Day 3 - Circ du Garvarnie and Col d' Tente.

Rule# 85: Descend like a pro.

To put it another way: All descents shall be undertaken at speeds commonly regarded as “ludicrous” or “insane” by those less talented. In addition all corners will be traversed in an outside-inside-outside trajectory, with the outer leg extended and the inner leg canted appropriately (but not too far as to replicate a motorcycle racer, for you are not one), to assist in balance and creation of an appealing aesthetic. Brakes are generally not to be employed, but if absolutely necessary, only just prior to the corner. Also see rule# 64 

Rule# 64:  Cornering confidence increases with time and experience - This pattern continues until it falls sharply and suddenly. (The road and/or the rider and thereafter the confidence)

After a hard day the day before and a few beers the night before. Oh......... and boiler room-gate (I'll explain later). We decided to have an easy day..................only one climb.

Circ de Gavarnie is a natural 'bite' taken out of the side of the Pyrenees. 800m across at the based and 3km accros at the highest point. It has the highest waterfall in Europe.

We set off down our 5 mile descent to Luz....' then took a left and headed up the valley. The road to Gavarnie is deceptively easy being a 2000ft climb over 10 miles.

Circ de Gavarnie from Gavarnie village.

From Gavarnie the road climbs upto Col de Tentes which at 2270mtrs is higher than the Tourmalet. This is an excellent climb from Gavarnie about 3000ft of climbing in 8 miles. At the top the road is barriered of from cars. the tarmac however carries on until the border with Spain.

Bob about 1/2 way

Alan and Gareth at the 'end of the road'

Past the end of the road heading towards the border.

Procy's patent bike stand.

At our highest point (procy's bike used as camera stand)

Now we had the descent to do. There was no traffic, apart from a few half dead sheep, who were to ill looking to do anything apart from lean on each other, and two motor bikes. A great road surface, as there are no trees you can see whats coming from a long way off. So this was the perfect descent to live up to rule# 85 and see how far you could hold your nerve into the corners.

Alan, Procy and Bob are true ambassadors for that rule! I'm still playing with rule# 64 at times.

Rule# 85 to be obeyed.

Day 3: 49 miles and 9200ft of climbing

Oh I nearly forgot - Boiler room-gate. As I'm reminded most of the time when at home, we're not the tidiest of people (boys that is). Living up to this we were given a polite reminder that wet clothing hanging up in the corridors, on the fire extinguishers and in the boiler room were not really the done thing, as there was a perfectly descent drying room for that sort of thing.....its fair to say that from then on the 'cold' drying room became warm and very effective. Never let grown men loose on their own!