Have you spotted the Acme vest and write-up in this week's Cycling Weekly ?
Tony Rees sends this report following the group trip to France. They obviously had different weather to the rest of us who had recent club events cancelled due to rain. Photos from the trip will be added later.
" On arrival at Bristol Airport we were all dismayed to find that our Easyjet flight to Geneva had been cancelled. After a bit of trauma we were bussed up to Luton and flown out on an early flight on Sunday morning. Following our transfer to Bourg d'Oisans we didn't even bother to unpack properly before setting up the bikes and getting out for our first ride. The first thing we discovered was the heat ! It was incredible. After just ten minutes the water in our bottles was the temperature of tea. We were out for just over an hour when Jason suffered the one and only puncture of the trip. Luckily we stopped in a layby and borrowed a track pump from a French guy who had a couple of bikes on the back of his camper van.
The following morning it was even hotter when we took on Alpe D'Huez. It certainly lived up to it's reputation and all of us were amazed at the length and severity of the climb. It really was a test of stamina and none of us will worry about the Bwlch or Rhigos ever again. Everyone completed the climb in the following order - Dean, Eiron, Hywel, Kerry, Jason, Tony, Dave and Mark. Dean's time was just over an hour and Mark was just under two hours. It was great to cross the finish line to the applause of the many cyclists who had arrived before us and we all felt a real sense of achievement. Eiron surprised us all when he revealed a previously unknown talent for dancing ! He demonstrated the 'Atkins Shuffle' in a cafe at the top of the climb in the presence of a shocked German couple who obviously thought it was some strange cyclists mating dance. It certainly caused them to move tables. Eiron assured us it was only cramp but we should consider entering him for the next series of Britain's Got Talent.
On Tuesday Dean, Hywel and Eiron rode up the Col du Glandon while the rest of us did a shorter ride with less climbing, around Lac de Verney. On Wednesday, ' Bastille Day', we rode to and climbed the Cote de Laffrey. This was a Category 1 climb on Stage 10 of the Tour and was absolutely packed with spectators. We kidnapped Didi the Devil for a photo but didn't manage to get ourselves on the TV. While waiting for the peloton Kerry's thermometer was showing 37% in the shade.
On Thursday, Dean, Hywel and Eiron climbed the Col de Sarenne which sits above the ski resort at Alpe D'Huez. The rest of us rode to Les Deux Alpes via a cable car from Venose. The descent was really fast following the huge pizza we ate in the ski resort.
On the last day everyone except Tony and Mark took on the Alpe D'Huez again and all improved their times for the ascent. Tony and Mark enjoyed a less strenuous ride with a climb to Sardonne on the opposite side of Lac de Verney and a spin back up the valley to Bourg D'Oisans.
The whole group were amazed at the quality of the roads in the region and the courtesy displayed to cyclists by French drivers. The town is a mecca for cyclists and all the facilities from cycle lanes to bike parking racks are in place. Overall it was an excellent trip with some great riding and lots of laughs. It is certainly something that all of us would like to do again in the future. "