Christmas & New Year has been all about eating, drinking, guests, skiing, enjoyment and the our addition ‘Daisy’ the kitten.

The snow might have arrived late but when it did, it certainly came down, the resorts had about 150cm in a week and now we are getting regular top ups, the skiing has been and still is the best I have known it at this time of year, plenty of snow and not too cold. We have skiied mainly in Les 2Alpes as it’s so close but have been up to Alpe d’Huez a couple of times to join friends. Christmas skiing is fantastic not busy at all. New Years day is also a great day to ski, very quiet in the morning as everyone recovers from the previous nights festivities. This week is busy and then it’s quiet again until Febuary and the holidays.

We had guests all over Christmas, we skied with them, cooked a full Christmas dinner and really enjoyed being part of their Christmas celebrations. We went to our neighbours on Christmas eve for the full on French Chrismas meal, Oysters, caviar, salmon, prawns, turkey, potato ‘pasties’, cheese and fruit skewers along with copious amounts of champagne & wine!!

‘Daisy’ seems to have become the star attraction, we had decided to get a kitten, company for Oscar (not sure Oscar thinks so) and to replace William. We rescued her, she had been found in Allemont and handed into the vet. As all kittens she is a bundle of ‘cute’ mischief everyone seems to have fallen in love with her and can’t believe her party trick ‘fetch’ she will fetch her toy mouse or ball back if you throw it for her! So far she’s only broken one vase, climbed the Christmas tree, terrorised Oscar and jumped from the mezzanine onto the dining room table, we weren’t eating! No doubt she will feature in future blogs.

S0 now it’s the start of 2012 as ever the resolutions are to drink less, eat healthier and get fitter, that’s a must by March as we’re going on a cycling holiday. I imagine all will be broken in the next few days!

That leaves me to say, if 2012 is as good as 2011 it’s going to be a great year, Happy New Year to you all.

After a fantastic summer season I thought the weeks between the last guests leaving and the ski season were going to be long and dull, how wrong could I be! Where has the time gone? It has been taken up with cycling, walking, a trip to the UK and putting things on the ‘winter’s jobs’ list.

Cycling in October was fantastic, warm, quiet roads and fantastic colours as the trees turned. Our final big climb was the Croix d’Fer in the last week of October, it was superb and not too cold descending. We are still cycling albeit no more of the big climbs although I did go over Villard Reculas to Huez and down on Monday, the cold descending is the issue. When will we have to stop for winter, I thought it waould have been by now, the turbo trainer is gathering dust – excellent!

In order to make the most of the fab weather in addition to cycling we have done some walking, as long as you pick the sunny side of the mountain there is no problem with the cold. We have really enjoyed the walks, I can’t say we have never complained about walking uphill or jittery legs coming down! We have seen some spectacular places which we wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

The weather has been superb day after day of sun and clear blue skies, it has been a great few weeks.  The ski season is less than 2 weeks away, I certainly can’t get my head round the fact that everywhere should be covered in snow in 14 days, we’ll have to wait and see!

so how wrong I was about mid-season ‘very’

We have wanted to ride up Mont Ventoux for a while now and after 3 unsuccessful attempts to get there we finally made it.

We booked a b&b which had been recommended to us in the village of Rasteau about 30km from Bedoin. The forecast was sunny but windy!

As ever I wanted to ride up the moment we got there, luckily Alan wouldn’t let me as the wind was so strong. We drove up instead. The climb was as everyone had described sheltered but relentless through the woods and then out into the lunar landscape to the top. The wind at the top was so strong we nearly got blown over, it was quite scarey. We offered a lone cyclist a lift down, he said no even though he had been blown off his bike 3 times on his way up!

We planned our next couple of days cycling, a route round the base of Mont Ventoux and then the climb up on the least windiest day. The scenery is so different in Provence unbroken horizons, fields of vine yards and Olive trees.

The route round the base of Mont Ventoux  was beautiful and it was great to ride on undulating roads rather than mountains only 1200m of climbing in 100km. The route took in the beautiful gorges de la Nesque as well as the towns of Bedoin, Sault and Malaucene, I can certainly recommend it.

So to the climb up Mont Ventoux from Bedoin, it was as all our guests have described relentless then barren. The climb through the woods seemed to go on forever and it was a constant ‘steep’ once out in the open I found it easier, more to focus on, it wasn’t too windy or too hot, I can imagine in summer the heat is horrendous coming off the shale. It was a lovely temperature, mid 20′s! Once at the top the views were magnificent, down to the med and across to the Alpes. To top it all a fab descent!

On our final day, I did a loop which included some more undulating roads and an ascent of Mont Ventoux from Malaucene, that was as hard as the climb from Bedoin. Alan did a mtb rode with a friend of ours, I think they ended up walking as much as riding although they did get to the top of Ventoux!

Mont Ventoux certainly lived up to expectations and more. It was a great break in a lovely b&b where we were joined by some friends from Bourg, Guy & Helyn so plenty of eating and drinking to go with the cycling!

The ‘Marmotte’ route must be the most famous ride around this area of the French Alpes and probably the most famous sportive in Europe. 174km with 4800m climbing over the Col du Glandon, Telegraph, Galibier and finishing up Alpe d’Huez.

Guests often come out here with the specific aim of riding the route during their holiday, the majority not doing the Alpe at the end, not because they can’t but why would you ride past our front door to do something that you have already during your stay. By the time they get back to Le Velo Jaune they will have completed 155km and 3800m of climbing and been out for about 10 hours, riding for 8.5 hours of those – enough for one day.

We normally ride the route each season 4 or 5 times, this year Alan completed the full route about a month ago but I hadn’t until yesterday. I had to do it before the season finished.

September is one of the nicest months of the year, temperatures not too hot (it can be a little cold descending) and clear blue skies. I set off at 7.30am, I would much rather start early with no time pressures. Temperature 10 degrees forecast 24 max.

Col du Glandon starts hard and finishes ok, one of the things I have learnt about cycling is pace yourself – do not rush there is a long way to go. I chose an average power to aim for based on my numbers, it feels slow to start but I knew it wouldn’t at the end.

The Glandon opens up once you are passed the EDF barrage and what a beautiful morning it was, it was probably one of the most sureal biking experiences I have had, me, some cows, sheep and Marmottes!! nothing else, it was so beautiful and peaceful.

Once over the Glandon a lovely descent and onto the valley road, 25km of pretty boring road if i’m honest, it soon passes and all of a sudden you’re at the base of the Telegraph. The Telegraph is a 12km climb through the woods, it starts a little steep but soon steadies itself and you can get a nice rhythm to the top. Then 5km descent and it’s Valloire the start of the Gallibier 100km done but still 2400m of climbing to go!

The Galibier 17km, starts steep,  grinds up at about 5% finishing with 8km of tough climbing. The last few times I have done this I have really enjoyed the Galibier, I had always saved myself for it and actually enjoyed the climb. Not today! I don’t know why but I certainly went to some dark places, had I chosen a too high average power or was it the thought of doing the Alpe at the end whatever it was painful. It was as much a mental trial as physical. I knew it was bad as everything anoyed me, other cyclists, motorbikes, cars you name it I was grumpy!

Once at the top, warm gear on for the great descent, it wasn’t that cold but I froze showing I was at my weakest. As I dropped down I got warmer and Alan text to say he was going to climb the Alpe with me. A quick stop at home can of ‘coke’ sorted out my gear and we were off the final 12km & 1000m of climbing. Would I have done it if Alan hadn’t said he was coming – who knows?

Surprisingly I enjoyed the Alpe, my spirits lifted, it was a beautiful temperature, a few cyclists around, I even overtook some! We made sure we finished at the tour d’France finish so I had done it all.

Marmotte route 174km, 3800m, 10: 18 ride time, 11 hours out & by the time I got home and including the ride to the start 199.99km

A brilliant day, I am glad I did it, I asked ‘why’ more than once but you can certainly understand why so many cyclists want to do it a ‘beautiful’ challenge where you experience every emotion.

I hadn’t done a time trial before we moved to France and if somebody had said to me you’ll be doing them once a week, I would have laughed and said ‘no way’. Now here I sit 3 cycling seasons into running Le Velo Jaune b&b and I have done at least 1 tt per week since the season started this year.

Why? there are a number of reasons; joining Le Velo club Bourg d’Oisans, an opportunity to see friends, more guests have done them, competition against other women but I think most importantly the opportunity to see personal improvement (or not).

I have seen improvement in all aspects of my cycling this season mainly, pacing myself, I was a cyclist who knew they should pace themselves but never actually did due to a lack of belief, when racing I have always set off at max and tried to hold it. I then had some coaching from a good friend who said constant power is key, it is much better to keep something for the last part of a race rather than fading at the end, not only will you go faster overall but you’ll enjoy it more – I think this is the best piece of cycling advice I have listened to and acted upon. Since riding like this my results have improved and improvement brings enjoyment.

So I finish the mountain tt (all mass starts but one) season have completed at least 8 Alpe d’Huez tt’s, the Marco Pantani tt up Les 2Alpes and a number of other’s including, Col d’Ornon, St Christophe & Oulles all with PB’s. I now have a lot of targets for next year!

It’s been excellent, I look forward to next year but in the meantime there’s still plenty more cycling at least another 6 weeks and then bring on the ‘ski’ season.

It was time for the Marco Pantani sportive 174k, 3500m climbing – I had been entered into the event by Lynne as I said that I would like to do it (after a few drinks)!

I hadn’t done any special training for it, except riding the bike. It was my first sportive since July 2008.

The start time was 8.45,  we arrived early — good job as it started early at 8.25 I was in the front few rows with hundreds behind.

As we set off it was the usual madness with riders at max speed. It was great to ride in a big group.

As we passed the house at Le Clapier Lynne was outside to cheer me on. I passed in a huge group with some terrible riders that didn`t hold their line around the sharp corners = scary.

Along the valley road we were doing 58kph.

Once we arrived at the turning for Col d`Ornon I sat back into a steady pace I was getting passed on both sides.

I was using Lynne`s power crank and had limited myself to 200 watts. It was hard work not getting tempted to do my usual and speed up to stay on wheels.

Once over Ornon it was the long downhill  to the next col which is a short 7 km climb, but is one of the steepest around with no let up.

I started to pass a lot of riders that passed me early on = hare and the tortoise.

Straight past the feed station at the top and a long fast lonely descent to the Gap road. I managed to catch a large group of riders that were going a little slower than I liked but I sat in, keeping my power discipline again.

We climbed up col d`Mort (good name) I stayed with the group and once at the top I road past the feed station for the long bumpy descent to Sechilenne where I topped up with water.

Now it was time for the long drag back up the valley road to the Alpe. As luck would have it I had a back wind and one other rider to share the work.

Once on the Alpe it was nice and steady to bend 16 La Garde and over Les Balcons onto Freney then onto Les 2 Alps where lynne was waiting with a lovely bottle of flat coke ummmmmm. Then kept coming past in the car to get a few photos.

The climb was really hot by now 38 degrees but I was still going steady on the power, it really does help as at the end of the climb I felt great, tired but not my usual dead feeling.

So my thoughts on a power meter= brilliant if you stick to the readings and your limits. They work well.

My average for the day was 220 watts and 73rd overall, very pleasing!

6 hours 28 mins.

4560 calories

I have always been one of those cyclists who sets off to fast and slows down at the end of a ride. As most people I have read/heard that this is the wrong approach and that you should always start slowly, never max out and therefore keep a constant effort. I totally understand the logic but have never applied it based on my thinking that I would just get left behind and that my drop in speed wouldn’t be as much as starting slowly – how wrong could I be!

Last week a good cycling friend of ours Helen came to stay, she is a very good time trialist and uses a power crank to guide her efforts, it’s all about ‘constant power’

We went out to do Alpe d’Huez, she had worked out the constant power (wattage)  she would cycle at. At the first bend Alan and I left her absolutely standing, I couldn’t quite believe how slow she had started however as I predicted after not very long she came sailing, well cycling passed. As she was doing intervals of 20 mins duration with 5 mins rest she passed me 3 times!

As with all rides up Alpe d’Huez we had the post mortem afterwards, Helen said she could not believe how fast I set off and actually was worried that she was going to get totally left behind and then couldn’t believe how much I faded near the top ‘power fade’. She explained that the way to cycle faster is to use constant power, so set off slower and then cycle at a constant to the top, no fade! I agreed that I would try this on the Alpe tt on Thursday using her power as an initial pace guide.

We had a practise on Croix der Fer, it turned my cycling world upside down, I started dreading the flatter sections as with keeping constant power you increase your speed on the flatter sections to keep constant power rather than using them as a rest.

Thursday came, Helen didn’t believe I would be able to stay as slow as her! It was a good tt turn out and as agreed I sat with Helen on the first bend, it was slow! As soon as we got to a hairpin, no rest speed up to keep constant power. Helen dropped me after about 3 bends but I kept up the principle, using feel and not letting my heart rate max!

I didn’t look at my time until near the top, I really wasn’t sure how I was doing, however I wasn’t hanging off my bike as normal. I was shocked it looked like I was in for a good time, I rolled over the line having achieved a PB by 2 mins, 1:06:50 – wow! I felt good had enjoyed it, why had I not tried this years ago! I was converted to constant power riding.

Yesterday we rode the Galibier using the same principle, 5 mins off my best previous time! The power crank is on order and my riding style is changing – disciplined.

The tour d’France finally got to Alpe d’Huez after all the anticipation and it certainly lived up to all expectations.

We became fully booked the day the tour d’France route was announced, Galibier twice, Alpe d’Huez and the final time trial in Grenoble what more could we want. We could have sold out Le Velo Jaune b&b Bourg d’Oisans a hundred times.

Over the last week we have watched Alpe d’Huez get busier and busier, I think there was over 50% of the worlds camper van population on the Alpe. I have never cycled up in so much, 4 times in 4 days with both friends and guests each time with more to look at. The Dutch corner bend 7 was amazing ‘orange’!

We chose to watch the tour from bend 1 as it sits overlooking the natural amphitheartre giving great views from bend 6. We cycled up, the longest but most fun ride up the Alpe (not sure about carrying a rucsac), we chose a great spot with our friends, looking down onto bend 1 and across to bend 5. It was the Norwegian corner. We had 4 hours to kill before the cyclists came up, there was plenty to watch, Borat, Vikings, people and the caravan being a great distraction. We sent Alan and Simon to get us some goodies, Katherine and I decided to take in the atmosphere.

As time went on we were getting updates from the guy’s next to us, Schlek, Contador, Evans, Vokeler and Cavendish. The news came through, they were at the base of the Alpe, all eyes turned to bend 6, the anticipation increased. Then they were there, we didn’t have the best place for photos but a fantastic view, Contador dropped, Evans attacking – wow! The autobus came through about 12 mins behind the leader, they really showed their appreciation of our support.

It was then time to get off the Alpe, we thought it was going to be horrendous but in the end it wasn’t too bad, weaving in and out on the descent, glad we weren’t driving! Back to Le Velo Jaune and all the talk at dinner was Le tour, what a fantastic day and to top it off we found out that our half a yellow bike sign was shown on the TV coverage. ‘Vive le tour’

The tour d’France arrives with us on Thursday with the summit finish on the Galibier and then the Modane – Alpe d’Huez stage on Friday.

The Etape was here last Monday with approximately 9000 riders taking part, it was a scorcher of a day with temperatures hitting the mid 30′s. We marshalled just down the road from us on a junction that has at least 1 car a year coming out, so not to busy and plenty of time support. I didn’t appreciate I would have sore hands at the end of the day from clapping!

As that finished the camper vans started arriving on the Alpe, this year the Dutch corner seems to have gone German, it will be interesting to see how the Alpe fills as the week goes on.