Official Ride Day 4: Col du Galibier & Col du Telegraphe Return Summer has returned to the Alps, coinciding perfectly with our attempt at the first of the Tour de France Big Daddy's, The Col du Galibier, not once but twice. Our planned course would take us up the difficult side of Col du Galiber and onto the climb of Col de Telegraph where we would turn around and head back, this time up the even more 'harderer' side of Galibier (words cannot describe). Tha...

Rainy Day vs Ride Day vs Rest Day Day 3 in Briancon, it continued to rain heavily throughout the night and this morning we woke to a Dandenong's esq misty drizzle and fog. See pics. Knowing that this was the in fact forecast for the day, and tomorrow is our big double peaks day, no significant climbs were penned in. Should the rain clear momentarily ride options would be assessed, but for the moment a leisurely big breakfast and a chill out on the lounges, suffi...

This morning at 4am, we three woke (yes apparently still suffering a little jet lag early waking syndrome) to the sound of substantial precipitation, whilst sublimely sleep inducing, the constant rain posed the bigger question... Would it still be raining come planned ride time? The answer : Yes. Despite valid procrastination and several re votes, it was agreed reluctantly that today should be a driving tour / sights seeing day.. Well at least that was the pla...

It's amazing what can go wrong and yet still go so right in the space of 24hrs. In short, between three people and the space of a day, we lost two sets of luggage and one passport, and yet with in 12 hours all were recovered and our experiences enlightened. Will spare you the finer details, but we were all agreed that the odds of three bikes and three sets of luggage all arriving through four connecting flights, and three countries in 48 hours would be a lottery....

Ride #1. Col du Granon No rest for the wicked / travel weary. After settling in to our new environs, it was time to unpack and set up the bikes before we became too comfortable. At 3pm, the lads were lycra'ed and ready to roll. Did I say roll..ha! After an initial descent into town, checking brakes and that the wheels were on properly etc.. The 'rolling' ended and the 'up' began, and it didn't stop or let off for the next hour and half. BUT despite the near ma...