Alpine Splendour (Border City Wheelers on Tour)
I have to say that the idea of going on holiday to somewhere like the Alps or Pyrenees and riding up the huge mountain passes there FOR FUN does seem to puzzle a lot of my friends. I am not at all sure they understand the attraction of the big climbs. But then, as the saying goes, if you have to ask you won't understand!
Riding up the big cols in the Alps or Pyrenees is quite a daunting challenge. Some of the bigger climbs we have done are upwards of 20 kilometers and may rise up to 2000m or more. There is nothing, but nothing, in the UK which gets even remotely close to this. The climbs are relentless. But the reward, the joy unbridled, on reaching the summit is indescribable.
And then there are the descents. Just think about it. 25 kilometers, all downhill. If you feel like it, you don't even have to pedal. Unless you are like my son, in which case it is all about descending like a loony to try and see what is the maximum speed you can reach!