Mountain Bike Challenge

Ok! Up at 6, are we happy!! drive through the fog in -4 and here we are at the start of the Lomagne Challenge, a series of three mountian bike races in the gers (32) region of France where the locals live on wine and foie gras and somehow have the lowest cholesterol in france! go figure!!

Race 1-MAUVEZIN Just received my TREK cross country team issue (see photos) yesterday and this morning (sunday january 13) were off! A bit technical with a few tough climbs taken pretty much from a standstill and Im still on my bike where as loads of others are on foot. This is pretty cool! I changed my stem yestserday and at a little bit more than the half way point I nearly lost my bars and had to stop to tighten the bolts. Was sitting in solid second and got caught by number 3. Not a worry, season is long and Im on my first ride so alls good. Took 2 descents on my arse with the bike in my arms....just seemed like an idea at the time and finished in fine form!

Race 2-Fleurance - Up at 6 and into the fog....again.....this was supposedly the least technical but wettest course. Loads of water, mud bath for all and alot of single track which was good fun. No legs for me....dunno why but no worries....did a 2 hour rode ride and got really rained on hard on thursday and cross country skied all morning saturday....wasnt really in contention from the go but am in 3rd in gc! one more race to go in 2 weeks time and by then i should be able to upload photos!!!

Before

After