Mountain Biking in Luchon, French Pyrenees, July 2008

Sitting in an airport is never a good way to end a good holiday but here we are in any case waiting for the flight home after a week mountain biking in Luchon in the French Pyrenees. Simon, Steph, Graeme and Robin (who looks like Fry from Futurama) and I (Nige) remain in the café writing this report while Jenny, Mike, John, Trish are in the air. Tim, Jessica and Danielle are on a long drive back to the UK (ed note, not long after the writing of this report there was a sustained men behaving badly episode in Toulouse Airport). Please see the bottom for the 'cast list' :)

The trip started on a Saturday and the first ride on Sunday. Starting from Luchon (600M) we climbed to Sode (800M) and down to the other side of the valley and then back up to sodeing Sode again. With some technical climbs and descents but only really to test our ability. My greatest ability of the day was how to somersault down a hill side closely followed by launching over the handlebars down a steep track and into a field whilst tangled up with my bike. Those who know me will not be surprised by this. Simon 'binned it' on his first corner but proceeded to blame Graeme for going too slow. Even though it was only a test day it was still quite tough after the day travelling and obviously the beer and whisky Simon made us all consume the day before. The whiskey had to be drunk as there was some ice that needed using up and that couldn't go to waste could it :).

Captains Log: Star Date 2143.5 (Monday):

We took the Masion Blanch route west from Luchon, our Destination Oô! This was a undulating traverse, mostly upwards in general direction. From there the crucifix climb consisting of 200M, again, obviously upwards in a short sharp lung busting direction. More climbing took us to Gouaux-de-Larboust. From there, with bloody armour on, saddles down, forks up and brains out we pegged it down a switchback descent which opened up into flowing meadows - Awesome! Getting back to Luchon reversing the Mason Blanche route, expecting it to now be downhill secretly turned out to be uphill in both directions. A slightly different direction back into Luchon (meaning more going up of course) meant a very cool descent into Luchon where Simon did a superman impression (again) landing on his nose so breaking his fall.

The hotel (Le Lutin) was very nice and the food superb. Russ the chef and owner knows how to feed mountain bikers being a downhiller himself so all were happy. Beer and wine came inclusive.

Captains Log: Star Date 2143.6 (Tuesday):

Downhill Day! 14 of our best Euros for a Superbagneres cable car day pass took up us to 1200M, the highest vertical ascent lift in France! The group spilt into 2, metal nutters with Ian and less so nutty with Kate who were our guides for the week. I joined the nutcase squad for the first run doing Ian's favourite free ride descent, slow but technical, sat our back wheels but then bailed over to the easy group that was not that easy really but great great fun. Both groups got 3 runs in, that's 3600M of descent the equivalent of a very big hill! You'd think this was an easy day but no.

Beer, food, wine, then more beer!

Captains Log: Star Date 2143.7 (Wednesday):

Our day off! Hooray, unless you're called Graeme, who cycled up to Superbagneres before breakfast. We lounged around in the morning, then went canyoning in the afternoon.

As it was Russ's night off we all headed into town for dinner.

Captains Log: Star Date 2142.8 (Thursday):

OK Simon is writing this bit as I booed this day on the bike due to hangover induced laziness. We took the wiggly road out of Luchon heading for Benque ridge. We took different ways there. Half the group missed the wiggly road (a track and 200M climb) for the standard tarmac ascent meeting at the Benque bench at the bottom of the Benque ridge. Again the group split with half doing the full 300M Benque climb to take in the technical, and probably the best descent of the holiday (in my opinion). This was the only day the cloud came down, being quite cold with spits of rain. Luckily the rain held off until after a rocky technical section. The other group took a loop up the valley to Mayregne and back again which was a climb and pleasant single track descent back to Luchon where cake and biscuits were waiting for us (made fresh every day by Russ - Jolly Good Cake Sir). Oops - nearly forgot the incident report. Danielle binned it on a soft grassy descent which would have been a soft landing if it ware not for landing on the bike, bruises putting Nige's to shame.

Captains Log: Star Date 2143.9 (Friday):

Our biggest day! Non Starters: Jessica, Early refusal: Danielle (previous day injury), Pulled up mid race: Nige (post drunken trauma again, dizzy, freezing cold in direct 28 degree sun shine). Steph (Did the awesome alternative Port de Bales road climb).

The day started once again by climbing up the wiggly road up to 800M and on up to Saint-Paul-d'Oueil, 1200M (Nige bail out point). From here the rest of the group climbed 650M straight up, lunch being the incentive to do the biggest climb of the trip. On the ridge we turned towards Luchon for a 7KM descent. Not the most technical but the fastes of the holiday and worth the wait and the climbing.

This time it was Robin's turn to do a superman impression (still hobbling in the airport) just after I (Simon writing still) shredded my back tyre. Thank goodness for hire bikes.

The cast: Jessica, Danielle, Tim, Robin, Jen, Mike, Trish, John, Robin, Steph, Simon and Nige, not forgetting our guides, Kate and Ian and Russ the chef.

Thanks to all for a great week,

Nige and Simon.