Day 12 Wednesday 9/11/13 Entraygues – Mende 75 Miles / 120 Kms

We have traveled 640 miles in eleven days of riding.  Six more riding days to go.

Just the stats: 75 miles, 13.7 MPH average. Five hours twenty six minutes of riding time. I stopped for a total of 56 minutes the whole day.  Sunny in the morning, overcast in afternoon, 45 to 58 degrees. Elevation 2,425 feet.  We climbed 3,957 feet and descended 2,594 feet.

Calories burned on the ride – 5,844. My average heart rate during this ride was 128 bpm.

Today was a long hard ride.  It can be seen as three sections. 

In the morning we continued following the River Lot for 20 miles.  We are traveling upstream with the river, so we are consistently riding a 0% to 3% grade.  We will be following the river to its source in the Southern Ardèche (where ever that is). 

First section:  I jumped on a five person pace line with Brian, Allison, Chris and Erica.  Brian is so strong he usually is in the lead. We covered the 20 miles in 70 minutes; our average speed was 16.4 mph. 

 

Everyone stopped for coffee at the 20 mile point. 

 

Allison, Brian, Chris and Andrew

How do you like the modern French bathroom? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just before our big climb of the day we crossed the Lot river and headed for the hills.

 

These French gardens are amazing.  The soil along the bottom land of the river must be very rich.

 

 

 

Second section: I did a quick coffee stop and moved on.  It was now time to climb two “hills”. The first hill was a seven mile climb with 4% to mostly 8% grade.  That climb took me one hour to do.  We had a five mile down hill and then another six mile climb.  The second descent was about five miles long.  Lunch was at the 44 mile mark.  I again ate little and did a quick exit stage left. 

 

 

 

These are the views we were rewarded with at the top of the "hill". 

 

FYI - the elevation here is 2,343 feet.

 

 

 

 

Third section:  Long 31 mile slog following the River Lot again.  These last 31 miles were basically all uphill to the end.  Only a 0% to 4% grade but it wears on you.     Throw in headwinds and cool weather and you now know why I called it a slog.  Riding alone I was averaging 13 mph.  About twelve miles into this section, Brian and Allison came by me riding their normal fast pace.  Well, I jumped in behind Allison and they pulled me in the last 18 miles averaging 18.1 mph.  Brian led the whole way - I don't know how he does it - he is so strong.   We arrived at the hotel at 3:40 pm.


Tomorrow is another long 72 mile ride.  Time for bed.  Tom