Up until I finally started losing weight a few weeks back I was keeping my finger hovered above the ‘cancel’ button on the Marmotte GranFondo Pyrenees at the end of August.
I’ve been riding a lot this year, but ‘training’ has taken a backseat to ‘working’, so much of my time on the bike has been at the client’s pace (still slower than mine, but catching up fast). Also, my love of pizza, beer and beer has been keeping the kilos planted firmly.
But all that is changing, at least if I can believe ‘the numbers’. Here are a few encouraging ones:
100,000: the number of climbing meters I’ve just passed this year on the bike. I’m still far behind last year, but I don’t have Haute Route staring me in the gob either.
1:35: Time I climbed Mont Ventoux in yesterday. This is encouraging, even if it’s only one climb. I know from too much bad experience that 1600 meters is different from 5500 meters.
67.4: My weight in kilograms this morning. I was over 70 just a few short weeks ago, but the starvation diet my wife has had me on has been working wonders. I’m still 3 kg over what I was in Haute Route 2013, but hey, it’s not 2013 anymore, is it?
My mission now is to keep the weight stable and add a few more big rides to my schedule. The latter is not too hard, since it’s quiet over here at 44-5 this month, but the former is going to be a challenge because I’m going to be in Canada (just typing that word put 100 grams on me, I think) for 10 days before the event. You know how much beer, homemade bread, blueberry pie, french fries with gravy, club sandwiches and beer there is in Canada? It’s virtually all that exists.
Wish me luck.
The Vicious Cycle 
‘Av it G! You may not have been training but you ride so much and have so much experience you’ll be fine. Never cancel anything, you’ll only regret it. Worst that can happen is you’ll be slow, in which case it will be a ‘heads up and enjoy the view’ ride! Better than what i do which i stare at my garmin or the tarmac….
I’ll be slow anyway, Jim, but thanks for the encouragement! How’s the training going for your ‘little race’ this summer? Which HR are you doing again?
My little pootle is Pyrenees and first 3 days alps…. getting scared and excited! Training has been going ok, hit a bit of a Wall this weekend though, legs feel horrible. Judt hope they clear soon! 2017 is the year of ventoux (amongst other things). I will be I touch about this!
WAIT!! You’re underweight, sober and don’t have anchovy pepperoni breath?? Sit tight…I’ll call an ambulance!
I took your advice and had my favorite ‘Iberique’ pizza last night, washed down with a Duvel and another lovely Belgian beer. Feeling much better now.
You were 64kg at HT!! No wonder you were effortlessly flying up those mountains. I think you are around my height 177cm and I may have one day been at 73kg. By the way you forgot the maple syrup and poutine.
176 cm. A lot shorter than you, Luc 😉 Weight is everything on the hills and I’d love to think I could get back to 64 kg again. I’ve got a friend who can’t get ABOVE 64, which is depressing as hell. Poutine…I didn’t forget it; just blocked it from my memory.
I wish you luck (from a stubbornly 80kg man)
Well, you’re tall, TP
Try to enjoy the final climb up Luz Ardidene, it’s one of my favorites (Aravis is another). A beautiful road, and ride, and the view is amazing. Something to look forward to at least 😀
It’s the last climb. I can’t imagine it’ll be enjoyable. Thanks for the encouragement, though. Will be nice to do a couple of new climbs over there.