So having decided to not go and help at the Trans Alps mtb stage race I had a few opportunites to race some mtb marathons myself. Albstadt being the first of these which was around 1.5 hours drive from Offenburg and a race referred to as the Super Highway. The race was an 85km course with around 1800 high meters in it and all on either bitumen or fire trail. There were some rougher parts but all in all there was pretty much no skills needed to compete in the r...

Im very glad that i made the trip out to the Neuengammer Concentration camp on the out skirts of Hamburg. I was not too shaken by the experience as the camp was not one where major attrocites were committed, however in saying that some 30 thousand died there from either starvation or illness. Some friends have told me stories from other camps where they have visited that send chivers up your spine. I think one of the worst things that happened at Neuengammer...

So when the planned 4 days at the tour de france got canned with Hamish being sent to New York for work I saw an opportunity to get up to see Simon. I really wanted to get here but it was not looking likley so when I msg him, he informed me that that weekend he would be doing a fair bit of partying, and thats exactly what we have been doing. I flew in around mid day on Thrusday and followed Simons directions to a tee to meet him in Altona. Had a bit of dinner...

So when the planned 4 days at the tour de france got canned with Hamish being sent to New York for work I saw an opportunity to get up to see Simon. I really wanted to get here but it was not looking likley so when I msg him, he informed me that that weekend he would be doing a fair bit of partying, and thats exactly what we have been doing. I flew in around mid day on Thrusday and followed Simons directions to a tee to meet him in Altona. Had a bit of dinner...

The week of riding in France has been awersome and its sad to go but if I don't get out of here Im going become permanently attached to my bike seat. I've been staying at a town called Bourg-d-Oisans which is in a Valley surrounded by famouse climbs taken by the tour de france. The closest of these climbs is the very famous l'Alpe-d'Huez some 13km long rising 1300 height meters at an average of around 10%. Yep it's a bloody long climb which on my 2nd and final...