Salut les rosbifs

[NickW]

Double post the result of fighting daughter and her smiley faces off!

Guess who won?

[Sylv]

No Nick but we do have Lidl shops! But who needs to go there when you can find a fantastic bottle of red for €3.20 anywhere?

I'm actually joining another club, with a half-decent kit design

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Met via Strava once again. They have a few good racers. One of them won a decent race the other weekend and was first in a local sportive last year. I did the reccy of the 150km sportive coming up at the weekend the other day with him, we did all the climbs at threshold, I had a bad spot half-way (first real hot day 26+c, drank two big bottles in 2h, thought I didn't need to eat as much as usual with the energy in the drink, was a mistake) and he had to wait for me on a couple of the long climbs! It was also my longest ride of the year so far so a little endurance lacking.

Was looking forward to the "race" but despite the weather being gorgeous presently, the forecast is not that good for the weekend. It's pretty dire actually. We'll see ..

I also took part in the Urban Trail, just 12km for me and not 23 or 36. Me and my running mate blagged our way up the 2500 runners in the pen, but I was still a little off the front line. So start was a bit frantic, I had about 75m to catch up on the lead group on the first climb (that infamous 15% tunnel), but it took me much longer to catch up. I was a little spent and on the next climb (a zillion stairs climbing 120m up), even though I passed a couple guys who were struggling, I lost touch again with the lead 4. Did another km with one guy then dropped him, from then on I was pretty much on my own for the second half of the race. Lost a bit of motivation but kept a good pace. Thought I was 5th in the end but turned out I was 4th. No regrets though as I was a long way from 3rd (and even longer from 1st!). Got up on the podium on the main town square before sipping a nice cool beer in the burning sun. 36km race looked insane - some top contenders from sponsored teams, and mega pace for the winners.

However while training I've had a few niggling pain in my operated knee, and having seen my surgeon for a checkup afterwards, he cautioned me to take it easy with the running, due to the small meniscus damage I also sustained in the accident, and that could get worse with time. So decided that competitive running days were over, and will just run a bit for cross-training. Can cycle round the world with no problem though he said!

Have just heard we've got a team for the Trophée de Lyon the following weekend. Half mile uphill TT first morning, 110km crit in the afternoon (!), and then 100km crit following day. Should be fun!

Few more sportives planned for now - another local 150km 9 May, tour of lake Geneva 26 May, Time Megeve Mt Blanc 9 June, Morzine Montriond 23 June (with Joel if he ever receives his new bike!), one of which I might combine with an altitude training camp.

[Antloony]

Great to hear your enjoying life out there Sylv

Forth coming race sounds hard. Look forward to a full race report.

How big are the cycling clubs there?

[Sylv]

I don't think any of them get anywhere near the 300-strong membership of London clubs.

BUT

LBS does a lunchtime ride that ends with food & wine inside the shop

[Alan M]

Hi Sylv, I've only recently caught up with the fact that I won't be seeing you in Selsdon Supermarket. Seems like you have landed well back in France and I did notice that your Strava tracks had changed. I agree that using Strava to identify rides and riders is a pretty good strategy and I used it to get to know a few people in Colombia last year. I also expect you're not missing the rabid UK drivers? I hadn't been back a week when I had been shouted at several times - it is so much an anger attitude /discriminatory thing that becomes really noticeable after riding elsewhere. Anyway, I wish you well and hope we see you around for the odd training group reunion, see you over at Strava, cheers, A

[Sylv]

Allo allo from sunny France.

A few words of news, yeh once a year seems about right

Still living in old town Lyon, and now a professional cyclist A phrase coined by Marco, who also used to be a bike courrier. After 15-odd years in office jobs, got so bored of it, and had always fancied having a go at it, but people had told me it was mad in London. Here it's much more civilised, well you get the odd close-encounter with absent-minded cyclists along the river (only a couple hours ago), but overall I've been enjoying it over the last 4 months, and with summer round the corner it's only going to get better. There are a few hills in the city, and the bosses know that I don't mind them, so always seem to get the hilly jobs

Was great seeing old friends from ACC again and new faces in Frejus a couple months back, I was only able to take time off for a long weekend, but it was totally worth the trip, if only for Paul's classic lines and antics. Don't have plans for a UK trip yet, but if so will make sure to include a clubrun or two!

With so much cycling during the week I was at first not so keen to ride at weekends, so did a lot of running over the winter months. Did the urban race again, stepped up with the distance to 23km and got 4th overall (and 1st vet, what a shock it was as my first vet result), but it's still giving me knee niggles, so have gone back to mainly cycling, now that I got into the rhythm of the job.

Race-wise same thing I don't fancy too much doing 3-miles circuit in industrial estates at the weekend, but rather discover new places and great climbs of course. There is so much on offer here, you just have to drive 1-2h and you are at the step of some of the best riding in the country.

Some of the toughest climbs in France are nearby, like the Grand Colombier (9km at almost 10% with a 2.5km section at 15% with 20% sections, but you can do 3 other slightly easier sides), Mont du Chat (12km at 10% on both sides), shame they are often too narrow to be included in races like the Tour de France. On Bank Monday will be revisiting Ventoux (last seen in 2009 coming back from Honecamp) with Joel from the UK who is hopping over for a wedding.

Been racing a bit though, got 4th in my first race of the season, within a break (still cant sprint, even uphill). Also doing cyclosportives which as you might know are pretty much races here, but going over varied and hilly terrain. Got 8th in the first, again in a break till I got dropped by the hardmen, and last weekend got 4th after initiating the break move of 3 which was later joined by another 3.

Have a few more planned, with the biggie being the Etape du Tour in the Pyrennees in July (might see Katie and Steve there! Anyone else? ). Would have loved to do the Haute Route again (especially Dolomites one) but this job doesn't pay quite as much as accouting in London

All for now, off to watch the Dauphiné prologue on Sunday - well it only goes past down my street ... so as Cilla would say 'ta da'

[Alan M]

I'll be with some others in Lyon on Sunday watching the TTT. Text me on 00447540770668 if you're around. Nice to catch up with your news. Cheers, Alan

[Sylv]

Ill wear my ACC cap Alan

[NickW]

Hi Stef

Good to see that you are enjoying life in Lyon. I am doing the Etape in July with a few others and will see Steve and Katie. Hope to be able to say hello as a some of us will be there for a few days. Don't wear those knees out!

Nick

[NickW]

Who is Stef? Sorry Sylv mixing names up!

[Paul H]

Nice write up Sylv. Do they have a TG like ours

[Andrew G]

Good to hear from you Sylv. I'm being there some damn quick package deliveries.

Glad you're enjoying your life back in France.

[Alan M]

Met up with Sylvain in Lyon
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