Day 2

I was up at what I thought was 0730 in the morning for breakfast in the hotel, giving plenty of time to sort myself out and meet up with all of the guys for our first day cycling in the Pyrenees. I set the alarm on my iPhone for 0800, so that means that I am up early then. Turns out that my iPhone must be the only iPhone in the world that does not update when I go to another country. It must be in the settings somewhere but I cannot be bothered to look right now. It is actually 0830 and I am later than I thought by an hour.

We started and was introduced to our first big climb of the day after fifteen or twenty minutes warm up on the flatter parts of Luchon. Nice little introduction really. A climb up the Category 2 Col de Portillon. That was eight kilometres of climbing with an average gradient of eight percent. It was hot (or appeared to be because sweat was dripping off me) even though we were heading towards low cloud or mist. Breathing was laboured and heavy and towards the top I could start to taste my breakfast as I started to slightly belch. I knew at the point of reaching the top that it was going to be a
long, hard day in the saddle. Things did not get any easier after the fast descent down the other side of the Col.

Paul at the top of our introductory climb Col de Portillon

At a coffee stop the riders re-grouped and Jason gave me details of the charity that he is riding for. It is a special and very personal charity "to help provide, care, support and and guidance in life after baby loss. The funds raised will go to The Countess of Chester Hospital Labour Ward, towards providing new equipment such as cold cotsand cuddle cots, so that bereaved parents and families can spend that much needed time with their precious baby after they are born". For full details please see the gofundme link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/oscar039s-mission

Next up was the long, long climb up Alt de la Bonaiguia. According to my Strava records, this small climb is an Hors Category climb. This is the maximum category climb there is. It is 22km long, 1048M of constant climbing with an average gradient of 5% (some parts seem far steeper). Even on the slightly relaxed gradients it felt as though my legs were treacle. As you look down into the valley after every hairpin turn, and see the road you have just cycled get more and more faint in the distance, it makes you aware of just how amazing a man/woman on a bike is. Man and machine, with man being the engine.