “Spending dropped slightly to less than £10m” (verb + adverb) but “The concept of the joint family rarely exists” (adverb + verb)?

I’d try and get out of that one by saying adverbs of manner (slightly) usually go after the main verb, and adverbs of frequency (rarely) go before. And then change the subject before they started throwing exceptions at me ;-)

(Genuinely interested, rather than trying to turn this into a TEFL w@nkfest!)

Wouldn’t advise TESOL as a career choice, but I’m in Spain and (touch wood) the money’s OK and I spend almost as much time riding as working…

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=57641
Replacement boa dials if you need them.

I’ve been using s-works road shoes for a couple of months after a few years of hotfoot problems – early days yet, but I think they are helping.
Better value than Sidi too, IMO (if value matters at 200 quid plus…)

Edit – beaten to it!

Someone mentioned SF and Vancouver – never been to either but I think I’d live there sight unseen.

I’m in the Basque Country, don’t think I’ll be leaving. Has its own distinct culture mixed in with the Spanish, and you’ve got France just up the road. I’m training on the road 15+ hrs a week in the mountains or on the coast, and it’s another world compared to doing the same in London and environs. Off the bike, there’s the rare treat of quiet city beaches in April/May when the weather’s good but the tourists haven’t arrived yet.

It does take time to make friends with the locals though. The weather is quite British (warmer, but rains more than Manchester, with more sunshine), and the food is often awful (YMMV; I’m vegan).

I do miss London (and Cumbria), but a week there every year is enough ;-)

aha gotcha

Fair do’s. I don’t even know where the Black Country is!

trailmonkey – /??/

oops. 20. I’m s’posed to know this stuff :oops:

Not googled, from the back of New English File Intermediate :wink:

32 from memory?

Nice link, ta… just watching the Cab one.

Still got a SC Jeff Grosso somewhere in my dad’s house (and a never-mounted Hosoi hammerhead…!), and an 80s vintage Caballero tshirt WHICH I F**KING TIE DYED :oops:

Used to break windows with Midget Gems* as a kid, so no reason a crow couldn’t do it.

*black widow assisted

^^^ Don’t footballers shave their legs? I teach English at a Spanish club and most of the players seem to do it.

With you in that dress
My thoughts, I confess
Verge on dirty.
Ah, come on Eileen

and acca dacca…

I’m living in a nightmare
She’s looking like a wet dream
I got myself a Cadillac
But I can’t afford the gasoline

It’s said that your HRmax varies with different activities. It’s higher for running than for cycling as more muscle groups are used. So I would assume it’s also higher for mtb as you use more muscle groups for stability, lowping over yats, etc. Of course that doesn’t override what’s been said above, that it’s entirely effort dependant.

piss all over his sleeping grandads face

This image will stay with me for years :-o

That pic’s ‘shopped. There’s a sun over pais vasco…

No idea what you’re doing with it, but maybe Dr. Bronners?

OK, I was being a bit fick, innit. I thought white carbs were banned outright and you were supposed to stuff your jersey pockets with a couple of kilos of frozen peas or something :-)

If your already thin and do a bit of exercise and eat a healthy, balanced diet then you’ll be fine eating stuff like bread, pasta and fruit.

I’m coming from this angle, I eat well and train 15hrs a week, but need to drop some BF before the race season kicks off.