Update: I think I love climbing? I've been getting stronger every day and more confident in both climbing/descending. I've thoroughly enjoyed this trip, I've preformed way better than I ever would have imagined; I'm enjoying the majority of our group; and the rides are amazing. I've set various 20min, 30min, and 60min power records while climbing, granted some of those were on the end of Marie Blanque where the last 5km averaged over 10% and it was necessary to keep moving forward. Tourmalet almost broke me because of how long it stretched on for and how hot it was getting; every time I looked down a river of sweat came out of my helmet.

Day 0: Hondarribia - 18 miles / 2008 feet - Jaizkibel (2)
Day 1 - Hondarribia -> Saint-Palais - 59 miles / 4551 feet - Cote de Saint Ignace (4); Col de Baigura (4)
Day 2: Saint-Palais -> Oloron-Sainte-Marie - 65 miles / 6732 feet - Cote de Pagolle (2); Col du Soudet (1)
Day 3 - Oloron-Sainte-Marie -> Lourdes - 65 miles / 7858 feet - Col de Marie Blanque (1); Col d' Aubisque (HC); Col de Soulor (4)
Day 4: Lourdes -> Bagneres-de-Luchon - 78 miles / 11217 feet - Col du Tourmalet (HC); Col d'Aspin (2); Col de Peyresourde (1)
Day 5: Bagneres-de-Luchon -> Sort - 66 miles / 6942 feet - Col du Portillion (1); Puerto de la Bonaigua (1)

Currently on day 6... the rest day. Got some laundry taken care of. Did some yoga out in the hotel's courtyard. Massage in a little bit. Just recovering and eating.


Random ass pictures that I felt like uploading:


Starting to climb Soudet...


Not much visibility at the top of Soudet...




Heading towards Aubisque


Preclimb espresso before Aubisque




The top of Aubisque



The top of Tourmalet




Riding the 1km warm up before Portillion


Heading towards Bonaigua



On top of Boniagua. Had a traditional Catalan lunch of sausage and eggs with french fries mixed in somehow.


Relaxing in a mountain river after the end of yesterday's ride and starting the rest day.

FIDO95 said:

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Can't believe this thread has been so quiet this Summer! Hopefully people still riding. I'm still hoping to get my "trifecta" done. I did Tour of Boerne in June (62 miles). I'm signed up for the HHH later this month, 75 mile and the Conquer the Coast, 66 mile, in September. Hopefully everyone is getting some time in the saddle.

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A teammate and I are doing Conquer the Coast this weekend as well. I've always wanted to ride over the causeway

Anyone doing Big Dam Bridge 100 in Little Rock this weekend? I'm debating on it right now.

What did you think of Conquer the Coast? I loved the ride this year although the rain made for some increase nerves in the pack of riders at the start on those first turns. The wind also seemed brutal this year... or maybe I'm just getting old. I was in a good peloton all the way to the Aransas Pass... we were running 18-20mph. I stopped to get water figuring I'd catch up at the ferry. I didn't realize how bad the wind had picked up and from there to the ferry I was running 15-16mph and burning 30% more watts! Similar story going down the island. Nonetheless, great ride. I'm suprised the ride doesn't get more love.

My final thoughts having done all three rides: Tour of Boerne, beautiful country and scenic views; The hills were no joke. Definately will do again next year. HHH, historic ride, great crowd, and great support/snacks along the route. However, by far, the "ugliest" ride. Probably won't be back anytime soon. Everything was brown and countryside looked barren. Conquer, still my favorite ride but I'm worried how the course will change with the new bridge next year. Will definately do it again if it is a similar route around the bay.

Congrats on recovering and getting healthy! Thanks for sharing. That looks like it was an awesome experience.

FIDO95 said:

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What did you think of Conquer the Coast? I loved the ride this year although the rain made for some increase nerves in the pack of riders at the start on those first turns. The wind also seemed brutal this year... or maybe I'm just getting old. I was in a good peloton all the way to the Aransas Pass... we were running 18-20mph. I stopped to get water figuring I'd catch up at the ferry. I didn't realize how bad the wind had picked up and from there to the ferry I was running 15-16mph and burning 30% more watts! Similar story going down the island. Nonetheless, great ride. I'm suprised the ride doesn't get more love.

My final thoughts having done all three rides: Tour of Boerne, beautiful country and scenic views; The hills were no joke. Definately will do again next year. HHH, historic ride, great crowd, and great support/snacks along the route. However, by far, the "ugliest" ride. Probably won't be back anytime soon. Everything was brown and countryside looked barren. Conquer, still my favorite ride but I'm worried how the course will change with the new bridge next year. Will definately do it again if it is a similar route around the bay.

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Well, it was something...

My teammate (Joe) and I had aspirations of trying to be top 5 overall and maybe winning. Our plan was to stay in the lead group, and not do any more work than necessary in the early part, make the first ferry, then stay with the leaders down the island, knowing a big attack would come on the final causeway crossing. From there, it would be a tailwind and tactics would play out based on the attrition of who was left.

As you know, the ride started with a little bit of rain. The organizers started putting up ropes to mark off waves of when riders could start. So we moved in front of those ropes and went with the first wave. It was a little chaotic because there wasn't a lead vehicle, the turns weren't marked well, and in several instances there were cones and barricades across the lane we were supposed to be in. Whomever was in charge of that is definitely not a cyclist. There was one instance where the police officer that was supposed to be marshalling the intersection was still in his truck, and didn't come out until we stopped at the light. He pointed left, so a couple guys started to go that way, and several others (that knew the route) told them we were supposed to go straight. Since I didn't know the course, I just stayed in the top 10 without driving the pace and followed the few that seemed to know the way.

Then, 20 miles in, I hit a piece of metal and flatted. Our contingency plan was that if that happened to either of us, the other would continue on, and hopefully the victim would get it fixed and catch up before the ferry filled up. However, the tire was ruined and there was no way to boot or plug it. Additionally, they launched the ferry with only the riders from the first group. That lead group was down to 21. And this is where the story splits.

I tried to get an Uber back, but none were available so I stood in someone's yard for about 20 minutes while Uber tried to find a driver. Finally a very sweet woman in a pickup asked if I wanted a ride back to Whataburger Field. So I did that, knowing I had other wheels in my truck and I could at least ride backwards on the course to ride back with my buddy. I just had to make sure that when I got back in with them, I didn't do anything to affect the "outcome" for those treating it like a race. Plus, I still wanted to ride more, but I was now about 2 hours behind Joe and didn't want to do the entire loop.

Joe said it played out exactly as expected. The crosswinds on the island whittled the lead group down a little. When they got to the JFK Causeway, one guy attacked REALLY hard. Joe said he was trying to decide if the rider was very strong, or just wanted to get to the top and wasn't a good climber. Two other guys went with him. Joe didn't see the urgency and figured it was too soon to be making such a move and that there were still plenty of people willing to work and would bring that back. He was wrong. It shattered what was left of the lead group into groups of 3 and 4 riders each and by that point he couldn't bridge across alone.

I found them on Ocean Drive, coming out of the Naval Air Station. As the 3 leaders went the other way, I hit the lap on my Garmin. 15 seconds, later (so 30 second gap), I found Joe and 2 other riders (a man and a woman, who appeared to be at least friends). I turned around and caught up to them and let Joe know the leaders were 30 seconds ahead. With less than 10 miles to go and a tailwind, we knew they weren't going to catch. So I asked the other two if it was alright if I took some pulls. Naturally, the were more than happy to let me pull. We averaged a little over 27 from there. As we got close to Whataburger, I moved to the back of the group and let them play out the sprint. Joe ended up "winning" that sprint, so he was the 4th finisher overall.

I'd like to do it again, but it always seems to conflict with something else. The new bridge won't change the course too much, except that it's a bigger bridge. Should only add a mile or two to a fairly short course. They need some instruction on how to place barricades and cones such that they aren't interfering with the riders (especially big / fast groups).

HHH is a boring and ugly course. The only thing I really liked about it was that it was 3.75ish hours all to come down to a field sprint. I like that kind of pressure. But now they don't even have the USAC road races. Maybe they'll bring them back at some point.

Wow, sounds like you had an adventure; Or maybe mis-adventure would be a better description. I think I might have seen you? I recall riding by a guy, black bike I think, in Ingleside in front of house. I asked if everything was "ok" but he/you was/were busy typing away on the phone and didn't respond? I guess that would make sense if you were trying to track down an Uber.

Yes, I wouldn't be worried about any additional length to the ride with the new bridge. I've just heard some rumors about whether or not they would allow the route to go over the bridge next year. I think a lot of the character of that ride is getting to go over the bridges and ferries and ride along the coastlines. Better luck with your next ride.

FIDO95 said:

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Wow, sounds like you had an adventure; Or maybe mis-adventure would be a better description. I think I might have seen you? I recall riding by a guy, black bike I think, in Ingleside in front of house. I asked if everything was "ok" but he/you was/were busy typing away on the phone and didn't respond? I guess that would make sense if you were trying to track down an Uber.

Yes, I wouldn't be worried about any additional length to the ride with the new bridge. I've just heard some rumors about whether or not they would allow the route to go over the bridge next year. I think a lot of the character of that ride is getting to go over the bridges and ferries and ride along the coastlines. Better luck with your next ride.

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Yup! That was me. And yes, there wasn't anything anyone could do, so I was trying to figure out a ride back. Thanks for asking. Many people did, and I usually gave a weak wave and a "thanks, but no". Mostly just bummed my ride ended that way.

With as much support from the City and the other cities, I can't imagine they wouldn't be able to use the new bridge. I think more than anything, they were trying to "sell" this year as some last chance opportunity for an established course, even though the course has changed over the years.

I thought I had posted this the other day, but apparently I hadn't.

I just got the email from the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. They will be going over the new bridge next year.