Usually within a week of the Croix de Fer opening the Col d’Glandon opens and then the Galibier follows.

After setting off, just as I got to Bourg the battery went in my power meter, ahhhh!! I stopped I messed with it, it started working, it stopped working, I went to the bike shop – no batteries, I messed with it, it started working, it stopped working, I got madder, I wasted lot’s of time, it started working intermittently!

To say the least I was pretty hacked off, to the point my ride was going to be spoilt because my power meter wasn’t working – how stupid ids that? This made me realise how much I and probably a lot of other cyclists are addicted to numbers, how far, how fast, heart rate, cadence, climbing done, altitude, power, temperature and any derivative of the above. Both during and at the end of I ride I look at numbers and often I analyse numbers.

Now I am not saying there is anything wrong in using numbers and I would be the first to stick up my hand and I say my power meter is brilliant and has really improved my cycling however I do think I need to ride occasionally without numbers, it could be liberating! I also know that the first time I do I’ll put my garmin in my pocket just so I can have a look at the end and analyse the numbers!

Just to go back to today for a moment, I had a great ride really enjoyed it and my power meter did work when it mattered. One day I will go without numbers.

As documented we have had a great ski season with fantastic snow in Les Deux Alps and Alpe d’Huez.  March came along, time to cycle and head off to training camp in Majorca.  Majorca was fantastic great cycling with great friends. We came back feeling fitter and raring to go. Then disaster (in cycling terms rather than world terms) we caught a virus, probably from the plane, the first time either of us has been ill in France. This knocked us out for a couple of weeks, I think it is the first time I haven’t wanted to cycle for over a week.

Fully recovered and the snow comes back, over 50cm of fresh powder snow in the resorts, it all came down overnight so the days were lovely and sunny it would have been rude not to go and enjoy the skiing in Les 2Alps and fab it was to. We did a couple of rides but nothing long and the air was cold for descending.

This brings us to last week and ‘best laid plans’ back to the bike – so it rained one day, we had to go to Grenoble, Daisy (kitten) had a fight which left her looking as though she had done 5 rounds with Mike Tyson which meant a trip to the vets and stress and then the sun shone but the wind came 100km gusts! Still got out a couple of times including doing Alpe d’Huez  but not enough (it never is) so today, a new week, a good weather forecast and a plan to do a 4 hour ride and what did we wake up to rain and more rain! I had to go out but on my single speed bread bike, 1.5hrs later I returned absolutely drenched, did I enjoy it? More than the turbo but not the ride of choice but I am glad I did it somehow you always do and now the sun shines! One thing is for sure nothing is predictable and plans have to be flexible!

We skied with our  guests on Saturday in Les 2Alps, always good fun to ski in a group and guests seem to enjoy / appreciate us showing them the domain, saves them time. We hadn’t skied for a few weeks and were amazed at how good the snow was, there had been a few cm’s of fresh snow. The snow was superb, some of the best skiing this year, warm & sunny and great snow although at the top of the glacier it was rather windy – pebble dashed face!

Our cycling guest did Alpe d’Huez and got his time 1hr 03mins – excellent and followed that with a ride up Col d’Ornon which he really liked.

Evening meals were all about skiing and cycling stories of the day and how strange it was to be able to do both sports so easily from here, 10 mins in the car to the lift to Les 2Alpes & 10 mins on the bike to the base of Alpe d’Huez!

Now Easter is over the weather seems to have changed, sunbathing this morning and now it is pouring with rain with 20cm of fresh snow fore-casted in the resorts tonight! skiing tomorrow?

March came round very quickly and after very little cycling since November, we packed our bikes and flew to Majorca. I can honestly say we were both looking forward to our holiday, seeing our friends, staying in a Hotel and lot’s of food & sun however we were both nervous about the cycling, could we do the distance, how often would I be dropped, would I be a real pain as everyone would have to wait for me? I used to train for training camps, our friends are very good cyclists!! & I didn’t think living at altitude and a few xc ski & turbo sessions would be enough. I had got myself to a place where I could accept I had a different lifestyle now and would be happy cycling on my own seeing everyone in the evening.

Well what a fantastic week, a superb group of people who we rode great rides in fantastic weather taking time to eat lots! and have a laugh. Majorca is a great place to cycle in spring, temperatures in the early 20′s (although we have had rain & snow on previous camps) summer gear everyday and there is a great choice of riding from pan flat to hills, Sa Calobra, Lluc, Coll de Puig Major, Soller, Coll de Hono to name a few. Each day became my longest ride of the year, our rest day was 120km! what was that about – group riding fun.

We rode with the group everyday, they blasted up the hills seeing who could get to the top first, I rode steadily using my power meter so I didn’t blow up and as ever Alan took everything in his stride enjoying the ascents and descents and always finishing with the majority. I have got to say the group was brilliant, they waited for me and any other back markers at appropriate points and didn’t make me have a turn on the front when they were hammering on the flat. Our group was only overtaken once and that was by some pro’s and I can tell you there are a lot of cyclists in Majorca.

So at the end of 5 1/2 days cycling we had cycled 645km climbed 7400m, eaten x’000′s calories and had a brilliant time. I am really pleased with how I cycled considering how little we had done and really loved riding in a group again, it is very rare I average 35km/h over a reasonable distance. So we now have a good base to build on for a summer in the mountains. Thanks to all who were there for making us have such a great week, looking forward to the next one already!

We decided to take a trip over to cycle around the Vercors. The advantage to the Alpes area at this time of year is that the Vercors is lower so snow should not be a problem on the roads. We had got hold of a few routes around the area and decided on 76km around the ‘Gorges de la Bourne’.

We loaded the car up and drove for about 1hr 3/4 (including obligatory coffee stop) via Grenoble to St. Jean-en-Royans where the route started. We left Bourg d’Oisans with clear blue skies and unfortunately arrived in the Vercors in cloud. We could see the sun breaking through so knew we would be ok.

We set off from St Jean-en-Royans and rode up the Gorges de la Bourne, the roads were good, very little traffic and great scener about 30km in we doubled back on ourselves and continued up to the plateau, along with the great views  there were some fantastic restored houses to look at. From the plateau we dropped down and continued along the valley through a number of villages to La Chapelle-en-Vecors. We had forgotten what head winds could be like along valley roads, neither of us wanted to go on the front!

From La Chapelle-en-Vercors it was up and over Col de Carri, a lovely 5km, 300m climb with a summit at 1200m. From there it was a lovely 6km descent through the woods before the 14km descent of Combe Lavel to St Jean-en-Royans, this descent was on some very narrow roads down the side of the gorge, stunning scenery but not for those worried about heights!

A superb ride, where the weather turned out nice, we’ll certainly be going back to the Vercors.

Today with a good forecast we thought we would do the Laffrey loop 100km with 1500m of climbing and one of my favourite rides. The first dilema what to wear as the ride starts with 28km of flat / descent in the coolest part of the valley followed by over 70km in the sun of ascending and descending. We wrapped up for the descent but as soon as we came to the first climb we were too hot, after getting rid of a couple of layers, we only over-heated on the final climb of Col d’Ornon. We took the ride relatively easy wanting to enjoy it all rather than dying late on. A beautiful day and great to feel the sun on our backs as we enjoyed the views. Usually we don’t stop but today we had a coffee in Valbonais, very welcome & the cafe owners are really welcoming always slowing down their talking so we can understand. From Valbonais it’s 20km up Col d’Ornon all was going well until 3k from the end when we were caught by a very fit cycling club (club velo Bourg d’Oisans) mate, he slowed down to chat but his slow climbing is fast for me, I watched and felt my HR rise & rise, luckily as we were cycling, he didn’t go for the traditional French hello of a kiss on both cheeks but a handshake, that was enough for me as I gasped for air. After a km I popped off the back leaving him and Alan to ride on and then he left Alan, it sounds rude but I was glad to see him go – I could relax again. We finished the ride along the valley in temperatures of 20 degrees, a great day out.

The winter season so far has been fabulous, we have heard people say ‘best skiing for a generation’, ‘best skiing for 10 years’ all we can say having not been here for many years ‘the skiing has been excellent’. We had a lot of snow in the last 2 weeks of January and since there nothing but sun. We did go through a very very cold spell, the temperature didn’t really go above -10 for 10 days. One Saturday we skiied in Alpe d’Huez, great snow conditions from top to bottom Col d’Sarenne the famous 16km run – superb but cold so cold in fact the diesel froze in the car, an experience we don’t want to repeat. It did explain why there were a number of cars dumped at the side of the road.

Now this week we’re hitting +15, the bike has come out of hibernation and skiing in a couple of  layers. The air is still a little cold to descend on the bike and it is about a 4 hour cycling window, so far only valley rides but I do think there will be a hill ride soon. We have guests next week for cycling, the Alpe d’Huez 2012 timing board will be up and running.

I do find it quite a strange season, ski one day, cycle the next – no complaints. Now we have got to get some cycle fitness back, hopefully the xc skiing has helped but first a coffee on the terrace.

As we can’t ride our bikes during the winter , I don’t think alpine skiing does much for your fitness as it’s gravity aided and I don’t enjoy the turbo trainer, I thought I would learn to Nordic Ski skating style in order to help my fitness and learn a knew sport.

I bought all the gear so looked the part just one major problem, I couldn’t do it. I went to the beautiful area of Chamrousse with some friends to have a go. With their patience and coaching I got to move a little, progress was made. After Christmas I went up to Alpe d’Huez to have another go and failed miserably only achieving pure frustration. Note to self ‘I am not a good self learner – too lazy’ Enough was enough and I booked some lessons, 3 x 1.5 hr lessons later and being an xc skier became a real possibility. My tutor left me with the feeling that I could progress and to remember its all about technique, it is very difficult to wing it.

I did 12km in Alpe d’Huez and after talking to my friend entered a 20km race, He told me the course was flat so there it was the ‘Foulee Blanche’ the biggest xc race in the area.

Alan and I went to Autrans where it was being held on Sunday morning, the weather not great damp and cloudy. On arriving even though I knew I had nothing to prove being my first race and only being on the skis about 10 times, I felt totally out of my depth lot’s of lycra clad people going very fast warming up, I can honestly say I could have walked. I didn’t and got kitted up and entered the starting pen making sure I started at the back of the other 650 racers! There were as many entrants in each of the other distances: 42,10 & 5km this event was big.

We were off to ‘Land of Hope & Glory’, it all got better from that point. The support was superb and the track started going through the town and then wound it’s way around the woods. I managed to keep skating and stay upright for the most of it, I only knocked one person over and was knocked over once, it certainly wasn;t the carnage I expected.

2hrs & 2mins later I crossed the finish line, shattered but elated 140/194 female that certainly won’t be my last race.

It is definitely just not just for fitness but for doing something new which is very enjoyable, I would liken xc skiing to xc mountain biking, varying terrain, beautiful countryside and v. friendly.

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.