Gastrobiking

Back to Die

Today's ride down to Die and back would be considered by some to be quite ambitious at this time of year. Depending on the route you take, it's anywhere between 140 and 170kms, unless you want to add on the Col de Penne, like Michael last year, to take it over 200 kms or do an epic 250 km Tour of the Vercors like Josh a couple of years ago.  

Our trip today measured in at 160 kms and we think is a great ride for this time of year as it doesn't go too high (the Col de Rousset is at 1254m so I guess it's high enough), the roads are well cleared of snow and all the climbing is at a gentle gradient.  It's just long. However, when Phil called into the bakery in St Jean for his customary sustenance this morning, the owner, who is also a cyclist, had some words of advice for riding back over the snowy Col de Rousset, concerned that we were adequately equipped.  'I am now I have my 'pain aux raisins', Phil assured him. On the way up to Leoncel, a fellow cyclist on his way down, stopped in his tracks and called out to me, concerned that I was heading up to a 'Route Barré' sign.  This evening Dom was flabbergasted when Phil called in for his customary post ride pizza and told him how he'd earned it.

Their concern was well meaning but unnecessary; it was a fantastic day for taking on such a ride.  The trees have no leaf cover so the views are more visible in winter.  The snow at the top adds a contrast to the first signs of spring in the valley. The hardest thing about a ride like today is how to manage the extreme differences in temperature.  It was sunbathing weather in the salon de thé in Die for our coffee and cake stop whereas the top part of the descent down to Vassieux-en-Vercors, where we happened upon the sledging dogs packing up for the day, was pretty shivery.  But a few moments of discomfort did nothing to spoil the immense enjoyment of the day.

 





      

Notes on a Weekend

Two days of riding in the Vercors to finish up February, going out completely overdressed and overheating within the first half hour, legs loving the climbs, streams and rivers in full flow, waterfalls cascading over cliffs which are usually dry, fantastic tailwinds pushing us along the flat as fast as the pros, Chabeuil to Romans (12 kms) in 16 minutes, snow on the peaks, dramatic cloudy skies, two punctures within 5 minutes, four cups of tea out of one teapot in a groovy little bar in Crest, hardly any cars, 68 kph going down the Grands Goulets tunnel, Bolton getting three points, double portions of pancakes for tea. 

 

 

 

Spéléo-cats

A couple of things we've been lacking this winter .. sun and cake-stops.  Not one cake stop on the bikes and not a whole load of those lovely cold sunny winter days.  So, today we had both cakes and sunshine.  It was one of those days where we could have either gone cycling or x-c skiing and had a fantastic day either way.  I haven't skied yet this year though and was getting scared that winter would pass me by without a ski, so that's what we did.  I love the Vercors in winter.

My skiing technique still isn't up to much; I get by but it's not pretty.  Phil had me practising without poles for ages today which was good.

It was worth all the effort for the 'tartes aux fruits rouges' at the Col de Carri. 

We went down to try to feed the cave cats when we got back.  It rained pretty much all day here on Friday and their cave is completed flooded.  We haven't been able to get in and leave them any food since about Wednesday.  They have a great home though with lots of secret underground passages and they have a way of getting out.  As we were standing there wondering what to do today, a little head poked out of one of the holes.  I managed to throw great handfuls of food over to a ledge and Fuzzy came out for his dinner.  That really cheered me up.  It's been a good weekend.

  

Today

the tracks were beautifully snowy.  There is no snow left in St Nazaire after this week's snowfall but we found lots off-road, especially as we got up towards St André.  Some sun would be nice for tomorrow though.  Please.

 

  

Winter mtb

We discovered some really good tracks today, around Chatte and the Abbey St Antoine.

Back on the road again

We've had very few clear sunny days recently.  Last week, as soon as the temperatures started to go up, it was just grey skies and a mixture of snow, slush and ice on the roads and tracks, which kept Phil on the turbo and me out running for the most part.

Today, though, was lovely.  After going through the options, we eventually got out and did 90 kms on the road bikes.

 

 

It looks like someone has discovered the Gastrobiking approach to sports nutrition:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/13/roberto-mancini-manchester-city-red-wine

Over the hill?

It's taken me a while to convince Phil of the joys of snowshoeing.  What is there not to like? Low-impact, low-stress, low-cost, endurance and muscle building, enabling you to access tranquil and unpisted areas that you can't always access on skis.  And if Phil is right that it is for oldies who are past x-c skiing, then, fine, I'm with the oldies.  Coming home with no bumps and bruises and all your limbs intact after an afternoon in the snow is not actually a bad thing as far as I'm concerned.

More snow fell this weekend in St Nazaire than has done for years; driving was difficult so we stayed here and snowshoeing won over skiing.  On Friday evening we did a night trek over the hills towards Rochinard and back via La Motte Fanjas and this afternoon we did almost the same route but in daylight and the other way round. 

The snow was so good and it really was lots of fun.  Ok, not fun as in the heart-thumping, adrenaline-fuelled, sliding down a mountain sort of way but the good honest grind your way up a hill sort of fun.  Even Phil is coming round.  More snow, Please! 

      

Feeding time in the cave

I first came across them at the end of last summer; down at the lake feeding the ducks, a noisy tabby cat appeared demanding food.  I had some chicken in the fridge and decided that she needed it more than the rest of us.

We gradually discovered there were more, including kittens.  Over time we've become attached to three of them who seem to be getting used to us.  When I was working, Phil took on the job of going to feed them; after work, I asked who was in when he called round and he normally replied that it was Fuzzy, TwoTone and Tabby.

They've had their home flooded in recent weeks but have become more skilled at jumping across the abyss.  Phil has also become more skilled at hunching down and reaching across with their food.

 

They've also been snow-bound.  

They have a great home and are well-fed.  They love cat milk and had wet jelly food for Christmas dinner.  I worried about them being cold; they now have a vegetable box each with some clothes inside.

They seem happy in their home.  Tabby purrs when you pick him up and is very affectionate.  Fuzzy is becoming more confident; Phil has stroked him whilst he eats, until he remembers to be more cautious and jumps back.  We've never stroked TwoTone - he / she seems to be getting more nervous.

I don't know what will happen to them in the future.  I know the world is full of stray cats. But for now, we're making sure they get fed every day. 

 
 

  

 

On / off

Shortly after my boast about being able to ride up into the Vercors on New Years Eve, the weather went and changed  .... the wind swung round to a northerly, bringing with it a covering of snow for the Vercors and temperatures just about scraping into the positive down here.   

On the plus side, we've got the mountain bikes out again.  The great thing about switching from road to mtb is the freshness it brings - even just a few days off either brings a greater appreciation when you go back -  the rhythm, smoothness and sweeping descents on the road and the bumps, obstacles, leaves, and puddles on the mtb.  It's all good.

It's so much easier to stay warm on the mtb though so it's a better choice for winter. Yesterday we did 2 hrs 30 on the road, today 2 hrs 35 off-road.  Yesterday we were cold, barely stopped to speak, heads down, get home.  Today we had fun.  We did a lot of short hard climbs, some fast, slippery, icy descents, as well as some wading through mud and were warm enough to be able to stop and laugh about our near misses.  When I wasn't gasping for breath, I was giggling today - if it wasn't at Phil falling off, it was at one of his typically-Phil comments, .....  'I like my new tyre - best seven quid I've ever spent ... 'cept on one of Dom's pizzas'.  He he.