Friday Awards

Matty - for competing the furthest distance by extra warm ups, doubling back and longer routes home - Yellow Jersey

Helen - for tackling the mountains for the first time - the mountain goat (mountain donkey) award

Iain - for smashing his previous time on D'Huez - most improved (also best chef award)

Dave - for helping riders up the hills and keeping everyone in check - gentleman cyclist

Calie - for absolutely trouncing every hill, pass, col and whatever else came her way - white (ladies) jersey

Tom - just because it was only ever going to happen - polkadot jersey

Jason - for doing just as much singing as cycling - musical award.

Miles - easy really, for attacking every sprint, hill, rider and just generally punishing his body to the limit - most combative and most entertaining.

Alternative suggestions welcome, what do you think?

Final stage

Friday, the last day of riding and everyone had different ideas of where to go, what to do. Iain and Jason took the cycle route to Romans following the same route Matt and I took from the other day, the girls headed up what has now been dubbed "camembert pass" due to the restaurant selling melted cheese dishes at the top.
I had different ideas, I wanted to go to a town called Ste Croix which is around 35 miles over the vercours plateau, just so I could get a photo to show James and Laura who share the surname. Unfortunately after a weeks hard cycling, it was not to be... It's just too far and too much climbing, maybe next time.
Instead, Matt, myself, James and Miles (happy birthday) took off on a route Dave had penned which looked good, tough but manageable. Over a few cols, across the plateau and back, around 60km. Stopping for a lunch at an out of season ski resort restaurant, I had my first sandwich and frites of the week. Fantastic scenery and plenty of laughs made it much easier for our tired legs to manage. Back in town following more fantastic downhill speeds I'm now sitting in the cold mountain stream which I bailed on earlier in the week.
Tonight we celebrate Miles' 26th birthday with our hosts and with no riding planned for tomorrow, I'm sure the wine will flow.
Looking forward to getting home tomorrow to see my Beautiful wife and the boy, I'm sure the rest of the gang are keen to see their loved ones too after a most fantastic break here in Vercours.
Thanks for your time.
Tom

Jour d'Huez

Today we took a drive...
An hour and a half from St Jean took us to a town just the other side of Grenoble called Greg LeMond or something. We parked up just by a majestic lake and water damn where we unloaded the bikes and donned kit ready for the day's challenge. On our way, we headed down a long stretch of road through Greg LeMond and out towards the bottom of the mountain. The group was clearly excited as all I could hear behind me on the 30 minute warm up was Jason singing. Not an unpleasant experience but not something I would pay to hear again. Once we hit the bottom of the climb, we all said our goodbyes as we wouldn't be seeing eachother for at least an hour. 
Miles made a signature break after around 10 seconds, clearly wanting to get into his own rhythm, Matty and I were holding a steady pace for a while until we separated too. From then on I was all alone, get into the zone and just keep legs moving. Early on I had to make a brief stop to adjust gears but thankfully it was an easy fix so was quickly back on my way. After 20 minute or so, I was starting to tire, not how i wanted to feel at only 1/3rd through, nevertheless I must continue so gritted teeth and ploughed onwards, after another 20 minutes I had started to pick up, possibly due to noticing the corners count down and some to just getting back in the groove (baby).
Anyway onward we went, time was looking good, with some cereal bars in me and with around 5 corners to go passing the photographers, I was feeling strong again. Reaching the finish quickly came and with it a great sense of relief, I continued onward to the point where the tour finishes, around 1km further on and when I found it, met Matt who had also made his way up. He suggested we keep going until the road runs out which at first I was less keen to do as I was pooped but glad we did, adding only another 15minutes to reach the point at which we could go no further without crampons.
We headed back into the town to catch up with the rest of the gang where we had a coffee and made our way back down the hill.
The descent was rapid, twisty and exhilarating. At a fraction of the time taken to climb, it was a fitting end to a fantastic climb (my first proper "cycling" hill). Lunch at the bottom left us completely satisfied ready for our drive home.
Now its on to the town Hotel for some authentic French cuisine and no doubt more stories of eachothers rides today.
Tom

Italiano

Caca du mooch!

Up early to attempt...

Today has arrived and it's nice and cool, this is the temperature we need to climb Alp Du Huez.
Breakfast has been eaten and snacks made ready for the journey all that's left to do is get there and climb!
Let's do this day!

Everybody loves Romans

So today, Wednesday, is the day of rest.
Peeps deciding to do their own thing and nothing planned meant a number of choices. Iain headed off towards Pont for some new climbs he'd scoped out, David and Miles also headed for the hills,  the girls and Jason stayed in town for a mooch and Matty and I plumped for a flat route to Romans, where the girls had been earlier in the week. The route took us down the cycle path we had visited earlier in the week and staying on track landed us in Romans-sur-isère. After a quick café, we popped over-the-counter river to Bourg-de-péage a town twinned with East Grinstead no less, the resemblances are uncanny! We were denied a pizza in a restaurant because we wanted to share. Instead, we went to a nearby boulangerie for a pizza slice and baguette melt which we enjoyed sat by the river in the thankfully less intense sunshine (very romantic).  We took the same route back and enjoyed the flat, scenic but windy 20odd miles.
Back at the ranch, others were making there way back also, we met to catchpole end of today's tour stage then headed off to the supermarche for supplies. Meanwhile, Iain had prepared a delicious meal of spag bol for everyone which we all wolfed down. Now it's just packing the bikes ready for tomorrow's ascent of l'Alpe d'Huez. A climb with strong connections to cycling and the tour de France. Reports of Dave having tackled it before in just over 1hour has set the gauntlet of riding it in less than 60 minutes. Time will tell if any of us are capable but I think just making it to the top is a massive achievement in its own right.
So there we are, an uneventful day, apart from the donkey dicks and my holiday romance with prudence (not related btw), with plenty of rest and a good breakfast we will be well on our way to a real leg buster.
Bon-nuit.
Tom

p.s Dave says hello Mum!

Day 4 "rest day"

Today sees most of us taking a rest day in different forms in preparation for Alpe D'Huez tomorrow. The temperature is being kind to us with a high of 24 expected - a pleasant respite from the 38's we have been enduring! 

Not sure how the day will pan out with Miles and Dave still considering taking on a local mountain, whilst the rest of us thinking more of a gentle role into Romans for a coffee!!! 

Days 2 & 3

Delayed report on yesterday's activities; the day started with breakfast with our hosts. croissants, baguette, muesli, yogurt, cheese and whatever else you  might ever want for breakfast.
We then set off for a flatfish route out of town and under an aqueduct flying over a local village.
We then dropped onto a cycle path sustrans would be jealous of, tarmac'd throughout with some 'punchy' climbs. This took us to the bottom of a couple of roads winding up to a town called Montagne. After a quick pitstop there, we headed back down the hill to grab some lunch.
We found a restaurant which offered a 3 course meal, we thought might be too much for a mid ride stop but didn't have much choice. After a meaty salad then roast beef/chicken, ratatouille, dauphinoise potatoes followed by lemon cake and a coffee, we were fully loaded and in agreement that the choice was indeed a good one. A roll down again and through a few more villages and we were back on local roads and making our way back to the Gite.
Once back, a few beers, showers and whatnot and we were ready for our evening meal booked and arranged with our hosts again, fish, rice and wine meant we were once again satisfied and ready for bed.

Onto today, after a relatively easy day yesterday we sought out some hills. Around here, it's not too tricky! Straight out of the door we had a warm up for 30 mins or so, doubled back past our startpoint and up the local hill, col de La machine (the opposite way to Sunday) all together to enjoy the scenery. A tough climb with sections of 10% and an average of near 8% for around 11km, all made it in hood time and with enough breath to take some snaps of the amazing views.
At the top, a further 5.5km along we stopped for some mountain water and more chit-chat. We then split with the girls heading back through the way we came and the rest pointed towards some more hills.
Without knowing it, our route would have us endure some tough climbs from then on. Every time we thought we were at the top, we weren't. Up we went once more, again and again. Eventually we actually did hit the top and looked forward to our descent to lunch, unfortunately the road was under repair and had loose gravel covering half of the road. Dodging and weaving what we could, hopping over what we couldn't and generally turning a great road into a dodgy gravel path, not the satisfying run down the hill we were hoping for. After lunch we knew we had a downhill section into St. Jean but looked likewise might be a bit tame. Matty took an alternative route as he was (somehow) hungry for some more climbing... Fine, have fun, you're on your own!
Anyway, tame our descent was not, we took off and headed down hill, down and down, for around 18km with not a wiff of uphill. Clocking an average 30mph from top to bottom including some great corners and bends. Back into town again we are now resting watching the end of the tour. Some resting more than others as we have a number of massages booked in (not for me of course). Barbie tonight and ready for another gentle day tomorrow
Tom

Col de le machine.

As you've seen,  the first day cycling was less than easy but not as hard as It could have been.
A long climb to get us warmed up took us up to Goul Noir, then across the valley, along and up to St. Julian for some lunch... Fish and fish. After lunch, the wind picked up and we had tough slog up into La Chapelle where we stopped to fill bidons and catch some shade before the major climb of the day.  Col de Carri, starts relatively manageable and ramps up and up over 5km. Doesn't sound too tough but by the time we all got to the top , we were all shagged so promptly of nd the nearest water source to dunk heads into.
After the killer climb was a tremendous descent through the woods, a right turn took us onto the col de La machine; A pass which skirts the mountain plateau giving spectacular views and the most beautiful road one would ever wish to grace. Once passed this and with obligatory photos, we descended a rapid winding road back into our hometown Base for the week.
A great start to the week with mostly enjoyable climbs and fantastic company.
Photos here too,
Tom

Lunch time for the boys day 1 cycling

While the girls go cycling to the market the boys cycle up to the mountains and stop for lunch ahead of the big climb of the day.
Col de Carri full of twists and bends to break you on the way up and thrill you on the way down.
Best news is David forgot his inhaler so we all breathed a sigh of relief and await his telling off by Vale...

Morning one

We are off to the supermarket now all the bikes are fixed together and yes even Miles!
Allen Iain we need more food!

Night 1

So here we are. We have indeed ariveé'd, bags are unpacked, pizza consumed and beers a'drunken. The temperature at the airport was 1million and it's just about cooled to a light simmer at midnight.
Nicknames are being assigned left right and center, I have fortunately not yet gained anything other than Tom (fine by me).

Tomorrow has already in store; building of flat pack bikes, eating of brekkie and riding of the poorly re-assembled bikes.
There are maps everywhere so even the least map savvy person could finger out a decent looking route, I expect there will be some crackers around these parts.
Anyhow, it's late, everyone is asleep so I should probably get some shut eye too. I'll leave you with some photos of the day.
Tom

Je arrive

We are in Lyon just the bike boxes to arrive!

The riders waiting for the plane

All safe and ready

BA Club Lounge free food and drink no calorie counting now!
6 very excited cyclists and 2 already at Velo Vercors
Bring on the sunshine

One more sleep

So it's been a day of multiple messages, some of which were potentially more revealing than we had expected! Thankfully Mr Noodle (aka Miles) has been seen by a doctor and has his diagnosis and medication. Most of us are packed, with Jason using his additional luggage allowance for his grooming products. Mr Baguette (aka Dave) has officially started his holiday and tucking into BBQ and Haagen Dazs - obviously his training is complete. Helen has yet to ask "are we there yet", but the bets are on. Tom is being distinctly secretive as to his plans and progression- is this the ploy for the week? Calie and Matt are driving down so hopefully their journey will not be disrupted by the very lively French port workers. The rest of us will congregate at Heathrow T3 early afternoon - BA business class lounge awaits 6 cycling reprobates:)

2 more sleeps to Alps 2015

Bags are packed (mostly) swimmers at the ready and almost to fly to Velo Vercors.
Looking forward to early morning rides and afternoons watching Le Tour with a glass in hand
Bring it on!