2008

Autumn Rides

The good weather still shows off in October.
In the cold mornings (I might say for us, 10ºC) we wear warm layers easy to put away when the afternoon sun starts to shine and temperatures raise to 20ºC. Yes it's nice now. Maybe we should start riding at noon and be back by 3pm...

Well, maybe we'll need more time to cover 100k!
Jim was in Girona for a few days, and wanted to ride a bit. Well, it turned to be 5 good hours going to the coast. A beautiful day!

On the way back we were talking about food...I told hima bout how delicious pork cheeks are when they are baked w. veggies. Well, at first is not something you'd order, I know. It is not very common dish. Once you see it, rich and tender meet on both sides of a flat bone, and after tasting it your opinion changes. It worth trying these specialty!

Well, we got so hungry on the way back, that we met for lunch after the ride, and guess what; The restaurant was serving cheeks in the menu.

We both went for it! Oh yeah, that was a feast! Felt so good after the long ride.

Thanks Jim!
Christmas is coming and the Cagations (see in the picture) are ready to be fed and grew.

I wonder what the catalans do with them. I can tell you that they poop good presents for everyone!

Another day of good riding.

Going to the Montseny Mountains in autumn is going to see the beautiful colors of the changing season.

Again, Ritse and Gordon were impressed by the ride we had prepared. Well, I hope I can do it every time they come!

Microsoft Digital Town Hall Post ISU Cycling Tour

After several weeks of planning with Gordon and Jordi, I was ready to pick up the group in Barcelona. We were 8 in total and would go to Girona for a dinner and an intense ride the day after a long conference week.

The group

We had a fabulous dinner and were ready to go to bed and get ready for next morning. The ride we had prepared was The Coast to Tossa, one of the nicest rides around.

Leaving Tossa behind

On the way back we stopped in Romanya. We were running short of time, and decided to push a little bit faster and work the paceline together against the wind. Back on time to have showers and drive to the countryside Masia restaurant to enjoy traditional Catalan food. Wine in a porró!

(maybe I can post some pictures here when I have them...:-)

After lunch and ride back to the airport, I think everyone was tired enough to sleep on the way home - me included.

Hope to see you again guys! Good luck!

La Vuelta

We are back from spending 4 days in the Pyrenees to see la Vuelta.
One of the big stages finished in Cerler, after a 12km climb. It was going to be a great chance to see the riders in action!

Erik had some friends visiting and we all went to see La Vuelta. Theresa, Robin and Erik in the picture.

The climb was 12km and had 6 hard ks, especially the first 4 and the 2 past Cerler, at 10%.
Grafitters!!! Watch out!
And we had a rest stop and met with these two dutch fans. Viva Freire, Viva Rabobank!

They invited us to have a couple of beers, and we were ready for the winding descent to Benasque....

And the pros came...Sorry, the picture below ;-))
The following day, I talked to the CSC Fisio and he told me that when VdV was caught by the peloton, Iñigo Cuesta was leading it at 26-30km/h for the first 4 hard km. Hard to believe, impossible to do! After Cerler, the pack was completely broken and the stage was for Piepoli, Menchov was 2nd.

Next day start at Benasque. Go Christian!

Quick update: secret training for the big ride

R. don't say it to anyone....

August: Big Holidays in Spain

During this month the Spanish, Catalans and Europeans move to the coast for the summer holidays. Tim and Dan decided to visit Girona with some friends and go for a ride to the countryside.

Many villages hold their festivals this time of the year and it's what we found on our way through Monells. People waking up from the party, cleaning the square and everything closed. We moved to the next town for our coffee break.

Back to Girona, descending from Santa Pellaia

3 days later, we would go on another ride with Rebecca, and her sister Lauren. Another beautiful day to enjoy this ride with history, visiting several medieval villages along the way.

Good luck with your travels! See you soon!

from ATLANTA

Jim contacted me when at The Bicycle Link told him I had been there and rode with their group last December.
I didn't know if I would be in Girona at the time because of the Tour de France, but we managed to schedule three good days of riding.

The top of Els Angels

Riding in Tossa

Everytime we pass next to the wonderful beaches of this part of the Costa Brava, it is hard to resist the temptation to jump into the water!

Tour de France

Weekend escape to the Tour in the Pyrenees. Friday to Monday, and 4 days of riding to taste the long climbs and descents. I joined Erik, who had planned this trip much in advance. It was going to be a great weekend!

Climbing to Envalira

We left Friday afternoon to Andorra, our base camp. After arriving we went for a short ride to loosen our legs after 3 hours in the car. Two options: climb or descend. We decide to go up to Port d' Envalira. 9km climb at 6% to 2400m of height, and a fast decent back to the hotel.

On Saturday we left in the morning for a good ride, but once in Andorra, it started to rain. We stopped in a bar to have a cafe con leche and it started pouring. Back to the hotel earlier than expected, we decided to watch the whole time trial. Vino amazing! Still not aware of what was going to happen later on...

Sunday, Plateau de Beille. We drove to the base and climbed to the top. Thousands of people on the side of the roads, thousands of riders, thousands of caravans, just amazing! 15km to the top at a constant 7%.

We stayed at 2km to the finish line. Great views to the road! We sat there for at least 3 hours until the Tour caravan arrived.

An hour later Contador and Rasmussen would appear at the first switch backs. People gathering on the road to see them pass by. Too close, and too fast! Rasmussen attacked at km2 and they were attacking each other passing us at at least 20miles an hour! not much was left to see, but the impression they were flying to the top. Unbelievable!

Maybe last time we were going to see Vinokurof

After the stage we would descend carefully with so many people. Some of the pros would descend as well back to their team vans. At the bottom we talked to Freddie, who was feeling really sick and would leave the Tour during the next stage. Horner was there too and he has been doing really well. Good luck to the Predictor-Lotto Team!!

Holidays for everyone

Finally the time came. It took a long time to prepare. Aaron and Greg, and their families were staying in a little village next to the Mediterranean Sea. We would start riding in the morning and meeting the families later. 5 riding days and some of the best rides around we had ahead. We are ready!

Day 1: Medieval Empordà. An easy ride to start spinning the legs. 85km.

Want to ride next to sunflowers? Feels good!

Coffee break at one of Lance Armstrong favourite restaurants outside Girona

Day 2. Rocacorba 114km. Our challenge is Rocacorba climb, one of the hardest climbs around Girona, and where the Pros train since it was paved all the way to the top

The hard climb to Rocacorba. 14 km, 6.5% average grade, with 2km at 10%!

10 days from the Tour start, we met VandeVelde and Zabriskie coming down Rocacorba.

5 minutes later we hear something aournd the corner...fiuuuuu!!!, Hincapie and Levi. They are gone so fast. We keep pushing up. Before starting our descent, we see the 2 CSC's again, climbing, 100m to the top, high cadence, amazing speed!

At the bottom we find Hincapie and Leipheimer going back to Girona. We jump on their wheel...
Hard to keep up with them, fast turns and lot of wind. We give up...

Riding behind George and Levi

Day 3. The coast to Tossa.

Riding along the Mediterranean

Day 4. Els Angels. 105km

Day 5. Sant Pere de Rodes. 64km. A perfect day for the queen stage.
We had to shorten it a little bit because of the wind, but kepth the major climbs of the day. Magnificient views!

Climbing to Cadaqués, Dali's hometown

The climb to Sant Pere