It was an enforced late start this morning with Phil's bike needing some serious repairs. It gave myself and Craig an opportunity to go to the Bridge in the Sky for a look but the clouds were thick and as u can guess, all you could see was 1 leg (not the many that the bridge sits on).
Craig then decided to cut loose and head back to the hotel to get breakfast but I already had devoured numerous croissants so I was running on full. I saw a small switchback road that seemed to climb towards the top of the Millau bridge. I was sucked in. Couldn't resist. I had to climb. 20 mins later... I discovered what a fecking waste of time and energy it was climbing to the top. Still covered in fog!!!!! It reminded me of a TV programme on BBC1 called 'Pointless'.
ah well.... back down the mountain I went.... and back to the hotel where the rest of the crew were getting ready to go to bike shop.
Phil was a bit more concerned about 3 broken spokes and a wheel that more resembled a quaver than seeing any bridge in the sky which was a fair point.
In typical french fashion, the customer arrived at the workplace before the staff. In contrast however, when he did come in and get started, there was no tutting and pressure to buy a new wheel.
Phil did contemplate a replacement but he wasn't sure about the pedals.......
Below is a picture of Phil's bike after a hard days graf.....
New spokes were put in and the wheel was straightened and we were ready to go 15 minutes after he started working on it.
It was only delaying the inevitable. A climb from 500 to 3000 feet in the space of only a couple of miles. Cycling up a munro. It was tough but the views were rewarding. We got some good shots and also managed to catch the bridge as the early morning mist had cleared.
Once out of the valley it was undulating but kept us at 3000 feet for another 30 odd miles or so. Whilst up there another twang and another spoke on Phil's bike. Phil not happy but the bike didn't let him down and got him to the destination.
We eventually made it out of the valley where the temp had risen to 35c and we had only done 6 miles out of the 76… still a long way to go.
At the 40 mile mark today, we had a drop down to sea level.10 miles of downhill. Fantastic experience and one not easily forgotten. This brought us out at the miles on miles of vineyards. We all fancied a wee taste but there was no treading grapes today.
near the bottom of the mountain we cycled through a a village with extremely narrow streets...
As usual though when you get to sea level the only way is up and 1000 feet later we were on the road to Montpellier. Sometimes I do wonder how we manage to get up these hills. It must be all that pre trip training that goes in :-)
Time to stop at another small town before Montpellior and fill up with juice...35c and melting...
We arrived in good time but with motorways every where, we had to be sure of where we were going. We were within 500 metres of the place but couldn't get to it. Eventually we sussed a route and the receptionist replied 'people in cars have a hard time finding us let alone folk on bicycles!' ... in essence it was a result we actually found that place at all.
We got in about 6 ish and a quick change saw us ready for dinner. Pizza and beers ordered and bed awaited at another stupendous Premier Classe.
So tomorrow we should see the Med for the first time on the tour. Surely no more mountains. Its an 8.30am start from here, which will get me to Decathlon for opening at 9am.
See you tomorrow.
Hopefully on the road earlier tomorrow as its an 85 miler.
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