C2C Pyrenees Ride Day 6 Aspet to Saint Girons

Breakfast at 8:30 on the road at 9:45. Had some problems getting my Garmin computer tracking on the route.

Nice riding up a valley then a short very steep climb to start the ascent to the Col de Portet d'Aspet which had some very steep section. We stopped at the memorial for Fabio Casartelli who crashed and died on the descent during the 1995 Tour de France.

It started raining halfway up so I stopped to put my vest on,

Wet and cold at the Col, I stopped with Mike and John for a coffee and torte at the lovely cafe there. Cold and wet decent then a better ride to Saint Giron in patches of sunshine.

Our lodgings for the night are next to the grand Palais des Evêques at Saint-Lizier. We had an excellent dinner of local food at that La Grange de la Cité

C2C Pyrenees ride day 5. Luchon to Aspet cycling

Wet in Luchon so we changed our route to follow a Velo Route away from the roads. Calamari and chips for lunch at Le Graff Pub with Blues music. 

Nice ride on quiet roads in the sun to Aspet where we are staying at the superb Le Chateau Aspet.

Good timing as it was windy and some rain after we arrived.

#pyrenees #france #cycling #aspet

C2C Pyrenees Ride day 4. Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin, Col de Peyresourde Cycling

Our hardest day in the Pyrenees with three big cols. Started in the rain but in cleared on the long climb up Col du Tourmalet - a spectacular climb followed by a very fast descent into cold clouds,

Stopped for food and coffee the continued on the Cold d'Aspin, an easier gradient climb through forest but vey sustained, followed by another cracking descent to the pictureque town of Arreau for lunch.

A nice ride up the river valley then onto the final climb up Col de Peyresourde with not much left in the tank.

Lovely crepe at  the top then a cool fast descent in cloud to Luchon.

There was a big flower festival in the town with brass bands and drumming in the street and a festive mood.  Tartiflette for dinner was superb.