Monday, 7 July 2008

Uphill: Everybody's Doing It!

The Globe & Mail ran a nice piece this weekend about the challenges of climbing on a bicycle in the Pyrenees. Coupled with the blog on the New York Times about riding l'Etape du Tour, it seems that suffering on hard mountain roads has become mainstream. Is cycling the new golf? Maybe, but you don't see golfers often collapsing at the end of the game...

As I prepare to depart for Europe and the Tour d'Enfer over some of the hardest climbs in the Alps, there will be whole lot of opportunity ahead to think about exertion and suffering. But fun too, I am sure. The sense of accomplishment when you stand at the top of a col is wonderful, and addictive.

4 comments:

Groover said...

Have a great time. I can't wait to read all about your suffering. :-) That's just the envy speaking ... Please she all your insider knowledge as AMR and I are planning to do it next year ...

Donald said...

Leslie,
I just watched a video and read up on the NY Times piece. Will was recently telling me about the l'Etape d'Tour. It's sounds awesome. He said he could use another domestique to attempt it next year. I plan on making one of these big rides soon. I know you're probably packing for the Tour d'Enfer. Have a Blast. I look forward to pictures and reports.

Jennifer Sage said...

It's a little late to wish you "Bon Courage" - I hope you were able to complete the Etape du Tour in one piece! The weather looked abominable. Even getting to the top of the Tourmalet would be a huge success!

Jennifer Sage
http://cyclingeurope.wordpress.com

Sprocketboy said...

Thanks for the great comments, everyone. I am in Berlin at the moment and will be off to the mountains later in the week. Although l´Etape du Tour is hard, and it was raining this year, what we plan to do is much, much harder!