Off to a great start!

Today was the first real day of riding, and a different route from 2009 when we did this trip before. This time, they put in a couple new climbs, though, before getting to Alpe D'Huez. In the end, we had around 75 miles and 11,500 feet of climbing. Everyone was so tired that we contemplated skipping some of dinner and going to sleep. But, what an amazing day, and a wonderful way to start.

The day started off with a bizarre mechanical problem. Kari's rear wheel essentially exploded in the hotel parking lot before we left, with hotel staff and patrons all running out thinking that someone was just shot. So, he had to skip most of the day - fortunately able to buy new wheels at the bottom of D'Huez and ride up with us to cap off the day.

I was reminded of how much I like French breakfast on these trips. Before you judge, I burned 5,000 calories today.
Cafe au Lait - Check
Fresh fruit with yoghurt - Check
Fresh orange juice - Check
Baguette - Check
Sausage and cured ham - Check
Croissant - Check
Pain au Chocolat - Check
Oh, and some cheese - Check

I wanted to share some more pictures of the hotel last night since it was so amazing. So, here you go. Amazing, right?

The group all ready to go

But wait - for you cycling geeks, that would be the rim dangling from the wheel. Thankfully it happened here and not out on the road.

I'm reminded of how beautiful this part of the world is when we get a chance to ride through it. We began with a short climb into a bit of a valley gorge leading into the Alpes proper. The big one on the right is our first real climb of the day.

A pretty stream running along the valley

Mark and B, at the rest stop - almost at the top.

The little coffee shop at the top of the climb hand out certificates for people who ride up.

Maybe one of the most bizarre "discotheque" names I've come across in a small alpine ski town, and a little foreshadowing of things to come . . .

Apparently there has been some kind of harvest festival going around with towns putting out scarecrows as decoration. Most of them are pretty freaky little things, but we thought we would snuggle up to these little ladies.

And, then back on to more beautiful countryside.

Don't know what this is all about, but the town had these goats all over the place. Thought the kids would like it.

Thought this photo turned out funny. Not sure what it really is, but it looks an awful lot like David and I stopped the group so we could start smooching.

Butterflies are all over the place right now. I was able to sneak up on these little guys.

B and Thomas at the top of our 3rd climb.

Looking down the start of the descent of the D'Ornon. Right, where does the road go - it drops off on a wicked and fun downhill, that's where. Right to the bottom - kind of - of Alpe D'Huez.

At the bike shop where we picked up Kari and his new wheels. An entire fleet of rental bikes: Pinarello Dogmas. Again, another bike geek reference. Don't really see this in the States.

 And then it was on to this beastie. No real pictures along the way since it so damn hard a climb.

A view from the top, which doesn't do it justice. It climbs directly up the face of a mountain, 21 switch backs from the bottom, mostly 10% grade (i.e. steep as hell).

B at the finish line of the Tour de France Stage here this year.

Without asking, the hotel brought us out this massive bowl of pasta and sauce. In addition to the fancy duck dinner they prepared. They do appreciate how hard it is to ride up this thing.

Déjà, déjà, déjà vu

The lucky streak continues, and here we are in France for yet another dream trip in what has come to be, for me, my favorite part of the world (aside from wherever my family is, of course). Everyone had a long trip by - literally - plans, trains, and automobiles. And, with Becky, Mark, Chris and Guin having been through chateaux and hillside eating slabs of foie gras and goat cheese, it is time to settle in for some hard riding through the mountains. The biggest in front of us tomorrow being the mythic Alpe D'Huez.

Since Mark's blog work was evaporated into the "cloud", I'm dropping in some photos from the prior week's leisure adventure. Can't add much by way of commentary on the photos, but they are certain to make you envious!

Cool piece of graffiti art in Toulouse, I think.

No idea about this one - only that I find it beautiful.

A bottle selected and appreciated by B, Mark, Chris and Guin (or B-McG or short. I just made that one up - sorry guys)

B looking cute in Toulouse

Behold the mighty slab of Fois!

The B-Mc of B-McG

The cG of B-McG (it is late and I'm still jet-lagged, give me a break on these captions!)

Another B-McG selection. You know it was good, it said Superieur right on the label.

There was more than wine and food on this leisure tour, I'm told . . . .

But, I'll leave it to you to believe or not.

Those photos really didn't do the leisure tour justice. Everyone had an amazing time and was raving about how beautiful the scenery was and how delightful the food was. But, so begins our sportive tour. I didn't bring a camera with me on this trip, so I'm picking up photos from after we all met up outside of Grenoble and I took over one of the B-McG cameras. We picked up a new guy, Thomas, a young fella from Australia. Other than that, it is most of the old gang, including David and Susan as guides (yeah!)

Our hotel tonight dates back nearly 4 centuries, when the grounds were used as a medical sanctuary for people in Grenoble. It is out of a movie, really; you couldn't imagine another place that is more continental country manor. The buildings are all a few hundred years old, with flowers blooming around the pool, and a billiards and salon to sit down in the shade for a nice aperitif.

We got the bikes all set up for an easy spin to make sure our legs and everything else was still working after our travels. Only a few minor adjustments needed to get things dialed in (I hope!).

David working some magic on Mark's bike.

A pretty hard-core velodrome on the outside of town. The turns are banked beyond belief. It would take some serious guts to race on this thing.

By far one of my favorite signs I see when we are here in France. It asks people to think of kids and "roll sweetly" through town.

After our ride, time to shower up, have a little refreshments, then to dinner. This is a beer brewed in Grenoble. Not amazing, but fruity and nice on a hot day.

Here comes trouble. Lock the doors! (Thomas in the strips)

A menu of incredible food prepared just for us! Off to a good start.