Ready for off

I've had a bit of a dodgy tummy for the last few days (well, bit more than that really - spent Sunday night slumped in the bathroom and now feel like i've been hit by a train) so I've missed a few days training. I went out yesterday for a quick spin round the country lanes and had a few incidents in the hour I was out - feeling very vulnerable as cars and vans passed very close to my left elbow as I stood waiting to turn right on a very busy road and then later, while trying to overtake a lady on a shopping bike, my heart rate went up to over 240! I didn't feel like it was that hard and I got a shock when I looked down at the monitor. Not doing the etape is such a good decision as I just can't resist trying to overtake (or at least keep up).


We're driving down to Pau, planning to arrive midday on Friday. It's going to be an epic trip but hopefully much easier than when we did it with four children, just a few weeks ago. I think I'll be doing the midnight stretch of driving so that Colin can stick to as normal a sleep pattern as possible.

I'm really looking forward to getting there. On Friday, we'll go out for a couple of hours gentle spinning around Pau. Saturday, I'm going to make my attempt of the Tourmalet starting from Campan (I think that's the place). I'm preparing for the cold this time and will be taking gilet, arm warmers and a coat. On Sunday, I hope to watch the start of the race, take lots of pictures and then I'll drive to a gite at the foot of Hautacam where I'll spend the day picnicing and watching the action - courtesey of our tour company, Cyclomundo. They have been absolutely superb and I will definitely be using them again next year. Monday will be an early start and I suspect that I might be doing most of the driving.

Colin has not had the ideal preparation to the event and this final week couldn't have been worse for him. He has a cold and has also had a bit of the dodgy tummy as well. I think I may have said it on here before but I fear for him. His strategy is to do as little as possible in the run out to Tourmalet, hiding in groups wherever possible (although, as Colin and I are larger than the average cyclist, we do find that people shelter behind us). He'll just take the Tourmalet at his own pace - the Alpe D'huez experience should come in useful here - and then have a rest on the descent. The ascent of Hautacam will be the crunch as he'll be entering into new mileage territory for this year. I fear that his legs may give up at this point but I'm looking forward to having my fears proved completely wrong. Colin has done some big rides before when I thought that he wouldn't make it so he's definitely made of strong stuff. Another tactic is to refuse to stop if he's being waved to the side of the road. I have been told that you can be stopped on the ride at any point - just flagged down and your timing chip ripped off - even when there are many other cyclists continuing on past you. Just. Don't. Stop!!!

Good luck everyone.

Thanks to my parents, my sister and my auntie for looking after our children while we're away. I feel sad to leave them and I'm going to miss them very much.