It seems that the route is now known in a bit more detail.
According to the Etape du Tour website yesterday (the french version, the English is not yet updated) the route , pending confirmation by the police etc, will be:
Start: Pau (Racecourse Area)
Jurancon
Rebenacq (via Gan)
Bourdettes
Nay
Cote de Labatmale (small climb)
Pontacq
Lourdes
Cote de Loucrup (small climb)
Bagneres de Bigorre
Campan
Col de Tourmalet (another 'little' climb)
Luz Saint Saveur
Prechac
Montee vers Hautacam (Grimpe up Hautacam)
which should look something like this......
View Larger Map
Friday, 7 December 2007
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Milestone Week
Weight 102.3kg (No change)
Target weight 102kg
Body lard percentage 30.9 (No change)
Body water 50.5% (No change)
BMI 31.6 (No change)
I suppose I should be satisfied that I didn't put any weight on last week...........
Miles last week 90, now 100 behind target.
So I may be 100 miles behind my own target, but there was a milestone this week. On 10th July 2006, I arrived home with a Peugeot Road Bike rescued from the tip, and puffed around 5 miles in about 24 minutes (some of it was uphill, honest).
This week, I clocked up my 5,000th mile since then, in which time I have done Audaxes, Sportives, and reduced my time for the 5 mile home circuit to 17 minutes (there's still some uphill bits).
Big "Tinsel and Lanes" Audax (213km) on Sunday, if I stay fit (cold threatening) the deficit will go this week.
Target weight 102kg
Body lard percentage 30.9 (No change)
Body water 50.5% (No change)
BMI 31.6 (No change)
I suppose I should be satisfied that I didn't put any weight on last week...........
Miles last week 90, now 100 behind target.
So I may be 100 miles behind my own target, but there was a milestone this week. On 10th July 2006, I arrived home with a Peugeot Road Bike rescued from the tip, and puffed around 5 miles in about 24 minutes (some of it was uphill, honest).
This week, I clocked up my 5,000th mile since then, in which time I have done Audaxes, Sportives, and reduced my time for the 5 mile home circuit to 17 minutes (there's still some uphill bits).
Big "Tinsel and Lanes" Audax (213km) on Sunday, if I stay fit (cold threatening) the deficit will go this week.
Monday, 26 November 2007
and now just 32 weeks.......
I won't pretend to understand my metabolism..............ever.
Exactly the same behaviour as last week, fewer miles than last week, and this week weight falls off.
Weight 102.3kg (loss of 2.6kg in the week!)
Target weight 103kg
Body lard percentage 30.9
Body water 50.5% (going up, does that mean it will take longer before dehdration, anyone?)
BMI 31.6 (still obese)
Miles last week 98 (now 'just' 120 behind my target.)
In more ways than one, I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks. By the end of the next fortnight, I will have completed only my second 200km Audax, and in so doing extinguished the deficit in my miles-to-date target.
At that point I will be able to dispense with some of the longer Zone 2 fat burning miles, and replace them with either interval training or hill climbing on the Turbo. I'm guessing that a little of both might be beneficial, since I haven't seen any news items recently about the Col de Tourmalet eroding at record rates. I suppose I'll have to resign myself to the fact that it will still be there next summer, though secretly I may even admit to be looking forward to that bit. (This is the point where any readers who have actually seen a Pyrennean climb may be excused for sniggering quietly.)
Despite the weight loss, and the fact that I hope to have a lighter bike by next summer, I don't intend to tell the turbo trainer that I'm lighter yet, since that will prolong the requirement to chuck out lots of watts to keep the wheel turning.
Things must be improving, though, Zone 2 heart rates will now allow almost 180watts for over an hour, and a small increase in heart rate has allowed a 2hour 45 minute effort at over 200 watts average, something I was utterly incapable of just 3 months ago.
Yesterday was a pleasant outing on real roads for a change, with Mrs Datameister and Peter (work colleague and chef d'equipe next summer) along for a very leisurely 28 miles ride. Cafe lunch was enjoyed by all, as was the journey home culminating in a 30kmh blast over a (small) hill that used to require much downchanging.
Things may actually be falling into place.
p.s. The bike light is purchased for the 200km finish-in-the-dark Audax. I have splurged on the double LED Cateye singleshot (doesn't that make it a double-shot?) which has pretensions of being a WWII searchlight. Methinks I should be able to see where I'm going with that.
p.p.s I still intend to post a google maps track, with a few pictures, from the Cheshire Safari Audax, but if anyone can tell me where and how to host the .kmz file, I'd be most grateful.
Exactly the same behaviour as last week, fewer miles than last week, and this week weight falls off.
Weight 102.3kg (loss of 2.6kg in the week!)
Target weight 103kg
Body lard percentage 30.9
Body water 50.5% (going up, does that mean it will take longer before dehdration, anyone?)
BMI 31.6 (still obese)
Miles last week 98 (now 'just' 120 behind my target.)
In more ways than one, I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks. By the end of the next fortnight, I will have completed only my second 200km Audax, and in so doing extinguished the deficit in my miles-to-date target.
At that point I will be able to dispense with some of the longer Zone 2 fat burning miles, and replace them with either interval training or hill climbing on the Turbo. I'm guessing that a little of both might be beneficial, since I haven't seen any news items recently about the Col de Tourmalet eroding at record rates. I suppose I'll have to resign myself to the fact that it will still be there next summer, though secretly I may even admit to be looking forward to that bit. (This is the point where any readers who have actually seen a Pyrennean climb may be excused for sniggering quietly.)
Despite the weight loss, and the fact that I hope to have a lighter bike by next summer, I don't intend to tell the turbo trainer that I'm lighter yet, since that will prolong the requirement to chuck out lots of watts to keep the wheel turning.
Things must be improving, though, Zone 2 heart rates will now allow almost 180watts for over an hour, and a small increase in heart rate has allowed a 2hour 45 minute effort at over 200 watts average, something I was utterly incapable of just 3 months ago.
Yesterday was a pleasant outing on real roads for a change, with Mrs Datameister and Peter (work colleague and chef d'equipe next summer) along for a very leisurely 28 miles ride. Cafe lunch was enjoyed by all, as was the journey home culminating in a 30kmh blast over a (small) hill that used to require much downchanging.
Things may actually be falling into place.
p.s. The bike light is purchased for the 200km finish-in-the-dark Audax. I have splurged on the double LED Cateye singleshot (doesn't that make it a double-shot?) which has pretensions of being a WWII searchlight. Methinks I should be able to see where I'm going with that.
p.p.s I still intend to post a google maps track, with a few pictures, from the Cheshire Safari Audax, but if anyone can tell me where and how to host the .kmz file, I'd be most grateful.
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Deep Depression crossing the Midlands
Weight 104.9kg (up 0.9kg this week)
Target 104kg (ultimate target of 75kg seems an awful long way off)
Miles last week 113, now 148 behind my target.
Desperate times, desperate measures. New scales in the Datameister household, since the old one's wouldn't give the same answer twice running.
I have eventually got fed up of measuring my weight 10 times and taking an average. Couple that with an exercise filled week, reasonable food intake close to the requirements of my diet, and a weight increase, and you can see that something had to change.
The extra-fancy new Weightwatchers scales tell me:
My weight is 104.9kg (EVERY time, though whether this is a true increase or not I do not know)
My Body fat percentage is an overly unimpressive 31.4%
My BMI is now 32.4 (Obese, but no longer morbidly obese)
Body water/beer content 50.1%
So, thats the stake in the sand to aim for next week. I'll keep the pressure on by not changing the original weight loss target, so I'm 0.9kg over at the moment.
This weeks aim is over 100 miles, mostly on the Tacx Fortius which saw all of last weeks 113 miles (that's how I keep the miles up when the weather's horrible)
I'm off to fit a nice new Specialised Avatar saddle now, hopefully to ease the increasing discomfort in the human-bicycle interface
Target 104kg (ultimate target of 75kg seems an awful long way off)
Miles last week 113, now 148 behind my target.
Desperate times, desperate measures. New scales in the Datameister household, since the old one's wouldn't give the same answer twice running.
I have eventually got fed up of measuring my weight 10 times and taking an average. Couple that with an exercise filled week, reasonable food intake close to the requirements of my diet, and a weight increase, and you can see that something had to change.
The extra-fancy new Weightwatchers scales tell me:
My weight is 104.9kg (EVERY time, though whether this is a true increase or not I do not know)
My Body fat percentage is an overly unimpressive 31.4%
My BMI is now 32.4 (Obese, but no longer morbidly obese)
Body water/beer content 50.1%
So, thats the stake in the sand to aim for next week. I'll keep the pressure on by not changing the original weight loss target, so I'm 0.9kg over at the moment.
This weeks aim is over 100 miles, mostly on the Tacx Fortius which saw all of last weeks 113 miles (that's how I keep the miles up when the weather's horrible)
I'm off to fit a nice new Specialised Avatar saddle now, hopefully to ease the increasing discomfort in the human-bicycle interface
Monday, 12 November 2007
34 weeks to go
And not a good week last week.
Weight stalled at 104kg
Target 105 kg (knew I needed a good start for these occasions)
Miles last week 92 (now 191 behind)
Must have a good week this week, but hopefully there will be fewer distractions (looking at the diary this may be a forlorn hope)
100 miles would be good, as would a week stuck rigidly to a sensible low-fat diet. Right now neither of those options look attractive. I had imagined that it wouldn't feel this hard this soon.
Perhaps I should plan a route to Pau, book a ferry or something, to help focus on where this is eventually going.
Weight stalled at 104kg
Target 105 kg (knew I needed a good start for these occasions)
Miles last week 92 (now 191 behind)
Must have a good week this week, but hopefully there will be fewer distractions (looking at the diary this may be a forlorn hope)
100 miles would be good, as would a week stuck rigidly to a sensible low-fat diet. Right now neither of those options look attractive. I had imagined that it wouldn't feel this hard this soon.
Perhaps I should plan a route to Pau, book a ferry or something, to help focus on where this is eventually going.
Sunday, 11 November 2007
You can choose your friends...
As they say. Then of course, there's family. In my case, in-laws. Not my own, you understand, but those imposed upon me by my sisters taste in husbands.
Don't get me wrong, he's a fine chap, even down to ridiculing me for my choice in football teams (we can't all support clubs that have been European Champions, can we), but when you give him a camera he doesn't seem to know the bounds of good taste.
This week's offering arrived on an e-mail entitled "I dare you to put this on your blog". Now, not being one to shy away from a challenge, this could not go un-met. However, Mr Stu Cann, this is going to cost you a very generous click on the JustGiving link when it appears on this blog next year.
The offending article may be found on the right (with Beatles ripped off copyright title) and at Stu's suggestion should be viewed as the "before" photo or, as I prefer it, a 'work-in-progress'.
Monday is weigh in day (and this week may not be good), I'm off to console myself with lard.
Don't get me wrong, he's a fine chap, even down to ridiculing me for my choice in football teams (we can't all support clubs that have been European Champions, can we), but when you give him a camera he doesn't seem to know the bounds of good taste.
This week's offering arrived on an e-mail entitled "I dare you to put this on your blog". Now, not being one to shy away from a challenge, this could not go un-met. However, Mr Stu Cann, this is going to cost you a very generous click on the JustGiving link when it appears on this blog next year.
The offending article may be found on the right (with Beatles ripped off copyright title) and at Stu's suggestion should be viewed as the "before" photo or, as I prefer it, a 'work-in-progress'.
Monday is weigh in day (and this week may not be good), I'm off to console myself with lard.
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
35 weeks to go.....
Weight 104kg (loss of 1.5kg last week)
Target 106kg (making room for Christmas)
Miles last week 164 (now 213 miles behind target)
A big week last week, two 25 mile turbo sessions, a day out with the family round Carsington Water (their website doesn't mention the short but nasty 1 in 4 hills), and the Cheshire Safari Audax on Sunday.
That's the biggest weekly total for a long time, and unlikely to be matched this week as real life is scheduled to get in the way of training.
35 weeks still doesn't sound very much, but at least I was able to cycle well for most of the Audax route on Sunday, including holding onto my mate Mark's rear wheel up all but one of the climbs. 106 miles at an average of 16.4 mph (excluding the inevitable cafe stops) was pleasing, especially since the intention was not to slipstream one another. More on that tomorrow.
Cheerful members of the local cycling club have discovered that I'm doing next years Etape and are helping out with useful anecdotes such as "My left leg fell off on the Hautacam it's that steep" and "Its the worst climb in the Pyrennees, you'll need lots left after the Tourmalet". Time will tell, but thanks guys.
Next Audax will be a big 200km effort in December starting and finishing about 1km from home, so when I finish in the dark I won't be too far away from a hot bath. Note to Bank Account "prepare to buy better lights".
Target 106kg (making room for Christmas)
Miles last week 164 (now 213 miles behind target)
A big week last week, two 25 mile turbo sessions, a day out with the family round Carsington Water (their website doesn't mention the short but nasty 1 in 4 hills), and the Cheshire Safari Audax on Sunday.
That's the biggest weekly total for a long time, and unlikely to be matched this week as real life is scheduled to get in the way of training.
35 weeks still doesn't sound very much, but at least I was able to cycle well for most of the Audax route on Sunday, including holding onto my mate Mark's rear wheel up all but one of the climbs. 106 miles at an average of 16.4 mph (excluding the inevitable cafe stops) was pleasing, especially since the intention was not to slipstream one another. More on that tomorrow.
Cheerful members of the local cycling club have discovered that I'm doing next years Etape and are helping out with useful anecdotes such as "My left leg fell off on the Hautacam it's that steep" and "Its the worst climb in the Pyrennees, you'll need lots left after the Tourmalet". Time will tell, but thanks guys.
Next Audax will be a big 200km effort in December starting and finishing about 1km from home, so when I finish in the dark I won't be too far away from a hot bath. Note to Bank Account "prepare to buy better lights".
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