Today was a great day, beautiful Blue Cloudless Skies which put us in a good mood from the off.
After breakfast we had a small 8km climb; Col de Aravis
Chopper & Giles were at the front having a great ride. Scotty not too far behind.
Chopper & Giles led the pack and managed to get lost. Yes folks – lost. Ended up in some roadworks & adding 3km & another climb to their day!
They took on Col de Saisies (15km) together – very fast.
One Firefly, a seasoned motorbike rider, lost it on a corner, hit the barrier, flew off his bike & onto the steep bank behind. Reappearing quite bashed up, covered in mud, wheels totally buckled & leaving a massive skid mark serving as a warning to those who followed.
Regrouped at the bottom of Roseland for some 10 out of 10 tarts! (Apple, Blueberry & Blackcurrant).
The next climb was very tough – but 2/3 of the way up a bright green lake comes out of nowhere - fantastic!
We took it easy at first. Pushing. Pushing . Staying together. Each of us finding it tough at different points – taking it in turns spurring each other on. We had a great Roseland!
Giles had a very close call with an on coming lorry. Lorry driver mouth agog as Giles squeezed his buttocks through the gap. Adam had a close call with a kamikaze Marmotte playing chicken in the road!
The view – the size & the scale is just unimaginable!
You can not let your mind wander onto what’s for dinner – you have to stay focussed at every turn.
Many fireflies have come to grief here in previous years.
Bourg St Maurice meant more food – then 30km of a grim A road to the hotel. Tons of lorries. Tons of traffic and a big head wind! Awful! But we got here!
So - Chopper’s top was speed 45.8mph, but Giles won with a top speed of 50.7mph!
Adam got his pedal down on Saisies!
Off to eat dinner now!
A truly FANTASTIC day! Can it get better than this?
Responses to your blog comments:
Sam O’Brien: Giles has spent entire week sleeping with Alex from Framestore – teaching him some new tricks
Liz Roberts: I’ll sleep on anything&I’ll eat what ever’s put in front of me – even Chopper’s arse!
Roxy: Been given a tubes of cream called “Brave Soldier Friction Zone”Chopper has retired early with his tube & we are sure he is thinking of you.
Bash: Riding as quick as we can & with that in mind – we will go even faster.We are having fun – but we are very sore!
Wiggins: Thanks wigs but they are MOUNTAINS not hills. We are not in Crystal Palace!It’s not the distance – it is the style that counts!
Ben Hampshire: Chopper is as fit as a Buthcher’s dog – he hasn’t broken a sweat yet.But maybe when he texts Roxy at 6am it is a different matter!By the way it is much harder than last year – or the year before!Best of luck with the fireflies West!
PS- Adam would like to let you know that he is in fact riding a Classic Steel Colnago & not the Forth bridge! Giles shouts in the back ground - “bit it weighs as much as the forth bridge!”
Chopper was unavailable for comment!
