Anyone converted their normal asperated bike to electric? If so, was it easy to do etc?
Sad to see the ITV TDF coverage wind up. Gary Imlach was a class act. Really enjoyed it over the years, and the old footage this year was very funny.
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Yeah, theyâre a great team, him, Ned and Millar, Boardman and co. Itâs going to mean a real drop off in the number of new viewers for the race, which is a real shame. Got my love for the sport from watching Channel 4 in the mid-80s.
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The ITV coverage of the Tour De France will be missed. They struck the perfect balance between keeping the hardcore cycling fans happy, and a non patronising way of explaining things that made this great event interesting for the once a year casual viewer. Myself and wife came to treat it like a box set to be binged one episode at a time.
At a time when most sports coverage on TV is dumbing down, this really stood out.
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Agree. It was always great viewing and Iâm no âroadieâ.
Weirdly, this has been the first year Iâd not watched any of it, but keep meaning to.
Part of crazy challenges me and my partner achieved, did a few of these. Fairly early Strava where kudos had to be earned as so few had signed up then. My partner was so fit on the last one of these she rinsed it two days early and left me to complete the last 60 miles with some local race fit club friends. That one knocked me out with flu for weeks afterâŚtough challenge.
Check out the stats.
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Nice! I did it a few years ago and the last day was 80km on New Yearâs Eve on my own in a storm. It was so bad that it was hilarious. Took me ages to heat up after mind.
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Galamus Gorge today in Corbieres. A really nice part of the world where the Med meets arable pastures. Highly recommend this neck of the woods.
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Beautiful. Never got that far to the east of the pyrenees on my cycling trips. Looks a bit more forgiving than the climbs in the Ariege.
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Yes - had a big weekend so nothing too crazy today. But very near here is Col du Pradel and Porte de Pailhères, which are very beautiful. And really tough. It also seems a bit less busy over here, which is nuts because the scenery is epic and the weatherâs lovely.
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I rode up Port de Pailheres from Ax-les-thermes about 10 years ago. Really kicks up for the last few kms if I remember right - very sweaty and exhausted by the end and a fair few cows just wandering across the road. Fine when youâre doing 10kmh but not at 60k. Love that region so much, lots of good memories.
The photo was from a trip last year, more in the central pyrenees than your way. Up near the Col dâAubisque.
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Thatâs a cracker! Aubisque is a gem. We went up there last year.
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Weâre moving up the coast in the next few weeks and am sure occasional hiking in the Pyrenees will feature at the weekends (any top tips welcome). Would ideally get 2 bikes too. Just a case of whether we could fit them in a hatchback.
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Iâve spent a lot of time on the French side but not much on the Spanish, so I may not be that much use to you. If youâre cycling, and youâre able to cope with some big climbs, then Ripoll is a good place to start from, or head to. Lots of decent mid-sized climbs around there and a few 60-70km loops to ride. I seem to remember there being a protected cycle lane that ran out - on flattish ground - east of the town towards Olot.
Further north of Ripoll thereâs a real playground for cyclists and hikers. But you need the legs for it. Monte Puigal has great hiking and room for multi-day trips. And the passes around Ribes Freser are proper Vuelta a Espana territory, some up over 2000m high and 15-20km long. Stunning but knackering. We also rode further up to Fort Romeu on the French side which has great hiking and a lot of professional athletes do their altitude training up there. The sunday morning we were out there we climbed up a long pass and ran into a big party at the summit. Weâd cycled up towards the summit for a good 10k without seeing a car and then we came around a corner and there were 200-300 ravers, a big system, dogs on string and a load of acid techno. With us on our bikes in lycra. I was quite jealous.
If you need more on the french side I can suggest a load of places. Again, more bike related, but with lots of hiking nearby.
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Thanks for your feedback. Will report back 
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The French side along the border in the foothills of the mountains has a very New Age vibe. I visited a few Cathar castles in 2021 and it felt like I was in the Age of Aquarius - I was dazzled by crystals, almost run off the road by old camper vans and chased by dogs whose owners were the worse for wear on the best of wares. All good though. Sadly I missed the ravers Sal - hopefully next time!
Ollie - I donât know the Spanish side so well. But just over the border on the French side Peyrepertuse is worth a walk. Where will you be based? Such a lovely spot. Massive Salvador Dali skies.
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Sant Feliu. An hour or two from border. Lets discuss routes when youâre down
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This kid is 10yrs old 
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For these youngsters living in Whistler etc itâs just like a British kid playing footy after school (albeit a pricier hobby!)
See Jackson Goldstone below, then 10. Current (multiple) Downhill world champ/world cup winner aged 21
Aged 18, turning up in Wales and beating the worlds best on the hardest course-
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