Raid Pyrenean 2004

wardie2000 said:

Hi, Anyone doing the 2004 Raid Pyrenean this June with Graham Baxters Sporting Tours?

Or anyone got any advice about riding it?

Thanks

I failed to do it in 2003 with Pyrenean Pursuits. It was far too hot (52 degrees on the road).
Advice ? train like you've never trained before, fit a triple chainset, pray for cooler weather
than in 2003.

Problems we faced were the heat, lack of sleep because of the heat, indigestion because of eating
late and rising early. It was not possible to start riding before 8 am which we would have liked to
do to avoid the heat because the hoteliers didn't start breakfast until then.

MSeries said:

wardie2000 said:

Hi, Anyone doing the 2004 Raid Pyrenean this June with Graham Baxters Sporting Tours?

Or anyone got any advice about riding it?

Thanks

I failed to do it in 2003 with Pyrenean Pursuits. It was far too hot (52 degrees on the road).
Advice ? train like you've never trained before, fit a triple chainset, pray for cooler weather
than in 2003.

Problems we faced were the heat, lack of sleep because of the heat, indigestion because of eating
late and rising early. It was not possible to start riding before 8 am which we would have liked
to do to avoid the heat because the hoteliers didn't start breakfast until then.

I did it in 2001 with Graham Baxter (sportingtours.co.uksportingtours.co.ukOpen ↗) It's superb.

Do a lot of riding. Ride to and from work, get out for an all day ride in hilly country one day
every weekend for a couple of months before your trip. Make sure that you have appropriate gearing.
I didn't need a triple, I used 39x27, but some people might. Take some sunblock, and some cold
weather clothes, have fun - all you need to do is ride your bike, eat and sleep!

Check my account of it at geocities.comindex.htmOpen ↗

There's no reason to fail to do it, just keep plugging away. I took SIS recovery drinks with me, and
stayed in great shape throughout where my roommate packed after 2 days with snivelling and snottling
and rode the bus the rest of the way!

Just read your account, it seems like you had fun.

i am 20 and currently at university so, i have plenty of time to get on the road.

Would you say it is worth going to Snowdonia for a week or two and playing on the hills?
Is it worth taking energy bars aswell as the drinks?

Thanks

wardie2000 said:

Hi, Anyone doing the 2004 Raid Pyrenean this June with Graham Baxters Sporting Tours?

Or anyone got any advice about riding it?

Thanks

Finally you can read my report at mseries.freeserve.co.ukmseries.freeserve.co.ukOpen ↗

and someones elses who was with me, this guy completed at

mile43.comrando2003 raid.htmlOpen ↗ (he borrowed my photos)

wardie2000 said:

Just read your account, it seems like you had fun.

i am 20 and currently at university so, i have plenty of time to get on the road.

Would you say it is worth going to Snowdonia for a week or two and playing on the hills? Is it
worth taking energy bars aswell as the drinks?

Thanks

Do as many long hilly rides as you can. On the raid you will be doing 100 mile rides in the day up
hills that are 8 miles or so long. I always take energy bars on long rides, get used to the type of
energy bar that works for you before the raid. If its going to upset your stomach do it at home.

ExGuardianReader said:

MSeries said:

wardie2000 said:

Hi, Anyone doing the 2004 Raid Pyrenean this June with Graham Baxters Sporting Tours?

Or anyone got any advice about riding it?

Thanks

I failed to do it in 2003 with Pyrenean Pursuits. It was far too hot (52 degrees on the road).
Advice ? train like you've never trained before, fit a triple chainset, pray for cooler weather
than in 2003.

Problems we faced were the heat, lack of sleep because of the heat, indigestion because of eating
late and rising early. It was not possible to start riding before 8 am which we would have liked
to do to avoid the heat because the hoteliers didn't start breakfast until then.

I did it in 2001 with Graham Baxter (sportingtours.co.uksportingtours.co.ukOpen ↗) It's superb.

Do a lot of riding. Ride to and from work, get out for an all day ride in hilly country one day
every weekend for a couple of months before your trip. Make sure that you have appropriate
gearing. I didn't need a triple, I used 39x27, but some people might. Take some sunblock, and some
cold weather clothes, have fun - all you need to do is ride your bike, eat and sleep!

Check my account of it at geocities.comindex.htmOpen ↗

There's no reason to fail to do it, just keep plugging away. I took SIS recovery drinks with me,
and stayed in great shape throughout where my roommate packed after 2 days with snivelling and
snottling and rode the bus the rest of the way!

wardie2000 said:

Would you say it is worth going to Snowdonia for a week or two and playing on the hills?

Always!

Quoted message said:

Is it worth taking energy bars aswell as the drinks?

Dunno. Never use either.

Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
chapmancentral.demon.co.ukchapmancentral.demon.co.ukOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There's no reason to fail to do it, just keep plugging away.

This is a sweeping statement. There are many reasons to fail. August 2003 was the hottest month in
the Pyrenees since records began, 10,000 more people than usual died in France that month. The very
first attempt on the Raid was abandoned because of the heat, 2003 was hotter. Not sure how accurate
it was but someones bike computer read 52 degrees C. Our water bottles were warm, the headwinds were
hot, like riding with a hair dryer in front of you. I probably could have contiuned later in the day
but even at 7pm in St Girons it was 37.5 degrees C. Drinking water didn't really cool one down,
shade was the only respite from the heat.

Fitness wise I would agree with you, with some serious training, patience and no panic anyone should
complete the raid, but for some of us the heat was just took much and the logistics didn't allow us
to start really early and finish really late.

BTW I quickly looked at your site, liked the photos, will read the text later today.

wardie2000 said:

Hi, Anyone doing the 2004 Raid Pyrenean this June with Graham Baxters Sporting Tours?

Or anyone got any advice about riding it?

I did the Raid unsupported in August 2002 with a friend. We didn't set out to complete the Raid
within the ten day limit, we'd set aside 13 days.

My packing list was this: Tent Seeping bag Sleeping mat Sandals Towel Swimming trunks Shorts Jeans
T-shirt 2 x socks 3 x pants Sealskin socks Wicking t-shirt Cycle shorts Cycle boots (SPDs) Fleece
Cycling Gortex Flannel Toothbrush Toothpaste Shaving foam Razor GPS Passport Money Train tickets
Guide book Aquitaine map Midi-Pyrennes map Sunglasses Chain Padlock Screwdriver set (one handle 5
various heads) Adjustable spanner 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 10 mm allen keys Spare inner tube Puncture
repair kit 3L camelbak with extension tube 2 x 30L rear panniers 2 x 17.5L front panniers 7L bar bag
2L saddle bag 750ml water bottle Emergency rations, sufficient for 24hrs (dried apricots, muesli,
curry & rice, chocolate bars, long life milk) Stove Saucepan 500ml fuel Lighter Spoon Bowl
Comprehensive first aid kit Iodine tablets

We completed the raid in 9 days, then had 4 days lazing on the Spanish Med coast.

The non-essentials in my packing list was the non cycling clothing (except the fleece), the towel
and the shaving foam and razor. However, it was nice to have the jeans, shorts, t-shirts, swimming
trunks, towel, sandals, socks, underwear and shaving kit for the two nights in Paris, the beach
and evenings.

Cycling along the beautiful Route des Corniches, we were set upon by the most ferocious thunderstorm
imaginable (no uncommon occurrence) and were forced to bivi at the roadside. It was then the
importance of the emergency rations and iodine tablets became evident.

My advice is simply to enjoy the ride.

"wardie2000" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, Anyone doing the 2004 Raid Pyrenean this June with Graham Baxters Sporting Tours?

Or anyone got any advice about riding it?

Thanks

Attempting it again first two weeks in June unsupported. Taking pretty much the same amount of kit
as Gonzalez. Will try to complete within the 10 day limit but should have enough time this year to
complete the route from west to east.

Ken.

Kenneth Clements said:

"wardie2000" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, Anyone doing the 2004 Raid Pyrenean this June with Graham Baxters Sporting Tours?

Or anyone got any advice about riding it?

Thanks

Attempting it again first two weeks in June unsupported. Taking pretty much the same amount of kit
as Gonzalez. Will try to complete within the 10 day limit but should have enough time this year to
complete the route from west to east.

Avoid carrying anything on your back. My 3L + went in one of my rear panniers. The end of the
extension tube was tucked under my handlebars so I could drink at will. The one problem was that the
water was very low down so the tube needed a strong suck to get any refreshment.

In "]news:[email hidden],
MSeries <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There's no reason to fail to do it, just keep plugging away.

This is a sweeping statement. There are many reasons to fail. August 2003 was the hottest month in
the Pyrenees since records began, 10,000 more people than usual died in France that month. The
very first attempt on the Raid was abandoned because of the heat, 2003 was hotter. Not sure how
accurate it was but someones bike computer read 52 degrees C. Our water bottles were warm,

If you put your water bottle into a wet sock, then the evaporation will cool it down a little bit.
It made water bottles bearably cool when I was in Morocco

Ambrose Nankivell said:

In "]news:[email hidden], MSeries <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> There's no reason to fail to do it, just keep plugging away.

This is a sweeping statement. There are many reasons to fail. August 2003 was the hottest month
in the Pyrenees since records began, 10,000 more people than usual died in France that month. The
very first attempt on the Raid was abandoned because of the heat, 2003 was hotter. Not sure how
accurate it was but someones bike computer read 52 degrees C. Our water bottles were warm,

If you put your water bottle into a wet sock, then the evaporation will cool it down a little bit.
It made water bottles bearably cool when I was in Morocco

Top Tip #431 - Thanks

MSeries said:

Quoted message said:

If you put your water bottle into a wet sock, then the evaporation will cool it down a little
bit. It made water bottles bearably cool when I was in Morocco

Top Tip #431 - Thanks

^^^^^ COOL Tip #431

Shoorly you mean...

Kenneth Clements ...

Quoted message said:

"wardie2000" <[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

Hi, Anyone doing the 2004 Raid Pyrenean this June with Graham Baxters

Attempting it again first two weeks in June unsupported. Taking pretty

much

Quoted message said:

the same amount of kit as Gonzalez. Will try to complete within the 10 day limit but should have
enough time this year to complete the route from

west

Quoted message said:

to east.

This is a different version of the Raid than the one that wardie's trying for. His is to a 100h (4
1/6 day) time limit, with a different set of passes. ( Osquich, (Marie-Blanque) Aubisque Soulor
Tourmalet, Aspin Peyresourde Portet d'Aspet, Port Puymorens from what I remember in 95)

For the Baxter version, I'd recommend some of the hillier Audax events as good training.

MSeries <[email hidden]> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

There are many reasons to fail. August 2003 was the hottest month in the Pyrenees since records
began, 10,000 more people than usual died in France that month. The very first attempt on the Raid
was abandoned because of the heat, 2003 was hotter. Not sure how accurate it was but someones bike
computer read 52 degrees C. Our water bottles were warm, the headwinds were hot, like riding with
a hair dryer

in

Quoted message said:

front of you. I probably could have contiuned later in the day but even at 7pm in St Girons it
was 37.5 degrees C. Drinking water didn't really cool one down, shade was the only respite from
the heat.

Bike computers need to be shaded from the sun to be anywhere near accurate.
37.5 at 7pm sounds like 42-43 mid afternoon (noon being at 2pm).

Sounds like discretion being the better part of valour and all that. Heat stroke can be fatal -
people (Tom Simpson) have died from riding up hills in high temperatures. I'd have thought that the
only practical thing to have done would have been to go nocturnal - set off in the evening after
diiner, and spend the daytime at the next destination snoozing under a tree.

Andrew Sweetman said:

Bike computers need to be shaded from the sun to be anywhere near accurate.
37.5 at 7pm sounds like 42-43 mid afternoon (noon being at 2pm).

I have ridden in these temperatures in Australia before but not up big, big hills.

Quoted message said:

Sounds like discretion being the better part of valour and all that.

Exactly, thats what we thought.

Quoted message said:

Heat stroke can be fatal -people (Tom Simpson) have died from riding up hills in high
temperatures.

I know, these thoughts were praying on my mind as I rode along. It was a holiday after all

Quoted message said:

I'd have thought that the only practical thing to have done would have been to go nocturnal -
set off in the evening after diiner, and spend the daytime at the next destination snoozing
under a tree.

Yes, had I been unsupported/self sufficient I would have done this. I met some Dutch touring
cyclists on the Col de Peyresourde who were setting off at 5 am and knocking off at 11:30 or so as
it got hot.