Fatty Goes to France, Part IV: Col-du-Glandon. And More. Much More.

09.21.2011 | 6:43 am

Have you ever sat down and thought about what a memory is? Me either, until it was time for me to start writing this blog post, at which time I began thinking about my fourth day of riding in France, when my group rode from Aix-les-Bains to La Grave.

And I found myself thinking about what a memory is. Or really, what a memory is not.

See, a memory of a ride can’t be a recollection of the whole ride, because that would take too long. Instead, your brain has to pick out certain unique moments and maybe munge together groups of similar moments. And then you call that edit of your experience your memory.

And if, for some reason, there’s something special or powerful about that memory, it may become the dominant memory you have for a certain kind of activity. Or maybe you’ll even begin to associate that memory with certain words.

For example, my dominant memory for the trip to France comes from the ride I’m about to tell you about: climbing the Col-du-Glandon.

And — maybe it’s too early to say, but I think it’s true — my new mental picture of “road climbing” is associated with climbing the Col-du-Glandon.

In other words, this fourth day of riding affected me pretty powerfully.

201109201803.jpg It Starts Out Easy

The plan was simple. We got up in the morning in our hotel in Aix-les-Bains, dragged our luggage downstairs, where the tour guides would pack it all into a bus and drive it to La Grave, where we’d be staying for the rest of the tour.

Our ride for the day, meanwhile, would be to cover that distance by bike. 107-ish miles.

Honestly, I didn’t think it would be a big deal. Neither did The Hammer. We’ve reached the point where 100+ miles on a road bike is not a frightening prospect.

And the first 50 miles was, in fact, pretty flat.

We rode along bike paths and through little villages. Around roundabouts chained to roundabouts.

I wondered, aloud, what “Rappel” meant, since it appears on so many road signs.

We stopped a couple hours into the ride at a field bordering a vineyard at the base of a mountain.

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Yes, I often ask The Hammer what she’s going to wear on a ride, and then dress the same. Isn’t that precious?

The day had that autumn feel to it — warm sun, cool air — and was just perfect for a ride. We were cruising. Not really going fast. But not dawdling either. I repeat: we were cruising.

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Talking in a rotating two-across paceline.

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Why, I believe that Stanley Tucci and Patrick Dempsey are taking a turn pulling. Will wonders never cease?

And then, about 45 or so miles into the ride, lunch in a beautiful little park at the edge of a village.

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Honestly, that’s not a backdrop or anything. It’s just how the place looks.

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Beautiful drinking fountain in village, as required by law. Beautiful wife not required by law, but definitely a nice addition.

Col-du-Glandon

Right after lunch came the part that I now associate with “road climb:” the Col-du-Glandon.

If you take a look at the elevation profile for the day, you’ll get an inkling of why:

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You see how the elevation kinda does nothing for 55 miles or so, and then suddenly goes a little bit nuts?

Yeah. That’s the Col-du-Glandon. 5000 feet of climbing in 13.7 miles.

But you know, I’m worried that I’m selling this climb as a horrible experience. It was not. It was an amazing, perfect, beautiful climb, that just happened to go on forever.

It starts with more of what we had become used to: moderate-grade climbing with occasional villages to spice things up.

But then it opens up to a wide mountainside, and you can look up and see switchback after switchback after switchback.

And you know that, eventually, you’re going to have to ride all of it.

Here’s what it looks like when you’re looking down on it:

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Steeper than it looks. And I think it looks pretty steep.

And here’s The Hammer, going past one of the kilometer markers considerately placed to let you know you’re making progress.

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My favorite moment of the climb came when, after several kilometers with an average grade advertised at 11%, one of the markers promised an incline of 9%.

“Oh good,” said The Hammer. “Just nine percent for a while.”

And she said it without any irony whatsoever.

The Hammer and I rode this whole climb together. Sure, I could have indulged my inner cycling dweeb and decimated myself by being a minute-point-five faster, but I decided: one of the nice things about a riding vacation together in France is riding together.

Aren’t I smart?

After an eternity of switchbacks and smallest-gear climbing, we reached the top. Which called for photographs in heroic stances.

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“No, I’m not sucking my gut in. What would make you think I’m sucking my gut in?”

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OK, that’s more of a Vanna White pose than a heroic pose, but I like it.

The Other Side

Do me a favor and scroll back up to that elevation profile earlier in this post, and then come back to here.

Pretty bomber, isn’t it?

So when I say that I really don’t remember the downhillishness (including what looks like a drop off a cliff on the elevation profile) of the descent down the other side of the Col-du-Glandon, you must understand that there was some seriously beautiful scenery taking my mind off of that descent.

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And the thing is, neither of us are especially good photographers. I.e., this is what you get with a point-and-shoot.

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There is nothing quite so wonderful as a windbreaker when you’re starting a descent on a cold day and you’re all sweaty from the climb. Not that The Hammer sweats.

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I don’t know what these are.

We finished the descent proper and rolled on relatively flat roads to Le Bourg d’Oisans — the gateway to the Alpe d’Huez. Somewhere on that relatively flat road, though, I faded.

Hard.

By the time we reached this little town, in fact, I was cooked.

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Okay, maybe this was a staged shot. The sentiment behind it was genuine.

The Hammer was feeling pretty wiped out, too. This, however, was put aright by purchasing pretty much the entire contents of a bakery, and two cans of Coke, each.

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The Hammer asks me to point out the awesomeness of her Smartwool jersey. Perfect for temps that go from warmish to coldish and back again. (And I would like to acknowledge the awesome restorative powers of Coke.)

We now felt good enough to take a couple of hammy pictures.

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Between the jersey and the armwarmers (which she stole from me), The Hammer is pretty much ready to shoot the 2011 Smartwool catalog.

Climb to Home

We were tired. We were ready for the day’s ride to be over. But there was a problem. We still had to ride to La Grave, which is where our hotel was situated.

And La Grave is 2000 feet higher than Le Bourg-d’Oisans.

So we started riding. What else can you do? (Well, theoretically we could have bailed out and gotten in the van, but neither of us really liked that idea).

There’s something distinctly painful about starting to ride — uphill — when your body thinks it’s done for the day.

But you know what? There’s something very cool about having your legs, after five minutes or so, get back into the rhythm. And something even cooler about discovering that you do, in fact, have it in you to keep riding.

The Hammer and I were in a group of five or six riders, chugging along. Up ahead, there was another group of five or six riders.

I had no intention of bridging.

Then I saw The Hammer getting close to another of the riders in our group. I thought perhaps she wanted to get around, maybe take a turn at pulling. So I looked back, saw that there were no cars coming and said, “You can go.”

And she went.

Or, more specifically, she just rode the entire group off her wheel. Not so much an attack as a statement of authority.

I stood up, put my head down, and chased, catching her about the time she finished bridging to the faster group.

“What was that for?” I asked.

“You told me I could go,” she replied. “So I went.”

Clearly, I need to be careful about what I tell The Hammer.

Useful Comparisons

When I’m tired, I use close-to-home comparisons to help me bring the remaining part of a ride into perspective. So it was a nice surprise when The Hammer, out of nowhere, said, “Really, all we have left is a climb up the South side of Suncrest.”

I thought about it. We had about 1200 feet of climbing left. Which is about the amount from our house to the top of the South side of Suncrest. Which we do not really think of as a big deal.

That helped.

We got to our hotel in La Grave –The Edelweiss (of course) — right about as it got dark.

Tired. Hungry. And a little bit in awe of the epic ride we had just done: 105 miles (or so), with 10,500 feet of climbing. (And don’t forget that there was no climbing whatsoever for the first 55 miles.)

I was glad the next day was a rest day.

PS: A number of you have mentioned that you wish you had The Hammer’s side of the story. Well, honestly you’ve been getting it, kind of. The Hammer wrote a letter home every day we were gone, and I’ve been using it as source material while I write these posts.

That said, I think I will start posting her letter from the day along with my own post, since she does in fact talk about some things that I don’t, and sometimes has a different perspective on the same events.

Here’s her letter home, describing our Aix-les-Bains to La Grave ride:

Wow, wow, wow! I can’t even begin to put into words the ride we went on yesterday! Absolutely the most gorgeous ride ever!

We left our hotel in Aix les Bain at 0845. Our end destination would be in the Alpes in a small ski village named La Grave. We knew it would be around 100 miles, but had no clear idea on how much climbing we would be doing! We woke to another day of perfect weather, just a little chill in the air!

The first 50 miles were pretty flat. We rode on a bike path similar to Provo River bike path and in the bike lane on the road through many small villages and cities. We passed the only 3 stop lights I’d seen in our journey so far!

We rode in a long train and hardly expended any energy. Lunch was in a park next to a water fountain. After lunch, the first real climb of the day began. It was called the Col du Glandon and I’m sure it’s been in the Tour de France at some point!

It was a 14mile climb with 5000 ft of climbing! The average grade was around 9% and toward the end-the last 1 1/2 miles it was 15%. Blake, that is similar to the last switchback before the Squaw peak lookout that you love so much!

I actually enjoyed the climb. Elden and I rode together and passed several other riders from our group in the process! It was most satisfying!

The van met us at the top and we snacked on French cookies and took a lot of pictures. Then we put our windbreakers on and started the descent. This is where I can’t describe in words the beauty that was all around me! I was in awe!

We rode past a high mountain lake, beautiful flowers and mountain goats!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

When we finished the descent, we saw a sign that said the town we would be having our next break in was still 12k or just over 6 miles away! I was exhausted and my back hurt and I wasn’t sure I was going to make it on the 4 French cookies I had eaten over an hour ago! I tucked in behind Elden’s wheel and began a mini sufferfest!

We eventually pulled into the village of Le Bourg d’Oisans, home of the Alpe de Huez and a great little pastry shop-(according to our guides)! I bummed 5 euros off of another rider to buy a coke and downed 3 pieces of tart and finally started feeling better!

I also got a chance to use one of those fancy self-cleaning toilets. I wonder what happens if you get caught in one when it starts it’s cleansing cycle?

Le Bourg d’Oisans is where the climb to the top of Alpe de Huez begins. We will be returning on Thursday for that adventure!

After resting and getting refueled, a group of us headed out for our destination and bed for the night–La Grave! We had just hit the 90mile mark and 7500 ft of climbing! LaGrave was stll 15 miles and 2500 ft away from us!!! AAGH!!

The last 15 miles were grueling, but beautiful! We rode through several very long dark tunnels that were rather surreal. These miles passed rather quickly, I think the others in the group were suffering more than Elden and I!

We eventually arrived at our hotel. It’s old and quaint and has a funny smell, but it’s charming and home for us for the next few days!

The village is nestled up against the mountains. There is a huge peak and glacier looming over us! It is very pretty! After a nice shower, we all met up for dinner which consisted of pumpkin soup, lamb with kidney gravy, some kind of au gratin potatoes and string beans, followed by a course of cheese (the French love their cheese) and some kind of “puff” filled with ice cream and covered with chocolate sauce for dessert!

It’s now Wednesday morning and our official rest day! I scoffed a few days ago at the thought of a rest day–even brought my running shoes to go for a run! I have now reconsidered the error of my way and am officially resting my weary legs.

We have a load of wash in the washing machine and am seriously considering a nap and it’s only 11:30am!

Tomorrow: A longish video interview with Andy Freaking Hampsten.

44 Comments

  1. Comment by Eva | 09.21.2011 | 7:16 am

    I just can’t believe those epic rides are not yet uploaded into the Plus 3 Network very own Team Fatty awesomeness… Hint, hint…

    Yes, I know, maybe you haven’t yet mastered the skills to write and upload data at the same time…

    Shall we give you a rest day from the blog while savouring the last beautiful pics and heroic performances?! It woudl be fine with me.

  2. Comment by rich | 09.21.2011 | 7:37 am

    What an amazing adventure and the fact that the two of you get to share it together is incredible!

    “You told me I could go,” she replied. “So I went.”
    Clearly, I need to be careful about what I tell The Hammer.

    Classic!!

  3. Comment by Jeremy Wall | 09.21.2011 | 7:40 am

    Another great post; I feel like I was there. Thanks for including the Hammer’s letter.

  4. Comment by Andrew | 09.21.2011 | 8:03 am

    Fatty,

    Great story telling and adding the Hammer’s letters is a masterfull move.

    Looking forward to the next post – in fact why isn’t it up already?

    Keep up the good work.

    Cheers

    Andrew

  5. Comment by centurion | 09.21.2011 | 8:04 am

    “you can go” should almost always be followed by “I’ll see you at the finish(top)” Works for my wife and I just fine, I’m better uphill, she is faster on the flats.

  6. Comment by Paul Guyot | 09.21.2011 | 8:09 am

    Well done. Love the thoughts on memories. Love The CaBammer’s letter.

    You should think about writing for a living. Like – getting paid to do it.

    Questions:

    Did anyone shoot any video of these rides?

    Do they still say stuff like “Car back” in France?

    One of the guys on the tour had a Contour HD mounted to his handlebar; I’ve asked him to let me know when he uploads his video to YouTube.

    They do say “car back,” but they do so with an outraaaaaageous French accent. Or I did, anyway. – FC

  7. Comment by Superstantial | 09.21.2011 | 8:45 am

    Awesome trip!

    As a new father who really likes cycling and wants to do something similar, I wish you’d say more about how your kids enjoyed the trip – I think they’re about the age when I want to take my son on longer vacations, especially something active in Europe.

    Keep of the great work.

  8. Comment by Bee | 09.21.2011 | 9:08 am

    The Hammer is HAWT! I want to be just like her when I grow up. Thanks for the letter, and now I am totally jazzed for our Oregon century on Saturday! (Though I won’t have a cool Smartwool jersey, and I keep my armwarmers well away from my armwarmer coveting husband.)

  9. Comment by picky picky | 09.21.2011 | 9:43 am

    This comment deleted because it was rude. – FC

  10. Comment by The Flyin' Ute | 09.21.2011 | 9:55 am

    Great Posts. What a great experience. I would love to Ride around France on a tour like this. Make sure you include the details of the cost of this trip for two.

    Thanks man.

  11. Comment by megan | 09.21.2011 | 9:56 am

    Ok, that does it – it doesn’t count unless you’ve got fully loaded panniers strapped to your bike. Including a laptop of course, how else would you keep your blog up to date, and tent, and stove, and food for a day or two… and the bike is a steel bike that probably weighs more than you.

    670762428_dKAo9-S.jpg

    We were actually overtaking scrawny road-bikers on some of the passes in the Alps :)

    682747938_FscW8-S.jpg

    Unfortunately we never found the mythical 5kg jar of nutella, otherwise that would have been strapped to the back rack as well … for the three or so days it lasted.

    I thought cyclists with beards like that were required to ride recumbents. – FC

  12. Comment by megan | 09.21.2011 | 10:00 am

    Awesome trip reports though, I am of course just jealous that I’m not over there riding now :)

  13. Comment by Clydesteve | 09.21.2011 | 10:24 am

    picky picky – Great pen name!!!!!!

    megan – Oh, the 5# jar of Nutella exists, alright! I have a photo of myself, The Hammer and Fatty sharing one with Lance.

    Which brings something up. Listen, the Hammer, I have stood close enough to you to share a jar of Nutella, and i have riden with you, which inevetibly turns into riding behind you when the road tilts up. Not that i would ever stare, but I can assure you – You do NOT have the equipment that would make getting caught in the cleansing cycle of a slef-cleaning toilet one of the things you need to worry about! (But that was a very funny thought!)

  14. Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 09.21.2011 | 10:40 am

    munge? Must be a Utah term.

    Thank you for including the CaBamer’s letter. Now we get to hear about the food.

    Still think we need a ‘Fatty goes to France’ slideshow and talk at The Gran Fondo, and I expect to see the Hammer’s ‘fountain picture’ in a future Cinghiale brochure. BTW are you going to raffle of a signed Cinghiale Jersey in some upcoming event… hint hint?

    I’d love to do a slideshow when we’re at the Fondo. Question is, where? – FC

  15. Comment by Bryan (not that one) | 09.21.2011 | 10:59 am

    @davidh It’s a technical term. I hear it frequently in my software development job.

    Great report again, Fatty. Can’t wait to hear the telling of Alpe d’Huez.

  16. Comment by Marshall Miller | 09.21.2011 | 11:02 am

    I’m enjoying the chronicles of your French tour, Fatty. It’s great to get The Hammer’s perspective too. Keep ‘em coming!

    Geez, after Col-du-Glandon, the Gran Fondo is going to be like a Saturday stroll in the woods (unless your trachea has been damaged by another throat punch from Levi). King Ridge? Pfft. Coleman Valley Road? We’ll wake you up when it’s over.

    P.S. Will you be doing the gravel option? I won’t. Sometimes there’s a fine line between fun and self-torture, but I do know the difference, and in my book, riding gravel on a road bike falls in the latter category. However, I’m guessing that for a Leadville veteran, it’s no big deal.

    The Hammer and I will be riding borrowed bikes, so I think we’ll skip the gravel option. Don’t want to scratch / dent / ding someone else’s nice bike, and the chances of that go way up on gravel. – FC

  17. Comment by FredEx | 09.21.2011 | 11:09 am

    What’s up that profile? Did you fall off a cliff at mile 80?! That’s really steep; I’m scared of that descent just looking at the profile!

  18. Comment by nh_joe | 09.21.2011 | 11:14 am

    My life will not be complete until I climb that hill, and turn around and go back down. Look at those switchbacks!

  19. Comment by KJ | 09.21.2011 | 11:15 am

    5 Euros for a coke?(!) Glup.

    For two cokes, actually. But still. Yikes. – FC

  20. Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 09.21.2011 | 11:27 am

    @Comment by Marshall Miller- am I mistaken or is the ‘gravel option’ just a puny excuse not to ride Coleman Valley Road UP from the coast. Is Coleman Valley even an option this year? And what’s a little dust between friends? We can all sport that classy ‘tan line(s)’IMG_3298.jpg

  21. Comment by Marshall Miller | 09.21.2011 | 11:44 am

    @davidh-marin: As far as I know, Coleman Valley Road is still an option (with a slight diversion near the end because of a cave-in). As for the gravel option, since they suggest that it’s a “stairway to heaven,” I’m guessing that it has its share of steep climbing.

    There was a flat gravel section near the end of the ride the first year. It wasn’t even that long, but I must have passed 4-5 cyclists changing flats along that section. Not a fun way to end a ride!

    Also — I don’t think I can pull off the “caked in dirt” look the way Fatty can.

  22. Comment by LauraS | 09.21.2011 | 11:50 am

    Having ridden the Glandon (I’d say with Fatty and The Hammer, but I was waaay far behind them), I would say The Hammer’s use of exclamation points in describing that ride was totally appropriate!!!!!

  23. Comment by Lisa | 09.21.2011 | 12:06 pm

    I’m loving your recaps! The pictures are amazing. I always fantasized about going to France for my honeymoon someday and now I totally want to do this!

  24. Comment by skippy | 09.21.2011 | 12:30 pm

    Yes the Col du Glandon was used on the TDF in recent years and i spent the night in Alp d’Huez so you can imagine how the Racers felt that night . That day was also gloriously sunny and not having the camera has now been sorted by these excellent photos .

    Hotel des Alpes was beseiged the day that Lance won the ITT to Alp d’Huez , so i finally see what it looks like on a ” normal day “!

    Each June the Dutch arrive in Bourg d’Oisans to raise money for a ” Cancer Charity” , this year raising more tan US$30 million . Many ride Alp d’huez 6 times but the real ” gutsy people ” are those in their ” Handbikes and some managed 3 ascents .

    I plan to beat my 4 next year , since it is at the same time as the ” Dauphinee Libere ” it will mean that i am in reasonable shape , anyone else want to join this madness ?

  25. Comment by Liz | 09.21.2011 | 12:44 pm

    Excellent idea to include the Hammer’s letters! Those are some amazing climbs. I would have been nervous in that little village where you ate lunch, just looking at those mountains in the background.

  26. Comment by megan | 09.21.2011 | 1:00 pm

    We actually took an arms-length shot at the summit of that pass and I realised there were three people in the photo: me, Alex, and the Beard. And the Beard was bigger than both of us. As a result it was trimmed back to upright-bicycle-riding size the next day. The reduced wind resistance meant Alex’s speeds increased by 5-10km/hr.

  27. Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 09.21.2011 | 1:14 pm

    @AngieG- we all know you’re way busy…some kind of ride coming up I hear.

    Fatty says he…”I’d love to do a slideshow when we’re at the Fondo. Question is, where? – FC”

    Any ideas…Bike Monkey Headquarters, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Side of a Barn?

    I’m planning Avocados and Chips for the Gran Fondo, Hoping to get a “Ron Popiel’ like demonstration while we are there. Any ideas how many Fatties may gather?
    Still trying to convince Wife#1 to bring the Clydesdale(mini) for pictures 101_9262.jpg
    So..it’s not a clydesdale, but it is diminutive, and he does have attitude.

  28. Comment by Wife#1 | 09.21.2011 | 1:38 pm

    Sorry dear, Napolean horsey is not coming to the Gran Fondo. He would be a great spokeshorse for Team Fatty, but it’s not happening. He is otherwise engaged in a lucrative endeavor on GF day.

    How about instead, since Fatty and the Hammer are on borrowed bikes, they borrow our Livestrong/Team Fatty custom tandem roadbike?!

    As the husband says, a tandem is the last bicycle a married couple will ever ride! I can’t find a still picture but here’s a short video clip showing you what it looks like:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcZCgLBKZ2s

    Fatty and Hammer – it’s all yours for the Fondo if you want it!

    That’s a beautiful bike, but I don’t think either of us would want our first tandem road ride to be a 100-miler with a lot of climbing and technical descents. Still, thanks for the offer. Really generous of you. – FC

  29. Comment by Wife#1 | 09.21.2011 | 1:40 pm

    Oh and yes, we know you got offered SWEET rides to borrow, but imagine the blog post possibilities from the tandem tale!

  30. Comment by briebecca | 09.21.2011 | 1:52 pm

    Rappel= ‘reminder’.. essentially the warning or speed has already been posted. I saw this everywhere in France back in July as well.

  31. Comment by Cookster | 09.21.2011 | 2:35 pm

    Fatty,
    If The Hammer is borrowing your arm warmers whats keeping them up.

    I am eating up the reading material you are dishing out. Keep up the great effort.

  32. Comment by Marshall Miller | 09.21.2011 | 3:20 pm

    Riding the Gran Fondo on a tandem might make for a good story, but I can’t imagine doing it without some serious practice rides first. A couple of those Gran Fondo descents are pretty gnarly. We don’t want the stories to be TOO interesting!

  33. Comment by Patrick #4091 | 09.21.2011 | 3:25 pm

    Jealous, jealous, jealous! How’s the IT guy’s recovery coming along?

  34. Comment by SueM | 09.21.2011 | 5:00 pm

    Awesome! Love this story! Love the pics! And loved to hear The Hammer’s side of the story! Especially her enthusiasm with exclamation points!!

    :-)

  35. Comment by Matt | 09.21.2011 | 5:38 pm

    As someone else on the trip (who was also far behind our intrepid adventurers), I can testify that the Col du Glandon was an epic, beautiful, but exhausting day. My tongue dragged the ground behind me as I limped into La Grave. Absolutely worth the effort, though. Thanks, Fatty, for putting so many of the wonderful memories of the trip into (coherent) words! I’m looking forward to the rest of the installments.

  36. Comment by Wife#1 | 09.21.2011 | 5:44 pm

    No Problem Fatty… if you change guys change your mind, just holler! Be pretty cool to have you two ride it, we would need you to sign the seat “Fatty was here” and on the other one “Where the Hammer came down”. LOL.

    Have to mention, David is not taking your advice, however sage it may be. If I am allowed a brief brag moment, cause I LOVE that he is doing this…. Instead of riding the GF solo as planned, he has just volunteered to captain a tandem for a visually impaired rider who got hit by a speeding van last year and has spent the year doing rehab. He posted yesterday on the LGF Facebook page looking for a partner and David raised his hand right away. The rider is a serious cyclist, but his only training since the accident has been on rollers. I think they are both pretty tall, clydesdale-ish riders to boot, and there will not be much time for practice on the tandem, so it’s going to be one heck of a challenge.

    Awesome!

    Can you tell I’m uber proud of my man? :-)

    The other rider does have his own Santana tandem though, so our Livestrong/Fatty one could be yours if you decide to get wild and crazy in Santa Rose. I’ll bring the sharpie! ;-)

  37. Comment by Stephen G | 09.21.2011 | 6:56 pm

    Epic is an understatement.

  38. Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 09.21.2011 | 7:44 pm

    You know Fatty, I don’t think Wife#1 is being generous. I just think she’s just trying to set up a situation where The Hammer would not be smiling (all the time), your personal awesomeness would be truly tested (Leadville-Hah-a ride in the park!) and the post ride blog would be filled with a level of drama rarely seen in Fat Cyclist.

    You know…I don’t want to see that either. I like The Hammer’s smile!

  39. Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 09.21.2011 | 7:49 pm

    Oh, and Bryan(not that one)
    munge and software? (…maybe munge together groups…) That explains both my Microsoft and Safari problems now, Thanks.

  40. Comment by daddyo | 09.21.2011 | 8:57 pm

    how is your bike geared? compact with a 12/27?

  41. Comment by Mayhemnsuz | 09.21.2011 | 11:38 pm

    Ditto on the “how is the IT guy?” Also, what a remarkable adventure for the two of you!

  42. Comment by skippy | 09.22.2011 | 1:08 am

    Picked up this on the radar today :
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/more/09/21/Armstrong-paid-doping-physician.ap/index.html?eref=si_mostpopular

    Looks like all the good work done by ” Livestrong ” the charity will be undermined as people follow this story .

  43. Comment by Jenn | 09.22.2011 | 1:48 am

    Lovely! Thanks for adding The Runner’s perspective…nice details.

  44. Pingback by Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » Fatty Goes to France, Part V: A Conversation With Andy Hampsten | 09.22.2011 | 6:42 am

    [...] « Fatty Goes to France, Part IV: Col-du-Glandon. And More. Much More. [...]

 

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