The Transalp Challenge 2006 - we had the best time of our lives out there, really fantastic.The Never-Ending Story of Tango and Cash!!!
Where Transalp Challenge Began For Us
After more than 54 hours of pedalling over the week, we finished up:
- 1st in the teams named "Tango & Cash" class
- 2nd in the people using flat pedals class
- 242nd in the overall Men's class
Just a couple of notes that you may find useful or interesting for your own Transalp Challenge effort:
- The variety of biking is unbelievable - tarmac switchbacks, singletrack, forest trails, technical sections, all sorts of class stuff. Would be a brilliant holiday, never mind Transalp Challenge.
- The heat is SAVAGE! Over 40 Degrees sometimes, and nowhere to hide.
- The hills go on FOREVER - like nothing you have ever encountered. You can climb for over 2 hours without a let-up.
- The altitude is a factor we had not reckoned for - it really does affect you way up there (that's our excuse anyway!).
- It is pretty much an event for proper cyclists. Most of the folks have a road background, and have done racing, and have lots of cool gear and very light stuff.
- Do some speed training - we did none and, whilst we could pedal all day OK having done plenty of endurance training, folks just streamed past us up the hills.
- 6 months was just about enough time to train for it with other family commitments from a base of being in alright shape generally, but not being cyclists, but we could have done with some extra speed training for sure.
- Most folks are not that quick on the way down, but you don't really make up much time or places on the descents.
- You need to be VERY careful - some folks got completely wrecked in falls, particularly later in the week when folk were tired and concentration wavered - it was very dangerous at times, with the terrain and some of the speeds being hit.
- There is something uniting about going through the same hell with 1,000 other people, although only a Transalper can understand. A bit like being a Vietnam veteran, I guess. "You weren't there, man. You don't know what it was like!..."
Other comments welcome. Any questions? Email me.
11 comments:
Hi Guys,
Some great Pictures and now that scenery is something else, but as you have indecated not really holiday snaps.
And now I can see that proverbial 200grm tee shirt, approx 7 packets of crisps, so I guess you didn't eat it after all, well not with out a beer.
The Newry lads look in good shape,is that Kookie's wee brother at the back, Andy looks like he could do with a drink.
After spending a whole week with Andy, we could ALL do with a drink! (Just joking, Andy, just joking)
After spending a week withoutn a drink (except Tommy,s Birthday) I needed drink and more drink so..... Yep I got drunk and more than once. Did a 2.5 hor climb today. I didn,t go to the top because I just didn,t have to (too shagged any way) down and at the lake in 25 mins. Ah well lads there is some nice coffee and cake awiating me before shower and pizza and beer and wine. Help I,m a mountain biker don,t get me out of here.
See you when we get back
Andy
From the comfort of work, it is a joy to know there are some folks still living it up on Lake Garda! Enjoy!
What a week and no better bunch of people to spend it with. You two have some of the best one-liners ever and kept us entertained all week. For two guys that just "cycled up and down a local hill" for the last few months you flew through the event.
Entries are now being taken for La Ruta. How do I get the brownies worked up before November??
Speedy Legs, also chief WOMB, (Wife of Mountain Bikers) sends her best wishes from the beach. Davie she says you remind her of someone from her past, is there something I should know?
It rains in La Ruta, I will have to get my brownie points for sunny Yorkshire.
Andy and Jacquie
Following Saturday, the chief WOMB is now chief WOMBAT (Wife of Mountain Bikers and Transalpers).
Interesting that Jacquie recognises Davy from the past. It seems his years as a pole dancer in Vegas are coming back to haunt him. Speedy Legs meets Porcelain Legs - hubba hubba!!
Rowan, in terms of working up your brownies, can I suggest a couple of bowls of bran-flakes first thing every morning? That should do the trick alright.
Tango and cash!!!!!!! Speedy legs reckons Crockette and Tubs had more style, may be thats where she saw you?
Any way back to porridge in the morning, only 8 weeks to the 3 peaks and I missed training this morning, will have to purge tomorrow. My Mother says I am addicted I recon I could stop any time I wanted!
Test to see if the site is broken as no-one is sending any more messages ;-(
We are all waiting for your next installment of witty and amusing prose to take our minds off work untill we hatch up the next plan. La Ruta? or maybe just Scotland.
By the way did you see that you can down load your finisher certificates from the web Trans alp web site?
Post a Comment