Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club

I’m off on an adventure. I’m packing my bags, my bike and my DHBC jersey and skinsuit and going to Europe.

The first week of September will see me leaving Barcelona on my bike and heading off to Biarritz – over and through the Pyrenees. It’s a 7-day stage cyclo-sportif. Not a race but a “timed event”. We’ll ride 800km and climb 20,000m and it’s called the Haute Route Pyrenees. TdF riders get paid to do this stuff! I, on the other hand, am paying the organisers a handsome amount to take me.

I haven’t been to continental Europe since the mid 1980s. And then I was mostly on a motorbike and a naive young thing. This time, I’m having a bicycle extravaganza. Thought I’d do it before I get too old and while still confident enough to believe I can still do it.

A few days after finishing the Haute Route, I’m off to meet my friends & DHBC members Camilla and Ted in France who will have separately left Barcelona towards Avignon on the Hannibal Tour. Trust them to find a bicycle tour that includes cycling and archaeology and follows the route that Hannibal took! I’ll ride with them for 3 days on that tour before a bit of rest and recreation in Avignon. And we are planning to climb Ventoux ... We’re only a little alarmed about the thought. It looked kind of hard and bleak in the TdF this year.

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Then it’s off to Trento in Italy to ride in the UWCT Grand Final. For some unknown reason I entered the time trial, up a mountain. TTs are not exactly my forte. Then, a couple of days later, it's the road race a up a couple of mountains. Hmm. I’ll either be really good at mountains by then or completely stuffed. There’s about 90 Australians going which is excellent.

I qualified for this final at last year’s Amy’s Gran Fondo in Lorne, Victoria (got a UCI medal – did I ever mention that? ☺ ). That was an awesome ride in lots of ways including that was the first time I rode the Baum.

I’m going to miss the 2013 Amy’s Gran Fondo as it’s while I’m away but I’m delighted there’s a much bigger DHBC contingent this year. It’s a ride well worth doing. But that’s not all in my epic trip.

Seeing as I'm in the neighbourhood, thought I'd pop off to England to stay with my cousin for a few days in East Dulwich. She very conveniently lives just around the corner from Herne Hill Velodrome. And I’ll be meeting up with Dulwich Paragon, a London cycling club and will ride with them and am hoping to race at Herne Hill.

After that, I reckon I’ll only be fit for Saturday Slowies! See you in October. Geoff Martin, Deputy President, is minding the shop.

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Have a great trip Eleri. Sounds like a stella adventure you're going on.

20,000 m Climbing in a week? OMG.

What gearing are you using?

Bon voyage Eleri,
Ride safe!!

Sounds fantastic!

What day ate you climbing Ventoux? I'll be in the area in early October.

Have a safe & wonderful trip Eleri!

The Haute Route looks amazing - I can't wait for your ride report & photos

So jealous! Are you doing the Haute Route with Two Wheel Tours? I'm thinking about them for next year, love to hear what you think about them or whoever it is you're paying a "handsome" amount to.

Have a great time..... so jealous!

"Jealous"

"Jealous" is not a strong enough term

Looks nothing short of epic.

Good luck and have fun

Yipee! Not long now. Ted and I are currently riding along the Danube. About 500m climbing over 600km and lots of tempting beer gardens. Not exactly the best training for Ventoux!

Ventoux beckons!

Sounds like a lot of fun, and the plus of catching up with Ted and Camilla.

Smooth sailing.

Absolutely envious!

Have a great time, good luck in the races. Looking forward to the strava updates.

Safe travels.

So jealous! Are you doing the Haute Route with Two Wheel Tours? I'm thinking about them for next year, love to hear what you think about them or whoever it is you're paying a "handsome" amount to.

Have a great time..... so jealous!

I am Philip. I'll let you know. So far, so good.

Amy,

20,000 m Climbing in a week? OMG.

What gearing are you using?

Compacts and 11/28. But 650s so that drops ratios about 7%. I'm switching off my standards on Friday.

Simon

What day ate you climbing Ventoux? I'll be in the area in early October.

I think maybe the 15th or 16th September. Maybe we'll time it so we are at the top as DHBC is winning the RAW Club Championship!

Have a wonderful trip and safe travels Eleri.
With so much climbing the magical scenery will ease any pain

Go hard Eleri, I know you will do us proud. And if by the time you come back you are sick of cycling....I will have the Baum. Then again, it may not fit, we all know I'm taller

Trouty, the Baum has 650 wheels. So if you get Eleri's bike, I get your Zipp 808's...

Have a wonderful trip eleri! Looking forward to the pictures and the comments on those monstrous hills!!!

So, we just finished a ride like yours, but along the Danube. 200 fewer km. (19,000m less climbing).

@Ted, that's my type of European riding

Ted - aren't I meeting you to climb Ventoux?

Or am I going up by myself and sending pics back?

Have a great trip. Perhaps a slide-show night for the club when you return? But who would take the photos!?

Um yes, I was vaguely thinking of having a crack at Ventoux. I'll have to ride myself into form in Spain and France. Slightly concerned that there won't be time for a decent taper beforehand.

I've started a blog of my adventures. You are most welcome to follow this.

So far I've been quite good and managed to update it.

BUT tomorrow the Haute Route Pyrenees starts. I'm nervous!!

Based on my reading Ted make sure you do the ride up Ventoux from Sault. Looks the most manageable direction