Cycling With Monsters in France: Sunday, July 1

As the Monster M50 adventure comes to a close here are some parting thoughts and an overall summary, fitting well with the following quotation from today's NYT:

As Mr. McCullough said in his Wellesley High School 2012 graduation speech: “Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”

WE DID THIS EVERY DAY!

The wheels-on-the-ground portion of the amazing Monster M50 cycling adventure in France that began only 8 days ago was a whirlwind of activity from start to finish. Of course lots of advance planning by members participating directly, and not, unleashed the non-stop sequence of events. We did climb to see the world -- often witnessing exquisite views, and embracing many challenges. And I doubt the world noticed our climbs -- we climbed Europe's highest paved road on col de La Bonette, and climbed one of the favorite training routes of Lance on Col de la Madone. New pain thresholds were achieved by everyone (if you didn't suffer at a new level, please keep that to yourself) on these Tour-worthy cycling days. On the other hand how could the world miss noticing our descents! We tore up the road switchback after switchback, some continuing for more than 35 miles.

Total Spinster cycling mileage for the week was as much as 330 miles with total elevation gain of 43,520 ft, much of it at altitude (base camp around 4000'). Expressed in other terms we climbed 8.2 miles vertical gain, or the equivalent of 10 WE's in just one week! The slightly more moderate Cranksters trimmed those totals to a still quad-busting 35,000 ft of vertical gain and approximately 260 miles pedaled.

In the food department - our hosts Luc and Christine almost ran out of bread one day for the first time since operating their wonderful Grand Chalet. The food was amazing (covered well in prior blog entries). The caloric intake of the group must have set a record, although no Garmin measures this! Certainly a new Monster tradition of ride-eat-nap-ride pattern has emerged. (What must this mean for our beloved simple WE... ride a WE, go to Starbucks, nap, and ride another)?

In the pro-peloton support department - Ian and Peter spoiled us with on-the-fly handoffs of water bottles, sandwiches, bananas and words of encouragement during the tough going!

*Bins & Bags, and Bits & Bobs were the British Air captains' description of cargo loading...bits and bobs, in particular, a reference to the loading of our dozen or so bikes that delayed departure slightly in Boston.