30 Aout

Le grand retour des vacances !
L'effectif n'était pas au complet mais nous étions tout de même 8 ce matin: David , Ernesto, Fabrice, Jacky, Romain(2), Pascal, Patrick et Stefano à se lancer pour 55 Kms gentiment déroulés en 4h15. Temps idéal pour une reprise qui nous mènera de Fleurines à Pont Ste Maxence via Le Pagnotte. En chemin se joindront à nous Olivier (Focus) et Jean Philippe (Canondale) avec lesquels nous bouclerons notre tour par les bords de l'Oise et Verneuil en Halatte. D'excellents compagnons de route avec lesquels nous aurons plaisir à partager de nouvelles sorties.

Certaines arrivées sont espérées (Luc, Patrick, Gilles) et nécessitent plus que jamais une organisation des randos sur deux ou trois groupes.

Bruno, Emmanuel, Harry, Romain (1), Serge : n'oubliez pas de rejoindre le point de ralliement au risque de vous retrouver à cours de forme. La première sortie a marqué quelques mollets, mais prendre le risque de trainer au lit dimanche prochain pourrait vous en couter quelques crampes à votre retour !!!

C'EST LA RENTREE!

Qui sera là Dimanche?, départ 9h00 du square, venez nombreux pour cette sortie de rentrée.

MOAB!!!

On August 16th and 17th Fred, James, Dave and Brandon set out for the second annual Maob mountain biking trip.

Situated in the middle of some of the most spectacular red-rock national parks, Moab is reputed as THE epic Mecca for mountain biking in the USA. Some of the most famous rides are SlickRock(Video) and Porcupine Rim (Video) (thank you www.utahmountainbiking.com!).

In 2008 we rod Slick Rock so this year we decided to tackle the Porcupine Rim.

First order of business was to stop at Rim Cyclery to get the appropriate gear: a Specialized Enduro SL with 150mm suspension! A real dream as the bike was quite light (probably around 13kg) and the suspension could be locked out and adjusted from 110 to 150 mm. A perfect all around biking that drops like a rocket and climbs quite easily as well! The bike was equipped with SRAM shifters (X0), and I am really converted!! SRAMs are more like surgical tools than mountain bike equipment. The shifts are extremely quick and precise. WOW.

The Procupine trail is a fantastic mix of single and double tracks that has a constant 2% downhills grade that follows the rim of a majestic canyon. The result is a fantastic riding experience that is a mix of very technical, fast riding (I really learned to jump on this ride) and a series of breathtaking views.

At the end of the day we spent an hour playing around Slick Rock and I even attempted climbing the Baby Lion's back, but the heat and fatigue had the best of me ... it will be there next year!

It was a fantastic experience and I can't wait for round three next year ... but right now I am ready for a little fresher temperatures in the GREEN forests around Senlis!!!

Fred

09 Août

Tout seul ce matin au départ pour 46 Kms en 2h50 en passant par Fleurines, Pont Ste Maxence et bien évidement l'incontournable Pagnote. La vue du promontoire était particulièrement dégagée laissant découvrir toute la plaine de Montepilloy jusqu'à Pont. De quoi se consoler du peu d'originalité de cette sortie (comparée à certaines autres lointaines de notre Picardie....) A dimanche, pour ceux qui seront rentrés ! Patrick

Grand Teton National Park

After six busy years Louise and I finally found some time to take a vacation; ALONE.

Grandma and Grandpa were nice enough to watch the kids for three days while we went out to Jackson Hole to take a guided nature tour of the Grand Teton (yes, Grand Tenton ... French explorers!!) National Park. Our tour was great as we got to see a lot of wild nature and animals, including a rare close enounter (10 meters!!) with a Black Bear!! (see the bottom pictures)

After the tour we rented a bike for Louise and we went out for a couple of rides following the feet of the might Teton Mountains!! Amazingly enough there was a wonderful biking trail that ran nice and straight and had a gentle 1.5deg angle.

Louise and I were debating how far to go before we had to turn around, but soon ran into a herd of bisont crossing the road. They had a lot of little ones and they charge at about 50km/h so we knew that the ride was over!

The rides were not athletic ... but wow, what wonderful moments!!

Fred

SORTIES ROUTE DANS L'HERAULT

Début de vacances sportives à MARSEILLAN, 2 sorties de 66 kms sous le soleil et la chaleur 30°.
Par contre c'est tout plat maxi 200m de dénivelée.Prochaine sortie, je pars dans l'arriére pays coté LARZAC à la recherche des montagnes et des chévres.Promis des photos pour le prochain post.
A bientot fabrice

Fred's Utah Biking Vacation - Day 2

Pretty exciting day ... 100kms with 1500mt ascent, the scenery is so beautiful you don't even realize how for you have gone!!

I rode the first 40kms with my brother-in-law and then the rest on my own.

James just bought a bike made by a local manufacturer, very nice road bike and excellent value for the price. Fezzari is able to provide a great price because you can only buy direct from the factory.

Tomorrow will probably be a rest day.

Bridal Veil falls - going up Provo Canyon

Two views of Mountain Timpanogos - ascending from Sundance Ski resort. Despite the 37C in the valley you can make out the glacier in this picture.

Spin spin spin,

Fred

Fred's Utah Biking Vacation - Day 1

Ok, I have been dreaming about this moment for a while now ... vacation, biking and a break from the 2009 economic outlook which has been depressing the hell out of me!

Here in Utah we are in bikers paradise and since I have a dream bike, I thought I could put the two together for an amazing "biking madness" vacation. Louise's parent live in Utah valley at the bottom of a mountain called Timpanogos. The house is at 1500 mts and you can bike all the way up to 2500 right out of the garage. We are on the Wasatch mountain range and anywhere you look there is a 3500mt summit! Yum.

Today's ride was a "test" ride ... and I passed. I went up American Fork canyon all the way to the summit of the road and came back down. Since I am still a little jet lagged and the kids were up all night I really tried to watch the Polar and "listen" to my body to stay within the limits; no use in blowing up on the first ride ... there are three more weeks to do that!

From the house to the summit there are 22km and a vertical gain of 930mts with an average grade of 5%. I ascended in 1h:25m at an average 15.5km/h and average heart rate of 161 bpm. Now I have a benchmark ... we'll see what happens in the next three weeks ...

Lot's of riders in the canyon, will for sure try and hook up with a pack for a little more social experience.

Tomorrow I ride with my brother in law going up the Sundance ski resort.

Cheers for now,

Fred

31 juillet en Vendée

63 Kms ce matin en 3H05 en passant par St Julien des Landes, Vayré, Olonne, Les Sables, Le Chateau, St Mathurin et La Mothe Achard.

Une superbe ballade au travers des marais vendéens. Photo prise du Franchissement du Gué de la Fosse aux Gendarmes (près d'Olonne sur Mer). Sortie en solo mais agrémentée par un passage par Port Olonna et le remblai des Sables d'Olonne. Il faisait beau aujourd'hui, ce qui m'a permis ensuite de faire une sortie pêche en bateau et en famille ( 1 seul tacaud). A bientôt pour de nouvelles "aventures"; Patrick