D -4 and counting

Passport from safe deposit box? Check. International-sized carry-on luggage? Check. Two serviceable cycling kits (or costumes, as Carrie calls them) that will be comfortable for long days in the saddle? Check. NSAIDS and butt balm for a sore bum if the days are too long or the bibshorts not comfy enough? Check. Two weeks supply of old guy meds and supplements? Check. Enough training miles behind me to give me confidence I can do this challenge? Define "enough." Or "confidence," for that matter. Well, too late now, I've paid all the money and I'm committed.

"The Raid Pyrenean, otherwise known as the "Coast to coast Pyrenees," this cycling tour will take you across the Pyrenees, from West to East, over the same mythical climbs regularly seen during the Tour de France.

"Starting from Biarritz on the Atlantic coast, and finishing seven days later in Perpignan on the Mediterranean coast. You will climb, among many others, the cols of the Tourmalet, Aubisque and Peyresourde. A total of 16 climbs, and 705 km of excitement and emotion await you on this Pyrenean cycling holiday." 

So says the promo copy. Did I mention it includes 12,000+ m of climbing? In English units that's about a bazillion feet of elevation gain, or enough to make your car groan if you were driving this route.

I signed on to this trip in late April, thinking it would be the kind of cycling adventure I've long dreamed of doing. In fact, I was working on recruiting a group to join me for a tour of Portugal for fall of '20-- but you all know what happened to EVERYONE's plans that year. When I heard that two of my biking buddies were signed on to the Raid this spring, I said, "send me the link --" and now there are 11 of us from Madison making the journey. 

As I've learned from riding 200-300 miles/week for most of the summer, and making as many of those miles climbing as I could, I'm thinking that this could be the hardest physical challenge I've ever taken on.

Just one of many rides in prep

Where five years ago I rode maybe one 70+ mile ride per year, this year I'm doing that twice a week, with shorter rides of 25-50 miles each day in between. I've also set up

 The Pain Cave in our garage, a stationary trainer on which I can simulate rides all over the world, including a number of the climbing segments we're scheduled to do in France. 18k of continuous uphill, with an average slope of 9%, and short pitches up to 24%, is where the "pain" part comes from.

Unfortunately, the 11 Madison riders has become “and then there were 10.” The tour initiator and sparkplug, Mike Ivey, had a fall about 6 weeks ago and broke his ankle and foot, and despite his best efforts at a quick rehab, got word this week that it’s a no-go for him. Sad, and he'll be missed. The 2nd to commit, Tim, crashed while riding in NC in late spring, fracturing his pelvis, clavicle, and several ribs. He, on the other hand, is rehabbing and plans to ride with us, though, as he claims, “from the back of the pack.” Although we’ll have two support vehicles to sag in if/when needed, it’s more fun and scenic to ride than sag.

One of our group, Murray, I think, dubbed our group the Euroslackers, taken from the every Tuesday midday riding group, cyclists that I describe as "unemployed, pre-employed, post-employed, underemployed, self-employed, working from home, or don't give a s***." Three of us are in their 50's, the rest in their 60's, and I'll be the senior member, I think. In fact, I'll spend my 70th birthday flying home. Think Air Iberia will give me a complimentary upgrade to 1st class? At least a free drink-- I have modest hopes.